Top cyber security tips for business It is important you keep all your business and client information secure. If your data is lost or compromised, it can be very difficult or very costly to recover. The ATO has developed these tips in consultation with the Cyber Security Working Group (CSWG), a group of tax practitioner industry [...]
Would you buy a house with friends or relatives? It’s not uncommon for friends and relatives to band together to capitalise on the investment property market. But what happens when it all goes wrong? The Housing Industry Association shows that it now takes 2.04 average full time salaries to comfortably service a standard mortgage on [...]
Is A Contractor Really An Employee? There are so many myths about when a contractor really is an employee? Not understanding the differences could leave you in a lot of trouble with the ATO. Here’s a short video explaining more. There are a number of key determinants as to whether an employee is [...]
Christmas Party Fails Christmas….that time of year when the festivities not only bring joy but excessive expenses, potential harassment claims, and other employer headaches. As Phyllis Diller once said, “What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” This month, we explore the top Christmas problem areas: Getting [...]
Parental leave. Where are we up to? How did paid parental leave get to be so contentious? The current debate is not about parental leave in general; the entitlement to 12 months with a potential for 24 months of unpaid leave with your job guaranteed (or an equivalent position) remains. It’s about who pays for [...]
What's involved in selling your business? Selling your business can be a stressful time and unless you’ve done it before, it’s hard to know what to expect or what’s required to get the right result. We’ve put together the top issues for business owners or investors to maximise their results. Understand what you are selling [...]
Making sense of the super reforms If you are waiting for the superannuation reforms announced in the Budget to pass Parliament before working out what they mean to you, you might miss out on any opportunities available. When enacted, the reforms will represent the single biggest change to superannuation since its inception. While there has [...]
How does the ATO treat Uber and Airbnb style services? What you need to know. Uber is calling for drivers, Airbnb is seeking more hosts but what are the implications of becoming part of the sharing economy? The basics of tax apply regardless of how you earn money. That is, even though you may be [...]
Changes to the Age Pension rules – will you be affected? From 1 January 2017 Government changes to the Age Pension are likely to reduce pensioner entitlements. It’s important that you understand how the changes could affect you. Increase in the Assets Test threshold The Assets Test threshold is the amount of assets pensioners can [...]
Crowdfunding - is it worth it? We’ve all seen the success stories of an innovator with a great idea who, supported by crowdfunding, was able to launch a successful and high growth business. But what happens to the money? There are several types of crowdfunding: Donation based - funding a cause without the fundraiser providing [...]
