ATO has tax-filing software that only runs on that other OS. MacOS and GNU/Linux users are out of luck but the ATO will allow them to deduct from taxes the cost of running that other OS just to run the software, a pure subsidy of M$.
STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! Australians and their government do not owe M$ a living. M$ should work for a living and Australian taxes should not go directly into M$’s coffers. Make your software a web-application that any browser on any OS can access. Get your act together, ATO.
see Tax office will let you deduct virtualisation software • The Register.
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ATO also requires internet access to use program.
By your logic, ATO is “subsidising” internet providers by requiring an internet link.
There is a standard deduction for tax-related expenses, not specific to running Windows.
Your post is entirely wrong.
My comment is eaten by your blogger software again…
Tar wrote, “There is a standard deduction for tax-related expenses, not specific to running Windows.”
This one is specific to running that other OS. They don’t give a special tax deduction for adding an instance of GNU/Linux for doing taxes. Imagine if there were a special tax-deduction for buying paper at ABC Co. for instance. People would be outraged. People only get this tax-deduction if they buy from M$.
The Australian Tax Office has had significant problems over the years with corruption at high levels. I don’t believe for a second that support of Microsoft and conversely locking out other platforms is an act of stupidity. In my view this is simple corruption or in other words normal Microsoft business practice.
Bob Parker wrote, “this is simple corruption or in other words normal Microsoft business practice.”
I would not be surprised at that but it could be simple stupidity as well. They could easily produce a Java application that could run anywhere or make it a web-application.
“They could easily produce a Java application that could run anywhere or make it a web-application.”
Of course they could. But they won’t. That’s why I reckon there is corruption behind the decision.
I am Australian this problem is not new.
Bob Parker the problem is the Australian software Acquirement process. Only in recent years has cross platform even had to be considered.
The predecessor Auskey what is the encryption software to provide tender for software before 4 years ago was was Windows only.
If you want to understand how stupid this is the ATO runs the biggest Linux Cluster in Australia. Yet there tender process for doing your tax return did not require cross platform support.
Robert Pogson before Auskey being cross platform all interactions with the Tax office had to be windows. These days its only the private tax returns everything else has been moved it website. Yes the accountants submit system is web based requiring Auskey to access.
The Linux Cluster is quite huge in fact all government records feed through it.
Tar here is the funny part as Linux user I can write off my cost of Windows, Virtual Machine to run it, If my software book keeping is myob copy of MS office as well.
Yes as a Linux user in Australia I don’t pay for MS Products the Government does since I can claim I installed them primary for the means to doing my accounting.
Poor Windows only users in Australia cannot claim that much.
Robert Pogson I have only done the deduction for virtual machine software for the past 15+ years. The decuct the software has been on the books for that long and the register has only found out about it.