Latest News
ATO’s focus on small business
The ATO is ‘detecting and addressing’ recurring errors in specific industries when businesses have a turnover between $1 million and $10 million. These industries include property and construction (including builders, contractors and tradies), and professional, scientific and technical services (including engineering, design, IT and consulting professionals). In these industries, the ATO continues to see recurring […]
ATO reminder: Business expenses that can (and cannot) be claimed
Taxpayers can claim a tax deduction for most business expenses, provided they meet the ATO’s three ‘golden rules’: The expense must be for business use, not for private use. If the expense is for a mix of business and private use, they can only claim the portion that is used for business. They must have […]
Dual cab utes and FBT
The ATO wishes to dispel the ‘common myth’ that dual cab utes are automatically exempt from fringe benefits tax (‘FBT’). If an employer provides dual cab utes to staff to complete their duties and the vehicle is available for personal use, then the benefit may be subject to FBT. By understanding how their employees use […]
ART dismisses argument that medical expenses were deductible
In a recent decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) held that a taxpayer could not claim a tax deduction for medical expenses incurred by him in relation to his total and permanent disability pension. The taxpayer had been terminated from his employment due to total and permanent disablement (‘TPD’). For the 2024 income year, his […]
ATO warning regarding private use of work vehicles and FBT
Employers that supply work vehicles to their employees need to check how the work vehicles are used and whether any exemptions apply to determine if they attract fringe benefits tax (‘FBT’). FBT generally applies when a work vehicle is made available for private use, even if it is not actually used. Private use includes any […]
Tips to help sole trader clients
The ATO is seeing sole traders make mistakes in the following areas: not reporting all income — this includes income earned outside their business (like a ‘side hustle’), cash jobs, or payments in-kind/barter deals; overclaiming expenses — this includes claiming the portion of an expense related to personal use, or overstating the cost of goods […]
Time Running Out To Register For The Jobmaker Hiring Credit
| | | The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme’s third claim period is now open, so if a taxpayer has taken on additional eligible employees since 7 October 2020, they may be able to claim JobMaker Hiring Credit payments for their business. Eligible businesses can receive up to: $10,400 over a year for each additional […]
New Vacant Land Tax Measures
| | | A new ‘vacant land’ measure limits the deductibility of costs incurred on or after 1 July 2019 (i.e., from the 2020 income year) that relate to holding vacant land, even if the land in question was first held before that date. Importantly, however, the new provisions include (amongst other exceptions) a […]
ATO Support For Employers With Expansion Of STP
| | | As part of the expansion of Single Touch Payroll (known as STP Phase 2), from 1 January 2022, employers will need to report additional payroll information in their STP reports including: disaggregation of gross amounts (including separate reporting of paid leave, allowances, overtime, directors’ fees and salary sacrifice amounts); employment and taxation […]
New Super Guarantee Amnesty
| | | On 6 March 2020, the government introduced a superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) amnesty. This amnesty allows employers to disclose and pay previously unpaid super guarantee charge (‘SGC’), including nominal interest, that they owe their employees, for quarter(s) starting from 1 July 1992 to 31 March 2018, without incurring the administration component ($20 […]
80 Cents Per Hour ‘Shortcut’ Method For Home Expenses Has Been Extended
| | | Back in April 2020 the ATO announced that a ‘shortcut’ method was to be made available to use from 1 March 2020 until 30 June 2020 for individuals claiming home office expenses due to COVID-19. The ATO has recently announced an extension of this shortcut method to also include 1 July […]
ATO Asks Businesses to Check if They Are Still Using Their ABNs
| | | The ATO has advised that, if a business hasn’t used its ABN for a while, the ATO may contact them about cancelling their ABN. The ATO may also contact them about their ABN if their business situation has changed. To ensure businesses don’t miss out on Government support, including during unfortunate […]