Family trust elections and interposed entity elections
Understanding Family Trust Distribution Tax Key Considerations for Trustees and Entities to Avoid 47% FTDT on Distributions Outside the Family Group. Family trust distribution tax (‘FTDT’) is a special, 47%, tax sometimes payable by a trustee, director or partner. It applies when a trust has made a family trust election (‘FTE’), or an entity has […]
What to know about disaster relief payments
Understanding the Tax Implications of Natural Disaster Relief Payments Some Government Support Payments May Be Non-Taxable — Check Before Lodging Your Tax Return Taxpayers should be aware that some natural disaster relief payments are not taxable. Businesses that have received a government support payment because of a natural disaster (such as a major weather event) […]
Avoiding common Division 7A errors
Navigating Division 7A: Ensuring Compliance with Private Company Obligations Guidelines for Business Owners to Manage Payments, Benefits, and Loans from Private Companies Private company clients who receive payments, benefits or loans from their private companies need to ensure compliance with their additional tax obligations (which are often referred to as their ‘Division 7A’ obligations). There […]
Small business concessions
Unlocking Tax Concessions for Small Business Owners ATO’s Reminder The ATO has recently issued a reminder that small business owners may be eligible for concessions on the amount of tax they ultimately pay. This depends on their business structure, their industry and their aggregated annual turnover. For example, small business owners who have an aggregated […]
Sale of land subject to GST
AAT Rules on GST Liability for Land Sale Enterprise Activities Determination The AAT recently held that the sale of land by a taxpayer was subject to GST, as it was a supply made in the course of an enterprise being carried on by the taxpayer. The taxpayer purchased a single parcel of land in 2013 […]
Remember the two further ‘boosts’
Seizing Opportunities with New Small Business Deduction ‘Boosts’ Exploring the Skills and Training Boost and Small Business Energy Incentive Although the ‘Technology Investment Boost’ has come to an end (it provided a bonus deduction for eligible expenditure incurred until 30 June 2023), it is important to remember that there are two further ‘boosts’ providing bonus […]
Deductions denied for work-related expenses
AAT Decision Highlights Importance of Substantiation for Work-Related Expense Claims Real Estate Salesman’s Deductions Disallowed Due to Lack of Substantiation The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) recently held that a taxpayer should not be allowed deductions for various work-related expenses, largely because the substantiation requirements had not been satisfied. The taxpayer, a real estate salesperson, claimed […]
Claiming deductions in relation to a holiday home
Maximising Holiday Home Deductions A Guide to Valid Rental Expenses Taxpayers should remember that they can only claim deductions for holiday home expenses to the extent they are incurred for the purpose of gaining or producing rental income. They need to consider the following in determining whether the deductions they wish to claim are valid […]
Updated tax cuts approved by both Houses
Starting 1 July, a wider range of taxpayers will benefit from tax reductions as the tax cuts bill proposed by Labor has successfully passed through the Senate. Key points On 25 January 2024, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would redesign the legislated Stage 3 tax cuts and increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds. […]
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, […]