Do you operate your business via a family trust? The ATO released its final guidance material on the application of section 100A on 8 December 2022 – TR 2022/4 and PCG 2022/2. In doing so, it has clarified a number of issues which is welcome. To recap, the ATO in February 2022 updated its guidance...

The eligibility age for downsizer contributions reduced from 60 to 55 years from 1 January 2023. This means if you are age 55 or older, you could invest the proceeds of the sale of your family home to your superannuation outside of your standard contribution caps. Downsizer contributions From 1 January 2023, if you’re aged...

The ATO has released its new year resolutions…and there is not a gym in sight! According to the ATO the five new year’s resolutions to keep if you want to stay on top of your tax and super in 2023 are: Know if you’re in business or not Are you earning an increasing income from a...

Electric vehicles are set to become more affordable for both households and businesses after the government sealed a deal with crossbench Senators on legislation to exempt low and zero emission cars from fringe benefits tax (FBT). The new law introduces an electric car discount in the form of an FBT exemption. This allows for car...

The ATO has issued new draft guidelines around a new method (the revised fixed rate method) of calculating work-from-home running expenses from 1 July 2022 (as an alternative to calculating the actual work-related portion of all running expenses). The new revised fixed rate method will replace both: the 52 cents fixed-rate method set out in...

Christmas is traditionally a time of giving, including employers showing gratitude to their workers for a job well done throughout the year. However, depending on the nature and value of the gift, and also who it is gifted to, such magnanimity can attract unwanted tax consequences. So how as an employer do you gift most...

Whether your superannuation impacts your Age Pension depends on a number of factors, such as your age and your level of assets and income. Age pension age In order to qualify for Age Pension payments, you must have reached age pension age. Your age Pension age is determined by when you were born, as follows:...

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 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...

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...