Latest News
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 […]
Tax dodgers banned from leaving the country
The ATO is actively using departure prohibition orders (‘DPOs’) as part of a broader shift towards strengthening payment performance and debt collection. A DPO is an enforcement action available to the ATO to prevent certain persons with tax liabilities from leaving Australia without paying their outstanding tax. Since July 2025, the ATO has issued 21 […]
Paying super guarantee
The ATO is reminding employers that they must pay super guarantee (‘SG’) contributions for eligible employees. Employers need to pay a minimum of 12% (the current SG rate as from 1 July 2025) of each employee’s ordinary time earnings into a complying super fund on a quarterly basis (the due date for the March 2026 […]
Taxpayer’s dog breeding activities held to be an enterprise
The Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) recently held that a taxpayer had carried on an enterprise of dog breeding for GST purposes. He had lodged activity statements for the quarters ended 30 September 2018 to 31 December 2021 inclusive, claiming input tax credits (‘ITCs’) for the dog breeding activities he carried on from his home (among […]
Time limits on GST and fuel tax credit claims
Taxpayers should note that GST credits and fuel tax credits will expire if not claimed within the 4-year credit time limit (i.e., generally four years from the due date of the original BAS in which the taxpayer could have claimed them). Once credits expire, the ATO has no discretion or ability to amend the assessment […]
Identifying a good investment property
Most of us have heard the saying ‘Location, location, location’, but have we thought about what it actually means? Is it the only factor when considering buying an investment property? Location, location, location There is no doubt that location is one of the most important factors in determining a good investment property. It influences your […]
Gumtree sourced assets, and the realities of making a claim
A recent case before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) brought into focus a growing phenomenon that you should keep in mind for work-related or business expense deduction claims, especially where the acquisition of claimable assets is made in a certain way. THE ENGINEER AND HIS “INVOICE” The AAT case involved a taxpayer’s attempt to make […]
The CGT Implications of Subdividing and Building on the Family Property
Given the state of the property market in Australia these days, a not-uncommon situation can arise where a residential propefty owner seeks to demolish and subdivide the block containing the family home and build residential units. lf you have the available land of course, the above is a solid strategy. However it can cause headaches from a tax perspective – and in […]
Are Personal Carer Travel Costs Claimable? It Depends …
A recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision has ramifications for taxpayers with disabilities, and who are in need of a personal carer. The decision centres around what is or is not acceptable as a tax deduction in relation to the costs that arise with regard to that carer under certain conditions. The circumstances of the taxpayer concerned in the case are particularly relevant, […]
Company Tax Franking Implications
The recent cut to the tax rate for incorporated businesses that turnover less than S50 million a year, while generally welcomed, can bring with it some important considerations when it comes to distributing franked dividends. The rate change 1o 27.5% is to be staggered, starting with companies that turnover up to $10 million a year, with retrospective effect from July […]
End-of-Year Tax Planning Tips For Business
The general rule is that you can claim deductions for expenses your business incurs in its task of generating assessable income. Many of these deductions are obvious – rent, materials, supplies and so on — but there are also some less obvious options left available just before the end of the income year, should your circumstances […]