Issue
A client had a small remaining HELP debt showing in their 2023 ATO prefill. When preparing the 2023 tax return in LodgeiT, this HELP repayment amount was not automatically added to the tax estimate.
Cause
LodgeiT did not include the outstanding HELP repayment in the 2023 calculation, even though it appeared in the prefill. As a result, the 2023 estimate did not match what the ATO ultimately assessed.
Outcome
The ATO collected the outstanding HELP amount in the client’s 2025 Notice of Assessment. This created a difference between the LodgeiT estimates and the final ATO figures for the combined 2023–2025 period.
Summary
The HELP debt existed in 2023.
LodgeiT did not include it in the estimate.
The ATO recovered the amount in 2025 instead.
The total figures across the years would have matched if the HELP repayment had been included in the 2023 estimate.
Tip for Future Lodgements
Always double-check the “Loans and Liabilities” section and the HELP/HECS repayment field before finalising the estimate to ensure all mandatory repayments are included.