Real time reporting and your SMSF

Superannuation is changing again, but this time it’s for everyone’s benefit. The ATO is inching closer to real-time reporting, and SMSF trustees need to adapt to this latest move in the ATO’s regulatory duties. Real time reporting, similar in concept to single touch payroll, is the push for integrity and accuracy throughout the superannuation system....

October 2019 – Practice Update

$30,000 instant asset write-off The ATO is reminding businesses that are looking to expand or improve their business and thinking of buying new or second hand assets, that medium sized businesses with a turnover up to $50 million (but at least $10 million) are eligible for the instant asset write-off. This now applies to assets...

September 2019 – Practice Update

“Outrageous” deductions rejected 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, and...

August 2019 – Practice Update

Tax cuts become law The Government has announced that more than 10 million Australians will receive immediate tax relief following the passage of legislation through the Parliament, which increases the top threshold for the 19% tax rate from $41,000 to $45,000 and increases the low income tax offset from $645 to $700 in 2022/23. In...

July 2019 – Practice Update

‘Cash in hand’ payments to workers no longer tax deductible The ATO has reminded employers that any ‘cash in hand’ payments made to workers from 1 July 2019 will not be tax deductible. ‘Cash in hand’ refers to cash payments to employees that do not comply with pay as you go (‘PAYG’) withholding obligations. Payments...

On 1 July 2019 your insurance cover may be changing!

In February this year, the Government passed legislation which prevents trustees of APRA-regulated funds from providing insurance to members with inactive superannuation accounts, unless a member has directed otherwise. It is a common practice for many individuals with an SMSF to also have a secondary APRA-regulated fund which provides them with insurance. This may be...

June 2019 – Practice Update

Single Touch Payroll Update Employers with 19 or fewer employees are required to start reporting through Single Touch Payroll (‘STP’) from 1 July 2019. The ATO will be working with employers to support them as they transition to STP, including allowing small employers to start reporting any time from 1 July to 30 September (and...

Start Planning for the End of Financial Year (EOFY)

End of the financial year is an important time for small businesses, completing bookkeeping, tax returns and planning for the new financial year. Putting the hard work in each financial year can help you get your business organised and work smarter in the year ahead. Also consider planning for the end of year as well....

May 2019 – Practice Update

2019/20 Budget Update The Government handed down the 2019/20 Federal Budget on Tuesday 2 April 2019. Some of the important proposals include: Increasing and expanding access to the instant asset write-off from 7:30 pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 (i.e., ‘Budget night’) until 30 June 2020, as follows: – Increasing the instant asset write-off threshold...

April 2019 – Practice Update

Continued focus on the cash economy ATO Assistant Commissioner Peter Holt has announced that, in the 2019/20 financial year, the ATO will be visiting a further 10,000 small businesses across the country, including up to 500 small businesses in Tasmania. He further said that businesses that advertise as ‘cash only’ and businesses that are operating...

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