Anecdotal evidence in the aftermath of the Trio/Astarra scam, where hundreds of Australians were devastated by the loss of their retirement savings when they deposited them into Trio Capital, suggests more self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) trustees may be considering converting into small APRA funds (SAFs). This may be for a number of reasons including more...

Among the thousands of Australians who head offshore each year to expand their horizons, a lucky few will fund their adventure by working overseas. Many will also take or be given the option to up-stumps and move to a foreign country to live and work for an extended period. But there is often confusion about...

In an effort to boost the spirit of innovation in Australian businesses, the government’s Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive offers businesses a way to get back some of their R&D spend. Broad-based without being industry-specific, businesses can use the tax offset to influence on the scope and timing of their R&D expenditure levels. The...

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card can give self-funded retirees who do not qualify for a government Age Pension the entitlements that others receive from the Pensioner Concession Card (like pharmaceutical benefits, help with utilities bills and transport discounts). Many self-funded retirees can maintain their assets and continue to make quality investments rather than work...

Unsure of what may cause the Tax Office’s spider senses to tingle? Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can unravel the mysteries of the Tax Office’s compliance regime now that it has released detailed information that confirms what they should and should not do. The Tax Office’s attention may be drawn to your business if there...

There’s no doubt that the internet can be a crucial tool for small business, and many businesses are essentially just ‘online’ enterprises (no web, no business). But no website is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ proposition, as the purpose behind having an online presence varies greatly depending on the business involved. Is it just for promotions and marketing,...

The government’s newly legislated Dad and Partner Pay provides fathers – including adopting parents and parents in same-sex couples – with two weeks paid paternity leave at the pre-tax rate of $606-a-week minimum wage. Effective from January 1, 2013, the payment is an extension to the Paid Parental Leave scheme that began on January 1,...

Individuals and self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) trustees alike are embroiled in a race to finish their annual returns, but for the latter the race is one that is more difficult and involved. As we explained in our last edition, SMSFs have to appoint an ‘approved auditor’ at least 30 days before the due date of...

As of August 7, SMSF trustees have to adhere to a raft of new measures which are intended to address potential risks and strengthen the SMSF regulatory framework. These measures mean SMSF trustees are: •    required to conduct a review of the fund’s investment strategy on a regular basis •    required to consider insurance for...

The Tax Office’s business performance benchmarks provide a snapshot of an average business by providing a measure of costs and income (expressed as a range) that the Tax Office would normally expect a business to report when operating in a particular industry. So far, benchmarks have been developed for small businesses in more than 100...