Is attending a conference tax deductible?
The test is a standard question of whether the conference costs were ‘necessarily incurred in earning your assessable income’. The ‘necessary’ causes some taxpayers some concerns. If the conference keeps your knowledge current and/or refines your skills, is in the area that you currently operate and is in the nature of continuing professional development, then […]
Using your super for business
Can I borrow against my Super to buy or support my business? Unfortunately the answer is probably ‘No’. Super funds pay a discounted/concessional rate of tax on earnings (15%). To keep getting the discounted rate they have to comply with Superannuation legislation. One of the rules is that the ‘sole purpose’ for the fund is […]
Can I have two PPR?
Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) applies to the capital gain made when any capital asset is sold by a taxpayer, including land and buildings. In simple terms, the capital gain is the difference between the sales price (net of selling costs) and the cost price (plus stamp duty, legals and the costs of acquisition). You can […]
GST for property developers
When it comes to property developing, GST considerations are almost always present. The GST rules require you to register for GST if your annual turnover in the past twelve months or projected annual turnover in the next twelve months exceeds $75,000 at any point in time. Furthermore, you may want to voluntarily register so that […]
Basics of Family Trust Elections
Most practitioners have heard of family trust elections, and some may have made family trust elections to err on the side of caution. However, in many cases, a clear explanation of the reasons for making a family trust election is not readily available. This article aims to provide a practical explanation of the main situations […]
Illegal Phoenixing
With high-profile cases of illegal phoenix activity back in the news, new funding to crack down on the practice and the establishment of a cross-agency anti-Phoenix taskforce, the obligation of professional advisors to not participate in suspected phoenixing is clear. Where professionals see illegal phoenixing behaviour, there are moral and ethical expectations to report it […]
Renting your Principal Place of Residence
There are various reasons why you might consider vacating and renting out your home for a limited time. You might want to take an extended holiday and feel more comfortable if someone is living there and paying rent. You may have an additional property, a holiday house for instance, and a change of pace that […]
Basics of Family Trust Elections (FTEs)
Most practitioners have heard of family trust elections (“FTE“), and some may have made FTE’s to err on the side of caution. However, in many cases, a clear explanation of the reasons for making a FTE is not readily available. This article aims to provide a practical explanation of the main situations in which a […]
Repairs, replacement and maintenance
You can claim a deduction for repairs and maintenance to machinery, tools or premises you use to produce business income, as long as the expenses are not capital expenses. What you can claim You can claim the cost of allowable repairs and maintenance, including: painting; conditioning gutters; maintaining plumbing; repairing electrical appliances; mending leaks; replacing […]
Small Business Tax Concessions – Basics
In addition to the capital gains tax (“CGT“) exemptions and rollovers available more widely, there are four concessions that allow you to disregard or defer some or all of a capital gain from an active asset used in a small business: 15-year exemption – If your business has continuously owned an active asset for 15 years […]
