Tax Tips

Make sure that your tax refund application is safe and secure by choosing a professional and trusty worthy company.

• Avoid tax companies who claim they can obtain a refund of 100% of the tax you paid. Except in exceptional circumstances you can only claim back tax you overpaid – not all of the total tax you paid.



• Avoid tax companies who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other companies. This is often connected with using incorrect filing techniques that mean you may claim money you are not entitled to – so getting a larger refund might mean bending the law. If you get money back that you're not entitled to and the tax offices realizes – it can be viewed as being stolen and may cause problems for you in the future.



• Don't ever send your bank details via email – always make sure you are using a secure link if sending any payment information.



• Make sure your tax company is completely transparent in all their dealings with your tax information. You should receive ongoing updates on all actions taken on your tax return and full information on your expected refund amount and fees for any tax preparation services.



• It is recommended that your tax company has licensed accountants to deal with your tax return. In the US tax companies must have a US licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant) who checks and signs all tax returns. Ask for evidence of this. The CPA will put his signature next to yours on the forms and will represent you for your tax matters. In Australia, this is called an Authorised Tax Agent.



• For US tax returns watch out for tax companies who claim they are “official representatives” of the IRS. The IRS has no official representatives.



• The processing timeline for tax returns depends on the tax office – they are the ones who actually process your tax return and issue your tax refund. Be aware of companies that promise they can refund money faster than the tax office.



• Most tax offices require tax records be kept for a certain number of years so trust a company that has been around for long enough. Think whether the company will be around to answer questions about your tax return for months, or even years, after the return has been filed.



• Check which accounting bodies your company or its representatives are members of. This will help guarantee the quality and security of your tax return.



• In the US please be careful of companies that promise to speed up your tax refund by electronically filing (e-filing) your US tax return. This option is available only for residents and citizens of the United States and it is illegal for non-residents of United States to use this system.