Tax savings for the taking! It’s that time of year when we all look at what last minute things we can do to maximise tax savings. In the wise words of the late Kerry Packer to a Senate estimates committee, “Of course I am minimising my tax. And if anybody in this country doesn’t minimise [...]

Question of the month: Company loan to pay down the mortgage A friend’s accountant suggested that they could reduce interest on non-deductible debt by using company cash to offset their personal mortgage, then transferring the cash back by 30 June. Is this an acceptable strategy? This might initially sound like a brilliant strategy but what [...]

‘OnlyFans’ tax risk warning   The explosion of OnlyFans, YouTubers, TikTokers and others all offer an opportunity for ‘content creators’ to profit from the audiences they generate. But now the Tax Office has given notice to the booming industry. Back in October 2022, OnlyFans CEO Ami Gan announced that the platform had reached a milestone [...]

How does tax apply to electric cars? Just in time for the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year that started on 1 April, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has released new details on electric vehicles. The FBT exemption for electric cars If your employer provides you with the use of a car that is classified as [...]

Selling a business? The pros and cons of earn-out clauses Earn-out clauses for the sale of a business are increasingly common. We look at the positives and negatives that every business owner should consider. Business transactions often include earn-out clauses where the vendors ‘earn’ part of the purchase price based on the performance of the [...]

$20k small business energy incentive In a pre-Budget announcement, the Government has committed to a Small Business Energy Incentive Scheme that offers a bonus tax deduction of up to $20,000. The Small Business Energy Incentive encourages small and medium businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $50 million to invest in spending that supports [...]

Update: Tax on super balances above $3m In a very quick turnaround from announcement to draft legislation, Treasury has released the exposure draft legislation for consultation to enact the Government’s intention to impose a 30% tax on future superannuation fund earnings where the member’s total superannuation balance is above $3m. The draft legislation confirms the [...]

Company money: A guide for owners When you start up a business, inevitably, it consumes not just a lot of time but a lot of cash and much of this is money you have already paid tax on. So, it only seems fair that when the business is up and running the business can pay [...]

What sharing platforms are sharing with the ATO From 1 July 2023, a new reporting regime will require platforms that enable taxi services including ride sourcing, and short-term accommodation to report their transactions to the ATO each year. From 1 July 2024, the regime will expand to include all other platforms. While the legislative instrument [...]

What will the ATO be asking about your holiday home? Taxpayers claiming deductions on holiday homes are in the ATO’s sights. The ATO is more than a little concerned that people with holiday homes are claiming more deductions than they should and have published the starting questions they will be asking to scrutinise claims: How [...]