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Download 2009 tax return program

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About this program

Once downloaded and installed onto your computer, the 2009 tax return program allows you to prepare and lodge online your income tax return and, if you are eligible, a baby bonus claim.

If you are vision impaired, once you have installed this program you will be able to use it with common screen-reader software.

Recommended computer requirements

The Tax Office recommends that your computer meets the following requirements in order for you to use e-tax.

Component

Specification

Computer processor

PC with Intel Pentium or equivalent.

Operating system

Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4, XP Service Pack 3 (32 bit) or Vista Service Pack 1 (32 bit).

For other operating systems, go to Information about other operating systems and browsers.

Browser

To download e-tax – Most browsers will enable you to download e-tax, including any version of:

  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Internet Explorer 7, or
  • Firefox 3.0.

To lodge a tax return – Browser components are not used in the lodgment process.

Vision impaired

Screen reader – Jaws (8.0, 9.0 or 10.0) or Window-Eyes Professional (5.5, 6.0 or 7.0) and select the option for the vision impaired during installation.

Magnification software – Most commercial versions of screen magnification software should work with the standard installation of e-tax.

Other

Direct internet access (not via a proxy server).

Standard (windows) user privileges are sufficient to run e-tax. However, to install or update the e-tax application, you will need to elevate your standard privileges to ‘administrator’.

Secure networks

E-tax works with firewalls and uses encryption to secure your communications with the Tax Office. The firewall must be configured to allow communication between the Tax Office and your computer. If your network or your firewall does not allow this communication, you will not be able to use e-tax. For more information, go to E-tax firewall configuration details.

Eligibility requirements

The following requirements are necessary for you to successfully verify your identity and lodge your tax return online.

If you …

You will need …

have an original or amended notice of assessment (NOA) from any of the previous five years (2004 to 2008) that was issued to you before 30 May 2009

all of the following details:

  • date of issue – this can be found on the top right-hand side of your NOA
  • sequence number – this can be found on the top right-hand side of your NOA, below the date of issue
  • your name – exactly as it appears on your NOA.

do not have a notice of assessment because:

  • you have misplaced it, or
  • you have never lodged a tax return, baby bonus claim or refund of franking credits application

all of the following details:

  • your tax file number (TFN) issued to you before 30 May 2009
  • your name
  • your date of birth
  • ‘shared secret’ (unique) information.

For more information about 'shared secret', refer to General information about e-tax (including the demonstration).

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If you are unable to meet the eligibility requirements, you will not be able to lodge your e-tax return online.

However, you can still prepare your tax return using e-tax. You will need to print it out and send it to the Tax Office for processing. Refer to E-tax 2009 paper lodgment for instructions.

What to read/do next

I have read the requirements and want to download the 2009 tax return program.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 30 June 2009



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Copyright

© Commonwealth of Australia

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved.

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