What to do about mail, tax returns, etc. when away for extended trip?

[slowtrip]

I hear about people liking camping so much that they stay away for 6 months or even a lot more, camping around Australia.  Just wondering about a few things as I have never done this - but I may be about to...

Firstly, mail.  I have someone at home collecting it, but what if I want something physically sent to me while I am away.  Can you have an item delivered to a post office in the next major town that you will visit?   What about delivery to a caravan park?   What is best?

Secondly, tax returns.  It is nearly tax time again.  When is the latest I can submit a simple PAYE return without penalty?  Can I get an extension?  What do you do whilst on the road if you need to deal with your accountant at tax time?

Also, are there other things that I need to factor in if I stay away for a nice long extended trip?

[chester ver2.0]

Mail - firstly i converted everything i could to paperless
Then i put a mail divert in place to my parents and every 2 weeks we would go through the mail on the phone and i would have them express post anything urgent to the next caravan park. Once i went paperless for my bills etc it was suprising how little mail i had left

Tax - i think you have to 31st October to lodge your return. If it is simple just take your receipts with you and then just get your group certificates sent to the caravan park you are at.

Just make sure your licence and rego is not going to expire and take out the best level of roadside assitance for the state you live in (paid for itself when we blew a bearing in newman). Read the fine print of these as a lot of the ones that come with the vehicle only cover towing of the vehicle not your camper trailer

[slowtrip]

Mail - firstly i converted everything i could to paperless
Then i put a mail divert in place to my parents and every 2 weeks we would go through the mail on the phone and i would have them express post anything urgent to the next caravan park. Once i went paperless for my bills etc it was suprising how little mail i had left

Yes, have been doing that, and in fact, made a lot of the bills autopay.  So post to the next caravan park works?  Great!   Do post offices accept mail that way too.  Just asking as we will free camping a lot.

Tax - i think you have to 31st October to lodge your return. If it is simple just take your receipts with you and then just get your group certificates sent to the caravan park you are at.

It may not be as simple as I would have hoped, as I am still paying a little tax on withdrawals from super - not quite old enough yet  .  Still, probably can do most via contact with accountant via email - combined with sending documents ahead to next stop if anything needs signing.

Just make sure your licence and rego is not going to expire and take out the best level of roadside assitance for the state you live in (paid for itself when we blew a bearing in newman). Read the fine print of these as a lot of the ones that come with the vehicle only cover towing of the vehicle not your camper trailer

Yes, we took out the top cover with RACQ to make sure of this.

[Fizzie]

PO's used to accept mail as in Slowtrip c/ Black Stump PO, but you may need to confirm that.

Make sure you also check out Ambulance cover for the state/s that you're visiting as your home cover may not be recognised - I think Qld cover is OK Aust wide?

[slowtrip]

PO's used to accept mail as in Slowtrip c/ Black Stump PO, but you may need to confirm that.

Make sure you also check out Ambulance cover for the state/s that you're visiting as your home cover may not be recognised - I think Qld cover is OK Aust wide?

Thanks.  Yep, found this on their website

Code: [Select]

Permanent Queensland residents are automatically covered for emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment and transport Australia-wide.

If you are a permanent Queensland resident and receive an invoice for ambulance treatment/transport provided to you or your child/dependant by
 another state or territory ambulance service, you are requested to forward the invoice to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) for payment.

[EagleBoy]

PO's used to accept mail as in Slowtrip c/ Black Stump PO, but you may need to confirm that.

Google "Poste Restante" it should cover what you are after. Mail sent to a PO in this way is held for a month and there is no fee for the service. I only came across this recently having never heard of it before. The Aus Post website has nothing really on it about it, could be worth calling in to you local PO to chat about it.

[austastar]

Hi,
   We have just about every thing direct debit, (Phone, Rates, Water, Power, Health cover)


Pre paying things like Registration is difficult too many months out, usually get some one to sort it out with an email advising us of the numbers needed to BPay.


Center Link and Super are finally talking to each other now, that was a hassle some years ago for an annual assessment. Center Link Bourke were very helpful in getting it sorted though.


Sort out credit card and driver's licence expiry dates well before you go, that can be a real hassle trying to get mail to catch you.


Cheers