On Ops? You can defer your tax

By PTE John Wellfare

Members of the ADF who are unable to lodge their tax return on time due to operational commitments are entitled to defer the lodgement of their return up to March 31, 2004.

The deferral option has existed for defence members since last year, but must be re-negotiated each year by the Defence Tax Management Office (DTMO).

Assistant secretary, Treasury and Tax Manag­ement with DTMO, Alice Dobes said DTMO had again been successful in negotiating the extension for Defence members.

“DTMO has successfully negotiated with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) a lodgement deferral for ADF personnel who are unable to lodge their tax return on time due to operational deployments,” she said.

“Operational deployments refer to peacekeeping, warlike and non-warlike duties in areas specified in the ADF pay and conditions manual.”

The normal due date for lodgement of returns by individual taxpayers, including ADF members who are not eligible for the deferral, is October 31.

“Failure by a taxpayer to lodge a return by the due lodgement date may result in a penalty being applied,” Ms Dobes said.

“Generally, the penalty for ‘small sized’ taxpayers is calculated at the rate of $110 for each 28 days that a return is overdue to a maximum of $550.”

Ms Dobes said the lodgement deferral would not be applied automatically.

“If you are qualified for a lodgement deferral, you or someone you authorise (eg your spouse or partner) should contact DTMO by Friday October 24, 2003,” she said.

“Upon contact with DTMO please specify your correct Tax File Number, which will be conveyed in a secure manner to the ATO so that your deferral request can be noted in it’s records.”

Ms Dobes said ADF members were responsible for advising DTMO by the specified date and lodging their tax return by March 31, 2004.

“However, if you do not want DTMO to be involved, or to be advised of your tax file number, you should contact the ATO directly for a deferral.”

If for some reason an ADF member requires a deferral beyond March 31, the member should contact the ATO directly in order to negotiate an extension.

Ms Dobes said DTMO would strictly maintain confidentiality when dealing with members’ details for the purpose of lodgement deferral.

Contact Details:

DTMO
Email: taxation.management@defence.gov.au
Fax: (02) 6265 2648 (+61 for overseas callers)
Phone: 1800 806 053 (in Australia)
Phone: +61 2 6265 7120 (overseas callers)

ATO
Phone: 132 861
Specified areas of eligibility for deferral are outlined in ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN), volume 3, part 4, division 1, chapter 17 - Overseas deployments, annex 17.4.1. PACMAN can be found at either

http://defw­eb.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedet or www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dpedet

.