Latest News
Fixing Incorrectly Issued Excess NCCS Determinations
The ATO has recently identified a system error that inadvertently led them to issue incorrect pre-dated excess non-concessional (superannuation) contributions (‘NCCs’) determinations to clients. The ATO will extend the election due dates for all affected clients, so this issue will not disadvantage them, and will not take default action in relation to these affected clients […]
Car Parking Threshold For 2020 FBT Year
The car parking threshold for the FBT year commencing on 1 April 2019 is $8.95 (replacing the amount of $8.83 that applied in the previous year commencing 1 April 2018).
Trustee Obligations On The ATO’s Radar: TFN Reports
The ATO is currently reviewing adherence to certain trustee obligations, including the lodgment of Tax File Number (‘TFN’) reports for TFN withholding for closely held trusts. Beneficiaries are required to quote their TFN to trustees to avoid having tax withheld from payments or unpaid present entitlements, and trustees must lodge a TFN report for any […]
ATO Tax Tips For Small Business
To lend a ‘helping hand’ to small businesses to get their tax right this Tax Time, the ATO has identified the top 3 issues they see when small businesses lodge their tax returns: Failing to report all of their income; Not having the necessary records to prove small business expenses claims; and Claiming private expenses […]
ATO Assets Crackdown – Lifestyle Assets Data Matching Program
The ATO has released details of their “Lifestyle assets 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years data matching program protocol”. They will obtain information on insurance policies for certain classes of assets, including marine vessels, enthusiast motor vehicles, thoroughbred races horse, fine art and aircraft to improve their profiling of taxpayers and provide a more comprehensive view […]
False Laundry Claims ATO Targets This Tax Time
The ATO will target false clothing and laundry work-related expense claims this Tax Time. In 2018, around six million people claimed work-related clothing and laundry expenses totalling nearly $1.5 billion. Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said although many Australians can claim clothing and laundry expenses, it’s unlikely that half of all taxpayers are required to wear […]
What’s New For Taxpayers
Before you complete your tax return for 2015, there are some changes you should be aware of in case they affect you. Mature age worker tax offset You can no longer claim the Mature age worker tax offset (MAWTO) in your tax return. Previously, to be eligible for the offset you needed to be an […]
Travel between home and work and between workplaces
While trips between home and work are generally considered private travel, you can claim deductions in some circumstances, as well as for some travel between two workplaces. If your travel was partly private and partly for work, you can only claim for the part related to your work. What you can claim You can […]
Investment Property – Claiming Repairs and Maintenance Expenses
Can you claim the cost of repairs you make before you rent out the property? You cannot claim the cost of repairing defects, damage or deterioration that existed when you obtained the property, even if you carried out these repairs to make the property suitable for renting. This is because these expenses relate to the […]
Gifts and donations
You can only claim a tax deduction for gifts or donations to organisations that have the status of deductible gift recipients (DGRs). Deductions for gifts are claimed by the person that makes the gift (the donor). For you to claim a tax deduction for a gift, it must meet four conditions: The gift […]
Capital gains tax checklist
The following questions will help you to identify possible capital gains tax (CGT) obligations. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, CGT may apply. Some questions are intended to highlight the possibility of a capital gain or loss arising in the current year, others to alert you to the possibility of a […]
Tax on Super Contributions
The tax you pay on your super contributions generally depends on whether the contributions were made before or after you paid income tax, you exceed the super contributions cap or you are a very high-income earner. Before-tax super contributions The super contributions you make before tax (concessional) are taxed at 15%. Types of before-tax contributions […]