Payday super: what could it mean for your small business?

Back in 2023, the Australian Government announced that from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ super at the same time as their salary and wages. ‘Payday super’ will move payment of super from the quarterly cycle that businesses are used to, and switch it to a process where employees’ super […]

What makes a business expense tax deductible?

You’re a business owner, so you’ll incur a fair number of business expenses over the course of your average week. Costs for client entertaining, petrol to put in your car and toner for the office printer to name just a few. But are any of these expenses deductible against your tax bill? The Australian Taxation […]

Luxury Car Tax Changes from 1 July 2025: What You Need to Know

Australia is set to roll out notable changes to the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) starting 1 July 2025. These updates are aimed at promoting environmentally friendly vehicle choices while simplifying the way LCT thresholds are adjusted annually. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing and what it means for car buyers and business owners. Key Updates […]

Truck driver entitled to claim meal expenses

In a recent decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal (‘ART’) upheld a truck driver’s claim for meal expenses, notwithstanding that those expenses had not been fully substantiated. The taxpayer was employed as a long-haul truck driver in Western Australia.  He was away from home for considerable periods each year. The taxpayer sought a deduction for meal […]

Increase to rate for working from home running expenses

PCG 2023/1 outlines the ATO’s new method (‘the fixed-rate method’) for calculating additional running expenses while working from home, which has applied from 1 July 2022. Editor: This  guideline was recently updated to increase the work from home fixed rate from 67 cents to 70 cents per hour from 1 July 2024. The fixed-rate method […]

Keeping not-for-profit records up to date

Taxpayers should remember that they are legally required to keep certain records for their not-for-profit (‘NFP’).  All organisations including NFPs are required to keep accurate and complete records of all transactions relating to their tax and superannuation affairs. Generally, for tax purposes, taxpayers must keep their records in an accessible form (either printed or electronic) […]

How to avoid common CGT errors

The ATO wants taxpayers to know that having a foreign resident capital gains withholding (‘FRCGW’) clearance certificate does not mean they do not have any further CGT obligations. If taxpayers have sold property, they still need to include capital gains, losses or an exemption or rollover code in their tax return. Editor: If an amount […]

Minimum pension drawdown reminder

An SMSF must pay a minimum amount each year to a member who is receiving an account-based pension. This minimum amount is calculated by applying the relevant percentage factor based on the member’s age by the member’s pension account balance calculated as of 1 July 2024, or on a pro-rata basis if the pension commenced […]

How to manage business day-to-day transactions

The ATO has the following tips for small business owners “that can make your tax life easier”: n   They should keep an eye on upcoming expenses, and regularly update their books and reconcile their accounts. n   They should set aside the GST they collect (e.g., by transferring it into another bank account within the business […]

General transfer balance cap will be indexed on 1 July 2025

Indexation of the general transfer balance cap (‘TBC’) will occur on 1 July 2025.  This cap will increase by $100,000 from $1.9 million to $2 million. Editor: The general TBC amount is used for a number of purposes, including to determine the total capital amount that can be transferred to the retirement (pension) phase, and […]