Non-Resident Tax Return Filing in Australia

When it comes to tax returns in Australia, non-residents face a unique set of challenges. Non-residents are individuals who do not reside in Australia for more than six months in a fiscal year or who do not have a permanent home in the country. If you are a non-resident and received income in Australia, you may be required to file a tax return.

Here are some things you need to know about filing non-resident tax returns in Australia:

1. Income tax rates for non-residents are different

Non-residents are generally taxed at a higher rate than residents. For the 2020-2021 fiscal year, non-resident tax rates start at 32.5% and go up to 45%. Additionally, non-residents are not eligible for the tax-free threshold, which means they pay tax on every dollar of income they earn in Australia.

2. You must declare all Australian sourced income

If you earned any income in Australia, such as salary, wages, or investment income, you must include it in your tax return. This includes income earned from sources outside of Australia if it is remitted to Australia.

3. You may be eligible for deductions

As a non-resident, you may be eligible for deductions such as work-related expenses, charitable donations, and other expenses related to earning your Australian sourced income. However, you must ensure that any deductions claimed are directly related to your Australian sourced income.

4. The deadlines for non-resident tax returns are different

Non-resident tax returns must be lodged by 30 June, which is different from the deadline for resident tax returns, which is 31 October. It’s important to note that penalties may apply for late or non-lodgement of tax returns.

5. There may be tax treaties in place

If you are a non-resident who earns income from more than one country, there may be tax treaties in place between Australia and those countries that affect how you are taxed. These treaties are designed to prevent double taxation and ensure that non-residents are taxed on their worldwide income only once.

Overall, non-residents in Australia are required to file tax returns if they earned any income in the country. It’s important to be aware of the different tax rates, deadlines, and deductions that apply to non-residents when filing your tax return. If you need assistance with preparing your non-resident tax return, you can seek help from a tax agent or accountant who is familiar with these requirements.

At AIMS Australia we prepare Individual Tax Returns, Sole Trader Tax Returns, Partnership Tax Returns, Trust Tax Returns, Company Tax Returns, Crypto tax returns, Expat tax return, Non resident tax returns, overdue tax returns, foreign resident tax returns, investment property tax returns, payroll solutions, late tax filing, capital gains, company formation, business setup, and BAS. You can call us on 1300 11 24 67 or email us at info@aimsaustralia.com.au