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ATO says: “Be cyber wise, don’t compromise”
Throughout the 2022 income year, one cybercrime was reported every seven minutes. The ATO encourages taxpayers to implement the following four quick steps to protect themselves. Step 1: Install updates for your devices and software Regular updates ensure taxpayers have the latest security in place which can help prevent cyber criminals from hacking their devices. […]
Notice of visa data-matching program
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, and all visa grants; visa grant status by point in time; migration agents who assisted […]
Care required in paying super benefits
Generally, before SMSF trustees pay a member’s super benefits, they need to ensure that: the member has reached their preservation age; the member has met one of the conditions of release; and the governing rules of the fund (e.g., the trust deed) allow it. Benefit payments to members who have not met a condition of […]
Tax issues for businesses that have received a support payment
Taxpayers who have received a government support grant or payment recently to help their business recover from COVID-19 or a natural disaster should check if they need to include the payment in their assessable income. Grants are generally treated as assessable income, and taxpayers may be able to claim deductions if they use these […]
Deduction for contributions denied due to notice requirement problems
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) recently held that a claim for a deduction for personal super contributions should not be allowed, as the relevant ‘notice requirements’ were not satisfied. Editor: In order to claim a deduction for personal super contributions, an individual must both notify the super fund of their intention to claim a deduction, […]
Remember the unused concessional contributions cap concession
As from 1 July 2018, individuals with a total superannuation balance of less than $500,000 as at 30 June of the previous income year may be entitled to contribute more than the general concessional contributions cap (i.e., and make additional concessional contributions to utilise any unused cap amounts). For example, an individual who did not […]
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What’s New For Taxpayers
Before you complete your tax return for 2015, there are some changes you should be aware of in case they affect you. Mature age worker tax offset You can no longer claim the Mature age worker tax offset (MAWTO) in your tax return. Previously, to be eligible for the offset you needed to be an […]
Travel between home and work and between workplaces
While trips between home and work are generally considered private travel, you can claim deductions in some circumstances, as well as for some travel between two workplaces. If your travel was partly private and partly for work, you can only claim for the part related to your work. What you can claim You can […]
Investment Property – Claiming Repairs and Maintenance Expenses
Can you claim the cost of repairs you make before you rent out the property? You cannot claim the cost of repairing defects, damage or deterioration that existed when you obtained the property, even if you carried out these repairs to make the property suitable for renting. This is because these expenses relate to the […]
Gifts and donations
You can only claim a tax deduction for gifts or donations to organisations that have the status of deductible gift recipients (DGRs). Deductions for gifts are claimed by the person that makes the gift (the donor). For you to claim a tax deduction for a gift, it must meet four conditions: The gift […]
Capital gains tax checklist
The following questions will help you to identify possible capital gains tax (CGT) obligations. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, CGT may apply. Some questions are intended to highlight the possibility of a capital gain or loss arising in the current year, others to alert you to the possibility of a […]
Tax on Super Contributions
The tax you pay on your super contributions generally depends on whether the contributions were made before or after you paid income tax, you exceed the super contributions cap or you are a very high-income earner. Before-tax super contributions The super contributions you make before tax (concessional) are taxed at 15%. Types of before-tax contributions […]