Cents per kilometre deduction for car expenses
2023 income year The ATO has proposed for individual taxpayers that use the cents per kilometre method when calculating tax deductions for their work-related car expenses, that the rate per kilometre for the income year starting 1 July 2022 (the 2023 income year) will be 75 cents per kilometre. This is an increase from the […]
Changes to superannuation regulations
Be aware of various new regulations and opportunities surrounding your superannuation New legislation regarding contribution requirements, visibility and guarantee eligibility is currently or soon to be effective. Reporting re-contributions of COVID-19 early super relief super amounts Self-managed super fund (SMSF) members can now re-contribute amounts they withdrew under the COVID-19 early release of super program […]
Deferrals of interest due to COVID-19
Many lenders have recently allowed borrowers with investment property loans to defer repayments for a period of time. While repayments are being deferred, interest (and fees) will usually be added to the loan balance (i.e. the deferred interest will be “capitalised”). However, it is important to recognise in such situations that, while repayments are not […]
Tax deductions for work-related vehicles
Deduction for work-related vehicle expenses disallowed In a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a taxpayer, Mr Bell, was a denied a deduction for $21,565.73 of work-related vehicle expenses for the 2016 income year. Mr Bell, was a construction worker who predominantly worked on a construction site in an eastern suburb of Melbourne and lived […]
Tax treatment of JobKeeper Payments
Broadly, JobKeeper Payments received by an employer are assessable income to the employer Likewise, the payments an employer subsequently makes to an employee that are funded (in whole or in part by the JobKeeper Payment) are generally allowable deductions to the employer. The ATO has recently issued some guidance for employers in receipt of JobKeeper […]
Extending the Instant Asset Write-Off
Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No 3) Bill 2020 Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No 3) Bill 2020 has passed both Houses of Parliament and is now law. Extending the Instant Asset Write-Off This legislation amends the income tax law to allow a business with an aggregated turnover for the income year of less than […]
Shortcut method to claim deductions if working from home
As the situation around COVID-19 continues to develop, the ATO understands many employees are now working from home To make it easier when claiming a deduction for additional running costs you incur as a result of working from home, special arrangements have been announced. A simplified method has been introduced that allows you to claim […]
Single Touch Payroll developments
Further STP developments In an indication of the far-reaching changes that Single Touch Payroll (STP) will be bringing, Treasury has recently finished consulting on draft legislation that expands the data that may be collected through STP by the ATO (as announced in the 2019/20 Budget). The legislation, if enacted, will broaden the amounts that employers […]
Deductibility of work-related expenses
Employer’s requirements and the deductibility of WREs Some employees may wonder whether a work-related expense (WRE) becomes deductible merely because their employer specifically requires the employee to incur the expense. Importantly, the ATO’s recent draft ruling on the deductibility of work-related expenses reiterates that an employer’s requirements do not determine the question of deductibility. Specifically, […]
Coronavirus: Government announces new tax measures
ATO’s support measures to assist those affected by COVID-19 The Government has announced a number of economic responses to the Coronavirus (or ‘COVID-19’) pandemic, including economic stimulus packages worth billions of dollars. Some of the key tax measures include: From Thursday 12 March 2020, the instant asset write-off threshold has been increased from $30,000 (for […]