Aussie Tax dollars at work.

[nevyn68]

As I don't work and haven't for more than 6 years I don't have any income.
For 2011 and 2012 years I logged a form saying I didn't need to lodge a tax return.
So this year I tried to do that again.
But no.....
They tell me I have to fill in all the boxes on a tax return with $0. That's right zero.
And why you might ask.
Well there were changes to the child support act requiring anyone who is supposed to pay or is receiving money via Child Support must lodge a return even if all boxes are $0.
So I try to lodge online for the 2013 year but because I hadn't lodged for the previous 2 it wouldn't let me.
I had to print the form and physically take it into the tax office in the next suburb over.
And while I was there I had to fill in the 2011 and 2012 years.
Everything was accepted.
The Mrs did hers in the first week of July for the 2013 year.
So far so good.

As a family we get a parenting payment and as soon as I lodged and they were processed we got the remainder of what was owed to us.
Fine there too.

I informed child support that my income was 0 and they waited until the returns had been processed to then send me out my updated payments.
Not fine there. Keep in mind I don't work because I can get work. They upped my monthly payment from $31.50 to $107.85.
How do I pay the $31.50 when I don't work let alone the $107.85?
Rang them and they understood and readjusted it back to $31.50 even though I don't work and earn $0.
So the debt keeps going up.
Blood from a stone here. Oh well.

Next I get an envelope from the Tax Dept about my returns.
No real problem as they were accepted.
But today (Wednesday) I get a letter telling me they have my 2013 return but I need to lodge my 2011 and 2012 returns.
WTF.
I have a letter from Tuesday saying they were accepted and processed.
I even have a statement to say that I owe $0

Both sets of mail are dated 19/8/2013.
All I can think is that they lodged my 2013 return first and that produced the second letter.
Then they processed my 2011 and 2012 returns which produced the first letter.
The first letter arriving Tuesday and the second Wednesday. Both from the same place in Albury but dif bits of the same place.

MORONS at work.

 

[Katzenfreund]

Asking for tax return form from people with no income is useful not only for statistical purposes, but mainly for prosecuting tax evaders. Because this way they have the official signed form they can produce in court if they discover undisclosed income.

 

[nevyn68]

@Katz, It's not the filling out of the forms.
It's not the change in the law that says I have to.
It's the fact that in one form I am told I have to fill out the "I don't need to do a return" page because I ticked all the boxes with a "No".
Then they change the rules and say I have to fill in the return because they left off a box to tick.
Then they send me a two letters one of which contradicts the other.

I just find government depts stupid at times.

@5ISAB, PM sent to clarify yours and my position. All good.