From 1 July this year, new provisions apply to allow certain small businesses, or an entity that is not in business, to immediately claim some start-up costs, including business costs associated with raising capital. Claimable business-related start-up costs Expenses can be fully deductible in the year in which they are incurred if the expenditure relates…
Most small business owners will know that cash flow can make or break your enterprise — even a solid bank of existing clients and lots of future work in the pipeline mean little if invoices are not paid and there is no cash coming in. A recent report commissioned by PayPal and Intuit shows that…
Salary packaging is one way for an organisation to increase the take-home pay of its employees — and if done correctly, at no extra cost. Basically, an employee agrees with their employer to forego part of their future salary or wages in return for the employer providing benefits of a similar value. By paying for…
Parliament has passed legislation which will implement a 2015 Budget measure to reduce the company tax rate from 30% to 28.5% for companies that are small business entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $2 million. The company tax rate for corporate unit trusts and public trading trusts that are small business entities will…
In relation to 2014/15 individual income tax returns to be lodged this year, the ATO says it will be focusing on: – Unusually high work-related expense claims across all industries and occupations; – Expenses claimed that have already been reimbursed by employers; and – Claims for private expenses such as travel from home to work.…
The ATO, supported by NSW and Federal Police, has made surprise visits to over a dozen sites across Sydney as part of an investigation into potentially fraudulent phoenix activity. Recent figures show that phoenix activity costs the Australian economy up to $3.2 billion each year. Honest businesses suffer the most, losing almost $2 billion in…
Common examples of some sharing economy services include: Renting out or letting a room or other property for accommodation; Renting out or letting car parking space; Providing odd jobs, errands, deliveries or more skilled services on an ad hoc basis; and Using a car to transport members of the public for a fare. The ATO…
Where an individual is using part of their home as a place of business, this will affect the application of the CGT main residence exemption when the home is eventually sold. That is, the main residence exemption is effectively reduced (i.e., only a partial exemption applies). However, if that taxpayer does not have an ownership…
SMALL BUSINESS Small business tax rate cut to 28.5%; tax discount for unincorporated small businesses Small business asset accelerated depreciation write-off up to $20,000 per year Two company tax rates – some implications to consider Immediate deductibility for professional expenses re start-ups CGT roll-over relief for change to entity structure No FBT on work-related electronic…
Editor: The ATO has set up a new page on its website called “Building confidence”, which talks about its current compliance activities, and the amounts of tax and penalties it has collected in 2014 from its various initiatives. Some of the areas that the ATO has stated it will be focusing on are: Work-related expenses:…