Your Tax Return, Your Way: Email or Appointment

Mia: Welcome to the podcast, our newsletter made easy. Please note, this podcast features AI-generated voices for your hosts, Mia Taylor Leo: and Leo Baker, bringing you expert insights from owner, Ben De Rosa, and the team at Aevum Accounting. Each week, we're here to help you confidently navigate the ins and outs of Australian tax, whether it's for your individual finances or the complexities of your business. Mia: We'll cut through the jargon to give you strategies for compliance, smart planning, and that ultimate peace of mind. Leo: So, if you're looking to understand your obligations, maximize your financial position, or simply gain clarity on your money matters, you're in the right place. Let's get started with our review of the week! Mia: This one comes from Peta, who left us five stars. She wrote: I've had a fantastic experience with the team. The service was professional, efficient, and tailored to my needs from start to finish. Everything was explained clearly, and I felt supported and confident throughout the entire process. What really stood out was the attention to detail and genuine care taken to ensure the best outcome for me. Leo: Thanks for the lovely review, Peta. And it is the perfect one for today, because supported and confident throughout the entire process is exactly what this episode is about. How does the process actually work? Mia: That's right. Today we are answering the question we probably get more than any other. How do I actually get my tax return done with you? Because there are two ways, and one of them doesn't involve leaving your couch. Leo: The email tax return, and the appointment. And we want to bust a big myth right up front. Some people assume the email option is a lesser product. A quick once-over. It is not, and by the end of this episode you'll see why. Mia: So whether you're a brand new client, thinking about switching accountants, or you've been coming in for years and never knew there was another way, this one's for you. Leo: Let's start with the email option, Mia. Talk me through it. I'm on my couch, it's eight o'clock at night, and I've decided this is the year I finally get my tax sorted properly. Mia: Step one, you book online through our website. It takes about two minutes. But here's the twist. The date you pick isn't a meeting. Nobody's calling you at eleven thirty on a Friday. Leo: Exactly. The date you book is the commencement date. It's the day the team officially starts work on your return. From there, the whole process runs over email across the following two weeks. Mia: Which means no waiting rooms, no taking time off work, no finding parking. If you're a paramedic coming off night shift, you can do your part at two in the morning in your pyjamas, and no one will ever know. Leo: Once you're booked, a secure checklist arrives by email. That's where you send everything through. Your income statement, receipts, private health details, work-related expenses. The checklist prompts you for the things people forget, so nothing gets left behind. Mia: And if you're new to us, there's a quick new client form to fill in first. The team then handles the switch from your old accountant, including updating your details with the tax office. You don't have to have a single awkward conversation. Leo: Then the same qualified accountants who sit across the desk from clients every day get to work. We're a CPA practice and a registered tax agent. They check your pre-fill data, look over your prior returns, and go hunting for the profession-specific deductions we talk about on this show every week. Mia: And if something looks off, or there's a deduction you might be missing, they'll email you a question. Just like they'd ask if you were sitting in the office. Leo: When it's ready, the draft return comes back to you digitally with your refund estimate. You review it, sign it electronically from your phone, and the team lodges it with the tax office. Done. Start to finish without leaving home. Mia: And the price for all that starts from $330, including GST. All our fees are listed upfront, so you can see exactly where you'd land before you book. Leo: Now, option two. The classic. The appointment. Mia: This is a dedicated, one-on-one session with your adviser. You can come into the office, where there's free parking right at the door, or jump on a video call from anywhere in Australia. Leo: And this is the key difference. You work through your position together, in real time. You ask a question, you get the answer on the spot. It's tailored advice, not just a return. Mia: There are options for the appointment too. You can book a session for yourself, one for you and your partner to knock both returns out together, or a longer session focused on your investments. Leo: The appointment really shines when things are more complex. You've bought your first investment property. You've started trading shares or crypto. You've had a big life change, like getting married or starting a business on the side. Or honestly, you just think better out loud. Mia: And that option starts from $440, including GST. Same deal, all the fees listed upfront. Leo: One thing that's identical on both paths is the add-ons. If your return includes a rental property, a sole trader business schedule, or share and crypto trading, each of those is an extra $100, all listed in the fee schedule. And if your situation sits outside the listed fees, the team will reach out to you before any work begins. No surprise bills, ever. Mia: Okay Leo, let's do the myth-busting properly. Because I want everyone to hear this part. What is exactly the same, no matter which option you pick? Leo: The people. The same qualified team prepares both. The checklists are the same. The review before anything gets lodged is the same. And the deduction hunt for your occupation, everything we bang on about in this podcast, happens on every single return, email or not. Mia: So the end product is identical. An expert-prepared, fully compliant tax return that claims everything you're legally entitled to. Leo: Correct. The difference in price isn't a difference in quality. The extra $110 buys you dedicated appointment time with your adviser. The live conversation. That's it. Mia: It's like your favourite restaurant. Same kitchen, same chef, same dish. You can dine in, or you can get it delivered. Delivery just costs a little less because nobody's topping up your water glass. Leo: That's actually a great way to put it. So how do you choose? If your year was fairly straightforward and you're time-poor, the email option is brilliant. If your situation is complex, if it's your first year with us, or if you want to talk things through, book the appointment. Mia: And plenty of people mix it up. They come in the first year to get everything set up properly, then switch to email in the years after. You can change between them every year if you like. There's no lock-in. Leo: So, to recap. Option one, the email tax return. Book a start date, send your documents through the secure checklist, the team prepares and maximises your return, you sign from your phone. Starting from $330. Option two, the appointment, in person or by video. Real-time, tailored advice with your adviser. Starting from $440. Mia: Booking either one takes about two minutes. Head to aevumaccounting.com.au and hit Book an Appointment. Both options are right there. Leo: That's Aevum Accounting at aevumaccounting.com.au. Whichever way you go, you'll deal with people who actually know your industry. Mia: Before we go, a quick but important reminder. The information shared today is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute specific tax or financial advice. Leo: Everyone's situation is unique, and tax laws are complex. For personalized advice tailored to your situation, we always recommend consulting with a qualified professional. Mia: Until next time, stay savvy, stay proactive... Leo: And get your return done, your way!