Latest News
Taxpayer’s claim for home office and car expenses successful
The Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) recently held that a taxpayer was entitled to claim deductions for home office and car expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The taxpayer was employed full time by the ABC producing the ABC Sport Digital Radio station (‘Digital Role’) and producing ABC live sports broadcasts, mainly NRL football (‘Live Role’). […]
Beware of tax advice from ‘finfluencers’
The Tax Practitioners Board (‘TPB’) warns that the number of ‘finfluencers’ is on the rise. These are influencers who offer financial advice, including tax advice, on various social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Unfortunately, they do not always have the necessary qualifications to give out this advice or provide all the information taxpayers […]
TBAR for June quarter due 28 July
All SMSFs must report relevant transfer balance account (‘TBA’) events using transfer balance account reporting (‘TBAR’). All events must be reported regardless of the member’s total superannuation balance. Editor: TBA events include starting or commuting a retirement phase pension. TBARs for the June quarter are due by 28 July 2025. If no TBA event occurred […]
Notice of data exchange for skilled visa program compliance
The Department of Home Affairs will obtain data from the ATO to identify whether business sponsors are complying with their sponsorship obligations (e.g., paying visa holders correctly) and whether temporary skilled visa holders are complying with their visa conditions (e.g., to work only for an approved employer). The Department will provide to the ATO biographical […]
Taking Charge of Upcoming Employer Obligations
As the end of the financial year has just past, the ATO is reminding employers that they should check what they need to do and take note of the following upcoming key dates. Pay as you go (‘PAYG’) withholding — From 1 July 2025, some withholding schedules and tax tables will be updated (but not […]
Reminder of June 2025 Quarter Superannuation Guarantee (‘SG’)
Employers are reminded that employee super contributions for the quarter ending 30 June 2025 must be received by the relevant super funds by Monday, 28 July 2025. If the correct amount of SG is not paid by an employer on time, they will be liable to pay the SG charge, which includes a penalty and […]
Does your SMSF need a valuation?
The rules around the valuation of assets held under an SMSF have seen a lot of changes over the years. The requirement to consider valuing SMSF assets at market value when preparing the annual financial statements of the fund was one of the most significant and controversial of these changes. The use of market value accounting for […]
SMSF compliance for 2016 – 2017
The ATO has announced the approach it intends to take over 2016-17 with regard to SMSF compliance. It says trustees will see some key shifts in the ATO’s emphasis, both in terms of the activities it undertakes and the levels of enforcement action it applies. The ATO says its key focus areas will be: to […]
Setting up an SMSF: What you need to know
There are tempting tax incentives for Australians to save for their retirement via the superannuation system, with an array of choice between superannuation funds that can manage your savings for you, but also the do-it-yourself option of a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). Managing your own retirement savings however is a huge responsibility and one that should […]
SMSF trustee with the travel bug? How to keep your fund compliant.
Are you the trustee of an SMSF but also a travel aficionado? Nothing wrong with that; however trustees need to be aware that there can be negative consequences if you are out of the country for too long. If a trustee relocates overseas for an extended period, the residency status of the SMSF, its compliance […]
Deducations For Finance on a Rental Property
Interest can be claimed for the cost of funds borrowed to purchase a rental property and to meet maintenance costs or running expenses while the rental property is being let (or is available to be let) under a commercial arrangement to generate assessable income. In these circumstances the interest paid is deductible even if it exceeds […]
Treasury Amends LRBA Requirements For SMSFs Again
As if the new transfer balance cap rules were not complicated enough, the government has passed legislation that complicates it further where an SMSF starts a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) from 1 July 2017. Treasury was concerned that some trustees would try to get around the $1.6 million transfer balance cap (TBC) through the […]