If you're expecting a sizable tax return, it can be tempting to blow the money on a shiny new gadget or mid-year holiday. Indeed, a recent survey by Get Qualified Australia (GQA) found that nearly a fifth of Australians spend their tax return on recreation. By contrast, just 2 per cent of people put the money towards education and upskilling. Here are five ways to transform your return into a lucrative investment courtesy of GQA founder Adam Wadi.

Dear Lifehacker, How long is it necessary to keep documents for deceased relatives? My father has been dead for years, but I still have boxes and boxes of his tax papers that I'm not sure what to do with?

Even if someone prepares your taxes for you, you're still on the hook for the information they submit to the ATO. That's why you don't want to just pick anybody to help prepare your taxes. Here are a few tips for finding a reputable accountant.

While tax time usually conjures the image of piles of paper and shoeboxes full of old receipts, it doesn't have to be that way forever. If you're sick of shuffling through hard copy documents to get your finances sorted every July, here are our top five apps that'll save you time and stress this tax time.

Each financial year, the Australian Taxation Office pays special attention to certain work expenses as it attempts to flush out people deliberately rorting the system. In 2015, the ATO adopted a broad targeting strategy to ensure deductions were appropriate. This year, it's going after particular work expenses -- and you're probably claiming at least one of them.

Tax time. Not the most exciting time for many people but it's something we can't avoid. Having said that, if you know how to do it right, you could be in line for a juicy tax return. Lifehacker Australia spoke with an accountant from H&R Block for some useful tax time tips.

As tax time looms closer, online ads spruiking an "instant" or "same day" tax refund have likely caught your attention. When it comes to tax returns, now is better than later, right? However, the truth is that many so-called “same day tax refunds” are anything but. In fact, it could be a decision that leaves you thousands of dollars out of pocket. Here are several reasons why these "deals" are best avoided.

Did you know the Australian Taxation Office has an official app that can make things much easier on you this coming tax time? Though released last July, the ATO's myDeductions tool will come into its own this year, with the ability to either automatically upload all your deductions straight into your tax return, or email your information to your tax agent or accountant.