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$13.6m in penalties imposed for false R&D claims
A joint investigation involving the ATO found that, between 2014 and 2017, a Sydney business coach promoted unlawful tax schemes encouraging clients to lodge over-inflated, inaccurate or unsubstantiated research and development (‘R&D’) tax incentive claims. The Federal Court recently handed down judgment against the business coach, his company co-director (and former tax agent), and their […]
When to lodge SMSF annual returns
All trustees of SMSFs with assets (including super contributions or any other investments) as at 30 June 2024 need to lodge an SMSF annual return (‘SAR’) for the 2023/24 financial year. The SAR is more than a tax return — it is required to report super regulatory information, member contributions, and pay the SMSF supervisory […]
Study/training loans — What’s new
The indexation rate for study and training loans is now based on the Consumer Price Index (‘CPI’) or Wage Price Index — whichever is lower. This change has been backdated to indexation applied from 1 June 2023 for all HELP, VET Student Loan, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan, and other study or training support loan accounts. […]
ATOs notice of rental bond data-matching program
The ATO will acquire rental bond data from State and Territory rental bond regulators bi-annually for the 2024 to 2026 income years, including details of the landlord and tenant, managing agent identification details, and rental bond transaction details. The objectives of this program are to (among other things) identify and educate individuals and businesses who […]
ATO debunks Division 7A ‘myths’
Editor: The ATO has recently published a document ‘debunking’ various Division 7A ‘myths’. Division 7A of the tax legislation is intended to prevent profits or assets being provided to shareholders or their associates tax free. A payment or other benefit provided by a private company to a shareholder or their associate can be treated as […]
CGT withholding measures now law
The Government recently passed legislation making changes to the foreign resident capital gains withholding laws (among other changes). Editor: Foreign resident capital gains withholding is relevant for all vendors selling certain taxable real property (e.g., Australian land). Even Australian residents can be caught by these laws because, if they do not have a valid ‘clearance […]
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Company Tax Franking Implications
The recent cut to the tax rate for incorporated businesses that turnover less than S50 million a year, while generally welcomed, can bring with it some important considerations when it comes to distributing franked dividends. The rate change 1o 27.5% is to be staggered, starting with companies that turnover up to $10 million a year, with retrospective effect from July […]
End-of-Year Tax Planning Tips For Business
The general rule is that you can claim deductions for expenses your business incurs in its task of generating assessable income. Many of these deductions are obvious – rent, materials, supplies and so on — but there are also some less obvious options left available just before the end of the income year, should your circumstances […]
Selling up your Business? Don’t Forget the “Going Concern” GST Exemption
The concept of a “going concern” exemption for the purposes of the goods and services tax (GST) can still cause confusion when businesses are sold. The sale of a business may be GST exempt if the enterprise is deemed to be a “going concern” – which refers to an enterprise’s ability to continue trading. The ATO (and the GST legislation itself […]
Business Costs and Deductibility of Interest Expenses
If a business racks up an interest bill from borrowing funds to pay for the expenses of running the business, or to acquire other income-producing assets or investments, this expense is generally allowed as a tax deduction for the relevant year. For business taxpayers under the accruals accounting method, a claim can be made for the calculated interest liability […]
Tax and the Sharing Economy
The concept of a “sharing economy” has been around for long enough now to have had a very real impact on how we transact with each other. What is the sharing economy? Think Airbnb … think Uber. By now, most people will have realised that the “sharing” part of the concept does not refer to […]
Substantiation for Mobile, Home Phone and Internet Costs.
The ATO has issued guidance on making claims for mobile phone use as well as home phone and internet expenses, and says that if you use any of these for work purposes you should be able to claim a deduction if there are records to support claims. But the ATO points out that use for […]