INTHEBLACK July 2026 - Magazine - Page 42
P O D C AS T
ATO insights
for 2026
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Speaking on CPA Australia’s With Interest
podcast, ATO assistant commissioner
Anita Challen joins CPA Australia’s tax lead,
Jenny Wong, to discuss what taxpayers
need to look out for this tax season.
RECORD-KEEPING BEYOND BANK STATEMENTS
Claims for work-related expenses are on the ATO’s radar
this year, including working from home deductions,
car expenses and self-education claims.
“One of the areas that is of particular concern
is record-keeping and substantiation. It is really
important that you work with your clients to make
sure that they are keeping appropriate records,”
Challen says. She advises taxpayers to keep detailed
receipts, logbooks and other supporting documents
when filing their tax return, rather than relying solely
on bank statements.
On working from home claims, “it is important, even
if you are claiming that fixed rate record, that you have
records keeping track of the hours that you are working
from home as well as making sure that you have got
a copy of each bill that you are including in your claim,”
she says.
Challen also warns taxpayers against lodging returns
too early in anticipation of a refund. “If you wait until
the end of July when prefill is available, it can just make
lodging your tax return so much easier.”
RISING MISINFORMATION AND SCAMS
Challen highlights growing concerns around online
misinformation and impersonation scams.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,”
she warns, encouraging taxpayers to rely on trusted
sources such as registered tax agents and the ATO
website and app for clarification.
INTHEBLACK: Tax time 2026: Scams to be aware of this tax time
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42 INTHEBLACK July 2026
