Category: Taxation
SMSFs and property development: Emerging risks
There has been an increase in the number of SMSFs entering into arrangements where real property is purchased and developed to subsequently be sold or rented out. Such investments can help the fund build up its wealth more quickly than other forms, and from a tax standpoint, any rent or eventual capital gain may enjoy...
On the road: How to treat work-related travel and living away from home costs
The ATO has released new guidance to help clarify the tax treatment of costs and allowances incurred when an employee travels – or spends time living away from home – for work. Certain conditions need to be met to ensure an allowance can be considered a travel allowance: None of the individual absences from the...
Bonus Article, Renting out part or all of your home
Generally, if you rent out part or all of your home, the rent money you receive is assessable. This means that you must declare your rental income in your income tax return, but you can also claim deductions for any associated expenses. However, be warned. If you rent put part of your home, such as...
Where do reward programs stand in regard to tax?
Many businesses and organisations offer their customers loyalty award-based incentive programs. They are designed to reward customers for purchasing or using a company’s goods and services (or sometimes affiliated businesses). The ATO deems that flight rewards received under consumer loyalty programs are generally not taxable. However, it also notes that FBT may apply where: the...
Trust distributions from a discretionary trust
The purpose of a trust is to separate the legal and beneficial ownership of assets. The legal ownership of the asset rests with the trustee. The beneficiaries benefit from the income that flows from the assets. A trust is not a legal entity. It is best described as a legal “relationship” that is controlled by...
Trust losses: Keeping them in the family
Who can (and can’t) be part a family group for the purpose of making a family trust election (FTE)? As you can see by the diagram (see Newsletter PDF), the ‘family group’ is dependent on the choice of the ‘test individual’. Once that person is chosen, the family group includes the person’s spouse, plus any...
Capital works deductions for rental property
Rental property investors can claim capital works deductions for construction costs for a rental property, however there are limits imposed in relation to the dates such works were completed. The deductions are only available on residential properties if these were built after 17 July 1985. Generally, up to 15 September 1987 the rate is 4%...
When the taxman sends a bill, not a refund
While most people look forward to receiving a tax refund once their return is processed by the ATO, it is also not unheard of to receive a tax bill on occasion. Most people who earn income as employees have tax payments made on their behalf throughout the year through pay-as-you-go (PAYG) withholding to help them...
Getting deductions for clothing and laundry expenses right
The ATO allows certain taxpayers to claim a deduction for the cost of buying and cleaning occupation-specific clothing, items of protective wear and for certain unique, and usually distinctive, uniforms. To claim a deduction it is generally expected that you will be able to provide evidence that you purchased the clothing concerned, and will have...
Avoid common mistakes in your business return, and include appropriate income
We know you want to get your tax right, so it may help you this tax time to know how to avoid making what the ATO has found are the most common tax mistakes. To do this make sure you have: declared all income, including cash and online sales, dividends, interest, capital gains or one-off...