Project Description
Australia's population includes millions of migrants and people with disabilities, who face unique challenges navigating the complex tax and superannuation systems. These challenges are primarily due to language barriers, accessibility issues, and low digital literacy, all of which make tax compliance and access to entitlements more difficult.
Migrants, especially those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, often encounter language barriers that hinder their understanding of tax processes, leading to missed deadlines and unclaimed benefits. This issue is compounded by low digital literacy among vulnerable groups, making it difficult for them to engage with digital tax systems.
To address these issues, we propose Equitax AI, a digital platform specifically designed for vulnerable groups, particularly disabled and migrant individuals, to help them navigate the tax and super systems with ease. The key features personalized service locator uses open data about service providers, helping users find the nearest assistance centerer migrants to understand complex tax laws and regulations, and an accessibility-first design for disabled individuals, who requires voice navigation. The platform is optimized for screen readers and voice navigation, and even offers human support when needed. Real-time assistance is available, providing advice and suggestions for both tax filing and benefit claims, ensuring compliance and maximizing potential refunds. Additionally, a personalize device locator uses open data about service providers, helping users find the nearest assistance centerer migrants to understand complex tax laws and regulations, and an accessibility-first design for disabled individuals, who requires voice navigation. The platform is optimized for screen readers and voice navigation, and even offers human support when needed. Real-time assistance is available, providing advice and suggestions for both tax filing and benefit claims, ensuring compliance and maximizing potential refunds. Additionally, a personalized service locator uses open data about service providers, helping users find the nearest assistance center that caters to elderly or disabled individuals.
The project leverages open government data to design the solution and target vulnerable groups accurately. NDIS datasets help map out disabled individuals who need assistance with digital access, while migrant data from open datasets helps understand which groups are most in need of multilingual support and localized services. The Digital Inclusion Index highlights the gaps in digital access for various demographics, such as rural populations, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities, allowing Equitax AI to prioritize those who face digital exclusion. Taxation Statistics and Help Statistics datasets help identify trends in non-compliance and missed tax entitlements for migrants and people with disabilities.
The Equitax AI prototype has been built with these data insights in mind, providing a seamless, user-friendly interface that can be adapted to the needs of each user. Who requires voice navigation, Also to, a migrant struggling with English, Equitax AI adjusts to the needs of every individual. The platform is a step towards the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) 2030 mission to go fully digital, making tax compliance easy, accessible, and fair for everyone. Equitax AI aligns directly with the ATO's digital transformation goals by providing an inclusive platform that not only facilitates tax compliance but also enhances user engagement and trust with the tax system.
Visualizations to support the case include a compliance gap chart showing the growing gap between theoretical tax liabilities and voluntary compliance payments, highlighting the disproportionate impact on migrants and disabled individuals. A migrant population distribution visual representation shows the largest communities, like those from India, China, and England, that face language barriers and tax literacy challenges. A graph displays the level of digital access across different age groups for disabled people, using data from the Digital Inclusion Index. Additionally, maps show the distribution of service providers across Australia, ensuring vulnerable groups can access in-person support when digital tools aren't sufficient.
Equitax AI is more than just a tool—it’s a bridge, connecting vulnerable groups to the tax system and ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to meet their obligations and claim their entitlements. By leveraging government data, innovative design, and a focus on inclusivity, Equitax AI offers a sustainable, long-term solution for tax compliance in Australia. It not only aligns with the ATO’s vision for 2030 but also uplifts vulnerable communities, ensuring that the future of taxation in Australia is both digital and inclusive. The final message is clear: Equitax AI—Empowering Everyone, Equitably. Together, we can close the compliance gap, improve financial equity, and make tax systems accessible to all Australians, regardless of their background or abilities.
References:
1. ATO Digital Strategy Framework
https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/managing-the-tax-and-super-system/in-detail/ato-digital-strategy-2022-25/digital-strategy-framework
ATO Our services for people with disability
https://www.ato.gov.au/people-with-disability/our-services-for-people-with-disability
Skilled migration and disability | Parliament of Australia
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Completed_Inquiries/mig/disability/chapter6
Migration Amendment | Parliament of Australia
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/27132/&sid=0011