CDU Free Tax Clinic
CDU Free Tax Clinic is on a break at the moment, and will start operations again from 13 July 2026.
Until then, if you have urgent matters, please email us at taxclinic@cdu.edu.au
The CDU Free Tax Clinic provides free, confidential and independent tax help to people across the Northern Territory who can’t access paid advice. We connect eligible individuals, small businesses, not-for-profits and charities with the support they need to understand and meet their tax obligations.
About the clinic
The clinic is run by Charles Darwin University and staffed by selected accounting students and academic staff, working under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners. A registered tax agent reviews and signs off the work. It is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and it is independent - we act for you, not the regulator.
Our aim is simple: to help unrepresented Territory taxpayers meet their tax affairs with confidence, while giving CDU students real experience that benefits the whole community.
How we can help you
Most of the people we help are individuals on a low income. Whatever the worry, we’ll explain it in plain English and help you take the next step. We can help you to:
- Prepare and lodge your individual tax return, including returns from earlier years
- Understand a letter or notice from the ATO and work out what to do
- Set up a manageable payment plan for a tax debt if needed
- Apply to have penalties or interest reduced or remitted
- Understand your rights and obligations
- Work out a tax liability or check a refund
We can also help small business and community groups
We also assist unrepresented sole traders, partnerships, companies, not-for-profits and small charities in the Territory with:
- Preparing simple business activity statements (BAS)
- Responding to ATO notices and reporting requirements
- Negotiating payment plans and penalty remissions
- General advice on your obligations and rights
We can’t help with complex structures, self-managed super funds, audits or disputes beyond our remit, or financial product advice. When a matter is outside our scope, we’ll tell you and, where we can, point you in the right direction.
Who’s eligible
Individuals
Generally, you’re eligible if you:
- Are currently unrepresented (you don’t have a tax agent)
- Reside in the Northern Territory
- Have a taxable income of $65,000 or below
Small businesses, not-for-profits and charities
For sole traders, partnerships and companies, generally you’re eligible if you:
- Are currently unrepresented (you don’t have a tax agent)
- Are based in the Northern Territory
- Meet the requirements for a small business, not-for-profit or charity
- Have a turnover of less than $75,000 a year
Our help is free, and places are subject to eligibility and the clinic’s capacity to take on new matters.
How to apply
Applying is free and takes a few minutes.
1. Check your eligibility and request a booking.
Use our online form to confirm you’re eligible and send us your details.
Please read carefully our Terms and Conditions.
2. We review your request
Once submitted, an experienced CDU Tax Clinic member and a student volunteer will review your application. You'll be notified of the outcome, and if successful, you'll be required to attend an initial meeting at CDU Danala City Campus.
3 Meeting and assessment
If approved, we’ll arrange a meeting at CDU to talk through your matter and agree what we’ll help with.
Where to find us
Darwin - Charles Darwin University, Danala City campus. Other Territory locations will be announced.
Contact us
- Phone: TBA
- Email: taxclinic@cdu.edu.au
Darwin - CDU Tax Clinic Office
CDU Danala Campus
13 July 2026 to 27 October 2026
Monday's & Tuesday's
9 AM - 5 PM
A teaching clinic you can trust
The CDU Free Tax Clinic is a teaching clinic. Your matter is handled by students and academic staff under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners, and a registered tax agent reviews the work before anything is lodged. Your information is kept confidential and handled in line with CDU’s privacy policy.
CDU Free Tax Clinic Annual Report 2022 & 2023
The CDU Free Tax Clinic aims to assist unrepresented taxpayers in meeting and complying with their tax affairs in the Northern Territory community The CDU Tax Clinic has been established to provide free and accessible services to members of the community in the Northern Territory It is an Australian government-funded initiative through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) geared towards helping taxpayers who may not be able to afford professional tax advice and representation with their tax affairs and obligations.
2024 |
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2022 & 2023 | 2021 |
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Supporters
We are grateful for the considerable contributions of time, services and insights provided by a wide range of stakeholders during the course of the CDU Free Tax Clinic.
Inputs from current and past students, volunteers, program clients, partners, professional associations, and academics have been generously offered and openly received. We also express our deep gratitude to the Asia Pacific College of Business & Law staff for their assistance in this program, and for working tirelessly to meet our various deadlines.
We want to thank the Australian Taxation Office and its staff for their support in the past and for the coming years.
Without the help of these individuals and stakeholders, the success of this program would not be possible.
