Notice of visa data-matching program
ATO’s Enhanced Data Collection for Visa Holders The 2024-2026 Visa Data Acquisition Program in Detail The ATO will acquire visa data from the Department of Home Affairs for the 2024 to 2026 income years, including the following: address history and contact history for visa applicants, sponsors, and migration agents; active visas meeting the relevant criteria, […]
Care required in paying super benefits
Navigating SMSF Benefit Payments: Rules and Risks for Trustees Ensuring Compliance and Minimizing Penalties in Superannuation Benefit Distributions Generally, before SMSF trustees pay a member’s super benefits, they need to ensure that: the member has reached their preservation age; the member has met one of the conditions of release; and the governing rules of the […]
ATO lodgement penalty amnesty about to end
The ATO is remitting failure to lodge penalties for eligible small businesses Businesses which have not yet taken advantage of the ATO’s lodgment penalty amnesty only have until 31 December 2023 to do so Businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the amnesty: had an annual turnover under $10 million […]
Deduction for contributions denied due to notice requirement problems
AAT Ruling on Personal Super Contribution Deduction Claim Key Notice Requirements and the Impact on Deductions The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) recently held that a claim for a deduction for personal super contributions should not be allowed, as the relevant ‘notice requirements’ were not satisfied. In order to claim a deduction for personal super contributions, […]
Choosing the right PAYG instalment method
Understanding PAYG Instalment Methods ATO Case Studies on Instalment Amount and Instalment Rate Methods The ATO advises that Pay as you go (‘PAYG’) instalments are calculated using either the instalment amount method or the instalment rate method. It recently provided the following two case studies to illustrate the two methods: Case study 1: Kelly the […]
Taxpayers need to get their rental right
Important Tax Considerations for Rental Property Owners Reporting Rental Income and Managing Rental Expenses The ATO reminds rental property owners and their tax agents to take care when lodging their tax returns this tax time. When preparing their tax returns, taxpayers should make sure all rental income is included, including income from short-term rental arrangements, […]
ATO gives ‘green light’ to lodge
ATO’s Tax Filing Guidance for Simple Affairs Timely Tips for Taxpayers and Key Information on Lodging Income Tax Returns The ATO is giving taxpayers with simple affairs the ‘green light’ to lodge their annual income tax returns. ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said that most taxpayers with simple affairs will find the information they need […]
Luxury car tax: determining a vehicle’s principal purpose
ATO Guidance on Determining the Principal Purpose of a Car for Luxury Car Tax (LCT) Insights into Assessing LCT Liability for Vehicles Used for Carriage of Goods versus Passengers The ATO recently explained how to determine the principal purpose of a car for ‘luxury car tax’ (‘LCT’) purposes (since LCT is not payable on the […]
Appointing an SMSF auditor
Important Reminders for SMSF Trustees and Auditors Key Requirements for Appointing and Engaging Approved SMSF Auditors The ATO reminds SMSF trustees that they need to appoint an approved SMSF auditor for each income year, no later than 45 days before they need to lodge their SMSF annual return. An SMSF’s audit must be finalised before […]
New Paid DV Leave arrives for SMB employees 1 August
Paid domestic violence leave entitlements for small business employees Small businesses across Australia are facing a new challenge as they prepare for the implementation of paid domestic violence leave entitlements starting 1 August 2023. This new policy grants employees up to ten paid days off during a twelve-month period to address family and domestic violence […]
