Find a Canberra tax agent so you can get a tax return worth bragging about.
As the nation’s capital, Australia’s largest in-land city and home to the legislature of the Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra is fast maturing as its own city. The story of Canberra is a funny one. A purpose built capital that sits right between Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a territory independent of influence from other Australian states, like New South Wales or Victoria.
There are hundreds of thousands of Canberrans living in the ACT, if you’re one of them, and you also have an income, you’ll need to pay income tax. The good news is that there’s no shortage of Canberra tax agents that can help you file a tax return and claim a tax refund from the government.
How do tax agents in Canberra work?
A tax agent is someone who can help you prepare and lodge your tax return. A tax agent must be registered with the Tax Practitioner's Board (TPB). A registered tax agent in Canberra can charge a fee for their tax services. Even if you think your tax return is relatively straight forward, it can pay to use the services of a professional so you can get the most from your tax return. A tax agent can give you specialised, personal advice and direction in preparing and lodging your Income Tax Return. A Canberra Tax Agent can tell you exactly how much of your income you need to declare and how much you’re eligible to receive as a tax refund.
For example, a registered tax agent can help you with the following:
- Preparing your Business Activity Statements (BAS)
- Lodging tax forms
- Giving advice about taxation law
- Dealing with the taxation commissioner on behalf of a taxpayer
A tax agent must be qualified under the Tax Agent Services Regulations Act 2009 (TASR). In order to be eligible for registration, a tax agent must have qualifications in either accountancy or law, be a member of a professional society of organisation or obtained the necessary experience over a set period of time. Please note, that a tax agents services are different to the services of an accountant. An accountant looks forward and is more of a strategist. An accountant can help you grow your income; while a tax agent is primarily concerned with getting the most from your tax return.
Back to topHow to compare tax agents in Canberra
There are some very easy ways you can compare tax agents in Canberra. Refer to the tax agent fees as a starting point. Some agents may be more expensive than others, you then have to look beyond the fees to see whether the service offered by selected tax agents is worth the extra cost. Some agents offer a first time no obligation free consultation, and some agents will even come to you. You can compare Canberra tax agents by the following points.
- Price. Canberra tax agents offer their services for different prices. For example, a tax agent who is operating independently may cost less (or more) than a tax agent operating under a brand name or a chain, like H&R Block. People are quick to point out that the less pay you pay for a tax agent’s services, the less you’re likely to get back on your tax return. Although the price of a tax agent may be commensurate to their experience, this is not a rule of thumb and it’s important to judge each individual agent on their merits. Ask your tax agent for references or ask to speak to a previous client if you’re unsure about whether you would like to employ the services of a Canberra tax agent.
- Services. What services does your Canberra tax agent offer? Some tax agents go beyond the preparation and lodging of your tax return. For example, some tax agents specialise in preparing tax forms for individuals; while other tax agents can provide services for sole traders, contractors and small businesses.
- Availability. Is your chosen tax agent available to perform your tax services at the time you wish? Furthermore, are you able to physically get to your tax agent? Some agents will come to you, so you don’t have to go out of your way.
What areas in Canberra are tax agents available?
You will be able to find a registered tax agent in most areas of Canberra. You have a couple of options if you want to find a Canberra tax agent. On the one hand, you can employ the services of a national chain that has an office in Canberra, large organisations like H&R Block are an example. The other option is to go for a local tax agent who operates in the Canberra region only.
Central.
There are approximately twenty-five suburbs in the Canberra Central region. The city centre is in Central Canberra. There is an abundance of tax agents in this area. Central Canberra is comprised of the following suburbs: Civic, Deakin, Dickson, Fyshwick, Manuka, Kingston, Reid, Turner and Watson.
Belconnen.
The Belconnen region also has approximately twenty five suburbs within it, including: Belconnen, Cook, Dunlop, Holt, Macquarie, Scullin, Spence and Weetangera.
Woden Valley.
Originally designed as a satellite city seperate to Canberra Central, the Woden Valley is home to about thirty thousand Canberrans. Suburbs within the Woden Valley district: Chiefly, Curtin, Garren, Hughes, Mawson, Phillip and Torrens.
Tuggeranong.
Tuggeranong is one of the original districts of Canberra and consists of nineteen suburbs: Kambah, Greenway, Banks, Calwell, Monash and Oxley, for example.
Pros and cons of using a tax agent
Pros
- Tax refund. A tax agent should be knowledgeable about all the items you can claim as a tax deduction and can find ways to increase your tax refund.
- Specialist knowledge. The taxation system is rather complicated. A tax agent will be able to advise you on some of the perplexing points of tax law in Australia.
Cons
- Tax agent fees. Although a tax agent can maximise your tax return, they don’t work for free. You’ll need to pay a fee if you employ the services of a tax agent.
- Accountants. An accountant can advise on areas of taxation law and should be able to handle your tax return, too. A tax agent usually does not advise on areas of business structure, for example, like an accountant.
Questions to ask your tax agent
What items can I claim as a tax deduction?
Ideally, you should find a tax agent that knows what items can be claimed as a deduction for your profession; however, it helps to ask your accountant for information about of all the items you may be eligible to claim as a tax deduction so you can get the maximum tax refund for your situation.
Do I have to provide receipts for deductible items?
Generally speaking you do not have to provide receipts; however, your tax agent may ask to see proof of purchase for certain large ticket items. Ask your tax agent whether they need to see any receipts for purchases you plan to claim as a tax deduction.
Should I be making any charitable contributions?
The government provides tax breaks for people who choose to donate their money to charity. You can reduce your taxable income by the amount you donate to charity. The money you have donated to charity is deducted from your total taxable income, which may result in you being charged a lower tax bracket. Ask your tax agent for more information on deductible donations.
What documents do I need to provide for the consultation?
Get in touch with your tax agent before your first meeting so you make sure you bring all the necessary paperwork and documentation with you. The tax agent may need to see detailed information for complex tax returns.
If you’re looking to get the biggest tax refund you can get, it helps to have a tax agent who knows how to make the system work for you. Compare tax agents in Canberra so you can find the right professional to handle your tax return in time for the new financial year.
Users are also requested to read all terms and conditions related document carefully before committing to any Tax Specialists Service.
Looking for a very knowledgeable accountant in Canberra south or centre
If lodging a tax return for the first time,is it possible to get all the withheld tax back?
Hi Wilson,
Thanks for your question.
The amount of tax you get back generally depends on how much you earn and how much you’ve paid as PAYG. It’s not dependent on whether it’s your first tax return or not.
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately we’re unable to recommend specific products and services. You may want to ask your friends, colleagues or family for any recommendations.
You can also use the Australian Accountants Directory to find an accountant near you.