Using your tax refund...

Thousands of Australians receive tax refunds every year. Some refunds will fall short of covering the cost of a pizza to celebrate, however many are quite substantial.

If you are one of the lucky ones, what will you do with your tax windfall?

If you go out and spend it, all you are doing is giving part of it back to the government in the form of goods and services tax.

Sure, it’s nice to splurge once in a while, but there are other places you can stash your cash and reap a longerterm benefit. Consider these options:

Super contributions

Your superannuation fund will surpass any other investment vehicle simply due to the law of compounding.

Your contributions are taxed at only 15 percent. While superannuation funds remain the most tax-effective haven and thus the best way to grow your investments, the downside is that after your money is contributed it is usually not accessible until you retire.

Regular investment plan

Consider investing the lump sum and setting up a regular savings investment plan to build it up.

This will help you meet future objectives such as a new home, education or new car.

While a certain amount of money in the bank is helpful for emergencies, now could be the time to consider a longer-term plan with assets such as property or shares.

You can invest in a managed fund with an initial deposit of $1000 and make monthly contributions.

While such investments are subject to fluctuations in value, you will see them grow over time.

Reduce your mortgage

By paying it straight into your mortgage, you immediately acquire more equity in your home and reduce the interest.

Having more equity in your home also means that you can re-borrow that money again for investment, gearing, or to purchase other assets.

So that’s an option that could keep on working for you.

The moral of this story is to have a plan and then apply it. Work out where your tax refund will work best for you then talk your decisions through with your licensed financial planner.

• The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.