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 […]

Tax of lease incentives

The income tax implications of property lease incentives Lease incentives are commonly used by landlords to entice tenants to enter into a lease. The most common type of lease incentive relates to new tenancies in commercial buildings. These inducements can take many forms, including upfront cash payments, non-cash items such as motor vehicles or boats, […]

Using your stock personally

The ATO knows that many business owners naturally help themselves to their trading stock and use it for their own purposes. This common practice can occur in businesses such as butchers, bakers, corner stores, cafes and more. It regularly issues guidance for business owners on the value it expects will be allocated to goods taken […]

Complication of investments for children

It is a fairly well-established and welcome act for an aunt or uncle or of course a parent to start a savings account for a new addition to the next generation. It is not so common however, among the warm and generous emotions that accompany such a gift to factor in the taxation obligations that […]

Ride-Share Income

Have you or someone you know considered taking up ride-sharing (also called ride-sourcing) to earn extra income, or even as an alternative form of employment? When providing ride-sharing services through Uber or GoCatch and other facilitators for a fare, there are things you will need to know, and traps you need to be aware of. […]

Do you have a Div 7A obligation?

Have you paid private bills from your company account? Do you owe money to your company? If you answered yes to any of the above questions then should understand how Division 7A (or “Div 7A”) works and how it affects you. When is a Div 7A loan triggered?  It is usually triggered when a payment […]

Tax in the sharing economy

Have you ever let a room on the popular accommodation site Airbnb? Ever shared a ride with pseudo taxi service Uber? If you participate in what’s now called the “sharing economy”, you may have some tax to pay. The Tax Office says the sharing economy is a new way of “connecting buyers (‘users’) with sellers […]

Profit motive for asset acquisition

A profit that arises from the carrying out of a profit-making undertaking or plan (that is, one with a profit-making intention) will be assessable as statutory income where the proceeds of the profit-making undertaking or plan are not otherwise assessable as ordinary income. Any capital profit on the disposal of assets acquired before 20 September […]

Tax of Foreign Income For Australian Residents

Under Australia’s taxation regime, resident taxpayers are subject to income tax on both income derived in Australia and on foreign sourced income. As a general rule, where foreign income is derived by an Australian resident, the gross amount (including any foreign tax paid on the income) must be included as assessable income. A foreign income […]

Tax and Airbnb

Airbnb is one of many examples of the “sharing economy” — connecting buyers (users) and sellers (providers) through a facilitator that usually operates an app or a website. Airbnb acts as this facilitator by allowing individuals, referred to as “hosts”, to rent out a room of their house or their whole house for a short-time […]