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As the FBT year runs from 1 April to 31 March, the months of October to December mark the “third quarter” of the FBT year, and so, as an early fix before year’s end, here is an overview of the FBT elements that can attract the ATO’s attention. This can be a timely period for…

Not so many years ago, the concept of raising funds via crowdfunding would more likely be seen as a way to fund community-based, local-issue or help your neighbor initiatives. But increasingly these days crowdfunding is viewed as a viable source of seed capital, and is no longer regarded as the shy little sister of venture capitalism.…

There have been cases where people believe the idle talk about being able to coerce a better tax outcome simply by applying for a private ruling from the ATO. But there are some sober facts that you may need to keep in mind if you have thought of it yourself. Any taxpayer can apply for…

Say for example that we have already lodged your 2017-18 tax return and forwarded your notice of assessment to you saying that everything is as discussed, but you then realise that something has been left out of your return, or you accidentally included an extra deduction or doubled one up. There’s no need to panic…

Lodgment rates and thresholds guide 2018-19 To save you having to laboriously search for the right tax rate or relevant threshold, the essential information is right here in one place. This guide includes tax rates, offset limits and benchmarks, rebate levels, allowances, and essential super as well as FBT rates and thresholds (including current gross-up…

The value of a good education is widely accepted, and it is a common experience over one’s working lifetime to find that further learning is required along the path of one’s chosen career. Changing technology and evolving workplaces means that at some stage in every taxpayer’s life, an educational re-boot could become necessary — as…

If you or anyone you know are earning income at lower or middle income levels, there’s a new tax offset that has been available since July 1 that was originally announced in the 2018 federal budget last May. But no-one will see any benefit from the new Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) until…

It is highly recommended that you keep receipts for all expenses and possible tax deductions you are considering claiming for you or your business. It is also a good idea to scan and file them electronically so that they are accessible should you need them for audit purposes. If you haven’t used it already, note…

As a general guideline, the ATO will allow a deduction for certain insurance premiums if it can be shown that the insurance cover relates to earning assessable income. In other words, life insurance, trauma insurance or critical care insurance are generally out. Income protection insurance is one example of the kind of cover that may…

It is sometimes said that a superhero like the DC Comics character Superman can be uninteresting because he is, for all practical purposes, indestructible. Critics have said the knowledge that he will most likely win can make Superman’s adventures monotonous. A similar accusation could be levelled at the Federal Commissioner of Taxation (the flesh and…