The things I answer on the phone every week.
Written down here so you can get the answer at eleven at night without ringing anyone. If yours is not on the list, ring and ask.
Is it deductible?
Three things have to be true. You spent the money yourself and were not paid back for it. It is connected to earning your income. You can show a record of it. Get all three and we claim it. That is the whole test, and most of what gets written about deductions is just this with more words around it. If you are not sure, ring me before you spend the money rather than after.
Who actually does my work?
I do. Every file is handled by a CPA from start to finish. You will not be handed to a junior, and you will not have to explain your situation twice.
Do I have to come into an office?
No. The practice runs by phone, email and video, which suits people right across the south west. If you would rather sit down face to face, we can arrange that.
How quickly will you get back to me?
Within one business day, and usually the same day. If it is urgent, ring rather than email.
I already have an accountant. Is changing a hassle?
Less than you would think. I write to them, they send your file across, and you do almost nothing. You do not have to have an awkward conversation with anyone.
Are you a registered tax agent?
Yes. Registration number 26254256, listed on the Tax Practitioners Board register. Anyone charging a fee to prepare your return must be registered, and it is worth checking.
What does CPA mean, practically?
It means ongoing professional standards, mandatory continuing education, and a public practice certificate that has to be maintained. Dunell Accounting and Taxation is a CPA Practice.
How long have you been doing this?
Twenty years in public practice before starting this firm, and two years running it. The firm is young. I am not.
I am years behind on my tax. What happens now?
We work backwards through it, oldest first. Being behind is common and it is fixable. What makes it worse is waiting, because interest and penalties keep running while you decide.
I got a letter from the ATO and I have not opened it.
Open it, then ring me. Nearly every ATO letter is more manageable than the one people imagine, and the ones that are serious get worse if they are ignored.
Can you talk to the ATO for me?
Yes. As your registered agent I deal with them directly, including payment plans and requests to remit penalties.
What do you need from me first?
Less than you think, to begin with. A phone call and a rough description of your situation is enough for me to tell you what it will involve. The paperwork list comes after that.
My records are a shoebox and a bank statement.
That is a starting point, not a problem. I will tell you what is missing rather than guess at it.
Do you only work with people in Warrnambool?
Most of my clients are in Warrnambool and around the south west. But the work is not tied to a postcode, and I have clients further afield who I have never met in person.
Still got a question?
Ring it through. I would rather answer it in two minutes on the phone than have you guess.