Category: Taxation
COVID-19 instant asset write off and accelerated depreciation
While many of the COVID-19 stimulus changes such as the JobKeeper payment are grabbing headlines, it is easy to overlook the significance of the $150,000 instant asset write off provisions. The key changes for the instant asset write off include the following. Certain business entities can access an immediate deduction for the full cost of...
Alternative turnover test for JobKeeper released
An alternative decline in turnover test for the JobKeeper payment scheme has now been registered by the ATO. The ATO says the alternative tests will only kick in if an entity cannot satisfy the basic decline in turnover test. The instrument applies to provide alternative bases for a class of entities (more below) to satisfy...
Your business and the JobKeeper scheme
The ATO has been charged with running the JobKeeper Payment scheme, which is intended to support businesses that are financially affected by COVID-19 to help keep their staff employed. Employers will be required to pay their eligible employees a minimum of $1,500 a fortnight, before tax, to claim the JobKeeper payment. This is then paid...
Answers to COVID-19 work-from-home expense questions and CGT concerns
There are many questions being asked lately about claiming expenses when forced to work from home over the COVID-19 period – plus a lot of concern about any consequent capital gains issues when later selling a property from which people have been coerced to work from during this time. Capital gains First of all, the...
Employers get an amnesty for missed super payments – April 2020
It has been a long time coming, but a planned government amnesty for employers who have missed paying the superannuation guarantee (SG) to their employees has now become law. The amnesty was passed on 6 March 2020, and lasts until 7 September 2020. The amnesty allows employers to make deductible payments, without penalties, of outstanding...
e-bikes, FBT, and salary sacrificing – April 2020
Entering into a remuneration package to secure a vehicle through a salary sacrifice arrangement is a popular option offered to employees. However the ATO has issued a ruling on another particular set of wheels that opens up both a tax and health incentive. ATO guidance covering the use of an electric bicycle (e-bike*) by an...
More banking royal commission reforms become law – March 2020 Bonus Article
Legal changes just passed by Parliament require mortgage brokers to act in the best interests of consumers when providing consumer credit assistance or face much stronger penalties. These changes also reform mortgage broker remuneration by requiring the value of upfront commissions to be linked to the amount drawn down by borrowers instead of the loan...
GST obligations now come under the director penalty regime – March 2020 Bonus Article
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Bill 2019 received assent on 17 February 2020. The legislation includes a range of measures targeting illegal phoenixing including penalties for directors related to GST liabilities (making directors personally liable for unpaid GST if the unpaid liability is not paid within 21 days of a director penalty notice...
Selling taxable Australian property? You may need a clearance certificate from the ATO – March 2020
If an Australian resident is considering selling property, they should apply for an ATO clearance certificate. If a property vendor does not apply for a clearance certificate and present it to the purchaser, the purchaser is required to withhold 12.5% of the purchase price for CGT purposes on properties that have a market value of...
Damage or destruction of a rental property – March 2020
What happens if your property is damaged from the results of a natural disaster, or by tenants? Such a situation can affect the types of expenses you claim and the income you need to declare for your rental property. Declaring income If you receive a payout for damage to your rental property as a result...