What should I bring to my tax appointment?

You can download a summary checklist of what to bring in pdf format: Client Checklist – What Should I Bring

Documents to bring to your accountant

Clients often ask us what documents they should have in preparation for their tax appointment. One of the simplest ways to work out what to bring is to look at your previous year’s tax return. This will remind you which categories of income, deductions and tax offsets apply to you.

You need to be able to prove (or substantiate) your deductions. This usually means keeping receipts or tax invoices for the amounts you have spent. However, there are some exceptions.

If your total claim for work-related deductions is under $300 you are not required to keep written evidence.
Home office expenses can be claimed without reference to receipts or utility bills. You can claim 34 cents per hour to cover certain expenses, however, you should keep a four-week diary of the home office as substantiation. See the ATO website for more detail.
You do not need written evidence to claim motor vehicle expenses using the set rate or cents per kilometre method. But don’t just invent work trips – you still need a proper basis for working out your claim. There are several methods for claiming car expenses but cents per kilometre usually provides the best deduction where your business-related trips are infrequent.

Here are some specific examples of what you should bring to your appointment:

New clients only

Your most recent Tax Return
Notice of Assessment (What does this look like?)

Income

Payment summaries for salaries and wages (view sample) (view paper sample)
Allowances (e.g. entertainment/car / travel / uniform / laundry / meals)
Lump-sum termination payments (view sample)
Government pensions and allowances
Payment summaries for superannuation income streams (view sample) or other pensions
Payment summaries for superannuation lump sum payments (view sample)
Interest (tip: check internet banking) and dividends (view sample)
Distributions from partnerships or trusts, including managed funds (view sample)
Details of investment assets sold, such as shares or real estate

Work-related expenses

Use of own motor vehicle for business travel
Other business travelling expenses (car parking, road tolls, accommodation)
Purchase of protective clothing or uniforms
Sun protection expenses
Self-education expenses (related to your current job)
Home office running expenses
Telephone expenses
Depreciation of library, tools, business equipment, percentage of home computer
Tools of trade
Subscriptions to trade magazines
Union membership

Investment-related expenses

Account keeping fees
Ongoing management fees
Interest on borrowing to buy shares
Advice relating to changing and managing investments (but not setting them up)
Investment publications (e.g. financial reviews, magazines, not ordinary newspapers)

Other expenses

Donations (made to a deductible gift recipient)
Income Protection Insurance Premiums (not claimable if the policy is held in super)

Rental properties

Key documents required

Rental Summary from the agent (view sample) – or if not using an agent, your record of rent received
Interest paid (most banks will provide a total online or on your June bank statement)
Depreciation report from a quantity surveyor
Repairs and maintenance (itemised list with receipts)

It is important to itemise repairs & maintenance so we can distinguish between amounts that are immediately deductible and amounts that must be written off over time (find out more).

Other expenses (please summarise these) including advertising, cleaning, gardening, pest control, council/water rates, insurance, property agent fees, printing, postage and stationery, travel (e.g. to inspect the property, visit agent etc). For car travel, estimate total km.

Additional information

Contact details, if changed from last year
Bank Account details for your refund (BSB, Account Number and Account Name)
Remote zone allowance (if you lived in a remote area)
Details of place and number of nights stayed
Private health cover statement
Medical expense details if net expenses exceed $2,000
Spouse details (read the tax definition of spouse)
Date of birth, taxable income, fringe benefits, reportable super contributions
Dependent details, DOB and separate net income
Any other information that you may consider relevant