Latest News
Significant change to claiming working from home expenses
Before 1 July 2022, an individual taxpayer that incurred additional deductible expenses as a result of working from home, had a choice of three methods around claiming working from home expenses. These choices were: The shortcut method – which was available from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022; The fixed-rate method – which was […]
Builder Unable To Obtain Refund Of Incorrectly Charged GST
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has held that a builder was unable to receive a refund of incorrectly charged GST incorrectly charged on the sale of a residential premises that had been rented for just over five years since construction was complete. The taxpayer claimed the GST charged on a unit was charged in error, on […]
Further Eligibility Age Change For Downsizer Contribution
In another recent legislative change, the eligibility age to make a downsizer contribution into superannuation has been reduced to 55 from 1 January 2023. This further reduces the downsizer eligibility age, which changed from 65 to 60 from 1 July 2022. From 1 January 2023, eligible individuals aged 55 years or older can choose to […]
FBT Exemption for Electric Vehicles Legislation Is Now Law
FBT exemption for electric vehicles legislation exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (‘FBT’) has now been enacted into law. Certain zero or low emissions vehicles provided as a car benefit on or after 1 July 2022, can be exempt from FBT. For this exemption to apply various criteria need to be satisfied. The car needs to […]
Super Guarantee Contributions for the December 2022 Quarter
A reminder to employers that their December 2022 super guarantee contributions (‘SG’) were due by 28 January 2023. Do not forget the two changes to SG that commenced on 1 July 2022: the rate increased from 10% to 10.5% employees no longer need to earn $450 per month to be eligible. Employers now need to […]
Christmas Parties & Gifts 2022
Year-end (and other) staff parties Editor: With the well earned December/January holiday season on the way, many employers will be planning to reward staff with a celebratory party or event. However, there are important issues to consider, including the possible FBT and income tax implications of providing ‘entertainment’ (including Christmas parties) to staff and clients. […]
Work-related expense claims rejected by Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’)
The Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) recently disallowed a taxpayer’s claims for many different types of work-related expenses. The taxpayer was employed full-time as an engineer, working from home two days a week. For the 2023 income year, he claimed deductions totalling over $61,000, in relation to (among other things) car expenses, travel expenses, clothing expenses, […]
Check GST credit claims before lodging BASs
Taxpayers who are registered for GST can get GST credit claims (or ‘input tax credits’) for the GST included in the price of goods and services they buy for their business. However, if they buy something for both business and private use, they need to apportion their GST credit to only claim the business use. […]
Government payments programs
The ATO is reminding taxpayers that receive government payments for delivering services under a Commonwealth program, such as healthcare, disability support or child care, that they have an obligation to: keep accurate records; and report any such income they receive in their tax return. The ATO recently advised that it would be contacting taxpayers and […]
Contractors omitting income
Through data matching, the ATO is seeing some contractors incorrectly reporting or contractors omitting income. Contractors need to report all their income in their tax return, including payments made by businesses for their contracting work. Note that, as part of the taxable payments reporting system (‘TPRS’), certain businesses must lodge a ‘Taxable payments annual report’ […]
Businesses using cash to dodge obligations
The ATO is ‘cracking down’ on businesses that use cash to dodge obligations on their tax, employer and business. Businesses that do this may: – fail to report all sales transactions and fail to issue receipts; – avoid paying GST, income tax, PAYG withholding, super guarantee, insurance and work cover protection; – report their income […]
$20,000 instant asset write-off extended
Editor: The Government recently passed legislation to extend the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses by 12 months to 30 June 2026. Taxpayers should note that if their business has an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million, they may be able touse the instant asset write-off (‘IAWO’) to immediately deduct the business […]