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 […]
ATO Spells Out its Big FBT Concerns
March 31 and the end of the FBT year is around the corner, so to help taxpayers get things right, the ATO has made public the fringe benefits tax issues that attract its attention. Broadly (not just in relation to FBT), the ATO says the following behaviours and characteristics tend to raise a red flag: […]
Dealing With Tax and Renting Via Airbnb
Airbnb is one of many examples of the “sharing economy” — connecting buyers (users) and sellers (providers) through a facilitator that usually operates an app or a website. Airbnb acts as this facilitator by allowing individuals, referred to as “hosts”, to rent out a room of their house or their whole house for a short-time […]
Rental Property Owners Lose Some Deductions
Legislation that came into law in the last half of 2017 makes a reality, measures first announced with the 2017 Federal Budget. The “housing tax integrity” bill solidifies the government’s intention to deny all travel deductions relating to inspecting, maintaining, or collecting rent for a residential investment property. As well, second-hand plant and equipment […]
Duties and Taxes When You Buy Online From Overseas
Items that you buy over the internet from an overseas source are generally required to abide by the same rules and screening processes that apply to any other “import”. Also the usual duties or taxes should apply. Customs duties are regulated by the Department of Home Affairs (a recently formed body from December 2017, which […]
Franchise Businesses and Tax
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the government body responsible for enforcing the Franchising Code of Conduct, and if you or someone you know are considering a franchise business Australia, this will probably be a good starting point to get an idea of what to expect. The code imposes strict obligations on franchisors […]
Federal Budget 2018 – 2019
Federal Budget Summary The item that may receive the most analysis from the whole of this year’s federal budget will be the incnrease of the 32.5% tax bracket, and an expansion of the Low Income Tax Offset. A win for small businesses in this year’s budget sees the retention of the $2o,000 instant asset write-off […]