How long to get first time tax refund? Paper forms submitted start of October.... Not a peep..

[LadyCroft]

My husband is still waiting for his tax refund. Accountant had to do it on paper as it was the first time he had done one. When he enters his tfn no on the ATO tracking search thingy it says they received his paper application but not to contact them again until end of December. Accountant was convinced he would have his refund in 3 weeks as they usually have 30 days or so to get the money into your account. He was hoping the refund would be in before Christmas (obviously) but it is looking slim now.

 

How long did it take to get your first tax refund if it was done on paper?

[Freckleface]

I could be reading it incorrectly but the ATO site indicates returns lodged by mail are usually assessed with 50 days. It indicates 15 days for online submissions.

[Alan Collett]

Tax returns can be lodged online, even if this is the first tax return in Australia - not sure why you have had to lodge a tax return on paper.

 

I'm assuming your accountant is a registered tax agent, and can therefore lodge the return via the tax agents portal.

 

Best regards.

[xxlornaxx]

I had to do paper too as first time...well so ato told me...it took roughly the full 50days they advise on website

[Alan Collett]

I had to do paper too as first time...well so ato told me...it took roughly the full 50days they advise on website

 

 

Sounds like another good reason to use a registered tax agent then!

 

Best regards.

[Cheese please]

It was my first time too and I had to do a paper submission. My online account was created and linked successfully, it just wouldn't accept a submission and speaking to ATO bods confirmed this. I received my tax refund within the tail-end of that 50 day timeline.

 

It was a very straight forward submission, so certainly didn't need a tax agent in this case!

[xxlornaxx]

I didnt need an agent..I too successfully linked online account but wouldn't let me do tax return online..I phoned ato n they confirmed this...was happy wth tax return n nt using agent...should b able to do it online nxt year