Accountant warns Aussies about ATO refund difficulties

An accountant in Australia has raised an important warning to taxpayers regarding the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Hripsime Demirdjian, the founder of Hive Wise, reported that her client mistakenly paid $20,000 in taxes twice. When she requested a refund, the ATO refused it. Demirdjian first contacted the ATO after noticing that the refund had not been processed 14 days later. The ATO explained that the refund could not be issued because the client had an upcoming bill. Demirdjian argued that although the client owed money, it was not due yet, and they should receive the refund of the extra payment. The ATO stated that if a taxpayer owes money, they are required by law to use any payments or refunds to pay off that debt, except in specific situations. Demirdjian emphasized that the overpayment was not the ATO's money and expressed frustration in a video, urging the agency to return the funds. Demirdjian advises against making advance payments to the ATO. She believes it is safer for taxpayers to save money separately and earn interest on it instead of pre-paying. This way, they can manage their cash flow better, especially in difficult economic times. The ATO did not provide further comments on this specific case but reiterated its policies regarding tax payments and refunds.