Scammers impersonate ATO phone numbers The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is warning about the continuation of unprecedented numbers of pre-recorded phone calls experienced last year which impersonate legitimate tax office phone numbers. Assistant Commissioner Gavin Siebert said that scammers have adopted ‘Robocall’ technology to target taxpayers across the country. “Scammers are sending pre-recorded messages in…
Tax Office to double audits of dodgy rental deductions Rental property owners are being warned to ensure their claims are correct this tax time, as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announces it will double the number of audits scrutinising rental deductions. In the 2017–18 financial year, more than 2.2 million Australians claimed over $47 billion in deductions.…
Expenses you can claim You can claim a deduction for your related expenses for the period your property is rented or is available for rent. management and maintenance costs, including interest on loans, can generally be claimed immediately (that is, deducted against your current year’s income). borrowing expenses, depreciation and capital works spending can be deducted…
Single Touch Payroll will change the way you report your tax and super Single Touch Payroll (STP) is a new way for employers to report tax and super information to the ATO. It starts from 1 July 2019 for employers with 19 or less employees. You’ll report the following information through an STP ready solution…
Budget 2019-20 Highlights & Key Points This is a Budget not only designed to showcase the return to surplus (and by default the Government’s economic credentials) but engage voters with initiatives to make them feel like they are more prosperous. A massive infrastructure spend adds to this sentiment and the Government has stated that it…
Other Budget considerations $3.9bn Disaster response funding Australia has seen its fair share of catastrophic disasters this year. In response, the Government has announced the creation of a $3.9bn Emergency Response Fund. The Fund will provide $150m per annum from 2019-20 to 202-24 following a significant and catastrophic natural disaster. This funding is applied where…
Compliance $1bn ATO ‘sugar hit’ to tackle large corporates and high net wealth individuals Date of effect From 2019-20 The Government will provide $1bn over four years from 2019-20, including $6.5 million in capital funding, to the ATO to extend the operation of the Tax Avoidance Taskforce and to expand the Taskforce’s programs and…
Business Instant asset write-off increased to $30k and expanded to businesses under $50m Date of effect 7:30pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 to 30 June 2020 The threshold for the popular $20,000 instant asset write-off will increase to $30,000* from Budget night until 30 June 2020 when it will potentially return to its original…
Superannuation Superannuation ‘work test’ watered down & age limit for spouse contributions increased Date of effect 1 July 2020 As previously announced, from 1 July 2020, Australians aged 65 and 66 will be able to make voluntary superannuation contributions (concessional $25,000 p.a. and non-concessional $100,000 p.a.) without meeting the Work Test. Currently, voluntary contributions…
Individuals Personal income tax cuts As anticipated, the Budget celebrated the surplus with a $19.5bn package of personal income tax cuts for Australian residents. This package revises the legislated seven year income tax plan. The personal tax changes mean a tax saving of $855 for someone on an annual taxable income of $45,000 per annum…