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ATO MUST EXPLAIN DELAYS IN PROCESSING REFUNDS
14-April-2010
Shadow Assistant Treasurer Sussan Ley is demanding an urgent update from the Australian Taxation Office in relation to outstanding tax returnsand refunds.
Considering the huge impact of these ongoing delays and small businesses across Australia, the Government’s lack of action shows that they do not understand small businesses and the modern economy.
"Late last month the ATO assured me that the problems they'd been experiencing processing returns as a result of a changeover to the new computer system were all but resolved," Ms Ley said.
"However there is still a steady stream of complaints from constituentsand their accountants who have been waiting for assessments and refunds since as earlyas December last year.
“Some students have had access to Youth Allowance delayed as their parents have not received their assessment notice and other people have advised they received refund advice but no cheque or payment.
Earlier in the year, as a result of problems associated with the changeover to a new computer system, the ATO reported that they had a backlog of some 700,000 returns.
In Senate estimates we were told this backlog would be cleared by the end of February.
“Late in March, I requested a briefing from the ATO on the state of the backlog, and was assured that the problems had been fixed and the bulk of the backlog had been processed.
“Now, deep into April the complaints continue. This is simply not good enough”
"It is clear from the calls that I am being advised of that the ATO still has not cleared the backlog.
"I want to know how many returns are still outstanding and exactly when taxpayers can expect to receive their returns."
"The ATO has had months to fix this problem, but taxpayers continue to experienceunacceptable delays.
"This problem must be resolved and the ATO must explain why has it taken so long to get on top of the problem?" Ms Ley said