Tax and Accounting

Significant change to claiming working from home expenses   Before 1 July 2022, an individual taxpayer that incurred additional deductible expenses as a result of working from home, had a choice of three methods to claim these expenses.
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Super guarantee contributions for the December 2022 quarter   A reminder to employers that their December 2022 superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) contributions were due by 28 January 2023.
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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.  However, there are important issues to consider, including  the possible FBT and income tax implications of providing ‘entertainment’ (including Christmas parties) to staff and clients. 
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ATO warning to SMSFs: “Paying the price for non-compliance”   There are various courses of action available to the ATO when trustees of self-managed super funds (‘SMSFs’) have not complied with the super laws, including applying administrative penalties.
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Director ID deadline is approaching   The Government has launched an awareness campaign to help company directors get their director identification number (‘director ID’) as the 30 November deadline approaches.
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Banking business income to a private account   The ATO has stated that it has “no concerns” with business owners banking their business takings or other sales in private accounts, but that this may become an issue when this income isn’t reported.
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More COVID-19 business grants are now tax-free   The Federal Government has expanded the list of State and Territory COVID-19 grant programs that may be tax-free to eligible businesses.
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Tax time focus on rental property income and deductions   The ATO is focusing on four major concerns this tax season when it comes to rental properties.
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Starting from 1 November 2021, company directors including foreign directors are required by law to apply for a director identification number (director ID) following legislation passed by the government.
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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 of their employers, to help them avoid unintentionally going over the concessional contributions cap.
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$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 businesses with a turnover up to $50 million (but at least $10 million) are eligible for the instant asset write-off.
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“Outrageous” deductions rejected The ATO has published some of the most unusual claims that they disallowed last financial year.
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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 top threshold for the 19% tax rate from $41,000 to $45,000 and increases the low income tax offset from $645 to $700 in 2022/23.
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‘Cash in hand’ payments to workers no longer tax deductible The ATO has reminded employers that any ‘cash in hand’ payments made to workers from 1 July 2019 will not be tax deductible. ‘Cash in hand’ refers to cash payments to employees that do not comply with pay as you go (‘PAYG’) withholding obligations.
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Many of our business clients like to review their tax position at the end of the income year and evaluate any year-end strategies that may be available to legitimately reduce their tax.   Traditionally, year-end tax planning for small businesses is based around two simple concepts – i.e., accelerating business deductions and deferring income.
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Tax saving strategies prior to 1 July 2019 A good strategy to reduce tax payable is normally to accelerate any income tax deductions into the current income year, which will reduce overall taxable income in the current year. The tax rates for resident (adult) individual taxpayers for the 2018/19 income year are as follows:
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Single Touch Payroll Update Employers with 19 or fewer employees are required to start reporting through Single Touch Payroll (‘STP’) from 1 July 2019. The ATO will be working with employers to support them as they transition to STP, including allowing small employers to start reporting any time from 1 July to 30 September (and…
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Federal Election called! The Federal Election has been called for Saturday 18 May 2019, and the Governor-General has ‘prorogued’ the Parliament from 11 April 2019 until 18 May 2019, and dissolved the House of Representatives.
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