Additional ATO support during COVID-19
ATO COVID-19 support The ATO is providing additional support to taxpayers having difficulty meeting their tax and superannuation guarantee charge obligations for employees because of COVID-19. Available support includes the following: Lodgment or payment support options – for example, payment plans or remitting interest and penalties. Varying PAYG instalments – The ATO will not apply […]
Business tax update October 2021
Extending administrative relief for companies to use technology The Government has passed legislation renewing the temporary relief that allows companies to use technology to meet regulatory requirements under the Corporations Act 2001. These temporary relief measures will allow companies to hold virtual meetings and use electronic communications to send meeting materials and execute documents until […]
Property investor common tax traps
ATO warns property investors about common tax traps In 2019/20, over 1.8 million Australians owned rental properties and claimed $38 billion in deductions, so the ATO is reminding property investors to beware of common tax traps that can delay refunds or lead to an audit costing taxpayers time and money. The most common mistake rental […]
SME Recovery Loan Scheme
Expansion of support for SMEs to access funding The Government is providing additional support to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by expanding eligibility for the SME Recovery Loan Scheme. Specifically, in recognition of the continued economic impacts of COVID‑19, the Government will remove requirements for SMEs to have received JobKeeper during the March quarter of […]
Taxable Payments Annual Reporting
Taxable Payments Annual Reports (‘TPARs’) due 28 August 2021 TPARs are due to be lodged for businesses who have paid contractors to provide the following services: building and construction; cleaning; courier, delivery or road freight; information technology (‘IT’); or security, surveillance or investigation. With specific reference to the TPAR due on 28 August 2021, the […]
Rent or lease payment changes due to COVID-19
Rent or lease payment COVID-19 changes The ATO has provided updates regarding the tax implications when a landlord gives, or a tenant receives, rent concessions (such as waivers or deferrals of rent) as a result of COVID-19. For example, the ATO provides the following advice for tenants that have received a rent waiver. If the […]
Extension on Division 7A loan repayments
Extension of time to make repayments on Division 7A loans To offer more support due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19, an extension of the repayment period is now available. It is available to those who were unable to make their MYRs by the end of the lender’s 2020/21 income year (generally 30 June). The […]
2020/21 Individual Tax Return Checklist
Tax saving strategies prior to 1 July 2021 A strategy often used to reduce taxable income (and, in turn, tax payable) in an income year is to bring forward any expected or planned deductible expenditure from a later income year. However, in light of the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, any tax planning for […]
2020/21 Year-end Checklist for Business
Traditionally, year-end tax planning for small businesses is based around accelerating deductions and deferring income However, this year, consideration will also need to be given to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Small Business Entities (‘SBEs’) – i.e., those with an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million – often have greater tax planning opportunities […]
ATO loses case on JobKeeper and backdated ABNs
JobKeeper claims and backdated ABNs On 24 March 2021, the Full Federal Court handed down its decision in a decisive case. It concerned the requirement that an entity claiming JobKeeper must have had an ABN on 12 March 2020, or a later time allowed by the ATO. The Registrar of the Australian Business Register had […]
