How to Get My ATO Credit Refunded (Paid by Coles Gift Card)

[mugpink]

Hi everyone I need urgent advice or insights from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

In 2024, I prepaid a few thousand dollars into my ATO account using Coles Mastercard gift cards from a previous deal. After lodging my tax return, my account now shows an $8K credit balance. However, the ATO has refused to refund the amount to my bank account. Instead, they’ve given me two options:

• Refund to the original gift cards (which I’ve already discarded).
• Leave the credit in my account to offset future tax liabilities.

A tax accountant suggested I could take on a second job and ask the employer not to withhold tax, allowing me to use this balance against my tax obligations in the next financial year.

Has anyone been in this situation before? Would really appreciate any advice on how to proceed!

 

[FlyingFiona]

Sounds like you've heard the hard way that if you play the gift card game, never spend them on anything for which you are likely to receive a refund unless you keep them along with meticulous records about what was spent on each.

I have seen others on the wider forums here mention that you can insist on a bank transfer with companies. I've never tried it, and with the ATO I don't like your chances.

 

[levelnine]

Plenty of people have been caught by this. Check the pay ATO by credit card thread on this forum.