Author Topic: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?  (Read 3797 times)

stripey

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Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« on: June 29, 2014, 04:20:56 AM »
Hi there fellow Aussies,

Just wondering if anyone here had any opinion about MyTax.

My tax affairs are very simple and straightforward, and it looks like I'm eligible to use it (although I've used eTax in the past and have found it a cinch too). I am a little hesitant of giving it a go though, simply because being an early adopter of a new scheme/program/app can be quite irritating at times.

Would like to hear some opinions. Cheers

marty998

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Re: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2014, 05:20:22 AM »
Haven't seen it yet. But I do get irritated with the "my" concept that is infecting the globe. Last count I'm up to 12 companies and organisations that use this annoying gimmick.

Australian tax rules are built on the notion of "self assessment". i.e. you are responsible for everything relating to your tax affairs. So I reckon this is likely to catch out a few who blindly "tick and flick" as the PR hacks are saying.

I like eTax. It's thorough, and quite educational. If you read the help screens properly, you can be left in no doubt as to the tax treatment of the vast majority of transactions that may have to be accounted for.

stripey

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Re: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2014, 07:31:33 AM »
I completely agree with the 'my' prefix that seems be touted left right and centre at the moment. It's nearly as irritating as the 'i' prefix in front of so many things (including many not-Apple products). I wonder who remembers what the 'i' actually stood for...

Nudelkopf

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Re: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2014, 08:52:13 PM »
I thought the 'My' prefix was a government thing.

I hadn't heard of MyTax before now. But it seems like a more simple version of eTax?

stripey

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Re: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2014, 10:44:51 PM »
How remiss of me, I should have linked to the relevant page: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Lodging-your-tax-return/Lodge-online/MyTax/

Basically it looks like a webapp for doing personal tax- but only if tax affairs are pretty straightforward. Means people an use tablets, Linux computers, etc. for doing a tax return. (When I had a Linux box, I never managed to get eTax working with WINE)

For both eTax and MyTax this year I think you need a MyGov account (sigh).

marty998

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Re: Australian taxpayers: MyTax?
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2014, 04:57:29 AM »
Yes, the part of me that is Libertarian just died a little bit when I saw that today and registered an account (myGov). Another password to remember lol. I can't do it anymore. I think my brain is only filled with usernames and passwords now. Homer Simpson said it best whenever he learned something new, something else was pushed out.

The gubbmint knows everything now. But I can see the benefit in having everything in one place, rather than Centrelink, the ATO, etc not talking to eachother.

Risk of fraudulent returns being lodged on eTax is also greatly reduced.

I have a shedload of capital losses carried forward, so won't be using myTax for a very long time :) eTax will have to do.

Regarding the "my". I've seen mySpace (remember that!), myUNSW, myCA, myHR, myPlace, myWealth, mySuper, myRTA, myTrain, myBus, and now there's myGov and myTax!!!

How many more have you seen?