Use digital self-help tools to answer tax queries: ATO

If you're feeling confused about preparing your tax return, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has advised you to seek help from its digital self-help tools.

“We get lots of calls from the community about topics that can be easily resolved through our digital self-help tools, so it may be better to not wait in a queue to speak to someone when you can do it yourself, at a time and place that suits you,” ATO chief service delivery officer David Allen said.

“Our website has a wealth of information that you can refer to, including specific pages that explain what’s new this tax time for individuals and tax professionals. There is even a virtual assistant called ‘Alex’ that can help you track down the information you need.”

The ATO also provides digital tools, including myTax and the ATO app, which you can use to answer questions and perform specific actions on accounts. You can also seek help from the ATO Community, an online, peer-to-peer platform.

Online tax returns will take up to 14 days to process, according to the ATO.