Etax and newstart

[Marley&Me]

I am trying to lodge using etax this year and have come to my spouses details bit. Do I need to include his Newstart payments in his total taxable income? He has worked on and off for the past year so has about 6 months worth of newstart. His payment summary says ZERO. But I am not sure.
I only paid about $300 in tax for this FY and it's estimated $37 return boooo. So if I actually went to an accountand I would end up having to pay them out of my pocket

[~clover~]

Yes, as far as I know all income support payments are taxable income & need to be declared as income. We didn't realise this over 10 years ago now & ex received a fine, I think for a few hundred dollars.

[Marley&Me]

Wow really? I just assumed because no tax was paid on it that you didn't include it.

[Marley&Me]

Also. There is no section to enter the newstart payments. There is a section marked "Australian government pensions and allowances" And when I open the box to read exactly what it is newstart is not among the payments listed.

Oh and apparently I OWE the ATO $37???

[trishalishous]

yes into the box for pensions and allowances. Its a taxable payment,even though you didnt pay tax on it
If you owe money then your PAYG withholdings werent enough?

[Marley&Me]

Thanks Trishalishous, but the list of payments doesn't have newstart in it. Are you sure? It's a bit confusing...