Tax Return Client Checklist

Last updated June 2011

Individual Tax Returns

Income

• Gross Salary, Wages, Allowances, Benefits, Earnings, Tips and Directors Fees.
• Income from Business Activities.
• PAYG Payment Summaries
• Details of any non-cash benefits received.
• Lump sum and termination payments. All documentation should be provided including an ETP Payment Summary from the employer or fund.
• Government Social Security payments, including pensions, unemployment and sickness benefits.
• Details of any CGT asset sales (e.g. shares and real estate). Please include dates of, and costs associated with, acquisition and disposal. (You can save tax if you qualify for the variety CGT concessions).
• Annuities, including allocated pensions.
• Income from trusts and partnerships. Statements of distribution should be provided where appropriate.
• Rental income
• Interest and dividends received and any tax deducted. Include details of franked dividends.
• Foreign source (employment and pension) income and details of any foreign tax credits.

Deductions

• Investment and property expenses (carefully detail interest claims)
• Subscriptions (not including sporting or social clubs).
• Employment related Expenditure such as work related motor vehicle, self education, protective clothing and uniform expenses.
• Donations of $2 and over
• For self-employed persons details of any superannuation contributions made.
• Tax agent’s Fees and other accounting/tax audit fees.
• Special deductions (Australian films, investment shelters and forestry-type schemes).
• Bank fees (where the credit or deposit represents assessable income).
• Unrecouped prior year losses.

Rebates

• Details of private health insurance, unless your premium is net of the rebate.
• Details of superannuation contributions where no tax deduction can be claimed.
• Any changes in dependants (income of spouse should be provided).
• Details of any income received in a lump sum which was accrued in earlier income years (e.g. assessable pensions).
• Receipts for medical expense costs for the entire family (eyes, ears, mouth, etc).
• Receipts for education related expenses if you have children at primary or secondary school.
• Superannuation contributions.
• HECS Debt details

Note: Taxpayers with a dependant child (under 21), or qualifying dependant student, should check to see if they are eligible for Family Tax Assistance

Note: To ensure that you obtain the maximum deductions to which you are entitled and in consideration of the penalty provisions. FULL DETAILS of any claim should be provided and supporting documentation made available. For employee taxpayers and for travel and motor vehicle claims by self-employed taxpayers, documentation must be a receipt, invoice or similar document which contains certain details. For other taxpayers, documentation may comprise receipts, dockets, diary notations or reasonable and supporting estimates.