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Lucy(I'm new)I'm new
13 Apr 2026

I submitted an objection to ATO 2 years ago for a large tax debt they gave me due to HECS fees were not taken from my pay. I had notified my employer on the Form that I had a HECS debt. I was working for a Govt Department! I have not heard back from ATO regarding the objection. There is no record of the objection on my ATO correspondence. It just appears to have disappeared. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

31 views
2 replies
31 views
2 replies

All replies

13 Apr 2026

Incorrect withholding is not a basis for getting the HECS repayment cancelled. You can followup the objection if you want, but it isn't going to be successful as there isn't a real basis for it - the HECS repayment would stand. But if the debt is still outstanding you can ask for a payment plan, which may help reduce the accrual of interest on the debt. Note that GIC incurred before 1/7/25 can be claimed as a tax deduction, but interest imposed after this date cannot.

NikkiATO(Community Moderator)Community Moderator
13 Apr 2026

Hi @Lucy,


When an objection is lodged, we issue an acknowledgment and the objection appears in your ATO records. If there’s no record at all in your correspondence, it may mean that:

  • the objection wasn’t successfully received or finalised, or
  • it was lodged in a different form or channel and hasn’t been linked to your account.

Objections don’t lapse on their own, but delays can happen if records are incomplete or the objection wasn’t captured correctly. If you still have copies of the objection or proof it was lodged, the next step is to call us so we can locate it or re‑establish the objection. 

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HECS fees not taken from pay when they should have been. | ATO Community