2019/20 Tax Return Checklists
Tax saving strategies prior to 1 July 2020 For Individuals A good strategy to reduce tax payable is normally to accelerate any income tax deductions into the current income year, which will reduce overall taxable income in the current year. Despite this, for the 2020 tax season, tax planning may require consideration of an individual’s […]
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 […]
New vacant land tax measures
Vacant land measure limit deductibility A new ‘vacant land’ measure limits the deductibility of costs incurred on or after 1 July 2019 (i.e. from the 2020 income year) that relate to holding vacant land, even if the land in question was first held before that date. Importantly, however, the new provisions include (amongst other exceptions) […]
OMNIBUSiness COVID-19 Summary Edition
What unprecedented times we’re living in! As soon as we think we’re on top of coronavirus, things change and don’t they change fast? The effect of COVID-19 is having a massive financial impact on all of us in some way and we fear that the impact of the virus will have an even greater impact […]
ATO on property investments
Investing in property? The ATO has reminded taxpayers in a property business or thinking about investing in property that there are things they should know. Such as: they need a clearance certificate from the supplier when buying property over $750,000; they may have to pay the GST on the sale of brand new residential property […]
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, […]
Shortcut method for claiming home office running costs
ATO announces shortcut method for claiming home office running costs The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced a temporary simplified short cut method to make it easier for individual taxpayers to claim deductions for additional running expenses incurred as a result of working from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Based on the announcement, the […]
New super guarantee amnesty
On 6 March 2020, the government introduced a superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) amnesty Employers who come forward from 6 March 2020 need to apply for the amnesty. This amnesty allows employers to disclose and pay previously unpaid super guarantee charge (‘SGC’), including nominal interest, that they owe their employees, for quarter(s) starting from 1 July 1992 […]
“Outrageous” tax deductions rejected
Unusual tax claims disallowed The ATO has published some of the most unusual claims that they disallowed last financial year. Nearly 700,000 taxpayers claimed almost $2 billion of ‘other’ expenses, but the ATO’s systematic review of claims had found, and disallowed, some very unusual expenses, including: claims for Lego sets bought as gifts for children, […]
Dodgy car claims
ATO “puts the brakes” on dodgy car claims The ATO is making work-related car expenses a key focus again during Tax Time 2019. Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said over 3.6 million people made a work-related car expense claim in 2017/18, totalling more than $7.2 billion. “We are still concerned that some taxpayers aren’t getting the […]
