ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[Stephen65]

The T&Cs for all Citi cards disallow business transactions (yes, even the T&Cs for the CitiBusiness card ), however I have never heard of even a single instance of paying business taxes on Citibank card being a problem.

I've paid hundreds of thousands of obvious business expenses and tax on my Citibusiness Gold and never had any sort of issue with getting points.

 

[Bundy Bear]

On hold with the ATO, my call has progressed in the queue, I guess I shouldn't have left it to the last minute to read the paperwork, and actually paid the bill on time.

Well at least I can pay the charge via credit card.

 

[Pushka]

On hold with the ATO, my call has progressed in the queue, I guess I shouldn't have left it to the last minute to read the paperwork, and actually paid the bill on time.

Well at least I can pay the charge via credit card.

Good luck with that. I was on hold for over 30 minutes the day before Company Tax was due, as I couldn't find the PRN on the notice. Then I realised I had torn the pay advice part off - located that slip, and there was the PRN I needed. So I hung up but wonder how long I would have waited.

I have told so many people (businesses) about this facility - the ATO have kept it well hidden, but word is getting out!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Good luck with that. I was on hold for over 30 minutes the day before Company Tax was due, as I couldn't find the PRN on the notice. Then I realised I had torn the pay advice part off - located that slip, and there was the PRN I needed. So I hung up but wonder how long I would have waited.

I have told so many people (businesses) about this facility - the ATO have kept it well hidden, but word is getting out!

The latest information from the ATO about the FBT tax return due 21 May, shows the available ways to pay your tax.

Payment Options
BPay
credit card
Direct credit
mail
in person

I gave up after 45 minutes on the phone, the tax is now paid.

I am sure I will get a nice letter in the mail sometime in the future.

 

[cove]

My imaginary letter from the ATO :

Thank you for paying each and every tax and levy we send to you in such a timely manner. We really value you as one of our best customers so we have decided to grant you two round the world air tickets as our way of saying thanks for millions.

It is unlikely/most unlikely/not happening........

At least the credit card fun continues for our AFF members who have read this thread!

 

[KLN]

yes, the credit card fun continues, saying that very cheekily. did our 2nd in Monaco yesterday for F1.
mind you CC fraud transaction from Aust occurred in our 2nd week away, luckily had a 2nd set of cards. Mr KLN doesn't tho. it was an Aussie transaction tho, not Europe. now I am too scared to use it unless for emergencies. still have access to ATMs tho. now to just be aware of the pickpockets here in Nice. have seen at least 1 a day so far. no pockets for this girl and bag strapped to the front of me.

 

[rechoboam]

This subject came up at a meeting I was at last night. Apparently all the insurers are now offering at least a year's prepayment and some are now offering two - HCF and BUPA were named. Good to hear MP has at least gone to 1.5 years.

Need to do this next week

This government just doesn't seem capable of taking ANY action free of hideous unintended consequences.

Presumably most punters don't game the system like some of us are experts at but if they did, the savings in the "surplus year" from this would be wiped out. In fact would that possibly cancel the surplus altogether??


Update- it would. The package is supposed to save >2 bil per year

 

[cove]

That 2 billion must be a Wayne Swan number.
You have until 30th June to pre-pay.....I do things early as I don't like queues which they are expecting next month.
Monaco and Nice are lovely and the launches are ships which I think are called "private yachts".

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Why would the C/Card Companies worry and shoot themselves in the foot. they make money on the caash flow through the card and with the ATO payments I reckon the cash WOULD be flowing !! It is all lip service IMHO

 

[wafliron]

I really should post a thank-you to the ATO. In the last few weeks the points they've helped me earn have "paid" to book my parents to London in SQ J (rather than the QF Y they'd originally booked) and myself and three friends to coughet in MH J/Y (J the way over, Y the way back due to lack of availability), and will shortly "pay" to book myself and my partner to the USA and back next year in J (or maybe even F). All for a net cost of no more than $1,000 plus airlines taxes & surcharges

 

[yo yo ma]

This subject came up at a meeting I was at last night. Apparently all the insurers are now offering at least a year's prepayment and some are now offering two - HCF and BUPA were named. Good to hear MP has at least gone to 1.5 years.

Another way to save on this is to prepay a year ahead in March as the premiums rise every April.

 

[blueflamenco]

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question.. Are you all paying the credit card fees of 0.48% and 1.25%?

 

[amaroo]

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question.. Are you all paying the credit card fees of 0.48% and 1.25%?

I'm a yes with the Amex....it's an ATO fixed fee.

Are you doing something different?

 

[Stephen65]

Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question.. Are you all paying the credit card fees of 0.48% and 1.25%?

Yes though in some circumstances those fees are probably tax deductible.

PS: the ATO portal automatically adds the correct surcharge to each transaction

 

[Stephen65]

This subject came up at a meeting I was at last night. Apparently all the insurers are now offering at least a year's prepayment and some are now offering two - HCF and BUPA were named. Good to hear MP has at least gone to 1.5 years.

Further to my post above, I spoke to Medibank Private today and they will accept prepayments for the period up to 31 December 2013 at the full rebated rate.

 

[blueflamenco]

Okay, thank you for the replies. I was just checking that it was what everyone else was getting charged since it is somewhat significant $$ depending on your liability.

Another question.. The website that you are directed to in order to make the payment "Government Easy Pay" seems a little (for lack of a better word) dodgy. Can someone confirm that they pay through this site and it's legit?

And finally, I just pulled out my ATO payment slip and the form enclosed states the methods of payments (BPAY etc) and then goes on to say "The ATO does NOT have a credit card facility". Why would this be? Are they saying that they themselves do not process credit cards, but neglect to tell you that this "Government Easy Pay" does?

Thanks for your help

 

[Stephen65]

The link on the ATO webpage here:

How to pay

leads you here:

https://www.optussmartpay.com/governmenteasypay-ato/

This is genuine. I have paid many large tax bills through this site.

It is a mystery why the ATO paper documents still say no CC payment is possible when in fact it is. I suspect either they have a large stock of preprinted forms they want to use up or it's just another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in a large government organisation.

PS: if you are still nervous just pay a small part of your tax bill via the portal and wait to see it show up on your CC accounts. You don't have to pay a tax bill all in one go.

 

[blueflamenco]

^^ Thank you! That's the site I was being directed to. I feel at ease knowing that you have used it with success.

 

[kpc]

Further to my post above, I spoke to Medibank Private today and they will accept prepayments for the period up to 31 December 2013 at the full rebated rate.

Great news!! I will be ringing MP in the next few days:mrgreen:. So does MP accept AMEX now??

 

[amaroo]

The link on the ATO webpage here:

How to pay

leads you here:

https://www.optussmartpay.com/governmenteasypay-ato/

This is genuine. I have paid many large tax bills through this site.

It is a mystery why the ATO paper documents still say no CC payment is possible when in fact it is. I suspect either they have a large stock of preprinted forms they want to use up or it's just another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in a large government organisation.

PS: if you are still nervous just pay a small part of your tax bill via the portal and wait to see it show up on your CC accounts. You don't have to pay a tax bill all in one go.

I'm happy to back this up. My wife is a practising CA & didn't believe you could pay the ATO with CC....she now believes!