Nice cool mornings, beautiful warm sunny days...yes, spring is in the air. That can only mean one thing: tax time is near. If you still owe tax money on your earnings you may be dreading the fact that taxes are due by October 31st. Most Australians, however, look forward to getting a tax refund cheque.

While the Australian Tax Office (ATO) still sends out the old-fashioned paper tax packs in the mail to every taxpayer, many Australians are now lodging their taxes quicker and easier through the ATO's e-tax service. You can download the free e-tax software from the ATO website ( http://www.ato.gov.au ), and e-tax allows most refunds to be mailed out within 14 days. That means you could have your tax cheque three to four weeks earlier than someone lodging a paper tax return!

Other great features of e-tax include:

· “Pre-filling” is an option that allows the ATO to partially complete sections of your tax return for you. All you have to do is review it and add any missing details.

· Baby bonus claims may also be prepared by using the e-tax software.

· Medicare benefit tax statements can be downloaded directly your e-tax application.

· The e-tax software does all the calculations for you, helping you avoid costly errors on your tax form, and gives you an immediate estimate of your refund amount (or your taxes due).

Of course, security is always an issue when you transmit personal information online, and the ATO recommends that you have all of your computer's security features up-to-date prior to running e-fax. Details can be found at http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au.

So, what do you do if you did not receive your tax pack in the mail and you still want to file an old-fashioned paper tax return? Fear not; you can still find paper tax forms available for download on the ATO website or you can pick them up at your local tax office or post shop. You may also call 1300 720 092 to have forms mailed to you.

If you still need help on your taxes you might try Tax Help, a network of trained volunteers who provide free tax aid to qualified Australians from July to October. You can obtain more information at the ATO website or via telephone at 13 28 61.

Unfortunately waiting to receive your tax refund can be quite a long process; sometimes it can even take months. So if you find yourself needing cash and cannot wait for your tax refund cheque to arrive, don't worry, there is a safe and secure option available. Find out how fast and easy a payday loan can be. Qualified applicants often have their cash wired to their banks within an hour, and return customers have can get there quick cash loan in no time with almost instantaneous access to cash.

So next time the thought of the age-old tax return comes about, remember these simple solutions and take confusion and cash shortages out of your tax equation!