Helping you get the right outcome at tax time

There are things you can do throughout the financial year to help get the right payments and reduce your chance of getting a debt at tax time.

Updating your information can help you get the right payment. Most updates can be completed using your Centrelink or Child Support online account through the myGov website or myGov app, or the Express Plus mobile apps.

Set up a deduction for tax from your eligible Centrelink payment

If you get a taxable Centrelink payment you can set up a voluntary deduction for tax. This means we’ll deduct tax from your eligible payment to reduce how much tax you pay at the end of the year. To work out how much tax to have deducted you can use the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) tax withheld calculator on their website. Find out how to deduct tax from your payments.

Confirm your income for the previous financial year

If you received Family Tax Benefit (FTB) or Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you need to confirm your income by 30 June of the following year. If you don’t lodge a tax return or confirm your income:

• you may miss out on top ups and FTB supplements
• you may get a debt and have to repay the FTB and CCS you got during the financial year
• your CCS will stop and you’ll have to pay full fees for any child care you use.

If you paid or received child support and completed a non-lodgement advice with the ATO, you need to confirm your income for Child Support as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. If you don’t do this your child support could be affected.

Find out more about confirming your income for:

• Family Tax Benefit
• Child Care Subsidy
• Child Support.

Update your family income estimate

If you get FTB or CCS make sure your family income estimate is always up to date, you can do this any time your circumstances changes during the year.

Your income estimate for FTB and CCS is different to your child support estimate. If you’re using an income estimate for child support you need to update this separately to your income estimate for FTB and CCS.

Choose how to get your Family Tax Benefit

You can choose how you get FTB to help reduce the risk of getting a debt. Find out more about payment choices for FTB.

Update your CCS withholdings

To reduce your chance of getting an overpayment or debt, we withhold a percentage of your CCS until the end of the financial year. Learn more about how you can change your withholding percentage for Child Care Subsidy.

Update your child support income or estimate if you pay or receive child support

If you pay or receive child support, make sure all your child support details are up to date, including care arrangements and your income or income estimate.

It’s important you lodge your tax return on time to make sure your child support assessment is accurate and avoid overpayments. Learn more about how to manage your child support.

Update your income and asset details

If you get a payment or allowance from Centrelink, you need to tell us when your circumstances change. Learn more about changing your circumstances with Centrelink.

Keep a record if you got an emergency or disaster payment

If you got any taxable emergency or disaster payments during the year, they may not show on your Centrelink payment summary. You’ll need to add them to your tax return yourself. You can find this information in the letter we sent you, or in the payment history section of your Centrelink online account.

Find out about payments that don’t show on your payment summary.