Clumsy And-tax Ato For Mac
E-tax for Mac has been years and $5.2 million in the making, yet the Tax Office still managed to bungle its launch. After more than, Apple Mac users were on Friday finally able to download the to lodge tax returns without the need for software that allows Microsoft Windows applications to run on their Macs as a virtual machine.
Unfortunately many of those who downloaded the application between Friday and Monday encountered an error preventing installation. The error stems from the Tax Office not signing the application with a digital certificate. Most applications for Macs are signed by their developers with a certificate, which can be obtained from Apple for about $99 a year The Tax Office said it became aware on Saturday that the certificate had been omitted from the deployment. 'It should have been included in the release that went to production on Friday,' it said in a Monday statement. On Tuesday e-tax for Mac appeared to include a certificate. Do you know more?
Email By default, Apple now only allows apps to be installed on its latest operating system if they are signed with a digital certificate or approved by its Mac App Store. This is so that if an app is found to contain malware it can be remotely disabled by Apple's security software. Previous iterations of Apple's Mac operating system allowed for any type of app to be installed by default, even without a certificate. In order to install the software without the certificate, users needed to lower their security settings. Though not recommended, they can do this by opening 'System Preferences', navigating to 'Security & Privacy' and allowing applications to be downloaded from 'Anywhere'. Developer posts portions of e-tax source code on forum To add further embarrassment to the deployment, an e-tax for Mac developer has been found posting questions on a web forum about issues they faced. Late Monday evening user 'manpreet' began editing posts that contained traces of code that referenced the development of the software.
Clumsy And Tax Ato For Mac
After Fairfax asked the Tax Office about the posts, the forum account was deleted. In total, the software developer asked 34 questions on the forum at. A user on Whirlpool the discussion and linked the user to e-tax. 'how can i create a shortcut in max os (sic) with parameters,' manpreet wrote, before exposing the term 'e-tax' in the source code they posted alongisde their question. Developer inexperienced with Macs Russell Ivanovic, founder of Mac software firm and a former enterprise software developer, said that the deployment of e-tax for Mac without a certificate was 'a sign that the developers of e-tax haven’t really had much Mac experience before, at least not recently'. Before founding Shifty Jelly, Mr Ivanovic spent seven years developing enterprise Java software, four years in the defence sector.
Mr Ivanovic said he was surprised the e-tax for Mac app had no certificate because testing should have uncovered the problem. 'Testing that an app is signed with a certificate is trivial, and you'd think that would be built into their release testing,' he said. 'On a project that big it's almost criminal that they let something that simple slip past and that it takes that long to update it.' Mr Ivanovic added that it was 'a bit amateur' of one of the developers to leave strings like 'e-tax' in a public forum. A 'direct Windows port' The Shifty Jelly founder, who has previously indicated that the $5.2 million cost to date of the e-tax for Mac software appeared too high, also said it appeared to be 'a direct port of the Windows app'. Mr Ivanovic said that this meant the developers primarily used the Windows app's source code to power e-tax for Mac.
It meant the app wasn't 'native' — ie coded specifically for the Mac to look like other Mac apps — and looked exactly like the PC version. The Tax Office admitted e-Tax for Mac had been ported from the Windows app's code but said various parts of it required changes for it to work. 'The Windows source code was re-used as the base, then recompiled across to the platform,' it said. 'Additionally, there was hand coding required to include the substantial legislative changes.' Mr Ivanovic said it was strange that legislative changes needed to be hand coded into the Mac version.
'The code they have if they are smart would be shared between Windows and Mac, so any legislative changes would/should have been coded once and used in both apps,' he said. 'If they didn’t do that, then honestly they need to fire their software architects and find some that know what they are doing.' User complaints Other issues also appear to be plaguing early users of e-tax for Mac. Ryan Hasler said he was unable to lodge his tax return using the software after it crashed.
Other users have complained on the and on Twitter about an 'unknown error'. 'It is useless,' Mr Hasler told Fairfax. 'I kept getting an unknown error on my 3 month old MacBook Pro, so called their IT Support line and their first suggestion was: 'Can you just print out a lodgement form and lodge manually?' Mr Hasler told the operator he didn't want to do this and said it was 'ridiculous' to suggest this in the first place. He said he was then told Mac users were having problems when they used Wi-Fi.
The solution was to 'just keep clicking 'Next' until it connects', the operator told him. Mr Hasler said he ended up getting through a few more screens, then closed e-tax and saved his tax file.
But when he tried to finish the lodgement, and load his file again, the system crashed. 'I gave up at that point, but have heard similar stories from my other Mac-using friends,' he said. Further comment has been sought from the Tax Office.
Hello, That was a really informative blog! I have a query. I was on a Work Permit (457)during the following periods: 1)22-august-2007 to 02-october-2007. 2)18-october-2007 to 11-january-2008. The above periods add upto 128 days.
I have got my PAYG slips for the above mentioned periods. Now as per my understanding, as this is less than 6 months (180 days), I qualify as non-resident when filing for tax returns. But I am not too sure of this.
So, could you please clarify: Whether I should file my tax-returns as a RESIDENT of AUSTRALIA or as a NON-RESIDENT of AUSTRALIA? Hi i went to an accountant in January to get tax returns done they were all finalised and paid for in March 2008. We signed the tax returns that the accountant gave us to sign and returned them to her.
It is now August 2008 and she refuses to lodge our returns stating that she still doesn’t have paper work from me even though i have sent it in to her 3 times by regular post and once by registered post. Can she just choose not to lodge our signed tax returns, she also won’t return my calls anymore either i have let the Tax Agent board know and the NIA know and they say they will investigate. Can she legally not lodge our signed tax returns???? Please HELP. Hi, I just went to have my tax return processed by an accountant and found out that my employer had not set up payments to the ATO for my hecs/help debt.
When I signed on with the company and filled out my tax declaration form I made sure that I ticked the boxes necessary to permit the repayments from employer to the ATO on my behalf. Instead of getting a return i know have to pay the ATO $5000. I would like to know who is responsible. As I am not at fault, i think it should be my employer. Can you please offer some advice. Thanks Stoff. My boss wont give me a group certificate.
As you have already said in your blog that you can lodge a tax return without one using bank statements, but in my case my employer paid me in cash most of the time and was still duducting tax (aprox $200) a week from my wages. He also only issued me one payslip in the whole year i worked there (and that took a few months of nagging just to get that!) This was only at the beggining of the financial year so the tax paid then was almost next to nothing on the payslip i have. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have been emailing him daily since end of financial year the only reply i get is “almost finished them”. I have contacted the tax office and they said that i can lodge a tax return with bankstatements as well and they wont chase my employer up until after i lodge the tax return without it.
Im in a catch 22. Any suggestions??? Dear Tax Adviser, I would like to ask 2 questions regarding income tax: 1)If I want to buy a house and my parents would like to give me some money as a gift(from overseas), what is the maximum amount of money they can give me without a need to pay tax on it(here).
Is there a limit on how many times they can give me money as a gift? 2)I am planning to work on an overseas company, which has an International Tax Agreement with Australia. I am an Australian resident for tax purposes and I will work while I am living in Australia. My employment will last more than 91 days. Will I need to pay tax on this income and if yes how it will be calculated. Thank you for your time, Regards, Alison.
I’m Australian and I moved overseas a few years ago to Germany. I order to avoid paying tax in both countries for a long long time, which would have been most of my income, I agreed that I was moving overseas “permanently” and said that I’m a non-resident of Australia now, which is true in the sense that I don’t live there. I found the explanation of these terms “resident” and “permanently” cryptic. How can you be a resident of Australia and not live there?
Is that for people who own houses? I don’t own a house, or shares, or a car. (I just have a small savings account in Australia and they take about 40% of my interest as withholding tax because they don’t have my TFN. I left it that way because I didn’t want to pay too little tax and get in trouble.) Anyway, since I’ve said I moved overseas permanently does that mean I can never ever go back to Australia? If I do, what consequences will I face? Will I have to fill out lots of tax forms for all the years I was away?
I’m at school teacher and went overseas last christmas for 40 days on a german exchange program/excursion with 30+ of my pupils. The funding from the students covered the accommodation & transport costs for the teachers who went, so there were only few “out-of-pocket” costs associated with this trip for me.
After reading “TD/2010 19” from the ATO website, in particular the example points 18. (which coincidentally are for someone who travels to germany), I calculate that I would be allowed to claim up to $185/day for meals and $40/day for “incidentals” (without receipts, but with a travel diary at least) for every work-related day I was in Germany. I was with the kids for 30days and for the other 10 days we were by ourselves/could do what we wanted whilst the students were with host families (however we were still “On Call”) Is it true that I can claim 30days x ($185x$40) = $6750 for this trip as a “travel expense” (under section D2 of e-tax) without a single receipt (but with a travel diary/itinerary)?
Any confirmation is greatly appreciated! Hi mate, I’m an Irish national. I came to Australia on a working holiday visa 7 months ago.
I have been working as an economic consultant with the same company for over four months and they are currently in the process of sponsoring me. I have rented a house here for the past 6 months and i intend to stay and apply for permanent residency in a few years. To my knowledge because of my intention to live and work in Australia, i am a resident for tax purposes. However, on my tax return i ticked ‘not an Australian resident for tax purposes’ as i thought (in my infinite wisdom)that it was based on citizenship. I have now received my income assessment and as i ticked the wrong box, i did not get a refund. I need to amend the form but am wondering, as it is a simple amendment to make, if their is a quicker way than waiting the estimated 8 weeks to get my return amended.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Hi There, I will try and anser some questions for people for the last few at least. Please remember this information is general and should not be considered actual specific advice. Virginia – You can buy a house in a company name but you will not get the principal place exemption.
You do not Own it the company does. Also companies will not get the 50% redction of the CGT if the asset is held more than 12 months. Copanies taxed at 30%. Jerry – Have a look at our article on. It is also linked at the top of the page 74.
Shane – There are 4 ways to claim mv costs. Keep a log book and work out the business travel. You have to include any allowance paid in your return but then again you can claim your MV expenses. Phil – Not Likely. Funny i used to be the CFO for IELTS.
Unless you work made you come here and made you get the visa then really cannot prove the cost was incurred in producing an income. David – Yes get a tax agent to do it for you. Matt – Yes, It seems you have read the Tax Pack and to be honest there is no mystery to it. However if you were supplied meals, travel, accomodation then you need to reduce you claim if you are claiming for those. See what the act says in relation to the country, your title and there you go. Free advice is as good as how much you pay for it. You get paid for teaching, I get paid for my knowledge as well but I do try and help people on a general basis hence why I respond to people on this blog.
You are a non resident for tax purposes. You need to file a return and you may get some money back. Also lodge to get your super repaid.
I hope this has helped. Andrew Jeffers CEO Aussie Tax Time 70. Hi Andrew, Its March 2011. Due to personal reasons, I unfortunately have not yet lodged by 2009-2010 tax return for personal reasons.
Are you able to tell me the penalty that the ATO will charge me once i do eventually process this in etax myself? I dont have an Accountant, i havent used one for many years because my returns are individual only and not complicated. I believe they would owe me some money but it is never usually more than say $300. I have seen some articles that suggest if i find an accountant, i might not be penalised but i would prefer to cop the fee if it is the same as accountant fee anway. Thank you Regards, AJ. Hi, I would like your opinion on the following scenario for the FY: I work through my company ABC Pty Ltd where I am the sole director and I perform contract work through a labour hire company Contract 1: – $60k earned by the ‘COMPANY’ where – ‘I’ performed the work as a normal contractor – paid on a daily basis through a labour hire company Contract 2: – $30K earned by the ‘COMPANY’ for delivering software on a fixed price basis – software development work was subcontracted to a company in India and NOT completed by me. Do these 2 together pass the 80/20 test for the ‘COMPANY’?.
Do these 2 together pass the unrelated client test for the ‘COMPANY’? Kind Regards. I stared working for a company 2 months ago. I filled out one tax declaration form and started working. It is a resort, and my employer owns three resorts. I worked at one resort one day a week, another 2 days per week and the 3rd resort 1 day per week. I have now realised they are paying me 3 different payslips each week for each different resort, paying me under 3 different company names!!!
To top that off, they have not been taking any tax (AT ALL) for any of my pay what can i do? Becuase i only filled out one tax declaration form, and because I am working for the one employer (although they are paying me under 3 different company names) is it like i am working 3 jobs at once???
Hi, I did some jobs with my ABN, and also some jobs as normal payroll, where the tax was already deducted. On my tax declaration which I have to submit until 30 June, do I have only to list the ABN work? Does the tax office then write me a bill how much tax I have to pay since I by now payed no taxes on the ABN work? Tax should include 10$ GST, and what other taxes?
Is it sufficient just to list all bills I earned from my abn jobs? Though I am no resident, I now have 457 visa, and cannot cotinue ABN work any longer, but I will work another 1 year for my 457 sponsor. I just moved to Australia from HK. I am still keeping HK shares with the HK account. The problem is that there is no tax on shares trading in HK and I never keep these old records on the detailed prices & costs when I purchased them. There are also bits & pieces like the same stocks purchased and sold at different units at different times, causing difficulties in tracing the prices of different units.
So what can I do when I report on CGT now when I sell these shares. When I receive the dividends from these HK shares, what exchange rates should I use for tax purpose? I am an Australian with Australian passport. Since 2007 I do not reside in Australia and live in Europe working with a salary. I pay tax in Europe. I do not use my Australian Bank Account for my salary. From July 2012 I will start working in Hong Kong, but my salaries will be deposited in an Australian Bank Account.
Do I need to pay taxes on those moneys. Under which circumstances do I need to pay tax? I have not returned to Australia since 2007, and I will not return to Australia for work purposes. In September 2012 I will turn 60 years of age. Hi, I work for a non profit organisation and have since April 2011, and as of February this year, my husband doesn’t work.
I want us to put in separate tax returns. He is putting his in online and says he is going to put me as a dependant, but I am putting mine separately. For mac use 7 best free background orange wall and texture background. He shouldn’t be putting me as a dependent but I don’t see why he is doing that as I am not his dependent. I have been the only one working since February and he gets no unemployment.
I want my tax return separate. Do I have to put him on my tax return, which is going to have done by a tax accountant. Can you please put some light on this? Hi, I am an Australian citizen and I have a very large investment held outside Australia that will trigger a capital gain some time in the future upon selling it. I was wondering, if I moved out of Australia and moved to the bahamas and became a permanent resident a few years before selling the asset, because the bahamas do not levy capital gains tax on assets held by permanent residents.
Can i sell the asset make the profit without being subject to capital gains tax, stay in the bahamas until the gain is reinvested and than move back into Australia without triggering suspicion?