Tax Guide nteu.org.au/tax - NTEU 2019-2020 - National Tertiary Education Union
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NTEU 2019–2020 Tax Guide nteu.org.au/tax
NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020
Contents
ATO Focus 2020......................................................... 3
Common mistakes 3
NTEU National Office
Changes for 2020 ..................................................... 3
PO Box 1323, South Melbourne VIC 3205
COVID-19 Support Measures 4
Ph: (03) 9254 1910
Changes for 2021 and Beyond 4
Fax: (03) 9254 1915
national@nteu.org.au The Tax System...........................................................5
www.nteu.org.au Who needs to lodge a return? 5
Record Keeping 5
Self-Assessment 5
Self-Lodgement 5
Using a Tax Agent 5
Income.......................................................................... 6
Salary & Wage Income 6
Government Income 6
NSW & National Investment Income 6
Ph: (02) 8006 5020 Other Income 6
Fax: (02) 4210 8682 (central fax system)
Deductions....................................................................7
Victoria
Bank Fees 7
Ph: (03) 9014 9590
Car Expenses 7
WA
Clothing 7
Ph: (08) 6102 0560
Donations & Gifts (incl School Building Funds) 7
Excursions, School Trips & Camps 7
info@teachertax.com.au
Home Office 8
www.teachertax.com.au
Insurance 8
Rental Property Expenses 8
Self-Education Expenses 8
Tax Returns 8
Teaching aids 8
Travel Expenses 8
Union and Professional Association Fees 8
NTEU Tax Guide 2020. 20th edition. Published by NTEU.
Written by Teacher Tax. Rebates and Offsets................................................... 9
All rights reserved ©2020. ISBN 978-0-9946377-1-0. Invalid Carer Tax Offset 9
Online version at www.nteu.org.au/tax Low Income Tax Offset 9
Authorised by Matthew McGowan, General Secretary, Private Health Insurance Rebate 9
National Tertiary Education Union, 120 Clarendon St,
Senior Australians and Pensioners Tax Offset 9
Southbank VIC 3006.
Zone Tax Offset 9
Cover image: Kelly Sikkema/unsplash
This guide has been prepared for information only. Where to find your NTEU Tax Statement.......... 9
Australian Tax Legislation is a complex body of law and
members should seek qualified tax advice for their personal Do your tax NOW!.................................................... 10
situation. While every effort has been made to ensure that
the information in this guide is accurate, Teacher Tax carries Questionnaire........................................................... 10
no responsibility for its application. The advice given is to be
considered general. Information in italics has been directly
sourced from Australian Government websites.
P. 2
NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ ATO Focus 2020
ATO Focus 2020 Changes for 2020
The ATO has more and more data matching capabilities each
year. Due to this many errors can be made by taxpayer’s
Income Tax Rates (Residents) 2019/20
lodging their tax return too early. The ATO is encouraging Tax rates have stayed the same for 2020.
lodgement after the end of July when most prefilling data is Taxable income Tax Rate
included.
$0–$18,200 0
This year the ATO will be focusing on higher than expected
work-related expenses as well as rental property claims. $18,201–$37,000 19c for each $1 over $18,200
A taxpayer needs to make sure they spent the money $37,001–$90,000 $3,572
themselves and were not reimbursed, the expense was directly plus 32.5c for each $1 over $37,000
related to earning their income and they have a receipt or $90,001–$180,000 $20,797
record to substantiate it. If the expense is for work and private plus 37c for each $1 over $90,000
use, they can only claim a deduction for the work-related $180,001+ $54,097
portion. plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000
During the last few months, many taxpayers have been working
from home due to COVID19. Expenses you can’t claim include: Income Test Thresholds for 2019/20
• The cost of coffee, tea, milk and other household items your Base Tier Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
employer may have provided for you at work.
Singles $90,000 $90,001- $105,001- $140,001
• Costs related to your children and their education, including or less $105,000 $140,000 or more
setting them up for online learning, teaching them at home or
buying equipment such as iPads and desks. Families $180,000 $180,001- $210,001- $280,001
or less $210,000 $280,000 or more
• Time spent not working, such as time spent home schooling
your children or your lunch break. Private Health Insurance Rebate *
Under 65yr 25.059% 16.706% 8.352% 0%
Common mistakes 65-69yrs 29.236% 20.883% 12.529% 0%
70yr + 33.413% 25.059% 16.706% 0%
Car Expenses
Medicare levy surcharge
While you can claim up to 5,000 km without a logbook you still
need to be able to substantiate your calculation. You cannot Rates 0.0% 1.0% 1.25% 1.5%
claim for travel between work and home, or if you have salary * The Government usually reduces the % rebate on the 1 April
sacrificed car. each year. However, this did not happen for 2020.
Clothing Payment Summaries
To be claimable clothing must be either; Employers no longer need to give their employees payment
• Occupation specific (such as for a nurse) summaries. Employers should tell their employees not to
• Protective (such as steel cap boots or a high vis vest) expect a payment summary and to contact their tax agent or
visit myGov to complete their tax returns. Employers need to
• A uniform (with logos or made specifically for the business). have payment summaries tax ready by 14 July (for business with
If you happen to wear everyday clothes to work such as black 20 employees or more) or by 31 July (for businesses with 19
trousers and a white shirt you cannot claim the clothes or the employees or less).
cost of cleaning them.
Low and middle income tax offset (LMITO)
Travel expenses This offset will be available from 2019 to 2022.
Airfares and accommodation need to be apportioned correctly.
If you go to a conference for 4 days and then go sight-seeing LMITO – current LMITO – proposed
for 4 days, then you can only claim 50% of the expenses. If you 0–$37,000 Up to $200 Up to $255
go with a family member, the expenses again would need to be $37,001–$48,000 $200 $255
reduced. + 3% of > $37k
Self-education $48,001–$90,000 $530 $1080
A course must be connected to the income you are currently $90,001–$126,000 $530 $1080
earning, either to maintain or improve your specific skills or – 1.5% of >$90k – 3% of > $90k
knowledge. Course fees that have been put through HECSS/ $126,001 + Nil Nil
HELP cannot be claimed. A loan for course fees that is FEE-HELP This offset will automatically be claimed in taxpayer’s returns.
or a VET Student Loan is deductible.
Medicare levy low income thresholds
The income thresholds have increased to $22,801 for singles
and to $38,474 for families. For taxpayers eligible for the
seniors and pensioners tax offset, the threshold has increased
to $36,056. The family threshold for seniors and pensioners
has increased to $50,191. The family income threshold will be
increased to $3,533 for each dependent child or student.
P. 3NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Changes for 2020
HELP repayments The shortcut method doesn’t require you to have a dedicated
HELP income thresholds have changed for the 2019-20 financial work area, such as a private study. The shortcut method covers
year. The rates are as follows: all running expenses including:
• Electricity/gas for lighting, cooling or heating and running
2019-20 HELP repayment rates electronic items used for work (e.g. your computer).
Adjusted Taxable Income Repayment rate • The decline in value and repair of capital items, such as home
Below $45,881 Nil office furniture, including capital items that cost less than
$45,881–$52,973 1.0% $300.
$52,974–$56,151 2.0% • Cleaning expenses.
$56,152–$59,521 2.5% • Your phone costs, including the decline in value of the
handset.
$59,522–$ 63,092 3.0%
• Your internet costs.
$63,093–$66,877 3.5%
• Computer consumables, such as printer ink and stationery.
$66,878–$70,890 4.0%
• The decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device.
$70,891–$75,144 4.5% You don’t have to incur all of these expenses to use the shortcut
$75,145–$79,652 5.0% method, but you must have incurred additional running
$79,653–$84,432 5.5% expenses in some of these categories when working from home.
$84,433–$89,498 6.0% You also don’t have to use the shortcut method. You can choose
to use one of the existing methods to calculate your deduction.
$89,499–$94,868 6.5%
You can use the method that will give you the best outcome, as
$94,869–$100,560 7.0% long as you meet the criteria and record keeping requirements
$100,561–$106,593 7.5% for each method.
$106,594–$112,989 8.0% If you use the shortcut method, you can’t claim any other
expenses for working from home for that period. So, for
$112,990–$119,769 8.5%
example, if you worked from home 8 hours a day, 5 days a week
$119,770–$126,955 9.0% for the 12 weeks between March and June, then the shortcut
$126,956–$134,572 9.5% method would equate to a $384 deduction (8 x 5 x 12 x .80c).
$134,573 and above 10% However this means that you cannot claim your actual internet,
phone, printer ink, stationery and depreciation on equipment
Vacant land deductions during this time.
You can no longer claim costs such as interest incurred, land For more information:
taxes and council rates as a tax deductions for holding vacant https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/income-and-deductions/
land. (Exceptions include carrying on a business or if the land deductions-you-can-claim/home-office-expenses/?=redirected_
has been subject to a natural disaster such as fire) home#Fixedratemethod
COVID-19 Support Measures Changes for 2021 and Beyond
Business
Individuals
From 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020, the instant asset
Proposed Personal Income Tax Rates
write-off threshold has been increased to $150,000 (up from
$30,000). This is for businesses with a turnover of less than From 1 July 2022, the 19% bracket will be increased to $45,000
$500 million. and the 32.5% bracket will be increased to $120,000. From 1
July 2024, the 32.5% bracket will apply to taxable incomes of
Individuals $45,000 to $200,000, effectively removing the 37% tax bracket
You can claim a deduction of 80 cents for each hour you work entirely. Incomes over $200,000 will be in the 45% top bracket.
from home from 1 March to 30 June 2020 as long as you are Rate Current Tax Proposed Tax Proposed Tax
working from home to fulfil your employment duties and not Rates 2020 – Rates 2023 – Rates 2024 –
just carrying out minimal tasks such as occasionally checking 2022 2024 2025
emails or taking calls. You also must have incurred additional
0% 0–$18,200 0–$18,200 0–$18,200
running expenses as a result of working from home.
You must keep a record of the number of hours you have 19% $18,201– $18,201– $18,201–
worked from home. And when lodging your tax return you $37,000 $45,000 $45,000
must include ‘COVID-hourly rate’ as the description for your 32.5% $37,001– $45,001 – $45,001 –
calculation. When you are calculating the number of hours you $90,000 $120,000 $200,000
worked from home, you need to exclude any time you took 37% $90,001– $120,001–
a break such as lunch or assisting your children with home $180,000 $180,000
schooling.
45% $180,000 plus $180,000 plus $200,000 plus
P. 4NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ The Tax System
The Tax System The responsibilities of the ATO:
• Treat you fairly and reasonably.
• Treat you as being honest in your tax affairs unless you act
Who needs to lodge a return? otherwise.
If you have earned income over $18,200 in this financial year, • Offer you professional assistance to help you understand and
you must lodge a return. If you earned less than this amount but meet your tax obligations.
had tax withheld from your salary you will also need to lodge • Accept you can be represented by a person of your choice and
a tax return. Even if you’re not required to lodge a return it is a get advice about your tax affairs.
good idea to notify the ATO that a return is not necessary.
• Respect your privacy.
Record Keeping • Keep your information confidential in accordance with the
law.
As the tax system is self-assessment, it is essential that
• Give you access to information we hold about you in
taxpayers be able to substantiate their income and expenses. In
accordance with the law.
general, records should be kept for a period of five years from
the date you receive your notice of assessment. • Give you advice and information you can rely on.
Records should be kept in such categories as: • Explain to you the decisions we make about your tax affairs.
• Payments you have received. • Respect your right to a review.
• Expenses related to payments. • Respect your right to make a complaint.
• Acquisition or disposal of an asset – such as shares or a rental • Administering the tax system in a way that minimises your
property. costs of complying.
• Tax deductible gifts or donations. • Be accountable for what we do.
• Medical expenses.
Self-Lodgement
If you’re not sure whether or not to keep a record, the best
advice is to err on the side of caution. It is better to have too Tax returns are submitted either by individuals or their tax agent
many records than not enough. to the Australian Tax Office on an annual basis. If you are doing
the return yourself, it must be lodged by 31 October. The ATO
Self-Assessment has the power to fine the taxpayer up to $180 for every 28 days
the return is late to a maximum of $900. Interest on any tax
Australia has a self-assessment taxation system. This means payable may also be charged. Our advice is to get it in on time
that your return is accepted initially by the Australian Taxation and save the stress and hassle.
Office (ATO) as truthful.
The return is assessed by the ATO and you are issued with a
However, the ATO will check the validity of your claims by data Notice of Assessment.
matching and auditing. They use this data to:
The Notice of Assessment will summarise your taxable income
• Provide pre-filling information to taxpayers and their agents for the year. It may include a tax refund or an amount payable.
to help them correctly complete their income tax return first
time. Using a Tax Agent
• Identify discrepancies between information reported by
If you lodge through a Tax Agent, you may be able to avail
taxpayers in their tax returns against details reported by third
yourself of the general extension of time granted to Tax Agents
parties.
(usually 31 March of the following year). To avoid penalty
• Identify particular non-compliant behaviour within selected however, you must be registered as a client with a tax agent by
target groups, or to conduct risk assessments. 31 October.
• Assist in administration of the relevant legislation with other Other advantages of using a Tax Agent include:
government departments through data exchange.
• A quicker turnaround for refunds.
• Exchange with treaty partners.
• A thorough and professional check to ensure all information
The responsibilities of taxpayers include: is correct.
• Be truthful and cooperative in your dealings with us. • Advocacy in the case of audit / dispute.
• Take reasonable care in preparing your tax returns and in • Tax planning to reduce tax.
keeping your records.
• Lodge your documents and pay any amounts payable by the
due date.
P. 5NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Income
Income Investment Income
• Rental income when you rent out your property. The rental
In general, income tax is calculated by subtracting allowable
income must go on the tax return of the taxpayer whose name
deductions from assessable income. Assessable income can be
appears on the title deed of the property. This is most often a
obtained in a variety of ways:
50% spilt between two taxpayers.
Salary & Wage Income • Dividend income including dividends paid directly to you,
dividends applied under a dividend reinvestment plan,
Salary and wages are the main forms of payments made to an dividends that were dealt with on your behalf and bonus
employee. Generally they are considered to be payments made shares that qualify as dividends.
to an individual as remuneration for services, and provided
• Interest income can include interest the ATO credited tax
under a contract of service (employment contract). Other
account with. It also includes money received from financial
payments include:
institution accounts and term deposits. NB If you operated
• Allowances can be for car, travel or transport, tools, clothing an account for a child and the funds in that account belonged
or laundry, dirt, site, risk, meal or entertainment or for to you, or you spent or used the funds in the account as if
qualifications held e.g. a first aid certificate. they belonged to you, you must include any interest from the
• Any payment received under sickness or insurance policy for account.
loss of income is usually considered assessable.
• Certain lump sum payments in respect of unused annual Other Income
leave and long service leave are entitled to concessional tax Business income may include earnings from your operation
treatment when you terminate your employment. That is through a Sole Trader, Partnership, Trust or Company structure.
why the amounts are separately recorded on your payment
The ATO makes a distinction between what is considered a
summary and separately recorded on your tax return. We
business and what is a hobby. There are certain tests that must
suggest that you obtain professional advice if you have any
be satisfied in order to gain treatment as a business (e.g. the
lump sum payments labelled A B C D or E on your payment
’business’ must make a consistent profit).
summary.
Capital Gains income could include any capital gain or capital
• Eligible Termination Payment (ETP) is a lump sum payment
loss on the disposal of certain assets. Reasons leading to a
paid by an employer or a superannuation fund. Some of these
possible event can include:
payments receive concession tax treatment up to certain
limits called caps. Areas include resignation, age retirement, • An asset you own is lost or destroyed (voluntary or
redundancy, dismissal, death of an employee. involuntary).
• You give an asset away.
Government Income • You enter into an agreement not to work in a particular
Assessable government payments include: industry for a set period of time.
• Age pension • Shares you own are cancelled, surrendered or redeemed.
• Newstart allowance • A liquidator or administrator declares that shares or financial
instruments you own are worthless.
• Youth Allowance
• You grant an option to someone to buy an asset that you own.
• Austudy payment
• You receive a non-assessable payment from a unit trust or
• Parenting payment (partnered)
managed fund.
• Partner Allowance
• You dispose of a depreciating asset that you used for private
• Sickness Allowance purposes.
• Special benefit • You stop being an Australian resident.
• Widow Allowance This is a complex area of tax law and we recommend you
• Farm household allowance consult a tax professional.
• Interim income support payment
• The following payments if you are 16 or older
• Abstudy living allowance
• Payments under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme
• Payments under the Military Rehabilitation And
Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme 2004
(MRCA education allowance)
• Other taxable Australian Government education or training
payments
• Community Development Employment Project (CDEP)
payments
• Disaster recovery allowance
P. 6NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Deductions
Deductions • Trading stock disposed of outside the ordinary course of
business.
Deductions are allowable expenses or outgoings that have been • Cultural gifts Program.
incurred in earning any assessable income. An expense must be • Heritage gifts .
incurred, that is either paid, or definitely committed to be paid, Examples of payments that are not gifts include:
such as holding the invoice. You must have written evidence to
prove your claims if your total claims exceed $300. Deductions • Purchases of raffle or art union tickets.
can include the following items. • Purchases of chocolates, pens etc.
• The cost of attending fundraising dinners, even if the cost
Bank Fees exceeds the value of the dinner .
Fees incurred due to having your salary paid directly into a bank • Membership fees.
account are a claimable expense. • Payments to school building funds as an alternative to an
increase in school fees.
Car Expenses • Payments where the person has an understanding with the
Using your car for work purposes can be claimed as a deduction. recipient that the payments will be used to provide a benefit
It does not include travel between work and home. You can for the donor.
claim for travel between two separate workplaces, or between a Contributions to school building funds can also be deductions.
workplace and a place of business. The ATO states that a school building fund has the following
characteristics:
Method 1 – Cents per kilometre • The fund is a public fund.
You can claim up to 5,000 business km per car. The rate of • The public fund is established and maintained solely
66c per km is applicable for all cars. You do not need written for providing money for the acquisition, construction or
evidence as such but you need to be able to show how you maintenance of a building.
calculated your claim.
• The building is used, or is to be used, as a school or college, by
Method 2 – Logbook a government or a public authority, or a non-profit society or
association.
You claim the business percentage of costs associated with
running your car. You need to record odometer readings and you n.b. A deduction is not allowable for purchasing gifts for other
need evidence of all costs except fuel. teachers or students:
“Teachers may outlay their own money to supply items to
Clothing students for their own individual needs (e.g. books and uniforms);
purchase gifts for students (e.g. Christmas gifts); purchase food
You can claim the cost of clothing if it falls into one of the
and drinks for special occasions (e.g. student birthdays) and
following categories:
replace money lost by students (e.g. money for bus fares and
• A compulsory uniform – a set of clothing that identifies you as lunch). While employee teachers may feel a moral, personal or
an employee. social obligation to outlay these expenses, there is no connection
• A single item of distinctive clothing, such as a jumper or tie, if between the expenditure incurred by the employee teacher and
it is compulsory for you to wear it at work. Generally having a producing assessable income.”
logo permanently attached and the clothing is not available to
the general public. Excursions, School Trips &
• A non- compulsory BUT registered uniform.
Camps
• The cost of buying, hiring, replacing or maintaining protective
clothing. You can also claim a deduction for the cost of The trips MUST be related to the curriculum or extra-curricular
clothing that you use at work to protect your ordinary clothes activities. Factors determining relevance would include the
from soiling or damage – for example, laboratory coats or purpose of the trip, the activities undertaken, and the duties of
art smocks. Also, you are allowed to claim for sun protection the teacher. For example, a teacher accompanies a class of school
such as sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhats. students on a day excursion to visit Parliament House as part of
the social studies curriculum. The purpose of the trip as well as
n.b. Expenditure on sports clothes such as tracksuits, t-shirts,
the activities have a direct relevance to the curriculum therefore,
aerobics clothing, swimming costumes and running shoes
all expenses would be deductible.
is considered conventional clothing and is not an allowable
deduction. Supervising students alone is not sufficient to make the expenses
deductible. For example, a teacher accompanies a group of
Donations & Gifts (incl School Building students to visit their sister school. Half of the time is spent
at the sister school engaging in social, classroom and sporting
Funds) activities. Half of the time is spent in tourist activities. The
trip is open to all students and is not part of the curriculum of
Donations must meet certain conditions. They must be made to
any particular course at the school. Even though the trip may
a Deductible Gift Recipient – a list of such organisations can be
provide social and cultural benefits to the students, the expenses
found at www.abn.business.gov.au. Gifts can include:
incurred by the teacher are not deductible. However, if the trip is
• $2 or more. not curriculum-related but forms an integral part of the extra-
• Property purchased during the 12 months before making the curricular activities and the teacher accompanies students as a
gift. representative of the school (e.g. school sporting events or school
• Listed shares valued at $5,000 or less. band competitions) the expenses would be allowable.
P. 7NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Deductions
The deductibility of expenses incurred to inspect a possible nb. In general, the costs associated with personal motivation
excursion venue prior to taking the students depends on the seminars are not tax deductible. Whilst they vary from course
purpose and reasons for undertaking such an inspection; e.g. to course, the ATO’s view is that ‘the material covered is
expenses associated with prior visit of a venue to ensure that it too general to be classed as relating specifically to income-
meets safety requirements are allowable. However, if a teacher producing activities.’
visits a venue privately then decides that it would make a good
excursion venue, the private visit expenses are not claimable. Tax Returns
The cost of managing your tax affairs is a tax deductible expense
Home Office in the year that it is incurred (e.g. this year, you can claim last
When you carry out work activities from your dedicated home year’s costs). These expenses must relate to a qualified tax
office, you can claim the heating, cooling, lighting and cleaning advisor. They can include the preparation and lodgement,
as well as the decline in value of and repairs to your home office advice, costs of travel to and from the advisor and obtaining
furniture and fittings. The ATO has set a fixed rate of 52c/hr for reference works.
these office expenses. You need to keep a diary for a 4 week
period to substantiate your calculation. A special shortcut rate Teaching aids
of 80c/hr was valid only during March to June, due to COVID-19.
Items purchased must have a direct and relevant use in carrying
out your duties. Examples include:
Insurance
• Pens, pencils, markers/highlighters, stamps, stickers, paints,
Income Protection Insurance not paid through your Super Fund stationery, posters, maps, laminating.
is claimable.
• Storybooks, jigsaws, games, toys used by early childhood,
primary school or special education teachers.
Rental Property Expenses • Items used in cooking or sewing classes or science
You can claim expenses relating to your rental property but only experiments.
for the period your property was rented or available for rent – • Prizes purchased to reward achievement and encourage
e.g. advertised for rent. Expenses could include: students.
• Advertising for tenants • Entrance fees for school excursions.
• Bank charges • Whistles and stopwatches used by physical education
• Body corporate fees employee teachers.
• Borrowing expenses • Calculators/calculator batteries
• Council rates • Maintaining classroom or school pets.
• Decline in value of depreciating assets
• Gardening and lawn mowing Travel Expenses
• Insurance If you have to travel away for work, then certain expenses may
• Land tax be deductible which may include:
• Pest control • Air, bus, train, tram and taxi fares
• Property agent fees or commissions • Bridge and road tolls
• Repairs and maintenance • Parking
• Stationery • Car hire fees
• Telephone • Meals
• Water charges • Accommodation.
• Travel costs to inspect the property. If a travel allowance is received and the amount of the claim
for expenses incurred is no more than a reasonable amount,
If only part of your property is rented out, these expenses must
substantiation is not required. If the deduction claimed is
be apportioned.
more than the reasonable amount (rates outlined by the
ATO depending on travel location) the whole claim must be
Self-Education Expenses substantiated, not just the excess over the reasonable amount.
Expenses incurred in completing training provided by a school, If the dominant purpose in incurring the cost is the attendance
college, university or other place of education. You must have at the conference or seminar then the existence of any private
undertaken the course for use in carrying on a profession, activity would be merely incidental and the cost would be fully
business or trade or in the course of employment. It MUST deductible. If the attendance at the conference or seminar is
relate to your work as an employee at the time you were only incidental to a private activity (e.g. a holiday) then only
studying. The first $250 of these expenses is not claimable. the costs directly attributable to the conference or seminar is
Such expenses may include: allowable deduction. The cost of accommodation, meals and
• Textbooks travel directly relating to the private activity is not allowable.
• Student union fees
• Stationery
Union and Professional
• Course fees Association Fees
• Travel expenses You can claim the cost of being a member of a Union or
• Decline in value of equipment. Association. See p. 9 for where to find your NTEU Tax Statement.
P. 8NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Rebates and Offsets
Rebates and Offsets
Tax offsets (or rebates) directly reduce the tax payable. Usually,
tax rebates can only reduce your tax payable to zero, with the
exception of franking and private health insurance.
Invalid Carer Tax Offset
If you maintained a dependent invalid relative you may be
entitled to a tax offset depending on your adjusted taxable
income.
Low Income Tax Offset
You may be eligible for a tax offset if you are a low-income
earner. You don’t have to claim this offset. The ATO will work
it out for you when you lodge your tax return. The offset can
only reduce the amount of tax you pay, it does not reduce your
Medicare levy.
Private Health Insurance Rebate
If you have private health insurance, you are entitled to a tax
rebate. Most people claim this throughout the year in the form
of a premium reduction.
Senior Australians and
Pensioners Tax Offset
The pensioner tax offset and the senior Australians tax offset
have been combined to form the seniors and pensioners tax
offset (SAPTO).
Zone Tax Offset
If you live and work in a remote area you may be entitled to the
zone offset.
Where to find your NTEU Tax Statement
If you pay your fees via direct debit, credit card or invoice
Your Tax Statement can be accessed via your online Member Tools page. Login in at www.nteu.org.au/members and select “Print
Tax Statements” in the Payments box. Please note that statements will not be mailed out.
If you pay your fees via payroll deduction
Membership fees will appear on the PAYG summary supplied by your employer. Contact your Payroll Department for any
inquiries.
TAFE members and ex-members
Tax statements will be sent to your home address in early July.
P. 9NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Do your tax NOW!
Do your tax NOW!
Let us help you lodge your tax return. Our tax service was designed BY teachers FOR teachers.
We will access your income details with the ATO and then we just need to add in your work-related expenses. We can correspond by
email or phone if you prefer. Your refund will be deposited into your bank account within *14 days (*ATO processes 94% in 14 days).
Our fee is only $110 (incl GST) for a standard return, which is deducted from your refund. NTEU members receive a 10% discount.
Email : info@teachertax.com.au Phone: (02) 8006 5020 Fax: (02) 4210 8682
We just need the following details to act as your agent and get started:
Full Name
Date of birth
Tax File Number
Address
Phone
Email
Signed Client _______________________________________________________ Date ___________________
Please complete the questionnaire below...
Questionnaire
Do you have a spouse or de facto?
(If yes, please supply name, date of birth & approximate taxable
income)
Do you have dependents? (If yes, how many?)
Do you have Private Health Insurance?
Do you have a HELP debt?
Income
How many payment summaries are you expecting?
If you receive an allowance on your payment summary what is it
for?
(e.g. travel)
Do you receive any Government pensions or allowances?
Do you have any savings which earns bank interest?
Do you have any shares that receive dividends?
Do you earn any business income?
Do you own a rental property?
Continue questionnaire overpage...
P. 10NTEU TAX GUIDE 2020 ◆ Do your tax NOW!
Deductions
D1 Use of your own car for Estimate of kilometres
work travel (not to and up to 5,000km
from work)
D2 Travel not reimbursed by Accommodation
your school
Flights
Car Hire
Public Transport
D3 Work clothing School Logo or $
Protective
D4 Self-education (must Course Name
be a link between the
Institution
course and your current
employment) Course Fees $
Textbooks $
Travel $ Or estimate km
D5 Other work expenses Bank Fees $
Books and Journals $
Computing (< $300) $
Computing (> $300) $ Purchase date
Description
Home Office (Estimate
of hours spent working
from home each week)
Internet (monthly cost) $ % work use
Memberships $
Phone (monthly Cost) $ % work use
Seminars $
Stationery $
Subscriptions $
Sun Protection (Hat, $
sunglasses, sunscreen)
Teaching aids, resources $
Teacher registration $
Union Fees $
Working with Children $
check
D9 Donations $
D10 Tax Affairs (Cost of getting $
your tax done last year)
D15 Other Income Protection $
Insurance
P. 11nteu.org.au/tax
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