New ATO Guidance: Contractor or Employee
Just because an agreement states that a worker is an independent contractor, this does not mean that they are a contractor for tax and superannuation purposes, new guidance from the ATO warns. Where there is…
Federal Budget Overview: 2023-24
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his first Federal Budget on Tuesday night. The ‘ace in the hole’ of the 2023-24 Federal Budget was the $4.2bn surplus; the first in 15 years. The surplus was…
Working from Home: What’s the Deal?
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its approach to how you claim expenses for working from home. The ATO has ‘refreshed’ the way you can claim deductions for the costs you incur when you…
ATO: Final Position on Risky Trust Distributions
The ATO has released its final position on how it will apply some integrity rules dealing with trust distributions - changing the goal posts for trusts distributing to adult children, corporate beneficiaries and entities with…
Is downsizing really worthwhile?
From 1 January 2023, those 55 and over can make a ‘downsizer’ contribution to superannuation. Downsizer contributions are an excellent way to get money into superannuation quickly. And now that the age limit has reduced…
Stage 3 Tax Cuts
In September, amid a climate of startling interest rates, UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a series of tax cuts, including the reduction of the top personal income tax rate that applies to those earning more…
Tax & Your Home
Everyone knows you don’t pay tax on your family home when you sell it…right? We take a closer look at the main residence exemption that excludes your home from capital gains tax and the triggers…
ATO Flags 4 Priority Targets
The ATO has flagged four priority areas this tax season where people are making mistakes. With tax season almost upon us the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed its four areas of focus this tax…
What to expect from the new Government
Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister and a Government formed. We look at what we know so far about the policies of the new Government in an environment with plenty of…
ATO ramps up heat on directors
Over the last few months the ATO sent letters to directors who are potentially in breach of their obligations to ensure that the company they represent has met its PAYG withholding, superannuation guarantee charge or…
