With much controversial discussion surrounding the First Home Super Saver Scheme, understanding exactly what the Scheme entails is necessary. The scheme was announced in the 2017-18 Federal Budget as a means to reduce the pressure surrounding housing affordability across Australia. The formalities of the scheme are as follows: As of 1 July 2017, individuals can…
This year, the Australian Taxation Office has placed a greater focus on property developers and are particularly watching company directors with a history of GST obligations avoidance. As of May 2017, the Government announced new requirements on those purchasing newly constructed residential properties or new subdivisions to remit the GST directly to the ATO as…
Many Australians opt for a self-managed super fund but fail to understand how to truly make it perform optimally. If you have an SMSF and are serious about maximising your returns, consider the following: Risk Without taking risks, you won’t be able to experience great profit. However, there you still need to be cautious of…
The Government has announced a reform of the Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to strengthen governance arrangements, reduce administrative complexity and ensure trust and confidence in the sector. The reforms are as follows: From 1 July 2019, non-government DGR’s must be registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Non-for-profits Commission. Non-government DGR’s that…
The superannuation transfer balance caps have been problematic for SMSF members who don’t take careful consideration when succession planning. Failure to understand the impact of these transfer balance cap changes can have on your finances may force you to transfer large amounts of money out of your super. The transfer balance cap of $1.6 million…
With the FBT year-end just around the corner, it is a good time to review your FBT compliance to avoid raising attention from the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The ATO is currently targeting the following rules for FBT: Motor vehicles Situations where an employer-provided motor vehicle is used or available for private travel for staff.…
Opting for a self-managed super fund (SMSF) can be a clever financial decision, but it’s not for everyone. If you aren’t prepared to adhere to the following tips, your SMSF will most likely fail to perform as well as you would of hoped it to. Stay informedYou can’t expect your SMSF balance to be the…
It is quite common for small businesses to provide their staff with car parking benefits, however, many business owners may not take into account the effect parking has for fringe benefits tax (FBT) purposes. Fortunately, if you are a small business, car parking benefits are exempt if you meet all of the following conditions: –…
Superannuation funds in Australia have delivered a return of 10.5 per cent for 2017 – the first double-digit growth since 2013. According to recent findings, there was a 1.3 per cent rise in November 2017 and 0.6 per cent rise in December 2017 alone. The new figures mark the sixth consecutive year of positive returns…
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is targeting privately owned and wealthy groups that display specific behaviours and characteristics in relation to their tax affairs and lifestyle. A large focus is currently on lifestyle assets and private pursuits that generate deductions or are mischaracterised as business activities. The ATO is also looking at those assets and…