Category: Taxation
Investing: Growth versus income
Every investor goes in with dreams of a pot of gold, but there is a fundamental difference between investor types – one looks to line their pockets with investment returns along the way, and the other has the patience to wait until the end of the rainbow to reap the rewards. The distinction between investing...
Starting out in small business? You may be able to use simpler trading stock rules
If you are operating a small business and at the end of the income year you estimate that your trading stock’s value has not changed by more than $5,000, remember (especially if you are new to business) that you can choose not to conduct a formal stocktake. By making a decision to do this, you...
Is your business prepared for Single Touch Payroll?
Single Touch Payroll is a government initiative to streamline business reporting obligations, which is due to become compulsory from 1 July 2018. When a business pays its employees, the payroll information will be sent to the ATO via the business’s payroll software. Reporting under the Single Touch Payroll (STP) system removes the requirement to issue...
Third party FBT danger – what to look for
Where some businesses have tripped up in the past is where the source of benefits provided is not clear cut — that is, where non-cash components of remuneration are sourced not directly from an employer, but from an associate, a related company or from a third-party provider. For fringe benefits tax (FBT) to apply, the...
Bonus Article, Having fun AND making money. But is it a business or a hobby?
It may seem fairly obvious whether a person is in business or not, but the distinction can be important for other reasons. Your client may be having fun AND making money. But is it a business or a hobby? For example, if you are not carrying on a business, the option to deduct losses from...
ATO spells out its big FBT concerns
March 31 and the end of the FBT year is around the corner, so to help taxpayers get things right, the ATO has made public the fringe benefits tax issues that attract its attention. Broadly (not just in relation to FBT), the ATO says the following behaviours and characteristics tend to raise a red flag:...
Can an SMSF invest in property development?
The ATO has been sending some mixed messages about property development involving an SMSF, and has indicated that it is one of the issues on its radar for 2018. So is property development an allowable investment for an SMSF? The short answer yes, but be careful. A longer answer is be very careful — it...
Expanding the empire (and retaining the CGT main residence exemption)
A question that surfaces now and then in regard to capital gains is whether the main residence exemption extends to additional land acquired after the time of acquisition of the residence. The short answer is yes — provided that certain requirements are met. It should also be noted that where the exemption applies upon satisfaction...
When refinancing, loan interest can be deductible to a partnership
A general law partnership is formed when two or more people (and up to, but no more than, 20 people) go into business together. Partnerships are generally set up so that all partners are equally responsible for the management of the business, but each also has liability for the debts that business may incur. Partnership deduction...
Rental property owners lose some deductions
Legislation that came into law in the last half of 2017 makes certain measures first announced with the 2017 Federal Budget now a reality. The “housing tax integrity” bill solidifies the government’s intention to deny all travel deductions relating to inspecting, maintaining, or collecting rent for a residential investment property. As well, second-hand plant and...