[Ellaq]

I noticed a lot of people are ringing centrelink to inform them of a non-lodgement. This is something I have also been doing for the past few years. Can I ask are you also lodging an actual tax return with a zero income?

I recently spoke to the tax office and was informed that I needed to complete tax returns for the past few years even though I have no income. Family tax benefits had always been received in DH name.

[Sassy Dingo]

Yes, you need to either do a tax return every year or tell the tax office that you don't need to do one. Otherwise how do they know that you have no income and don't need to lodge?

Grab a few tax packs from your local newsagency. In them they'll have a one page form called a non lodgement advice. Fill one out for each year that you haven't lodged. For the years other than 2012 - cross out 2012 on the form and write the appropriate year. These forms are keyed by real people so they can sort it out.

The forms are really easy. Write your details in there - tick the box saying that you don't need to lodge, don't tick the box that says you'll never need to lodge ever again (unless that's your intention), and sign it.

You need to lodge every year. Even if you have no tax payable the ato can still slap you with a failure to lodge penalty as you were required to lodge and you didn't.

[PippityRoo]

Hmmmm, I haven't lodged a tax return since I fell pregnant with DD1 (so 6yrs), as I haven't had any sort of income anything since then. I have been informing centrelink each year of non-lodgement though.

Dh has obviously been lodging a tax return as he has an income.

I might have to look into this... Ooops!

[morgansacre]

I just got my group certificate from Centrelink. There is a form with it to ask if you need to lodge a tax return or not.

It states if you didn't earn any income or paid no tax then you don't need to lodge a tax return, it says to do nothing...

I haven't lodged a tax return in over 32 years. I just let Centrelink know and it is entered into the system which I was told by Centrelink also applies to ATO.

Lynn

[JustBeige]

You just need to fill in a non lodgment form and post it in. If you do a search on the ATO website you will find them.
2011/2012. http://www.ato.gov.au/content/00313592.htm

You are supposed to do them, but I have been a SAHM for 13yrs now and have only started in the last 4/5years as I never knew you had to and honestly it never occurred to me as I had been updating centerlink.