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 […]
ATO’s tips for correctly claiming deductions for rental properties
Taxpayers who have work done on their rental property should consider the following factors in determining claims for expenses. Repairs and general maintenance are expenses for work done to remedy or prevent defects, damage or deterioration from using the property to earn income. These expenses can be claimed in the year the expense occurred. Initial […]
Notice of online selling data-matching program
The ATO will acquire Australian sales data from online selling platforms for the 2024 to 2026 income years, including full names, dates of birth, addresses, emails, business names, ABNs, contact phone numbers and account details. The ATO estimates the total number of account records to be obtained will be between 20,000 and 30,000 each income […]
Small business energy incentive available for the 2024 income year
Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million that had upgraded or purchased a new asset that helps improve energy efficiency during the 2024 income year should consider the small business energy incentive. This new measure gives them the opportunity to claim a bonus deduction equal to 20% of the cost of […]
Importance of good record keeping when claiming work-related expenses
The ATO is advising taxpayers that having records to substantiate claims is essential to prove deductions can be claimed, having regard to the following in particular: A bank or credit card statement on its own will generally not be enough evidence to support a work-related expense claim. Taxpayers instead need detailed written evidence such as […]
SMSFs acquiring assets from related parties
SMSFs cannot acquire an asset from a ‘related party’ (such as a member or their spouse or relative) unless it is acquired at market value and is: a listed security (e.g., shares, units or bonds listed on an approved stock exchange); ‘business real property’ (broadly, land and buildings used wholly and exclusively in a business); […]
Federal Court overturns AAT’s tax resident decision
The Federal Court has recently overturned an Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) decision that a taxpayer was a resident of Australia for tax purposes (even though he was mostly living and working overseas during the relevant period). The taxpayer was a mechanical engineer who became an Australian citizen in 1978. He lived and worked in Dubai, […]