The ATO and me!

    Over the last 10 years or so I have put aside a few dollars each payday for my grandchildren in a bank account.

    In the last three years, the Australian Tax Office has “stolen” the interest from my grandson’s account. The ATO calls it “Withholding Tax”. My grandson has just turned 15 and the stealing has been going on since he was 12 or 13.

    The ATO tell me that he can get that money back by supplying the bank with a Tax File number and submitting an income tax form for the relevant year.

    I approached the nearest ATO office. “Oh we don’t do that here!”

    I went to the tax office that I was directed to. “This is the “green form”. You need the “pink form”

    On the third trip I was told that the ATO does not recognize properly notarized copies. Only an original birth certificate will do. This distinction is quite illegal, as any JP knows.

    Also they do not recognize any Medicare number and must see the original medicare card. So, I approached Medicare to obtain a Medicare Card, which is supposedly available to all citizens over the age of 15. But Medicare says no! They use the same excuses, the other office, pink forms and not green, and no properly notarized copies.

Forget about approaching the ATO by phone or by internet. You will waste your time.

    In the mean n time, the ATO continues to steal my grandson’s bank funds.

4 comments

Pretty grim - unfortunately with everything being computarised it is hard for them not picking up on anything - surely your bank should have advised you of the situation when you opened the account.

You may find this link on WHT useful - good luck, they should pay you for the wasted time.

Banking Tips

Within two hours of me posting this, an ATO customer service officer was on the phone. Curious. 

I can sympathise Oscar and every branch of government is the same. Its all beauracracy and red tape these days..... no public servant seems capable of thinking for themselves and the rule book is their gospel. I recently had a nightmare experience with Immigration over my passport - sheer stupidity and pig headedness I had to deal with.

Quite right kfc

It would be good if they behaved as a  Public Servant which is what they are.

 

Oscar

Are you suggesting that ATO reads through our comments ???

I imagine it could be of interest to Centrelink ???

Hope everything got resolved with your grandson's account.

Maybe if I put in the words "LOTTO" I may get a call from their head office saying I have had a big win :)

Did you get your call Radish ???

I expect Seth will . With his 500,000 dollar win....

4 comments



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