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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released details ofna data-matching program which will enable it to match income data it collectsnfrom social welfare recipients with tax return-related data reported to the ATO.nThe data matching will assist DHS to identify social welfare recipients who maynnot have correctly disclosed their income and assets. In addition, data DHS receivesnfrom the ATO will be electronically matched with certain departmental recordsnto identify people’s noncompliance with income or other reporting obligations.
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DHS expects to match each of the approximately seven millionnunique records held in its Centrelink database. Based on noncompliancencriteria, the DHS anticipates it will examine approximately 20,000 records innthe first phase of the project. The category of people who may be affected bynthe data matching includes welfare recipients who have lodged a tax return withnthe ATO during the period 2011 to 2014.
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Important: Clients should not act solely on the basis of the material contained in Update. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute or convey advice per se. Also, changes in legislation may occur quickly. We therefore recommend that our formal advice be sought before acting in any of the areas. This update is issued as a helpful guide to clients and for their private information.