Centrelink's inconvenient tax warning for recipients after late changes were made to payments

Centrelink recipients who have already lodged their tax return are being warned they might need to resubmit it after a change. 

Services Australia said Centrelink payment summary information, which is used to fill out a tax return, could have been amended due to changes in payments recently brought in. 

Those who are on benefits payments should be on the look out for a physical letter in the mail or a digital one in their myGov inbox to advise of any changes. 

Services Australia said for those who have not yet filled out their tax return, the changes should be pre-filled on their myTax form. 

'When you do lodge your tax return, check the pre-fill details in ATO myTax match the details in the letter from us,' Services Australia said.

'If it matches, lodge your tax return as normal. If it doesn't match, you can either change it yourself to match the details in the letter and then lodge it or contact the ATO through its website.'

For those who have already lodged their tax return and they receive a letter advising them of a change, the process is the same.

They will need to log into myTax and pre-fill their information again and ensure that it matches the letter before resubmitting it.

Tax returns were able to be lodged from July 1 and are due by October 31, though if a tax accountant or tax agent is used they can be submitted until May 15, 2025.

If a professional is used they need to be signed up to handle your tax return by October 31. 

Late lodgements typically incur a penalty fee of $313 per 28-day period. 

The ATO advises refunds typically take about two weeks to be processed and deposited into banks.