People earning less than $50,000 a year are eligible for a free tax-help service offered through Hume council’s community centres.
The local service, run in conjunction with the Australian Tax Office, is being offered in 14 different languages and is available until October 31 at the Hume Global Learning centres in Craigieburn and Broadmeadows, at Goonawarra Neighbourhood House, Coolaroo West Community House, Tullamarine Community House and Victorian Arabic Social Services in Broadmeadows.
Khem Khanal, of Meadow Heights, is one of many thousands of volunteers trained by the ATO to lend a hand to those who don’t understand the jargon of this end-of-financial-year process.
Mr Khanal has been volunteering for the past two financial years while completing a bachelor of accounting degree at RMIT University.
He said tax-help volunteers apply to the ATO for registration and can then be allocated to nearby tax-help centres, such as those set up in Hume. For him, it was a way to get practical work experience.
“I’m able to help low-income earners who can’t understand English well and don’t have knowledge of e-tax or the technical skills,” Mr Khanal said.
Mayor Casey Nunn urged low-income families to get help. “This is the sixth year council’s Hume Volunteer Gateway program has delivered tax help, and we’re fortunate to have the assistance of 16 volunteers to help deliver this important service,” Cr Nunn said.
For an appointment, call 9356 6928 or email taxhelpadmin@hume.vic.gov.au.
