guys, i was a tradie for 8 years and have to do a tax return for a couple of years back (as an employee, i’ve never worked for myself). I realise that i no longer have records of some tools etc purchased for work. This was due to a fire which occurred last year at my apartment. I know what I purchased at the time, as it has been recorded in my diary, which i kept each year as a sparky. I always purchased tools in cash to acheive the best price. am i able to sign a stat dec or something if required? or am i just f%*ked because they’re gone? the latter to me would seem very unreasonable…

Depending on where you purchased the tools from and what sort of tools they were, the store might have records. If you gave any details to the store at the time of purchase (ie, name, address, etc) or if you purchased the items with your credit card, the store might be able to help you. Especially if you have the dates in your diary as to when you bought them. I know where I used to work, if someone could give me a date and name I could generally look back on records and reprint a tax invoice for them. Give that a go!

Gribbles,

you should be able to use your diary as a record providing you have date, total and where purchased from.

I have used a diary as a record during a tax audit and it was accepted.

terry

Terry: thanks mate, appreciated

Gribbles, Don’t want to suggest this is accurate and may not necessarily be the case now but, I also was a naughty (lazy) boy and did not put my tax return in for about 3 yrs. Had bugger all receipts or anything else, went to an accountant and put in returns for the 4 yrs with what I had available. He advised that unless I was self employed, at the upper end of the tax scale or in big business and had the possiblity of actually owing the taxman money, they generally do not worry about it.

Lucky for me he was right, got a good refund, no fine for late lodgement and no questions asked. Best $$$ you can spend though is to get an accountant to put the claim in for you though. Hopefully you will come out with the same result.

a diary n a good accountant should do the trick
not that i have had late or grossly bungled returns so far

Advice from an American accountant – consult a GOOD accountant in person, even if it costs you some money.

Thankfully for me my wife works for a well known accounting firm and as such we get out accounting and financial planning services free. ;)

Thankfully for me my wife works for a well known accounting firm and as such we get out accounting and financial planning services free. ;)

Golf is like a wife. Most of the time she slaps you around but, every now and then, she gives you something sweet which keeps you going back again and again like the poor sap that you are.

Golf’s a Bitch but we love her. ;)

A theory by me o.O

How fucked up is your tax code down there? It is really screwed up here in the States.

Haven’t got a clue yet. I only moved from the UK to QLD in October. I’ll probably not find out until next year as I think I’m due around 2-3k back in tax having not earned enough in the last 3.5 months to cross the threshold. ;)

I’ll let you know how fucked it is next year. The UK’s is pretty ficked up though.

The Australien Tax system is very simple really. You go to work to earn money & then proceed to pay most of it back to the government in assorted taxes & fees.

gribbles do your best and tell the taxman your tale. He is not evil.
I have always found, by other peoples stories, they are very understanding. Most of the time they do not want proof of anything, beyond your TFN or ABN

guys, i was a tradie for 8 years and have to do a tax return for a couple of years back (as an employee, i’ve never worked for myself). I realise that i no longer have records of some tools etc purchased for work. This was due to a fire which occurred last year at my apartment. I know what I purchased at the time, as it has been recorded in my diary, which i kept each year as a sparky. I always purchased tools in cash to acheive the best price. am i able to sign a stat dec or something if required? or am i just f%*ked because they’re gone? the latter to me would seem very unreasonable…

s not crapping in the sink)

Hey gribbles,

I am a chef and every year I take a guick photo of all of my tools, like you I pick things up all the time.

Also do the same for golfs clubs , tools in garage, stuff in house.

I upload the pictures to a USB and keep it at my brothers.

I do this is mainly for insurance.

Ari, i never thought of that mate, what a good idea. In my situation it would be good if i’d done that!

On another note, if i stay away from home overnight for work reasons i beleive i can claim the reasonable amount for meals (3 square around $21 is the rate i think) each night i’m away from home. I read this on the ato site, has anyone claimed this before and am i indeed correct?

once again i have the entries in a diary, but no receipts as they were with everything else…..in the fire….

Ari, i never thought of that mate, what a good idea. In my situation it would be good if i’d done that!

On another note, if i stay away from home overnight for work reasons i beleive i can claim the reasonable amount for meals (3 square around $21 is the rate i think) each night i’m away from home. I read this on the ato site, has anyone claimed this before and am i indeed correct?

once again i have the entries in a diary, but no receipts as they were with everything else…..in the fire….

s not crapping in the sink)

It is all about what you can prove with evidence. Any gift I give is related to my job. You don’t give the receipt with the gift do you? Guess where that goes.

I did this with our fishing boat too, I don’t care if the boat gets stolen just not the tackle box.

Another example, think of the money tied up in CD’s and DVD’s, that a picture of them as well, jewellery, everything.

Another thing visit a trade show on holidays.

lol :)

Always a great idea to include trade shows – I go to Thailand every year for the Jewellery spectacular.

Also very good advice from Ari – pics of everything and also remember Gribbles, a diary is a legal document so your diary records are a good thing.

Regardless of what Manu thinks of the tax man – he’s a prick and out to get you and everyone else – sometimes that attack all who have purchased personalised plates – the next year, all firefighters and ambos and the next year all chefs etc etc… don’t trust them as they’re government – look at the stinking green paper!!! Another grab off the worker!!

Always a great idea to include trade shows – I go to Thailand every year for the Jewellery spectacular.

Also very good advice from Ari – pics of everything and also remember Gribbles, a diary is a legal document so your diary records are a good thing.

Regardless of what Manu thinks of the tax man – he’s a prick and out to get you and everyone else – sometimes that attack all who have purchased personalised plates – the next year, all firefighters and ambos and the next year all chefs etc etc… don’t trust them as they’re government – look at the stinking green paper!!! Another grab off the worker!!

Political Correctness is doctrine fostered by a delusional minority and by the media,which holds forth the proposition it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

The chefs should be left alone, we get screwed in every other way.

yes mate, i agree with that. i worked at bar and grill when i was at uni. you boys do it tough. much respect

Yeah but you do get to spit in the food….how do you put a price on that? ;)

Hard to say. saw it done once. Picked up my tools and walked out via the restaurant notifying the customer on the way. The guy was the biggest knob I had ever worked with. Place a complete shit hole. I worked two shifts and left on the third.
Industry cleaned up heaps since then, that sort of thing doesn’t go on any more. I haven’t even heard of it happening in 15 years.

Wages are so poor the average head chef can’t buy the average house any more. Lowest paid trade in this country. Thanks to pokies and that anyone can put on a jacket and call them selves a chef!

Best thing is that people have burning desire to open restaurant, ...........then go broke! Always new places opening up. Perfect example is the Gold Coast.

My bitch session for the day.

Ari Gold

You’re right Ari, a thankless job. A couple of fellas I have worked with have been chefs (their claim not mine) who got out simply due to wages, hours worked and the inconsiderate aholes that sit out front and expect the world on a plate for a pittance. Final insult is always after you prepare a fantastic meal and they ask “Have you got any tomato sauce”

Opening their own restaurant was never an option as it was a one way street to disaster. Hard profession buddy and unless you have hit the top of the stream and your name is known and recognised, a hard haul I would imagine.

New and greatly simplified tax system for 2008.
Tax man: “How much did you earn ??...send it to me”

New and greatly simplified tax system for 2008.
Tax man: “How much did you earn ??...send it to me”

That’s the one!!!

Now the stinking commo’s want to stuff around with our Super after little honest johnny gave us tax free exemption the commo peoples want it back and more – dangerous ground to step I’d say!!

So they plan on taxing Super twice them do they?

Tax you when it comes off your pay and then tax your pension when you finally get the benefits of your super?

Sounds shit to me.