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For businesses operating in Australia, navigating the intricacies of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is essential to ensure compliance with tax regulations and minimise financial liabilities. FBT is a tax paid on certain employee benefits in addition to their salary or wages. From understanding what constitutes a fringe benefit to managing FBT reporting requirements, here…

The Sharing Economy Reporting Regime (SERR) represents a significant development in Australia’s tax landscape, requiring certain businesses operating in the sharing economy to report specific transactions to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Commencing from 1 July 2023 for selected industries and expanding further from 1 July 2024, SERR aims to enhance tax compliance, increase transparency,…

The recent spate of extreme weather events during the summer in various parts of Australia has presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses. As a result, the pressing concerns they face may not necessarily revolve around their tax obligations. However, amidst these trying times, business owners must be aware of the tax implications associated with the…

It’s essential for property owners to understand the intricacies of deductions associated with their cherished holiday retreats. However, as the holiday season approaches, they may find that their holiday retreats become a valuable source of income. To ensure you make the most of your potential deductions, it’s crucial to navigate the rules surrounding holiday home…

As a business owner, one of the perks is the ability to claim tax deductions for expenses related to motor vehicles used in your business operations. This includes cars and certain other vehicles that play a role in running your business smoothly. The good news is that claiming motor vehicle expenses can help reduce your…

Could your small business claim a 20% bonus deduction on technology expenditure that supports their digital operations or the digitisation of their operations? The small business technology investment boost is a broad measure intended to cover a wide range of business expenses and assets; however, questions may arise when you go to claim. Can I…

An additional 10% capital gains tax (CGT) discount may be available when you sell an Australian residential rental property that you used to provide affordable housing. This will increase the potential maximum capital gains discount percentage on your sale from 50% to 60%. What Is Affordable Housing? For the affordable housing CGT discount purposes, affordable…

In the realm of tax law, a critical concept revolves around understanding the notion of “entities connected with you.” This concept serves as a linchpin in several aspects of taxation, from determining one’s status as a Small Business Entity to ascertaining the value of assets when seeking eligibility for Small Business Capital Gains Tax (CGT)…

At the worst time of your life, the last thing you want to think about is tax. However, when a loved one dies, their affairs must be dealt with at some stage. This includes their tax obligations. You must lodge a date of death tax return if any of the following apply to the deceased…

In Australia, any income earned by a job may be considered taxable income. Those who receive their income via the sharing economy are no exception to the rule. In fact, further complications can result from incorrect understandings of how the income tax and goods & services tax may apply to those individuals. ‘ The sharing…

Small business owners may be able to claim deductions for the costs of using their home as a principal place of business when filing their income tax returns. A home-based business is one where an area of your home is set aside and used exclusively as a place of business. If you do not have…

As the financial year comes to a close, now is the time to visit your accountant or tax advisor to discuss tax planning for your business in 2023. At the end of every financial year, business owners should be reviewing and measuring their performance in comparison to the previous year. By regularly reviewing this information,…

If you’ve made a major investment in the last financial year, any income made from it will need to be included on your tax return. Any income earned from investments and asses must be declared in your tax return. This may include amounts from interest, dividends, rental income, managed investment trust credits, crypto assets and…

The Federal Budget has reintroduced the $20,000 Instant Asset Write Off to benefit small businesses amidst the myriad of measures announced by the government.  The instant asset write-off will return for the 2023-24 financial year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024). If you buy an asset to use for business purposes and it costs…

As a taxpayer, you may have encountered the term pay-as-you-go (PAYG). PAYG is generally a good thing, but there can be confusion between PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments, particularly if you’re an individual who is eligible for both. Both are amounts by which your tax bill can be offset at the end of the financial…

Your tax file number (TFN) is a critical piece of information in your possession and should be a constant companion throughout your life. However, there are times when a TFN is misplaced or forgotten. What are you supposed to do? If you forget your TFN or lose it, this can be a significant issue. A…

With a new norm surrounding how Australians work (hybrid, remote or office-based), there has been a change in how work-related expenses will be claimed this year during tax season. Where once the expenses and claims that needed to be made during tax return season could be more clearly defined in terms of business or pleasure,…

Get a gym membership, start a diet, drink less, and travel more. Every year we make plenty of new year’s resolutions that we try valiantly to uphold. Why not make one about keeping on top of your tax obligations in 2023? Are You In Business?  Know if you’re in business or not! Are you earning…

Have you recently purchased life insurance? The type of cover, deductibility of premiums and treatment of claims make life insurance a complex topic for tax. It’s a topic that individuals and businesses alike seek assistance from accountants. The deductibility of premiums and treatment of claims payouts can be a complex, nuanced topic. The opportunities and…

Australians can experience a range of natural disasters, such as floods, bushfires, tropical cyclones, severe storms and even earthquakes. These events can cause devastation to communities and financial hardship for individuals and businesses. While FBT may not be at the forefront of your mind when helping your employees after an emergency, it can result in…

At the end of the year, you may look for extrinsic ways to thank your hardworking employees or faithful customers/clients. A work Christmas/end-of-year party may be a method employed by many businesses to demonstrate their gratitude towards staff, but the expense can be a deciding factor. Christmas/holiday parties are regarded as “entertainment” expenditures, which means…

Small businesses entitled to refunds of GST may not be aware of the four-year time limit on claiming those refunds. Your entitlement to a GST credit ends four years from the due date of the earliest activity statement in which you could have claimed it. GST refunds are claimed under the indirect tax concession scheme…

Regardless of whether or not the owner is a company or an employee, a car purchased for business use can provide tax benefits to the owner. However, there are also tax implications that can impact these supposed benefits. Certain advantages and disadvantages to purchasing a car for a business may not necessarily apply to your…

You may have heard a lot of buzz in the news regarding electric cars. What was once a car for the elite is now a far more common sight on the streets. Electric cars are becoming hot commodities, with one-third of electric vehicle sales in Australia occurring within New South Wales alone. There have been…

Just like how individuals and businesses have to complete tax returns when it’s tax season, so too do trusts. Trusts have their own tax file number (TFN) that should be used to complete tax returns. Trusts can also apply for an Australian business number (ABN) on the condition that the trust carries on an enterprise.…

Lodging your tax return for the 2021-22 financial year? As registered tax agents, we are able to assist you with the process of lodgement to ensure your compliance with the requirements of the ATO. To ensure that your return is correct, here are our top nine key items to be aware of. COVID-19 Support Payments/Natural…

Are you up to date and aware of what you can and can’t claim on your tax return this year? Brushing up on the three rules of work-related deductions can make tax time a lot easier. In order to be able to claim a deduction for a work-related expense on your tax return, you must…

If your business earns a part of its income in cold, hard cash, be prepared to have the Australian Taxation Office’s eyes on you this tax time. To protect honest, compliant Australian businesses, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has placed a strong emphasis on targeting the cash and hidden economy (known to be a part…

Registering for an ABN and applying for GST refunds when you don’t own a business or are not eligible is fraud. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has identified a significant number of GST refund fraud attempts, totalling an estimated $850 million to around 40,000 individuals. This fraud involves predominantly participants inventing fake businesses to claim…

The end of the financial year is coming up next month (30 June), and you may be looking for ways in which you could make tax savings in this year’s tax return. This could be through tax deductions, expenses that you could make now for your work purposes or even with tax offsets introduced by…

It’s getting closer to the time that FBT returns need to be lodged, so it’s important to understand that there may be a change to the FBT liability of your business when it comes to one employee benefit. Car parking as an FBT benefit is provided on a particular day when, between 7.00am and 7.00pm:…

People across different industries may have different items for work that they can claim a deduction on their tax returns for, but this season may see a few common occurrences across individual tax returns for 2022. On your individual tax return this year, you may notice a few expenses pertaining to COVID-19-related purchases, such as…

GST is an area that commonly has mistakes made in it – mistakes that can be costly and require additional measures to correct it if they aren’t caught in time. Many small business owners continue to make errors when claiming GST credits in their GST returns or Business Activity Statements. A vast majority of these…

As a part of your employees’ employment contracts, do they receive benefits such as a car space, gym membership or even a car to drive? These are what’s known as fringe benefits, which is a ‘payment’ to an employee that takes a different form to salary or wages. This incurs a specific kind of tax…

Been hearing a lot about business activity statements, and feeling more than a little pressure? Kicking off the new year for your business shouldn’t be shrouded in the darkness that can be a looming BAS. But how can you be certain that your business is prepared? To start with, demystifying the BAS might alleviate some…

While your business may not necessarily be planning an extravagant bash after the events of this year, a Christmas party may be on the menu for your hard-working employees. Planning out your Christmas party in a COVID-safe manner with a little knowledge of the tax deductions you might be able to claim back can make…

Are you in the process of getting a second job to supplement your income? Or have you already received one, and are now simply confused about what you are being taxed on? Gaining employment in a second position or job means that you may have a higher amount of tax withheld from your pay. Though…

Over the last 12 months, there have been many notable schemes promoted by state and federal governments to assist businesses and individuals with much-needed tax relief. Numerous relief schemes have been put into place to assist those with rent relief for their businesses. Rent is a major business expense. It is one that many businesses…

In spite of the many challenges that have faced many industries across the country during COVID-19’s persistence and ongoing effects, the retail industry through their continued, adapted operations has continued to progress. As a result, retail workers across many stores may find that the taxable income from their work may have been affected by the…

If you have disposed of any assets (which can include the loss, destruction or sale of an asset) which are subject to capital gains tax, you need to let us know as soon as possible. These are known as capital gains events, which can affect the way in which a capital gain or loss is…

As a property investor, you might find yourself implementing repairs and renovation work onto a property to ensure that you are maximising its value on the market. However, though both can be claimed on your tax return, it’s of paramount importance that you know how to claim them. Getting it wrong can be both costly,…

Small businesses are facing a set of challenges once again that can make fulfilling tax obligations seem like a daunting task. However, as a small business, capital gains tax concessions on assets used to conduct your business may be of interest to you. These assets are known as “active assets” and can, for example, be…

Have you, over the course of the past financial year, received a government assistance payment, support payment or disaster relief supplement? There have been a number of cases where people who received financial assistance from the government were hit with additional owed tax to the ATO, due to their payments increasing their income threshold. When…

The inexpensive and profitable side hustle is under the ATO’s watchful eye when it comes to declaring income this tax season. With many gig economy workers often earning their income as independent contractors, the ATO warns that a failure to report all income from all of the work that they carry out could land them…

Tax return season is quickly approaching for individuals. You may need to begin thinking about the process sooner rather than later to ensure that you have everything ready for your accountant. If you’ve never had to complete a tax return before (and it’s your first time) or are still uncertain about what you need to…

Cryptocurrency investments are on the ATO’s radar this tax return season, with 100,000 taxpayers to be alerted by the ATO of their tax obligations from their cryptocurrency investments this financial year. It’s an outcome that has resulted from a growing concern that many taxpayers who invest in cryptocurrency believe their gains to be tax-free, or…

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, how Australians claim work-related expenses on their tax returns every other year is sure to be different this year. The ATO is warning Australians that they will be watching what is claimed and how the impacts of COVID-19 are reflected in tax returns. During the 2020 tax return season,…

When you’re buying a property, there’s a high likelihood that you’re going to need to pay a tax known as stamp duty on top of the price originally agreed on for that property. Stamp duty is a tax levied by all Australian states and territories on property purchases. It is considered one of the most…

The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset has been extended for another 12 months, meaning that taxpayers whose wage earnings situate them within a certain income bracket will again be able to receive a little extra cash back into their pockets again this year. Tax offsets are also known as rebates and directly reduce the…

There’s a new normal towards how Australians are approaching their work, with remote working now a more viable option for businesses and their employees, and it’s affecting the way that Australians now make claims for tax. With many businesses affected by city-wide lockdowns during parts of the 2020-21 financial year, and some whose employees preferring…

With tax return season approaching quickly this year, you may have already started looking into lodging your income tax return. Ensuring that your details are correct and that any information about your earned income from the year is lodged is the responsibility of the taxpayer and their tax agent. However, if during this income tax…

A tried and true method of investment, trusts are generally and commonly known as being for the wealthier elements of society. A trust however is a highly versatile tool that individuals and businesses can use to align with and achieve their particular investment, financial or personal goals. They can also incur a number of taxable…

In Australia any income earned by a job may be considered to be taxable income. Those who receive their income via the sharing economy are no exception to the rule. In fact, there can be further complications that result from incorrect understandings of how the income tax and goods & services tax  may apply to…

It’s a simple, step-by-step process used by many Australians to increase their income. Borrow money from a financial institution, invest in a second property and pay off the loan with the profit accrued from the investment property (ie. rent from tenants). But did you know that the interest on a home loan for the purchase…

If you or someone that you know began a side business (or “side hustle”) during the last financial year, you would have to meet the tax obligations that come with that business, along with the tax obligations of your primary business.  All income earned through a side business is taxable income. That means that every…

The end of the month will see the end of the Jobkeeper payment scheme from the government.  Eligible businesses who choose to voluntarily repay an amount from the Jobkeeper pay that they were given may be able to claim a tax deduction if they treated the payment correctly as assessable income. A voluntary repayment of…

As an employee in a business, often there are perks that can come with the job. A company car, fuel money, perhaps some technology to help make things easier. Small business owners however have to be a lot more mindful of how they use the money from their business. Any money or assets that a…

Individuals who partake in self-education may be able to claim a deduction for their expenses if the education is related to their work or if they receive a taxable bonded scholarship. Courses eligible for claim You are only eligible to receive a deduction if the course has a sufficient connection: To your current role and…

Salary packaging allows you to create a ‘package’ of income and benefits.  In your salary package, you can include benefits that you would usually pay for with your income after-tax. These include fringe benefits, exempt benefits, and super. What you can include in your salary package depends on your employer and there may be tax…

Luxury car tax or LCT is a 33% tax on cars that have a value (including GST) above the set threshold. However, the tax is only on the value which is above the threshold.  Businesses and individuals that sell or import luxury cars are required to pay LCT. You can make LCT payments in instalments…

When you own a rental property, keeping records is important. These will help you meet tax obligations. Generally, only individuals with their names on the title deed declare income and claim expenses.  Remember that the records must be kept in English or should be easily translatable into English, and kept for a minimum period of…

Amounts which are not classified as income are split into 3 categories. Exempt income This is income that you do not pay tax on, although, some exempt income may be taken into account when determining: Tax losses of earlier income years that you can deduct  Adjusted taxable income of dependants Some examples include certain Government…

The Australian weather can be unpredictable, resulting in intense weather conditions. Bushfires, severe storms or floods can cause personal properties and assets a lot of damage. In the case that this does occur, individuals need to determine the tax treatment of any insurance payouts or relief payments that they may receive.  Usually, individuals are unlikely…

Trusts have their own tax file number (TFN) that should be used to complete tax returns. Trusts are also able to apply for an Australian business number (ABN) on the condition that the trust is carrying on an enterprise. If a trustee applies for a TFN or ABN, then this is in the capacity of…

When your job ends, whether there has been a termination of employment or redundancy you will receive a payment for unused leave. This payment will be taxed differently from your normal income.  The taxation will vary depending on the reason why you left the job and any unused entitlements that have been accrued over your…

The government provides fuel tax credits for businesses with a credit for the fuel tax (excise or customs) that is included in the price of fuel used in machinery, plant, equipment, heavy vehicles, and light vehicles travelling off public roads or on private roads. Fuel tax credits a business receives depend on when the fuel…

Businesses that are registered for GST are required to lodge a business activity statement (BAS). These assist in the reporting and payment of: Goods and services tax (GST) Pay as you go (PAYG) instalments PAYG withholding tax Other tax obligations ATO will automatically send businesses who are registered for an ABN and GST a BAS…

Tax audits are conducted when the ATO deems that a more extensive examination of an issue is necessary. These audits can be conducted on a fairly basic level or they can be much more in-depth and analytical. In most cases, there will be a review which then leads to an audit, but this isn’t always…

There are various potential ways you can reduce the tax you pay. You may be entitled to tax deductions, offsets or you may choose to opt for salary packaging.  Tax deductions will reduce your taxable income amount. For example, potential tax deductions are work-related expenses, self-education expenses, charitable donations, the cost of managing your taxes.…

Record-keeping, if done well, can help running a business much easier. It gives you an overview of the business’ financial progress so that owners can assess their strengths and weaknesses and make decisions accordingly. Record keeping also enables owners to meet their tax and superannuation obligations easily – all the data and information required is…

How much tax you pay on your super contributions and withdrawals depends on a variety of factors. The process takes into account your total super amount, your age, and the type of contribution or withdrawal you make.  How are super contributions taxed? The money that you contribute to your super account through your employer is…

Businesses receive four different types of concessions on top of CGT exemptions and rollovers which are available to everyone. These allow businesses to disregard or defer some or all of the capital gains from an active asset which is used in the business. The four additional concessions include: 15-year exemption: If the business has owned…

There are different types of deductions that individuals can claim to reduce their taxable income.  Work-related expenses In order to claim work-related tax deductions, the expenses must have to meet three criteria. Firstly, all the expenses have to be paid by the individual, without being reimbursed by the employer. Secondly, they must be directly related…

Investment income needs to be included when conducting tax returns. This includes any income acquired through interest, dividends, rent, managed funds distributions, and capital gains. The income yielded from investments is taxed at a marginal tax rate.  Individuals are able to claim deductions for the cost of buying, managing, and selling an investment. However, the…

Pay as you go (PAYG) instalments are payments you can make throughout the year to avoid accumulating a large tax bill to pay at the end of the year. Making these payments is a great way to budget for income tax and keep a healthy cash flow.  To qualify for PAYG instalments, you must earn…

The Federal Budget for 2020 announced personal and business tax relief through various tax cuts. The legislation was approved by parliament meaning that individuals and businesses will be paying less tax, and have more money to invest and spend into the economy.  For individuals, the government has brought forward tax cuts which were initially planned…

What are fringe benefits? Employees may opt to make an agreement with their employers that provides them with fringe benefit ‘payments’ in a form other than salary or wages.  There are various types of fringe benefits: Employees being able to use work car for private use Discounted loans Paying an employee’s gym membership Providing entertainment…

Job losses have been extensive during the COVID-19 pandemic and the JobMaker Hiring Credit will give businesses incentives to take on additional employees aged between 16 and 35 years old. Eligible employers will receive $200 a week for each new employee aged between 16 and 29. For new eligible employees aged 30 to 35, they’ll…

The government recognises that despite support to get through the COVID-19 outbreak, not all businesses are going to remain viable. Many small businesses will have significantly increased levels of debt in order to remain in business during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is introducing a number of permanent and temporary measures to expand the availability…

The Budget highlights the government’s commitment to getting people back in jobs and upskilling Australians. The JobTrainer Fund which falls under the JobMaker Plan will support up to 340,700 free or low-fee training places in areas needed to help upskill and retrain job seekers and young people. The government will provide exemptions for employer-provided retraining…

The Budget seeks to promote tax reform and simplification in an effort to support business investment and help reduce the personal income tax burden. Business Businesses are encouraged to invest with the introduction of temporary full expensing. Businesses with turnover up to $5 billion will be able to deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable…

Determining where to invest requires multiple factors to be taken into consideration. One such factor may be tax efficiency. The tax charged on income from a tax-effective investment is less than the individual’s marginal tax rate. Superannuation The government provides incentives to save through Super, which make it one of the most tax-effective investments. Contributing…

In its efforts to boost the economy, the Federal Government is considering bringing the planned income tax cuts forward. The intention behind these cuts is to boost the economy by boosting consumption. Initially, income tax cuts were to take place in three stages, the first of which has already been rolled out. The following stages…

Individuals upskilling and educating themselves during these down times may be eligible to claim a deduction for their self-education expenses. The deductions apply to self-education activities that are directly related to an individual’s work as an employee. In the case that individuals are looking to claim self-education expenses based on a course’s relation to their…

It is not uncommon for businesses to provide loans to shareholders or associates of a company. However, business owners should know the conditions that their loan must satisfy under Division 7A, to avoid the amount being deemed a dividend. Written agreementDivision 7A loan agreements need to be made under a written agreement before the private…

Businesses that provide benefits to employees during an emergency situation are likely to have assistance costs be exempt from fringe benefits tax (FBT). It is worthwhile to know what kinds of benefits you as a business owner can provide for different emergencies that will be excluded from FBT. Exemptions will apply to benefits you provide…

The Government has introduced additional changes to JobKeeper to help more businesses qualify for the relief payments. One of the key changes was moving the relevant date of employment for an eligible employee from 1 March to 1 July 2020, to extend employee eligibility. This allows those who were full time employees on or before…

Transferring the ownership of assets from one party to another may attract CGT. However, in the event that a change in ownership occurs due to the breakdown of a relationship, you may be eligible for a rollover of the asset. A rollover allows taxpayers to defer or disregard a capital gain or loss that would…

The Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) is an industry-specific report through which businesses inform the ATO of the total payments made to contractors for services in that financial year. This information is then used by the ATO to match the contractors’ income declarations to improve their compliance efforts. A TPAR is generally required by businesses…

Businesses looking to save on tax for the financial year may consider applying for income tax concessions. Businesses classified as a small business entity are eligible for income tax concessions. Since 1 July 2016, businesses are considered small business entities in the case that they: are a sole trader, partnership or trust, operate as a…

Due to changing economic circumstances, businesses may be receiving income from sources they have never received from, and may be unaware of their tax implications. In the event that they are listed below, you will need to include them in your business’ tax return. Government paymentsDue to COVID-19, many government grants and payments have been…

Meeting tax obligations as a business owner can be stressful and potentially expensive if done wrong. Certain mistakes warrant severe action, so you can expect the ATO to take a closer look at them if you’ve failed to identify these errors before lodging tax returns for your business. Most mistakes made with regards to tax…

The Government has updated fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemptions to include travel in ride-sourcing vehicles under the existing taxi travel exemption. In the case that your business has been providing employees with such travel options and would like to amend your FBT returns to include the new exemption, the ATO has also updated 2020 FBT…

The small business income tax offset can be used to reduce the tax you pay by up to $1,000 a year. Also known as the unincorporated small business tax discount, the offset is worked out on the proportion of tax payable on your business income. The rate of offset is 13% for the 2020-21 financial…

The end of the financial year has rolled around again, but this time, COVID-19 may affect the way you fill out your tax return. The ATO has released a range of methods to make tax time easier for businesses and individuals experiencing unprecedented circumstances. How JobKeeper will affect tax returns Sole traders receiving JobKeeper payments…

New car threshold amounts will be implemented from 1 July 2020. Understanding the new thresholds and how they may affect your small business operations and vehicle usage will be important in preparing you for the financial year ahead. Income tax: There is an upper limit on the cost you use to work out the depreciation…

Property investors may have a number of tenants that have temporarily paused their rent payments or are not paying the full amount of rent owed due to being impacted by COVID-19. Regardless of rental income changes, landlords are still entitled to claim deductions on rental property expenses if they are still incurring regular rental property…

Individuals upskilling and educating themselves during these down times may be eligible to claim a deduction for their self-education expenses. The deductions apply to self-education activities that are directly related to an individual’s work as an employee. In the case that individuals are looking to claim self-education expenses based on a course’s relation to their…

Employers with 19 or fewer employees are temporarily exempt from reporting ‘closely held (related) payees’ through Single Touch Payroll enabled software. The exemption deadline has been extended from 1 July 2020 to 1 July 2021 as part of the ATO’s response to the COVID-19 situation. A closely held payee is an individual directly related to…

A fringe benefits tax (FBT) is a tax paid on benefits provided to employees (usually non-cash). FBT is calculated based on the gross taxable value of benefits employers provide to their employees. Employees must lodge their return and pay the total FBT amount they owe for the previous FBT year. Due to COVID-19, the FBT…

Employees who are not living or working in their regular location due to COVID-19 mobility restrictions need to be aware of the tax implications that apply to their situation. Individuals who ordinarily work and live in Australia but are temporarily overseas due to COVID-19 restrictions will not experience any changes to their Australian tax obligations.…

The ATO has published a ruling on the decline in turnover test for businesses applying for the JobKeeper scheme as part of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Rules 2020. This turnover test requires businesses to calculate their ‘current GST turnover’ and ‘projected GST turnover’, subject to modifications to the definitions outlined in…

Due to COVID-19 and unforeseen financial circumstances, the ATO has announced a series of lodgement deferral dates available for tax returns, fringe benefits tax returns, monthly and quarterly BAS, annual GST returns, PAYG summary annual reports and taxable payment annual reports. Lodgement deferrals extend the due date for lodgement of a document without incurring a…

In emergency situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, there are certain benefits you can provide your employees or their associates which may be exempt from fringe benefits tax (FBT). The fringe benefits tax is a tax which employers must pay on certain benefits they provide for their employees, their employees’ families and associates. However, with emergency…

While the Australian Government has provided businesses with many relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the JobKeeper subsidy payment scheme, major changes to instant asset write-off and also rental relief for commercial tenants, the ATO has also provided additional tax support measures that may help your business further. The ATO is providing businesses…

COVID-19 is forcing many businesses to work from home, meaning that you now have to pay for expenses such as heating and lighting that were previously covered by employers. The ATO has introduced a new ‘shortcut method,’ where you can claim additional running expenses at a rate of 80 cents for each hour you work…

If you haven’t set up your myGovID yet, you need to do it before you can lodge your next business activity statement (BAS). AUSkey, including Manage ABN Connections, will be replaced by the ATO’s myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) from 27 March 2020. After this change, you will no longer be able to access…

Importing goods and services with extra-added GST costs but not sure how you can apply for refunds or deference? The ATO has outlined a series of steps for all Australian businesses to follow when deferring or refunding any GST payments from imported goods to help better manage your cashflow. Instead of paying GST every time…

Are you an Australian living or working overseas with a family home in Australia? Or you know someone who is? If so, be sure to consider the impacts of the capital gains tax (CGT) on you from 30 June 2020. Since 1985, the exemption of Australian expatriates from the CGT tax has been available for…

Most businesses nowadays have some sort of website, but designing, creating and maintaining a website for your business can be complicated. Many businesses use website services to develop and design their website for them if they don’t have the expertise or time to do it themselves. Often, this can be an expensive venture. Not only…

Division 7A under Australian legislation is currently concerned with private company benefits given to shareholders which are taxable under the premise of income tax purposes. For two years, the Australian government has announced that they will be making changes to the law – however, experts predict that the changes may be deferred for the third…

Running your business from home can have great benefits, such as being able to spend more time with your family, not having to travel, and deciding your work hours. To make the most out of your home business experience, it is important to be aware of what tax deductions you can claim. If your home…

Employers who provide staff parking spaces may be affected by the rewrite of the car parking fringe benefits Taxation Ruling. A draft ruling TR 2019/D5 was released on 13 November 2019, a rewrite of TR 96/26. The draft ruling states that from 1 April 2020, the ATO proposes to treat a car park that offers…

When someone dies, their superannuation usually gets transferred to their beneficiary as superannuation death benefits. Depending on who the beneficiary is, the benefits may be taxed in some circumstances. If you are a beneficiary, the amount of tax you pay depends on factors such as: If the benefit is paid as a lump sum or…

Employees of a small business may need to develop their expertise or skills in a particular area to better perform their duties. While training courses like seminars and one-day intensives can be a worthwhile investment, there are still a few things employers should consider from a tax point of view. Employers can generally claim deductions…

Leasing commercial premises, such as an office building, hotels or stores have their own struggles compared to being a residential landlord. Making the correct tax payment and knowing what you can and can’t claim is key in being a successful commercial landlord. When leasing out a commercial property, you must include the full amount of…

In the event that your records have been damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, such as bushfires, there are a number of ways you can reconstruct them. The ATO is able to help with reconstruction in the event tax records have been lost or damaged. Where the tax records are lost or destroyed as…

Franking credits are a kind of tax credit that allows Australian companies to pass on the tax paid at a company level to shareholders. Franking credits can reduce the income tax paid on dividends or potentially be received as a tax refund. Where a company distributes fully franked dividends (and those dividends are included in…

Buying a holiday house can seem appealing, whether it’s to rent out for income, for your own holidays or both. However, it is important to be aware of the different tax implications for how you choose to use your holiday house. If you own a holiday house and do not rent it out, you cannot…