By
PTE John Wellfare
MEMBERS of the ADF unable to lodge their tax return on time owing
to operational commitments are entitled to defer the lodgement
of their return up to March 31, 2004.
The deferral option has existed since last year, but must be renegotiated
each year by the Defence Tax Management Office (DTMO).
DMTO Assistant Secretary Treasury and Tax Management Alice Dobes
said DTMO had again been successful in negotiating the extension
for Defence members on operational deployments.
“Operational deployments refer to peacekeeping, warlike and
non-warlike duties in areas specified in ADF pay and conditions
manual,” Ms Dobes said.
The normal due date for lodgement of returns by individual taxpayers,
including ADF members 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.”
She 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,” 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 its records.”
If for some reason an ADF member requires a deferral beyond March
31, the member should contact the ATO directly to negotiate an
extension.
Ms Dobes said DTMO would strictly maintain confidentiality when
dealing with members’ details for the purpose of lodgement
deferral.
Who
to contact
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
