Epoch News

From 1 July 2019, new laws prevent superannuation providers from eroding member balances with unwanted or unnecessary insurance and exit fees. Plus, inactive accounts with low balances will be moved to the ATO to try and unite the unclaimed super with its owner. These...

The ATO has provided a concession from single touch payroll for payments by small employers to closely held payees, Single touch payroll (STP) was extended to cover all employers on 1 July 2019. For directors of their own company or for family businesses employing...

Tip-offs to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have reached an all-time high with close to 60,000 tip-offs received between June and May 2019 – almost double the number of the previous year. The ATO thinks the number of tip-offs will reach around 70,000 for the full...

The Tax Office is actively targeting geographic areas for special visits as part of a nationwide crackdown on the black economy. This financial year, the ATO has visited 22 regions with another four in progress. Next financial year they plan on visiting over 10,000...

A consistent theme this tax time is overclaiming and under reporting. With the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) getting more and more sophisticated in its data matching approaches, taxpayers can expect greater scrutiny where their claims are more than what is...

In the 2017-18 financial year, more than 2.2 million Australians claimed over $47 billon in deductions and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) thinks that is too much - one in ten is estimated to contain errors.  4,500 audits of rental property deductions will be...

Tax on investment property  In general, taxpayers are able to deduct from their assessible income any expenses they incur generating or producing that income. An investment is negatively geared when the cost of owning the asset is more than the return. Negative...

Tax on investment property  In general, taxpayers are able to deduct from their assessible income any expenses they incur generating or producing that income. An investment is negatively geared when the cost of owning the asset is more than the return. Negative...

The Federal Budget announced a series of measures, some of which were legislated before the election was called. Extension and increase to the instant asset write-off The popular instant asset write-off for small business has been extended and increased. The new laws:...

Superannuation ‘work test’ watered down & age limit for spouse contributions increased Date of effect 1 July 2020  As previously announced, from 1 July 2020, Australians aged 65 and 66 will be able to make voluntary superannuation contributions (concessional and...