Self Education Expenses
The value of a good education is widely accepted, and it is a common experience over one’s working lifetime to find that further learning is required along the path of one’s chosen career. Changing technology and evolving workplaces means that at some stage in every taxpayer’s life, an educational re-boot could become necessary — as […]
Taxable Payment Annual Reports
If your business primarily operates in the Building and Construction Industry, and makes payments to contractors, you are required to complete and lodge a “Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR)’ with the Australian Taxation Office each year. Businesses primarily in the building and construction industry need to report to the ATO the total payments they make […]
ATO Targets
Small business owners. Rogue tax practitioners. Uninformed taxpayers. Rental property owners. Such taxpayers have long managed to avoid consequence for partially-correct tax returns. Finally, it seems the Australian government has acknowledged the extent to which individuals are undermining its principal revenue collection agency – the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Fresh off a funding windfall from the […]
Travel Expenses
Working out what can be claimed as travel deductions is an area many taxpayers find confusing. To obtain a deduction three “golden rules” need to be considered and met: The most common question we get asked – “is my home to work travel claimable?” Firstly, home to work travel is generally considered private in nature […]
Basics of Downsizing Contributions
The Federal Government recently announced that, as of 1 July 2018, downsizers aged 65 years or older may opt to contribute proceeds from the sale of their home (up to a total of $300,000 each) toward their super fund(s). Referred to as a downsizer contribution, it is treated as being non-concessional; existing in addition to […]
Increase in SMSF member numbers
In late April 2018, then federal minister for revenue and financial services Kelly O’Dwyer issued an announcement [1]declaring an expansion of the limit on the maximum number of members that are able to comprise a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). The raise – from four to six – was implemented by the then Turnbull Government so as to […]
Div 7A doing nothing
If so, then you need to keep reading….. Over the years, we have seen many business owners taking money out of their own companies – mainly because they believe it is theirs. The money is then used to purchase the family home, a new car, boat and for many other good reasons. This is not […]
Trust Tax Losses
Australian trust loss rules are complex, poorly understood and onerous to apply. As a result, business or investment trusts risk claiming losses incorrectly, a situation that can result in a significant tax liability. By making a family trust election (FTE), small to medium sized privately-held businesses operating as a trust can satisfy the trust loss […]
Corporate Tax Losses
Do you pass the ‘continuity of ownership’ (COT) test? If your company has past tax losses that haven’t been used as a tax deduction, this tip is for you… Check the conditions under which a company’s past losses may be claimed as tax deductions. The benefits may include significant reductions in corporate tax payable. Owners […]
Mitigating penalties on Div 7A
Introduced almost 19 years ago, Division 7A and its various exemptions apply to all private companies, their shareholders and shareholder associates across the country. While I consider this matter an Accounting & Tax 101 function, I regularly see it applied incorrectly which is concerning when you consider the significant tax penalties it can bring. Good […]
