Lodge tax returns for Family Tax Benefit to continue
National Media Release
Monday, 24 August 2009
The Family Assistance Office is reminding customers receiving Family Tax Benefit about the changes to legislation that will affect people who fail to lodge tax returns.
"The Family Assistance Office is sending out letters to approximately 70,000 customers who have failed to lodge all required tax returns for the years they were in receipt of Family Tax Benefit," Centrelink General Manager, Hank Jongen said.
"The letter, which explains the requirement to lodge a tax return for Family Tax Benefit purposes, also informs customers that from January 2010, any family who has failed to lodge a tax return for any previous financial year, will no longer be able to receive Family Tax Benefit as a fortnightly payment.
"If the customer or their partner was not required to lodge a tax return for a previous financial year, they need to tell the Family Assistance Office"
"Entitlement to family assistance is based on a family's estimated annual income for that financial year and is generally paid as a fortnightly payment.
"It is then reconciled at the end of the financial year after customers have lodged their tax return and their actual income is known.
"This new legislation means only those who prove their entitlement to this assistance will continue to receive it and it will help prevent families accumulating overpayments each year as a result of not lodging tax returns.
"These families won't miss out on the payment altogether, they will still have the option of claiming as a lump sum at the end of the financial year after they have their tax return.
By not lodging a tax return, families could be missing out on assistance they are entitled to, including a possible top-up of Family Tax Benefit or any additional supplementary payments paid once a family's actual taxable income is known."
Customers wanting more information can call the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 or find information on this website or the Family Assistance Office website.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.