Question 1

When is my tax return due?

Accepted Answer

If you lodge your own return it is due by 31 October. When you lodge through us as your registered tax agent you generally get an extended due date — often as late as 15 May the following year — as long as you are registered with us before 31 October and your previous returns are up to date.

Question 2

What records do I need to bring?

Accepted Answer

Your income statements (most are pre-filled from the ATO), bank interest, dividend statements, private health cover details, and receipts or a summary of your work-related expenses. If you own a rental property, bring the agent's annual statement, loan interest and any repair invoices. We send you a simple checklist before your appointment so nothing gets missed.

Question 3

Can you lodge overdue or previous-year returns?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We regularly help clients who are a few years behind. We check your ATO records, work out which years are outstanding, lodge them in the right order and, where appropriate, request remission of failure-to-lodge penalties. There is no judgement — getting you back up to date is the goal.

Question 4

What deductions can I actually claim?

Accepted Answer

Anything you spent to earn your income that you weren't reimbursed for: work-related travel, tools and equipment, union or professional fees, home office running costs, self-education directly related to your job, and work-related portions of phone and internet. We go through your occupation line by line so you claim everything you are entitled to — and nothing you aren't.

Question 5

How long will my refund take?

Accepted Answer

Once lodged, the ATO usually issues refunds within 5 to 10 business days, though it can take longer if they review the return or offset it against an existing debt. We confirm the lodgement with you and let you know the expected date.

Question 6

Do I need to lodge if I earned under the tax-free threshold?

Accepted Answer

Often yes — if any tax was withheld from your pay you should lodge to get it back, and you may still need to lodge a non-lodgement advice. We can check your situation in a couple of minutes over the phone.

Question 7

How often do I need to lodge a BAS?

Accepted Answer

Most small businesses lodge quarterly (September, December, March and June quarters). Larger businesses lodge monthly, and some very small businesses report annually. We confirm your cycle with the ATO and set reminders so lodgements are never late.

Question 8

When do I have to register for GST?

Accepted Answer

Once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 ($150,000 for not-for-profits) you must register, and registration is compulsory from the first day of the month after you cross the threshold. Ride-share and taxi drivers must register regardless of turnover. We handle the registration for you.

Question 9

What happens in a GST review?

Accepted Answer

We go through your transactions for the period and check that GST has been coded correctly — GST-free items, capital purchases, private-use portions and anything without a valid tax invoice. Errors are corrected before lodgement, which is where most BAS problems get caught.

Question 10

Do you do the bookkeeping too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can keep your records tidy throughout the quarter, reconcile your bank accounts and set up or clean up your accounting file, then prepare and lodge the BAS from those figures. Bookkeeping is charged hourly at $80–$120/hour depending on the work involved.

Question 11

I've fallen behind on my BAS — can you help?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We bring outstanding BAS lodgements up to date, work out where the GST figures went wrong, and if there is a debt we can help you arrange a payment plan with the ATO.

Question 12

Do you offer online appointments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can have everything handled by phone and email without visiting the office — we send a checklist, you send your documents through, and we review the return with you before lodgement. If you prefer face-to-face, our office is in Seven Hills, Blacktown.

Question 13

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Individual returns start from $250, sole trader returns from $750 and company returns from $1,200. BAS preparation and lodgement starts from $150 per BAS. Full details are on our pricing page and we always confirm the fee with you before starting any work.

Question 14

What are your qualifications?

Accepted Answer

We are a registered tax agent and BAS agent, a CPA member, and hold a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting, with more than 5 years of experience across individual, sole trader and company work.

Question 15

How do I book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Use the online booking page to pick a day and time that suits you — you'll see live availability and get instant confirmation. You can also call or email us and we'll find a time together.

Your tax and BAS questions, answered plainly

Tax returns

BAS & GST

Working with MC TAXATION & BAS SERVICES

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