Category: Taxation
Rental expenses in excess of income not deductible
With many parts of Australia in the grip of a rental crisis, a significant number of tenants may be residing in the properties of friends and relatives. A recent case that came before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), Rizkallah and FCT [2022] AATA 3081, is a timely reminder that rental expenses in excess of income...
Do I have to pay myself super as a business owner?
Do you have your own business or are thinking of starting one? If so, you may need to pay yourself superannuation depending on your business structure. Types of business structures available If you were working for a company, your employer would be required to pay you superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions of 10.5% of your earnings...
Federal Budget, Superannuation and Retirement
Caps and limits untouched In a pleasing development, the important superannuation caps and limits were undisturbed, providing all-important investor certainty moving forward. This means that: individuals will be permitted to contribute just as much to superannuation as currently under the concessional and non-concessional caps at $27,500 and $110,000 respectively (or up to $330,000 of non-concessional...
Federal Budget, Business and Individual Taxation
The confirmation of lucrative income tax cuts, and the scrapping of a tax offset for low and middle-income earners were the big-ticket items. That said, labor’s first federal Budget in nine years was as noteworthy for the changes it didn’t make as for those that it did. Unmentioned were current outstanding issues impacting the taxation...
Bonus Article, Using business stock for private purposes?
The ATO has issued a reminder to sole traders and partners in a partnership. If you take goods from your business for your private use, make sure you accurately record this in your stock on hand. Accessing your trading stock for private use is permissible from a tax perspective, however you need to account for the stock correctly: each...
Claiming business losses
You may be able to offset your business loss against other income (such as salary and wages) if you’re a sole trader or in a partnership. Firstly, however, your loss must not be non-commercial. A non-commercial business loss is a loss you incur, either as a sole trader or in partnership, from a business activity...
Bridging the super gender gap
Fresh statistics released by the ATO reveal that the superannuation gender cap is very real. While the average super balance for a man is $161,834, for a woman it’s $129,506 – a massive 25% difference. This gender gap begins in peoples’ twenties, mostly caused by wage differences and time off for children, and by their...
Bonus Article, ATO payment arrangements
Circumstances will sometimes get in the way of your ability to pay a personal or business tax debt on time. If this is the case, it is vital to go on the front foot and put a payment arrangement in place with the ATO. For larger business debts, this is now more important than ever...
Insurance: Inside or outside super?
Most people insure their personal assets, such as their house, contents and car, but when it comes to personal insurance, many overlook the importance of protecting their wealth because personal insurance is often seen as unnecessary, a luxury and an additional cost to pay for. Unfortunately, we don’t know what’s around the corner but having...
Estate Planning Explained
Estate Planning means different things to different people. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that you have the right mechanisms in place to ensure that in the event of your death, your assets pass in the manner you intend. Broadly speaking, there are four key steps in the estate planning process: Firstly, identify which assets are...