We're getting to that time of the year when we're thinking about submitting our tax returns and, hopefully, scoring a nice little refund . But, sometimes, the cost of getting your return done and the time it takes puts us off. If you trust Facebook Messenger, TaxBot offers a quick and easy solution for people who have simple tax returns.
“Looking at ABS data, we found approximately 40 percent of Australian’s tax returns are ‘simple’. This demographic is unmarried, they don’t have investments, and have less than $300 of work related expenses,” says inGenious AI Head of Conversational Design and TaxBot CEO Andi Chatterton.
TaxBot doesn't need any paperwork. All you need to give it is your Tax File Number and bank account details. The company said security is the highest priority.
Chatterton says "We source users’ data directly from the ATO in real time, ensuring it’s accurate and secure. Additionally, we’ve developed a system that securely collects user’s information, so Facebook doesn’t have access to the user’s personal data at any point".
While the focus for this year is on simple returns, the company plans to enhance the AI (artificial intelligence) they use to deal with more complex returns next year.
When you look at a simple tax return, once you provide your income and deductions, there's not a lot more data needed. So, filling in the form by hand is relatively straightforward, if not time consuming. And you can complete your return online through the ATO's <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Lodging-your-tax-return/Lodge-online/myTax system, which will even have pre-filled in some of the information if you're not in a hurry and can wait a little while.
The use of AI or machine learning based bots isn't new. They're common on many websites where you ask a "virtual agent" for help or information and some software interprets your request and then either answers you directly it directs you to some more information. That's great when you're looking for a new pair of shoes of looking for insurance. But it's a big leap to providing, arguably, two of the most personal pieces of personal data you might have.
So, it's really a question of trust.
You can access TaxBot to register for a notification to lodge their tax once your employer has submitted their group certificate, afterJuly 7, at a flat rate of $20. This fee can be claimed as a tax deduction the following yea and you can score a $5 discount by sharing the bot with friends.
Originally published in Lifehacker Australia on 21 June 2018: https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/06/taxbot-promises-five-minute-tax-returns-over-facebook-messenger/