Mr Murphy asked the Minister representing the Minister for Family and Community Services, upon notice, on 11 December 2002:

(1) How many Family Tax Benefit (FTB) claims have been made (a) directly through the Family Assistance Office (FAO) and (b) through the tax system for 2000-2001.

(2) Is 30 June 2002 the time limit for all FTB claims for 2000-2001.

(3) How many FTB claims made through the FAO for 2000-2001 have been rejected because of late lodgement of applications.

(4) Does the FAO provide accompanying instructions to the FTB claim form titled the “Family Tax Benefit Short Tax Claim Guide”.

(5) If so, under the heading “Choices for Claiming FTB” does the Guide state two ways that the FTB can be claimed, namely as a direct payment through the FAO or through the tax system.

(6) Does the Guide refer to a time limit of 30 June 2002 for FTB claims lodged through the tax system but makes no mention of a time limit for FTB claims lodged through the FAO.

(7) Is there any information on the FAO website highlighting or indicating any time limit for lodging an FTB claim directly through the FAO; if not, why not.

(8) Will the Government make the necessary changes to the Guide and FAO website to ensure Australians are sufficiently informed of their rights and responsibilities when claiming an FTB payment through the FAO; if so, when; if not, why not.

Mr Anthony (Minister for Children and Youth Affairs) —The Minister for Family and Community Services has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) The answers are:

(a) Total number of claims lodged within the time limit through the FAO - 817 135 (see Note).

(b) Total number of claims lodged within the time limit through the tax system - 331 064.

Note: This does not include families who were granted fortnightly payment of FTB from 1 July 2000 without the need for a claim under the transitional provisions. The number of these customers was 1 680 529. This figure was derived by deducting the number of claims granted between 1/7/00 and 28/7/00 (68 950) from the number of customers current at 28/7/00 (1 749 479).

(2) Section 10 of the Family Assistance Administration Act requires that FTB claims for a particular income year have to be lodged before the end of the next income year. As the last day of the next income year for 2000-2001 (30 June 2002) was a Sunday, section 36(2) of the Acts Interpretation Act has the effect of extending the deadline for claims for 2000-2001 by one day. This means that FTB claims lodged on 1 July 2002 were determined and accepted as effective claims.

(3) The total number of claims rejected by the FAO because they were outside the required timeframe was - 165 lodged directly with the FAO and 4 353 through the tax system.

Note: This is the total number of FTB claims rejected as being 'Outside Allowable Time Limit' by data capture records. It is not possible to identify claims lodged outside the time limit with the FAO but which a Customer Service Officer rejected for some other reason. The ATO has identified 4 353 taxpayers who have attempted to lodge a 2001 FTB tax claim after 30 June 2002 by electronic means, either through tax agents via Electronic Lodgement Service (ELS) or by self preparers through e-tax. These cases are rejected by the ELS gateway.

(4) Yes.

(5) Yes

(6) Yes, the 2001 Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Short Tax Claim Guide specifies the time limit for lodging claims through the tax system and discusses the procedures for claiming FTB through the FAO. In the 2000-2001 income year, only 2 percent of customers chose to claim FTB as a lump sum payment through the FAO ( FaCS Annual Report 2001-2002, Volume 2, p26).

Although there is no specific mention of the time limits for claims lodged through the FAO in the Guide, the accompanying publication “Explanation of Terms,” under the heading “FTB Effective Claim Period,” advises:

“A claim for FTB must be made before the end of the income year following the year of claim. That is, a claim for the 2000-01 income year must be lodged before 1 July 2002.”

The Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Tax Claim Guide is due for review in early 2003 and time limits relating to claims via the FAO will be made clearer.

(7) At present the website does not specify a time limit for lodging claims. However, the website is in the process of being redeveloped and information on time limits will be available on the new site together with information on customer rights and responsibilities.

(8) A redevelopment of the FAO website is currently in process and due for completion in early 2003. FAO forms and publications are also due for annual review in early 2003.