Latest News
Beware websites sharing fake news on super preservation age
The ATO is warning the community about a “proliferation of dodgy websites sharing fake news about changes to the superannuation preservation rules and withdrawal rules starting on 1 June.” ATO Deputy Commissioner Emma Rosenzweig confirmed the maximum preservation age (the age when an individual can access their superannuation savings on retirement) is 60 for anyone […]
$20,000 instant asset write-off for 2024/25
Taxpayers who have purchased or are purchasing a business asset this financial year should remember that the instant asset write-off limit is $20,000 for the 2025 income year. If a taxpayer’s business has an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million and they use the simplified depreciation rules, they may be able to use […]
Partial release from tax debt on serious hardship grounds
In a recent decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) held that a taxpayer should be released from payment of part of his tax debt on the grounds of serious hardship. As at the 2022 income year, the taxpayer had an accumulated tax debt of approximately $528,000, comprising income tax, late lodgment penalties, PAYG instalments, and […]
Taxi service and ride-sourcing providers must be registered
Taxpayers that provide taxi, limousine or ride-sourcing services must register for GST regardless of their turnover. They must collect and pay GST and income tax on all their rides and all other business income. The ATO is advising drivers in this industry who do not have a TFN, ABN or GST registration that they need […]
Getting ready for business
The ATO advises new business owners that they need to understand their obligations to ensure they are “getting it right from the start.” These are the ‘top 7 things’ taxpayers need to know when starting a business. They should use digital tools and maintain accurate records to help them manage daily activities and cash flow. […]
‘Wild’ tax deduction attempts
The ATO recently revealed some of the ‘wild’ work related expense tax claims people have tried to “put past” the ATO, including the following: A mechanic tried to claim an air fryer, microwave, two vacuum cleaners, a TV, gaming console and gaming accessories as work-related. The claim was denied as these expenses are personal in […]
Appointing an SMSF Auditor
The ATO reminds SMSF trustees that they need to appoint an approved SMSF auditor for each income year, no later than 45 days before they need to lodge their SMSF annual return. An SMSF’s audit must be finalised before the trustees lodge their SMSF annual return, as the trustees will need some information from the […]
ATO gives ‘green light’ to lodge
The ATO is giving taxpayers with simple affairs the ‘green light’ to lodge their annual income tax returns. ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said that most taxpayers with simple affairs will find the information they need to lodge has now been pre-filled in their tax return. Mr Loh also reminded taxpayers that some income may […]
Different meanings of ‘dependant’ for superannuation and 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. Super death benefits can be tax-free to the extent that they are paid (either […]
NALI provisions did not apply to loan structure
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) has held that interest income derived by a self-managed superannuation fund (‘SMSF’) as the sole beneficiary of a unit trust was not non-arm’s length income (‘NALI’), and so this income could still be treated as exempt current pension income. During the 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial years, the unit trust […]
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). Broadly, a luxury car (i.e., a car subject to LCT) is a car […]
2023/24 Budget Update
On 9 May 2023, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2023/24 Federal Budget. Some of the measures announced by the Government (including some which were actually announced prior to the Budget), include: from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages; providing […]