Lifestyle assets continue to be an ATO audit target The ATO has revealed it will request a further five years’ worth of policy information from over 30 insurance companies about…Read More

Investment banking experts at JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank are predicting Japanese companies to heavily target the Australian market in 2020 to boost revenue growth. Alex Cartel of Deutsche Bank…Read More

Horticultural Industry Labour Agreement announced The government has announced a new Horticultural Industry Labour Agreement to commence 1 January 2020. From 1 January 2020, horticultural employers will be able to…Read More

Year-end (and other) staff parties Editor:  With the well earned December/January holiday season on the way, many employers will be planning to reward staff with a celebratory party or event. …Read More

Global Talent Independent Program More details have been released by the Department of Home Affairs regarding this program. This program aims to offer a streamlined, priority visa pathway for highly…Read More

PAYG and deductions for payments to workers The ATO has reminded business taxpayers they can no longer claim deductions for certain payments to workers if they have not met their…Read More

Under the responsible budget regime of the government which became law on 1 January 2017, backpackers are taxed at 15% for earnings of up to $37,000 with the balance taxed…Read More

Single touch payroll (STP) is an initiative by the Australian government which requires all employers to report their employees’ payroll information electronically to the ATO portal for each payroll cycle,…Read More

The ATO has deferred the requirement for large companies and corporate groups to lodge their Reportable tax position (RTP)[1]  until the 2020-2021 financial year. This has been done after consultation…Read More

On 24 May 2018 the government announced a one off 12-month superannuation “amnesty” guarantee which gives employers one off opportunities to disclose any errors in superannuation guarantees to the ATO…Read More

Occupations for Subclass 494 visas The Government has released a new Legislative Instrument that lists the eligible occupations and ANZSCO codes for the new 494 visa. These lists for the…Read More

Super guarantee opt-out for high income earners now law From 1 January 2020, eligible individuals with multiple employers can apply to opt out of receiving super guarantee (‘SG’) from some…Read More

REGIONAL VISA GRANT INCREASE The government has recently announced that the number of regional visas granted under the RSMS (subclass 187) programme has increased by 179%, and the Regional Skilled…Read More

$30,000 instant asset write-off The ATO is reminding businesses that are looking to expand or improve their business and thinking of buying new or second hand assets, that medium sized…Read More

NEW REGIONAL VISAS and CLOSURE OF 187/RSMS PROGRAM New skilled regional visas, both independent and employer sponsored will begin on 16th November 2019. On that date existing regional visas (RSMS/187…Read More

Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) are agreements between particular geographical areas in Australia and the Department of Home Affairs, to allow prospective migrants to access…Read More

New Regional Visas, including employer sponsored visas The new skilled regional provisional visas will be for skilled migrants, and dependent family members, who want to live and work in Australia, and…Read More

“Outrageous” deductions rejected The ATO has published some of the most unusual claims that they disallowed last financial year.Read More

Tax cuts become law The Government has announced that more than 10 million Australians will receive immediate tax relief following the passage of legislation through the Parliament, which increases the…Read More