Lifehacker’s Complete Tax Week 2012 Guide


Tax time will soon be upon us once again, so you’ll want to get organised and maximise your potential refund. Here are all our Lifehacker Tax Week 2012 posts, gathered together in one location for easy reference.

The image above is a bonus tip: be wary of fake tax refund scams, which become increasingly common at this time of year. If you get an email claiming you have a tax refund due and asking for details to be confirmed, ignore it. As you can see, hovering over the link in the above example shows that it is not going to an ATO-related site.


What’s New For Your 2011-2012 Tax Return


The end of the financial year is almost upon us, so you’ll soon be submitting your annual tax return. Here are the big changes from last year to be aware of.
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Whose Tax Returns Is The ATO Double-Checking This Year?


Each year, the Australian Taxation Office singles out specific careers where expenses claims and refund amounts will be more closely scrutinised. The targets this year? IT professionals, plumbers and non-commissioned defence force officers. Plus: all the current ATO guides for deductions in specific jobs.
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Ask LH: Can I Salary Sacrifice A Laptop, An iPad And Some Software?


Dear Lifehacker, I am about to enter negotiations for a new work contract and will be putting forward my ideas for some real perks. I want to salary sacrifice to purchase a MacBook Pro with software, and possibly an iPad. What is the current standing on getting it cheaper this way?
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Tax Records: What You Need And How Long You Need To Keep Them


We might live in the digital era, but tax time still feels like it involves a mound of paperwork. Here’s what you really need and how long you have to hang on to it for.
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Ask LH: Should I Pay Off My HELP Debt?


Dear Lifehacker, I’m free from debt on all accounts except for a student HELP debt. I have sufficient savings to pay out this debt, however given the low interest rate applied to HELP debt is my money better off invested somewhere else, such as in a high interest savings account? I know some people say you can avoid student debts entirely if you move overseas, and I want to consider my options carefully.
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Smart And Fun Things To Do With Your Tax Refund


OK, you can’t yet submit your tax return for 2012-2013, but if you’ve organised yourself, you’ll be ready to go in early July, and your refund could follow before the end of the month. If you want to start planning now for what you’ll do with that windfall, we have a few suggestions.
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Pictures by Rupert Ganzer, HVargas, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Jerry Bunkers, Nina Matthews Photography, Joe Shlabotnik


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