I need help understanding the tax assessments I got, last year and this year, and an apparent debt for next year for my old age pension from November last year to 30th of June 2025. I have no savings or investments, no partner or dependants. I had a low three days a week wages income before I retired, with tax taken out and centrelink top up contibutions when my wages were low enough for that. I continued working for six months after I went on the old age pension, with most of the pension not being paid due to my wage. In past years with that arrangement I got most of my tax back in a refund. Last year 23/24 a very unexpected further tax bill of $691 on top of my wages tax contribution, which I paid. This year no refund from my $1434 tax contributions, and an amount of $502.85 to be due in the future. My taxable income from wages 2024/25 was $16,453.55. I did not see, when filling out my tax return, a section for social security or old age pension payments, but it could have been there. I assumed the tax office already knew those details. I know I am misunderstanding something. Calling 132861 has no option for "I need help understanding my assessment". The choose an option help that is offered is niche and for me unhelpful. Being hung up on because the ATO is too busy to help is no help. I am shocked at the incapacity of the ATO to provide useful help. There was the unpleasant experience of multiple choice choose this choose that oh none of that applied to you, no you don't get to speak to someone, too bad you're out of options. I know I will have this wrong, but my tax assessment looks like robodebt all over again, and I would really like help understanding that that is not so.
I see on line that attempting to get help from the ATO is more likely to be successful later in a week, Monday being a peak time. I will worry about this all week and try again at a time more convenient to the resource level of this government department.
As an example of the designed in unhelpfullness of ATO help provided, below this pane is "Keywords Add up to five keywords to describe what your question is about". There is a little information icon off to the right hand side "Adding keywords relevant to your question helps people find it! This can get you answers more quickly" When the software does not find any of my submitted keywords in what it might like to see, it removes them, leaving the panel blank. Apparently the software designer knows better than me the help I need. It is a reminder of another government department, the Centrelink of the past, a help system that appeared to be set up to avoid providing help. A system with designed in frustration and despair.
I will be very appreciative of any help you can provide. My tax affairs seem so simple I am sure someone with a brain that thinks that way can explain briefly and easily. I hope that is you. Thankyou for your help.
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