Our Recent Blogs
Super Compliance: A Crucial Update for Small Businesses.
The ATO has implemented a significant upgrade to the SBSCH, introducing SMSF bank account validation to bolster the precision and security of super contributions. This development affects all small employers utilising the SBSCH to manage super payments to their employees' SMSFs.
The growing impact of cybersecurity: safeguarding our digital economy.
In the digital age, where information is the new currency, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for everyone. In this blog, we delve into the impacts of cybersecurity breaches on businesses, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to safeguard our digital infrastructure.
Random ATO audits ensure employment tax compliance for businesses.
The ATO has recently initiated random audits on businesses to assess their employment tax compliance and proper record-keeping.
Tax rate change coming into effect from 1 July 2024.
Australian Income Tax Brackets are changing for the first time in five years.
Choosing the right PAYG instalment method.
The ATO advises that Pay as you go (‘PAYG’) instalments are calculated using either the instalment amount method or the instalment rate method. It recently provided the following two case studies to illustrate the two methods.
Taxpayers need to get their ‘rental right’.
The ATO reminds rental property owners to take care when lodging their tax returns this tax time. Taxpayers should make sure all rental income is included, including income from short-term rental arrangements, renting part of a home, and other rental-related income.
GST Warning: Ride-share providers must be GST-registered.
In accordance with the GST Act, those offering 'taxi travel' services are obligated to register for GST, irrespective of their annual turnover (i.e. the usual $75,000 threshold does not apply).
Luxury Car Tax: Determining a vehicle’s principal purpose.
The ATO recently explained how to determine the principal purpose of a car for ‘luxury car tax’ (‘LCT’) purposes (since LCT is not payable on the supply or importation of cars whose principal purpose is the carriage of goods rather than passengers).
Different meanings of ‘dependant’ for super & tax purposes.
On a person’s death, their superannuation benefits can only be paid directly to one or more ‘dependants’ as defined for superannuation purposes, unless they are paid to the deceased’s legal personal representative to be distributed in accordance with the deceased’s Will.
Reallocation of excess concessional contributions denied.
The AAT has held that there were no special circumstances in relation to a taxpayer who made excess concessional contributions in a financial year, such that the ATO could allocate some of those contributions to the previous financial year.
Downsizer contribution measure eligibility has been extended.
The downsizer contribution concession was introduced to allow older Australians selling an eligible dwelling to make additional contributions into their superannuation fund.
Minimum Annual Payments for Super Income Streams.
The ATO reminds taxpayers that an SMSF must pay a minimum amount each year to a member who is receiving a pension that commenced on or after 20 September 2007 (e.g. account based pensions). If the minimum payment is not made by 30 June, this can result in adverse taxation consequences for the member.
Change to Deductions this Tax Time.
Taxpayers who are small business owners operating from home, or who use a vehicle for business purposes, need to be aware of some changes when claiming deductions this tax time.
Technology Investment Boost due to end 30 June 2023.
Last year the previous Coalition Government announced a Technology Investment Boost as part of the 2022/23 Federal Budget. The Boost was announced to support eligible small businesses by providing an incentive to invest in their digital capacity.
‘Side hustles’ in the ATO’s sights.
A recent ATO article highlights the fact that it is increasingly trying to bring more modern techniques of money-making into its tax net. ‘Side hustles’ have really grown over the past few years — everything from the gig economy and drop shippers, to content creators and influencers.
Transfer balance cap indexation.
An individual’s transfer balance cap (‘TBC’) determines the maximum amount they can commit to a retirement phase interest in their super fund, such as an account-based pension, without being subject to penal taxation.
Testamentary Trusts.
The only two things in life that are certain – taxes and death. However, there is a way to reduce the exposure to tax for beneficiaries by establishing a Testamentary Trust. Testamentary Trusts are established by a will and only come into effect when the person passes.
Tips to reduce study & training loan balances.
If you have a study and training loan balance (e.g., a HELP debt), it may be worthwhile to consider methods of reducing the balance to ensure you are not left with a large tax bill when your 2023 income tax return is lodged.
ATO Asset Betterment Assessments.
Asset betterment is where the ATO compares the assets & liabilities of a taxpayer to their reported taxable transactions and identifies unexplained wealth. The ATO can then issue a default assessment based on their assessment of what your income should have been.
Last chance to claim deductions under temporary full expensing.
Deductions under ‘temporary full expensing’ are only available in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 income years, and are expected to come to an end on 30 June 2023.