The ATO has shared examples of some of the more unusual tax-time excuses it has received over the years. A light read – with a serious tip at the end about keeping your records safe.
“Someone has stolen my pants”
One taxpayer claimed a thief broke into their car and stole a pair of pants that happened to contain all their proof of purchase.
“I’ve got holiday brain”
As an excuse for late lodgment, one taxpayer said they had holiday brain after returning from a trip and had simply forgotten to lodge their tax return.
“A mouse ate my receipts”
According to the ATO, this is the most common excuse for missing receipts. One taxpayer claimed a mouse had got into their car and eaten all of them.
“The car wash did it”
Another taxpayer reported watching their proof of purchase vanish while their car was being cleaned – a reminder, they noted, to close the windows before going through a car wash.
The serious tip
To keep your receipts in good order, the ATO recommends keeping digital records of all of them. Where a receipt is lost, it’s worth visiting the seller to see if they have a record of the purchase.