myGov vs Etax vs tax agent office

“What’s the best way to do my tax return?”

Let’s compare myGov, Etax and other tax return options: What’s the best one for you?

The ATO advertises a tax “product” called myTax, which is inside the myGov website – and it’s a way to self-prepare your tax return.

As a taxpayer it is hard to know what to do. What is the best tax return and what are the alternatives?

Let’s compare the most popular tax return options including the ATO’s myTax…

Etax

• Do your tax return online in minutes
• See your deductions from last year, so you won’t forget
• Stuck? No problem – we’re always ready to help on live chat and phone (with a real accountant who’s on your side)
• Deduction tips (based on your job) help to boost your refund
• Tax returns for all taxpayers, from students, to your 1st job, to high income executives
• Less reading: Choose the bits you need and hide the bits you don’t need
• Your tax return is checked by accountants before lodgement
• Get friendly help with ATO audits, ATO letters or amended returns
• You can feel confident that your taxes were checked and done right
• The low fees are tax deductible

ATO myTax

• You have to register all your personal details on the Government’s myGov website before you start myTax
• Hard to be confident you’ve done it right, difficult to know if you’re missing out on tax deductions
• Limited support, no help from people who are on your side
• Saving on tax agent fees by using ‘free’ ATO tools like myTax could mean you get a smaller tax refund. (And tax agent fees are tax deductible anyway.)
• No checking by an accountant – make a mistake and you’re on your own with ATO auditors
• If you have to lodge an amendment to fix a mistake, you will need a tax agent
• ATO audit or troubles? If you used myTax, you are on your own
• The ATO’s real job is to collect more tax (more about that down below)

Old-Fashioned Tax Agent’s Office

• An office appointment and travel could take 1 hour or more
• Must take all of your tax info and papers with you… let’s hope you don’t leave something at home
• You get advice when you’re there, but typically little or no support after you leave
• You might not get advice directly from a qualified accountant
• Cost of visiting a Tax Agent office can be expensive; advertised prices are low, yet the average amount you pay may be much higher

The ATO’s main job is to collect tax money – not to give it back

If you paid for work-related expenses that could get you a better refund, with the ATO you’re on your own. The ATO’s job is not to help you to boost your tax refund or help you with tax advice before you lodge your return.

Across Australia, more than 20,000 ATO employees work every day to enforce 5,743 pages of tax rules. Their job is to collect more tax revenue and to enforce tax laws. The ATO releases new warnings almost every month, about new “compliance priorities” and new triggers that can cause an audit on your taxes.

How are normal Australians supposed to handle that?

Helping you get a fair go is a tax agent’s job. That’s why most Australians use a tax agent – and it’s why most of us ignore ATO ads telling us to self-prepare our taxes on myGov.

Who do you trust with your taxes?

Using a tax agent like Etax means you get all the online convenience, plus you’ll have the confidence in knowing your return was done right and that you’ve got the best possible refund.

Wouldn’t you rather think about how to spend your refund, and leave the tax homework to an expert?

At Etax, we think we’ve got a pretty good service, but don’t just take it from us! Here are some results of our client survey:

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Australia’s CANSTAR Blue awarded Etax the “Most Satisfied Customers” Award in 2018 and 2020

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