Christmas Parties and Gifts 2022
With the well-earned December/January holiday season on the way, many employers will be planning to reward staff with a celebratory party or event. However, there are important issues to consider, including the possible FBT and income tax implications of providing ‘entertainment’ (including Christmas parties) to staff and clients FBT and ‘entertainment’ Under the FBT Act, […]
Talking tax with new workers
Completing a tax file number declaration The ATO is reminding employers that have taken on new employees that those employees can complete a TFN declaration through ATO online services, and that this is an easy way for them to provide both their employer and the ATO with the information needed. If a new employee has […]
2022/23 October Federal Budget
Federal Budget overview On 25 October 2022, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down an updated 2022/23 Federal Budget, the first for the Albanese Labor Government. Key measures Certainty for unlegislated taxation and superannuation measures Digital Currency – Clarifying that digital currencies are not taxed as foreign currency Depreciation – Reverse the self-assessment of the effective life […]
Rental properties and second-hand depreciating assets
Be aware of the tax rules surrounding ‘second-hand depreciating assets’ The ATO is reminding taxpayers that have a residential rental property, to take care when making claims for second-hand depreciating assets used in their properties. In most cases, these are items that existed in the taxpayer’s property when they purchased it, or were in their […]
More COVID-19 business grants are now tax-free
Federal Government expands tax-free status of more COVID-19 grant programs The Federal Government has expanded the list of State and Territory COVID-19 grant programs that may be tax-free to eligible businesses. A State or Territory Government COVID-19 grant payment will generally be tax-free if: the payment is received under a grant program that is formally […]
Decision in disclaiming interest in trust distribution
High Court rejects attempt to disclaim interest in trust distribution The High Court has rejected a taxpayer’s attempt to disclaim an interest in trust income that arose as a result of a default beneficiary clause being triggered. This decision is significant, because it backs the proposition that disclaimers of trust income cannot be effective if […]
2022-2023 Budget Measures that are now law
Low and Middle Income Tax Offset A measure that will no doubt be beneficial for individual taxpayers is the increase in the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (‘LMITO’) for the 2022 income year by $420. The LMITO is a tax offset that reduces an individual taxpayer’s tax liability. This means that the maximum amount […]
Payroll matters February 2022
Higher PAYG withholding rates continue to apply to backpackers As we recently communicated, the High Court has held that the ‘working holiday maker tax’ (also known as the ‘backpackers tax’) did not apply to a taxpayer on a working holiday visa from The United Kingdom who was also an Australian tax resident. This was due […]
‘Backpacker tax’ may not apply to some backpackers
Working holiday maker tax ruling Employers should be aware of the application of the Double Tax Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom. The High Court has held that the ‘working holiday maker tax’ (also known as the ‘backpackers tax’) did not apply to a taxpayer on a working holiday visa from the United Kingdom […]
Data matching update
AUSTRAC transaction report information data-matching program The ATO will acquire transaction report information data from AUSTRAC for the period of 17 June 2021 through to 30 June 2027. AUSTRAC (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre) is the Australian Government agency responsible for “detecting, deterring and disrupting criminal abuse of the financial system to protect […]
