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What type of information can I ask for?

Under the Victorian Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), you can request access to documents relating to your own affairs, or the State Revenue Office's functions and activities.

Old documents

We suggest contacting us at foi@sro.vic.gov.au before lodging a request for old documents, as they may have been destroyed.

Are there other ways of accessing information?

You may be able to access information without making a request for access under the FOI Act. Before you submit an FOI request, it may be worthwhile to contact us at foi@sro.vic.gov.au (phone 03 9628 6801) to find out if we can provide the information to you outside the FOI access process.

Do I need to use a special form?

You do not need to complete an application form, but make sure you clearly describe the documents you are requesting and your contact details. 

You can authorise another person (e.g. a solicitor or accountant) to make a request on your behalf. Please provide a signed letter of authority, nominating your authorised representative.

If you are making a request on behalf of another party, please include a signed authority from them to show us you have their permission to obtain the requested information. 

Is there a cost involved?

A non-refundable application fee of $31.80 must be paid when you make a request. This fee will be waived for a person holding a valid Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card.

Additional charges ('access charges') may also be payable. Access charges are the costs incurred in granting access to the requested documents, for example searching for documents and photocopying documents. These costs may or may not apply, depending on the nature of your request. All fees and charges are exempt from GST.

Payments can be made by cheque, payable to the State Revenue Office Victoria, or by an electronic funds transfer (EFT). To obtain EFT details, please contact our FOI team at foi@sro.vic.gov.au.

What happens after you receive my request?

We will send you an acknowledgement to confirm receipt of your request and payment.

Before we can start to process it, we need to ensure that it is clear enough for us to identify relevant documents. If we need more information about the request or need to clarify the documents or information you are seeking, we will contact you.

How long does it take to get a decision?

We have up to 30 days after the day we receive a valid request to make the decision.

The decision period may be extended if we need to consult with other parties, with your consent.

If the due date of the decision falls on a non-business day, by default it will be considered due on the following business day. 

What are the possible outcomes of an FOI request?

When the State Revenue Office has reached a decision, we will send you a letter informing you of the decision. We may decide to:

  • release the relevant documents in their entirety
  • release some or part of the documents requested
  • deny access.

Documents identified for full or partial release will be issued with the decision letter.

If I am dissatisfied with a decision, what can I do?

If you are not satisfied with the State Revenue Office's decision, you can request a review by the Victorian Information Commissioner. Details of your rights of review are provided in the decision letter.

For further assistance, please call our FOI team on 03 9628 6801 or send an email to foi@sro.vic.gov.au.

Last modified: 27 November 2023
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