Latest News
Hybrid vehicles and FBT changes
Employers that provide plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (‘PHEVs’) to employees (or associates) for personal use should remember the following. Home-charging expenses — new shortcut method The ATO has updated its guidelines to include a new method to make it easier to calculate PHEV electricity costs when a vehicle is charged at an employee’s home. To […]
When a hobby becomes a business
Taxpayers may not think they are running a business from their hobby or ‘side hustle’ activities. However, if they start to earn money from doing these activities regularly, they may be carrying on a business without realising it. Generally, carrying on a business involves ongoing and repeated activities with the intention of making a profit. […]
Know when a new logbook is required
Editor: Keeping a car logbook may be required to accurately calculate the business-use percentage of vehicle expenses (e.g., fuel, registration, insurance and depreciation) for tax deductions. Taxpayers can keep the same logbook for their car for five years, but there are circumstances where they may need a new one during that period. Relying on a […]
Work-related expense claims rejected by Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’)
The Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) recently disallowed a taxpayer’s claims for many different types of work-related expenses. The taxpayer was employed full-time as an engineer, working from home two days a week. For the 2023 income year, he claimed deductions totalling over $61,000, in relation to (among other things) car expenses, travel expenses, clothing expenses, […]
Check GST credit claims before lodging BASs
Taxpayers who are registered for GST can get GST credit claims (or ‘input tax credits’) for the GST included in the price of goods and services they buy for their business. However, if they buy something for both business and private use, they need to apportion their GST credit to only claim the business use. […]
Government payments programs
The ATO is reminding taxpayers that receive government payments for delivering services under a Commonwealth program, such as healthcare, disability support or child care, that they have an obligation to: keep accurate records; and report any such income they receive in their tax return. The ATO recently advised that it would be contacting taxpayers and […]
Support available for businesses experiencing difficulties
By paying their tax bill in full and on time, taxpayers can avoid paying the general interest charge (‘GIC’), which is currently 11.34%, and which accrues daily for any overdue debts. The ATO advises taxpayers that, if their business is dealing with financial difficulties, there are some options to help make their tax bill “less […]
Getting trust distributions right
As trustees prepare for year-end distributions, they should do the following: review the relevant trust deed to ensure they are making decisions consistent with the terms of the deed; consider who the intended beneficiaries are and their entitlement to income and capital under the trust deed; notify beneficiaries of their entitlements, so that the beneficiaries […]
End of financial year obligations for employers
The ATO reminds employers they need to keep on top of their payroll governance. This includes: using their tax and super software to record the amounts they pay; withholding the right amount of tax; and calculating superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) correctly. As 30 June gets closer, employers should check their reporting obligations, along with any upcoming […]
ATO’s three focus areas this tax time
The ATO will be taking a close look this ‘tax time’ at the following common errors made by taxpayers: Work related expenses: Taxpayers using the ‘revised fixed rate method’ of calculating a working from home deduction must have comprehensive records to substantiate their claims, including records that show the actual number of hours they worked […]
Taxpayer unsuccessful in having excess contributions reallocated
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) recently held that a taxpayer was liable to pay excess concessional contributions tax in relation to contributions made on his behalf by his employer. In the 2021 income year, the taxpayer’s employer made concessional super contributions to his super fund totalling $31,737, which resulted in the taxpayer exceeding his concessional […]
NFPs Need To Get Ready For New Return
From 1 July 2024, non-charitable not-for-profits (‘NFPs’) with an active Australian Business Number (‘ABN’) will be required to lodge a new annual NFP self-review return with the ATO to confirm their income tax exemption status. Editor: This will include sporting, community and cultural clubs, among other organisations. Non-charitable NFPs that have an active ABN can […]