QUEENSLAND residents eligible for family or child care tax benefits have only days left to ensure they don’t miss out on entitlements in the coming financial year.
Department of Human Services general manager, Hank Jongen, said people who received family assistance in the 2016-17 financial year have until June 30 to lodge their tax returns.
“The vast majority of Family Tax Benefit payment recipients have met their obligations for 2016-17, but we are still waiting on some families to get last year’s tax done so that we can balance their payments and make sure they received the right amount,” Mr Jongen said.
“If families don’t lodge a tax return – or let us know they don’t need to – they could be missing out on a top-up or supplement payment.
“Those who don’t need to lodge one can easily tell the department on myGov through their Centrelink online account, or by using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
“Plus, if families miss the deadline, they may have to pay back the family payments they received last financial year. It’s really important families take action now while there is still time.”
Mr Jongen reminded families now is also the time to make a lump sum claim for some family payments and to get ready for the new child care subsidy.
“If you didn’t receive any family assistance in 2016-17 you can make a lump sum claim by June 30 2018. This could be for family tax benefit or child care benefit – or both,” Mr Jongen said.
“On our social media pages, we’re seeing a lot of interest in the new child care subsidy.
“From July 2, child care benefit and child care rebate will be replaced by a single payment, the new child care subsidy.
“As child care subsidy is based on your family income, activity level, the type of child care you use and the age of your children, we need a very small amount of extra information to transfer families who already receive child care assistance payments to the new payment.
“Families must complete the child care subsidy assessment as soon as possible, and this is best done on their Centrelink online account through myGov.”
Mr Jongen encouraged any families unsure of what they need to do to check their myGov inbox, visit humanservices.gov.au or follow the department’s Family Update on Facebook.
