How to do your tax – Easy Read

This document has been written by the Australian Tax Office or ATO.

When you see the words 'we', 'our' or 'us' it means the ATO.

This Easy Read document is a summary of another document.

You can find the longer document at How to lodge your tax return.

You need to choose how to do your tax.

There are 4 main ways you can do it:

1. Online using myTax – a program to help you do your own tax.

2. Use Tax Help – people who can help you do your tax for free.

3. Use the National Tax Clinic program – students who are learning about tax can help you for free.

4. Use a tax agent – a person who you pay to help do your tax.

myTax is an online program you use to do your tax. It is easy and safe to use.

Learn how to Lodge your tax return online with myTax.

You will need a myGov account linked to our online services. You can get one at www.my.gov.auExternal Link.

myGov is a simple and secure way to access government services online in one place.

A myGov account is free and anyone can get one.

We have an Easy Read about how to create a myGov account and link it to your tax and super.

There is also a helpful video you can watch to show you how to link.

Someone you trust, like a family member, can help you link your myGov to ATO online services.

Tax Help is a group of people who help other people do their tax.

This is a free service.

We train these people and they know about tax.

Not everyone can use this service.

To find out if you can use this service, read about the Tax Help program.

You can also ask us by phoning 13 28 61.

The National Tax Clinic program can help people who:

• cannot pay a tax agent
• do not meet the rules to use Tax Help.

This program is:

• supported by the government
• run by universities (not the ATO).

Students who are learning about tax can help you for free.

Trained managers make sure the students are giving you the right help.

Help is given over the phone or through a web conference. Sometimes you can meet in person.

The program can be used by:

• individuals
• small businesses
• not-for-profit organisations and charities.

You need to meet the rules to use this program.

Find out more about the National Tax Clinic program.

You can ask a tax agent for help.

A tax agent's job is to help people do their tax.

You can find a registered tax agent by going to www.tpb.gov.auExternal Link

Always check if a tax agent is registered.

This means they:

• are on our list of tax agents

• know what they need to do to be a tax agent.

You will need to pay them. Only registered agents can ask for money to do your tax.

The best time to do your tax is from late July.

By then we will have put more information into your online tax return for you.

This information comes from places like:

• businesses you work for

• the government (like Services Australia)

• your bank.

You must do your tax before 31 October if you are:

• doing your own tax

• using Tax Help

• using the National Tax Clinic program.

If you use a tax agent you may have more time.

You must ask them before 31 October if they will help you with your tax.

We have an Easy Read document to help you get ready to do your tax.

Find out more about getting ready to do your tax.

If you need help to do your tax you can phone us on 13 28 61.

If you speak a language other than English:

• phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 13 14 50

• ask them to phone the ATO on 13 28 61.

We check your information to see if you paid the right amount of tax.

This normally takes about 2 weeks.

We will send a letter about this to your myGov Inbox or your tax agent.

If we have to pay you money, we will put it in your bank account.

If you have to pay us money, the letter will tell you:

• how much to pay and how to pay us

• when you need to pay us.

You can ask someone you trust, like a family member, to read the letter with you.

If you think you have made a mistake, you need to tell us.

If you did your tax return using myTax, log in to our online services to fix the mistake.

Choose Manage tax returns to go to your tax form and fix it.

If you need help fixing your mistake in myTax, phone us on 13 28 61.

If you used Tax Help, the National Tax Clinic program or a tax agent, phone them for help.