If you get a family assistance payment from us you need to confirm your income. To do this, you can lodge your tax return or advise non-lodgement from 1 July 2022. However, you may want to wait until mid-July when information is pre-filled in myTax. Waiting can reduce the chance of you making a mistake.
Most families need to do something before we can balance their Family Tax Benefit and balance their Child Care Subsidy. Answer the questions, and this tool will give you information on what you need to do.
The results depend on the information you provide. It may not be accurate if your circumstances change.
Once you submit your answers, a result will display.
1: Check what you need to do at tax time
Use our checker to see what you need to do at tax time to have your family assistance payments balanced.
The checker has information for the 2021-22 financial year, which runs from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
You can also use our checker if you pay or receive child support.
The results depend on the information you provide. It may not be accurate if your circumstances change.
2: Did you get Family Tax Benefit (FTB) or Child Care Subsidy (CCS) in the 2021-22 financial year?
Answer yes if you chose to get your FTB fortnightly, including if you chose zero rate as your payment option. If you chose this option you won’t have got any FTB throughout the financial year. This is different to claiming as a lump sum.
3: Do you want to claim FTB as a lump sum?
You can’t claim CCS as a lump sum.
4: Do you need to lodge a tax return for the 2021-22 financial year?
Most parents who have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return.
To check if you need to lodge a return, use the Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool. It’s available on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.
5: Were you single in the 2021-22 financial year?
If your relationship status changed during 2021-22, answer based on your current situation. If you answer no to this question, we will assume you’re partnered. You can read more about how we define relationships and your relationship changes.
6: Were you single in the 2021-22 financial year?
If your relationship status changed during 2021-22, answer based on your current situation.
If you answer no, we’ll assume you‘re partnered. You can read more about how we define relationships and your relationship changes.
7: Were you single for the entire 2021-22 financial year?
You should answer no if you had a partner at any time in this financial year.
8: Were you single for the entire 2021-22 financial year?
You should answer no if you had a partner at any time in this financial year.
9: Did you get an income support payment in the 2021-22 financial year?
An income support payment is a payment you get to help with the cost of living, such as Parenting Payment. Find out more about income support payments.
10: Did you get an income support payment in the 2021-22 financial year?
An income support payment is a payment you get to help with the cost of living, such as Parenting Payment. Find out more about income support payments.
11: Did you get an income support payment for the entire 2021-22 financial year?
You should answer no if you had any gaps in your payment. For example, if your payment was cancelled or reduced to zero, that counts as a gap.
12: Did you get an income support payment for the entire 2021-22 financial year?
You should answer no if you had any gaps in your payment. For example, if your payment was cancelled or reduced to zero, that counts as a gap.
13: Does your partner need to lodge a tax return for the 2021-22 financial year?
If you’re not sure, use the Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool. It’s available on the ATO website.
14: Does your partner need to lodge a tax return for the 2021-22 financial year?
If you’re not sure, use the Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool. It’s available on the ATO website.
15: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
If you don’t want to claim FTB as a lump sum, there’s nothing else you need to do. However, if you don't claim FTB as a lump sum by 30 June 2023, you won't get any FTB for the 2021-22 financial year.
You can’t claim CCS as a lump sum.
If you’re looking for other assistance use our Payment and Service Finder.
16: Family Tax Benefit
You need to submit a lump sum claim and confirm your income for FTB. The deadline to claim FTB for the 2021-22 financial year is 30 June 2023. You can submit a claim using your Centrelink online account through myGov.
You also need to lodge your tax return with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If you have a partner they’ll need to lodge a tax return too. If you or your partner don’t need to lodge, you can tell us your income in your claim.
To check if you need to lodge a return, use the ATO’s Do I need to lodge a tax return? tool.
17: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
You need to tell us if you’re not lodging a tax return and confirm your income. Then, we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments.
If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and tell us you don't need to lodge now.
If you don’t have this set up, you’ll need to use either your:
If you got Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, you must include this amount when you advise non lodgement and confirm your income.
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.
18: We balance FTB and CCS separately
Family Tax Benefit
We'll balance your FTB. You don’t need to do anything.
We'll also check if you're eligible for any supplements.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. Find out when we'll balance your FTB.
Child Care Subsidy
If you get CCS you need to tell us that you’re not lodging a tax return and confirm your income. Then, we’ll be able to balance your subsidy.
If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and tell us you don't need to lodge now.
If you don’t have this set up, you’ll need to use either your:
If you got Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, you must include this amount when you advise non lodgement and confirm your income.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents who have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.
19: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
Your partner needs to lodge their tax return so that we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments. Check the ATO website for how to lodge a tax return.
You need to tell us if you’re not lodging a tax return. Then, we can balance your payments.
If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and tell us you don't need to lodge now.
If you don’t have this set up, you’ll need to use either your:
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. Once the ATO sends us your partner’s income information, we can balance your FTB. This can take up to 28 days from when you get your Notice of Assessment.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents who have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.
20: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
You and your partner both need to tell us that you’re not lodging a tax return this year. This is so we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments.
If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and tell us you and your partner don't need to lodge now.
If you don’t have this set up, you’ll need to use either your:
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents who have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.
21: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
You and your partner need to lodge a tax return. You both need to do this so that we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments. Find out how to lodge a tax return on the ATO website.
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. Once the ATO sends us your and your partner’s income information, we can balance your FTB. This can take up to 28 days from when you get your Notice of Assessment.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
22: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
You need to lodge a tax return so we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments. Find out how to lodge a tax return on the ATO website.
You also need to let us know if your partner doesn’t need to lodge a tax return, and confirm their income.
If you have a myGov account that’s linked to Centrelink, sign in and tell us they don't need to lodge now.
If you don’t have this set up, you’ll need to use either your:
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. Once the ATO sends us your income information, we can balance your FTB. This can take up to 28 days from when you get your Notice of Assessment.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
23: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
We'll balance your FTB. We'll also check if you're eligible for any supplements. Find out when we’ll balance your FTB.
If you get CCS, you need to lodge your tax return so we can balance your subsidy. Find out how to lodge a tax return on the ATO website.
Once the ATO sends us your income information, we can balance your CCS. This balancing process can take up to 28 days from when you get your Notice of Assessment.
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents who have a child support need assessment to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.
24: Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy
You need to lodge your tax return so we can balance your FTB payments and CCS payments. Find out how to lodge a tax return on the ATO website.
If you separated from a partner during the financial year, we still need your ex-partner’s income. If you have an ex-partner, read about how we balance your FTB payments and how we balance your CCS payments
We balance FTB and CCS separately.
When we balance your FTB depends on when you get your final FTB payment. Once the ATO sends us your income information, we can balance your FTB. This can take up to 28 days from when you get your Notice of Assessment.
We’ll start balancing your CCS from mid August 2022, once we confirm your family’s income and child care attendance information.
If you pay or receive child support
Most parents who have a child support assessment need to lodge a tax return. This helps us make sure your child support payments are correct. Find out what you need to do for child support.