The ATO is currently targeting contrived trust arrangements that minimise tax by creating artificial differences between the taxable net income and distributable income of closely held trusts. Arrangements where trustees are engineering a reduction in trust income to improperly gain favourable tax breaks or pay no tax at all are being targeted by the Tax…
Income tests are used to work out a person’s eligibility for tax offsets and benefits which can reduce the amount of tax they have to pay. The Australian Taxation Office considers various items from a person’s tax return when applying income tests. For example, a number of offsets, benefits and obligations are assessed using a…
Tax offsets (also known as ‘rebates’) can directly reduce the amount of tax payable on a person’s taxable income. While claiming certain tax offsets can reduce a person’s tax payable to zero, on their own, they cannot create a tax refund. Here are three common types of tax offsets some individuals are eligible to claim:…
The Australian Tax Office has recently collaborated with industry representatives to develop a safe harbour for car fringe benefits. A safe harbour is a guideline that allows Australian businesses to make use of an efficient way to calculate tax where certain conditions are met. This particular safe harbour will simplify the approach for working out…
The Australian Tax Office has warned small businesses that time is running out to start paying superannuation contributions in the new and mandatory electronic standard called SuperStream. SuperStream is the new mandatory way employers must make super contributions on behalf of their employees. It involves employers sending all super payments and employee information electronically in…
Following an announcement in July, the Australian Government recently increased the 32.5 per cent tax threshold from $37,001 – $80,000 to $37,001 – $87,000. The new PAYG withholding rates will apply to individual taxpayers who earn more than $80,000 from 1 October 2016. The Australian Tax Office provides a range of tables to assist employers…
The Australian Tax Office allows Australians who work at or from their home to claim a deduction for the additional expenses they incur from running their business. Generally speaking, the deductible expenses that can be claimed are divided into two categories; occupancy expenses and running expenses. Occupancy expenses: relate to ‘the place of business’, i.e.…
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is reminding small businesses to transition to SuperStream by 28 October 2016. SuperStream is the new mandatory way employers must make super contributions on behalf of their employees. It involves employers sending all super payments and employee information electronically in a standard format. Those employers that are still paying their…
