The ATO has reminded superannuation members that severe financial hardship does not meet the grounds for compassionate release. This reminder comes as the ATO continues to receive calls from people experiencing severe financial hardship or wanting to access their superannuation to assist with general expense. Background – severe financial hardship Access to superannuation for severe...

A recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision reminds us all that SMSF trustees (members) can be disqualified where serious breaches, be they advertent or inadvertent, of the super rules are committed. One of the ways the ATO deal with non-compliance is by disqualifying an individual as a trustee (or director of a corporate trustee) of a self-managed super...

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...

Following a recent cyber-attack, Optus customers are advised they could be at risk of identity theft. While Optus has not yet revealed how many of its 9.7million customers were impacted, they did confirm that the number was “significant”. Importantly, the breach has affected past Optus customers back to 2017, as well as current customers. Customers...

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...

All existing directors of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company, or a director of corporate trustees of an SMSF are required to apply for a director identification number (director ID) by 30 November 2022…so act now! If you are a director of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporation (CATSI), you have an...

Access our Wallace Partners Client Information Newsletter October 2022 below: Wallace Partners CIN October 2022

Do you run a business and have or are thinking about hiring workers? If so, it’s important to understand the difference between contractors and employees, as you have different tax and superannuation responsibilities depending on the status of the worker. What’s the difference between contractors and employees? Generally speaking, an employee works in your business...

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...

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...