Income tax returns (ITRs) and the taxation notice of assessment (NOA) 043-03070060

The type of income tax return (ITR) lodged depends upon the type of business structure:

• Sole traders - Form I (all sole trader information is recorded with personal income details on the Individual tax return)
• Partnerships - Form P
• Companies - Form C
• Trusts - Form T

Lodgement of any of the above tax returns is an indication of the type of business structure a person is involved in.

Income tax returns may be prepared on the forms provided by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or compiled using one of several computerised taxation programs. Usually where a computerised tax return has been lodged it will have been prepared by an accountant or tax agent. The type of tax return can be determined by the heading on an electronically prepared return or the top left hand corner of the form.

See the Resources page for the Types of Income Tax Return forms table which details the types of income tax returns and why they are required by Services Australia.

The Notice of Assessment (NOA) is issued by the ATO only in respect to Form I tax returns (that is, to individuals), as a consequence of having assessed the tax return. It shows the taxable income and the tax liability as assessed by the ATO. The NOA shows the total taxable income of an individual and does not itemise all the different sources of income.

While the NOA is not suitable for assessing income for pension and allowance purposes, it is still important that a NOA be obtained for these customers. Confirmation is required that the tax return provided to Services Australia was the same as that lodged with the ATO.