Small Business Superannuation Clearing House
Ensure correct SBSCH information When employers use the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH), it is important to enter the correct information. Providing the correct information reduces the possibility that a super fund will reject the payment. When super funds return payments to the ATO due to incorrect details they must manually intervene and contact the employer […]
Xero case study
Transposition error gets bookkeeper the snip Eve runs a successful hair salon in The Hills and has a friendly, professional manner that all her devoted clients love. She is also a conscientious business owner and knows how easily the books can get on top of her, which is why she appointed an external bookkeeper from get-go. This […]
Tax myths busted!
Tax season is underway To help Australians get their returns right, the ATO has identified the top 10 tax myths and misunderstandings it says are causing incorrect claims. Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson says unreliable tax advice is leaving taxpayers exposed. Top of the list is the myth that everyone is entitled to claim a “standard deduction” […]
Suburban scammers
Suburban scammers pushing illegal early access to super The ATO has become aware of people in some suburban areas of major cities attempting to encourage others to illegally access their super early. Generally for a fee, scammers offer to help them to purchase a car, to pay debts, to take a holiday, or to provide money […]
Tax Time mistakes
ATO guide to the 5 most common Tax Time mistakes As Tax Time 2018 has ‘kicked off’, the ATO has profiled the five most common mistakes they see, including taxpayers who are: Leaving out some of their income (e.g. forgetting a temp or cash job, capital gains on cryptocurrency, or money earned from the sharing […]
Single Touch Payroll Update
Single Touch Payroll (STP) officially commenced for larger employers on 1 July 2018 The ATO has provided some further guidance for affected entities. The ATO is writing to employers who started reporting through STP before 1 July 2018, providing them with information about how their employees’ payment summary for 2017/18 may change with STP, including […]
Clothing claims
ATO putting clothing claims through the wringer A focus on work-related clothing and laundry expenses this Tax Time will see the ATO “more closely examine taxpayers whose clothing claims don’t suit them”. According to Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson, around 6 million people claimed work-related clothing and laundry expenses last year, with total claims adding up […]
Car claim case studies
ATO scrutinising car claims this tax time Case studies False logbook A traffic supervisor claimed over $11,000 for work-related car expenses, and provided a logbook to substantiate his claim. However, upon investigation the ATO discovered that the logbook wasn’t printed until the following year – the taxpayer admitted the logbook was fraudulent and it was […]
GST withholding measures
GST withholding measures now law Legislation passed to “clamp down” on GST evasion in property development sector. From 1 July 2018, purchasers of new residential premises and new residential subdivisions will generally be required to withhold the GST on the purchase price at settlement and pay it directly to the ATO. Property developers will also […]
12-month super guarantee amnesty announced
Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty On 24 May 2018, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services announced the commencement of a 12-month Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty (the Amnesty). The Amnesty is a one-off opportunity for employers to self-correct past super guarantee (SG) non-compliance without penalty. Subject to the passage of legislation, the Amnesty will be available from 24 May 2018 to 23 May 2019. Employers who […]
