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Draconian and retrospective CGT main residence exemption changes become a reality
NOTE: In this article, all section references are to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Background On 9 May 2017, as part of the 2017–18 Federal Budget, the Government announced that it would make changes to the CGT main residence exemption (MRE). On 23 October 2019,...
Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty (reintroduced) — Q&A
Background On 18 September 2019, the Government announced that it was reintroducing the one-off Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty (the Amnesty) that was originally announced on 24 May 2018. On the same day, the Government introduced the Treasury Laws...
The proposed Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty — reintroduced
On 18 September 2019, the Government introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Recovering Unpaid Superannuation) Bill 2019 (the Bill), which allows non-complying employers to self-correct any unpaid superannuation guarantee (SG) amounts dating back to...
The small business tax concessions
In May 2018, the Board of Taxation (the Board) commenced a review of the small business tax concessions (the Review). Dr Mark Pizzacalla, the Chair of the Review and a member of the Board, recently confirmed in a TaxBanter Tax Yak Podcast (episode...
Expats with student loans — ATO data matching
On 5 July 2019, the ATO published a Gazette Notice titled Notice of a Data Matching Program advising that the ATO will acquire overseas movement data from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for individuals with an existing Higher Education Loan...
‘Carry forward’ concessional contributions cap
Background The measure to allow individuals to carry forward their unused concessional contributions (‘CC’) cap from previous financial years to a later year (‘the carry forward rule’) was announced on 3 May 2016 as part of the Government’s Superannuation Reform...
Uber v Taxis
On Friday 5 July 2019, the Government’s key component of its election platform, the Personal Income Tax Plan, became law providing further personal tax cuts from 2019.
This article examines the hip pocket impact of the tax cuts on individual taxpayers at different income levels.
The new personal tax cuts
On Friday 5 July 2019, the Government’s key component of its election platform, the Personal Income Tax Plan, became law providing further personal tax cuts from 2019.
This article examines the hip pocket impact of the tax cuts on individual taxpayers at different income levels.
STP myth-busting
Starting to report through STP We are now at the pointy end of implementing STP reporting which has applied to substantial employers (20 or more employees as at 1 April 2018) since 1 July 2018 but has been expanded to include small employers (19 or...
The post-election landscape
 Background The Federal Election held on 18 May 2019 returned a Coalition Government with a majority in the House of Representatives (although counting continues in some seats). At the time of writing, one seat remains in doubt. Following the dissolving of...
New instant asset write-off
Background Small business entities (SBEs) may choose to apply the simplified depreciation provisions and calculate deductions for the decline in value of their depreciating assets under Subdiv 328-D of the ITAA 1997 instead of Div 40. This requires them to:...
It’s happening! Single Touch Payroll reporting for small employers
Background On 1 July 2018, STP reporting was introduced for substantial employers (20 or more employees as at 1 April 2018). Under STP reporting, an employer reports information on their salaries and wages, PAYG withholding and superannuation to the...
Single Touch Payroll: It’s happening! (Upcoming webinar)
Background On 1 July 2018, STP reporting was introduced for substantial employers (20 or more employees as at 1 April 2018). Under STP reporting, an employer reports information on their salaries and wages, PAYG withholding and superannuation to the ATO in...
Progress of bills pre-Budget
Accompanying podcast Note that our accompanying Tax Yak podcast episode 14 titled Parliamentary status of bills pre-Budget discusses all of these measures. Background As we move closer to a Federal Election (expected on either 11 or 18 May 2019), there are...
Labor’s tax and superannuation policies
Note: This blog article was edited on 17/04/19 to include recent developments. Timing of election This year, Australian voters will elect members of the 46th Parliament. According to s. 28 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, an election for...
MYEFO 2018–2019
On 17 December 2018, the Government released the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2018–19 (MYEFO). The MYEFO provides updated information on the Government’s fiscal position and includes policy decisions taken since the 2018–19 Federal Budget was handed...
2018 Year-end Parliamentary wrap-up
That's a wrap! Now that the Federal Parliament has risen for the summer break, this is an opportune time to take stock of the key outstanding tax and superannuation measures. According to the draft Parliamentary sittings for 2019, Parliament is scheduled to...
Ten-year plan for corporate tax cuts has now been fast tracked
On 25 October 2018, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Lower Taxes for Small and Medium Businesses) Act 2018 (the Act) received Royal Assent as Act No. 134 of 2018. The Act amends various taxation Acts to accelerate: the reduction of the corporate tax rate for corporate tax...
Some movement on Div 7A … at last!
Some movement on Div 7A … at last! On 22 October 2018, the Treasury released a consultation paper titled Targeted amendments to the Division 7A integrity rules. The paper sets out the Government’s proposed implementation of the amendments to improve the...
New annual registered agent authorisations for Single Touch Payroll
The Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting regime commenced on 1 July 2018 for ‘substantial employers’ (businesses with at least 20 employees). Since 1 July 2018, many registered tax and BAS agents have been assisting their clients by lodging STP...
Certainty at last for base rate entities … or not?
After a long period of uncertainty, and in the midst of the recent Liberal Party leadership spill, the Senate on 23 August 2018 unexpectedly passed without amendment the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan Base Rate Entities) Bill 2018 (‘the BRE...
The SG Amnesty: What should employers do?
There is much confusion among tax practitioners and their clients regarding the proposed Superannuation Guarantee (SG) Amnesty, which is intended to run for 12 months from 24 May 2018 to 23 May 2019. However, the SG Amnesty measures are not legislated yet...
The Superannuation Legislative Landscape
The Government’s Fair and Sustainable Superannuation Reforms have now been in place for over a year and the measures announced in this year's Federal Budget continue to make changes to the superannuation environment. It is with some challenge that we...
Tax Fundamentals: CGT Events
Pop quiz! … How many CGT events are there? Our Tax Fundamentals trainer, Lee-Ann Hayes asks this question often of her groups and enjoys the varying replies she gets back. She has heard everything from five to 200 CGT events. Occasionally, someone is...
The work-related expenses tax gap
On 12 July 2018, the ATO published the income tax gap for ‘individuals not in business’, comprising around 9.6 million individuals who are not in business and earn income from salary and wages and investments. The estimated net tax gap for these individuals...
Upcoming public session training
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