Outrage over tax returns: Taxpayers propose at Australia’s Inland Revenue after being forced to wait in an online queue

Australians have reacted violently after being forced to wait in line for more than an hour to fill out their tax returns. Some compare this to buying tickets to Taylor Swift’s concert.

Dozens of people have taken to social media in recent days to criticize the Australian Taxation Authority (ATO) after being met with a ‘hold on!’ The message “You are in the queue” is displayed when trying to log into their myGov account.

“To ensure you have the best possible experience when accessing our online services, we are currently managing the number of people who can sign up. “Thank you for your patience,” the message said.

Taxpayers were frustrated because they had to wait in a virtual queue (pictured) when trying to file their tax returns

Taxpayers likened the experience to queuing for Taylor Swift tickets, where hundreds of thousands of Australians waited for hours in a virtual queue for a chance to buy coveted tickets to the pop sensation’s much-coveted Eras tour.

“The ATO website has a queue that’s harder to get into than Tay-Tay tickets,” one wrote.

‘Waiting to access ATO site. Are there Taylor Swift tickets if you can get through?’ another joked.

“Waiting for the ATO website to load at 8am on July 1st is my personal queue for Taylor Swift tickets,” quipped another.

Tax attorney Anatoliy Dubinin criticized the queuing system following Australian outrage.

“They (the ATO) just don’t bother to create a better service for taxpayers,” he wrote.

A spokesman for ATO said the waiting room system was used to “manage user traffic and ensure system performance for ATO online users”.

“The ATO Online Waiting Room has been in existence since April 2020 and is a tool to ensure continuity of service in the event of excessive demand or unforeseen events affecting system performance,” the spokesman said.

“It’s a standard method used by many organizations to manage the online user experience.” That means while some users can still easily access our online services, others are put in a queue to await access to services.”

They added: “We also remind taxpayers that waiting until the end of July will allow the ATO to collect data from banks, financial institutions, private health insurers and government agencies to make the filing process smoother and easier, and to ensure tax refunds arrive faster.”

The tax return filing deadline for Australians is 31 October.

Dozens likened the experience to standing in line for coveted Taylor Swift tickets (pictured).

This is because many Australians have expressed irritation at their tax returns coming in lower than expected.

Last week, a young miner’s foul-mouthed rant about his paltry tax return went viral on TikTok.

Tyrone Northop, 23, fired a profanity-laden beam at the ATO and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“How the hell do I owe ATO $2,000 when I gave them $48,000?” he yelled at the camera.

“The government, as always, fucks every bastard.” They should be ashamed.

Workers had been warned to expect lower-than-expected earnings this year after the Morrison government scrapped the low- and middle-income tax credit (LMITO) in 2022.

The LMITO granted up to $1,500 in tax credits to individuals earning up to $126,000.

It was originally introduced in the 2018-19 budget, extended during the pandemic and then increased by the Morrison government – and backed by the opposition at the time.

However, it was always temporary and ended at the end of the most recent tax year, on June 30, 2022.

But many low- to middle-income earners won’t find out about it until they file their tax returns this year. Then their tax refund may be reduced by $675 to $1,500.