Most of the time lost in a tax appointment is spent hunting for something that could have been in the folder. Here is what we ask clients to bring, and why each item matters.
Income
Most employment income now pre-fills from the ATO, but pre-fill is not always complete by the time you sit down with us, and it does not cover everything.
- ·Income statements from every employer you had during the year, including any you left
- ·Bank interest, dividend statements and any managed fund annual tax statements
- ·Rental property statements from your agent, plus anything you paid directly
- ·Income from side work, contracting, ride share or online selling
- ·Records of any crypto or share disposals during the year, including the original purchase
Deductions
The test is the same across the board: the expense has to relate to earning your income, you need to have paid it yourself without reimbursement, and you need a record.
- ·Work-related travel, including a logbook if you are claiming car expenses on actual costs
- ·Tools, equipment and technology, with purchase dates so we can work out depreciation
- ·Working from home records — hours worked, and the running-cost evidence to back them
- ·Self-education directly connected to your current role
- ·Income protection premiums paid outside super, and any deductible personal super contributions
The three people forget most
Private health insurance statements. Without them we cannot finalise the rebate and surcharge position, and the return sits waiting.
Last year's return, if you are new to us. It tells us what carried forward — capital losses, depreciation schedules and prior-year positions we would otherwise miss.
Settlement statements. If you bought or sold property during the year, the settlement statement drives both the capital gains calculation and the deductible portion of borrowing and holding costs.
If you are missing something
Come anyway. We would rather start the conversation, work out what is genuinely needed, and chase the gaps afterwards than have you delay the appointment for a document that turns out not to matter.