Epoch News

The amount of money that can be transferred to a tax-free retirement account will increase to $2m on 1 July 2025. The transfer balance cap is the amount that can be transferred to a tax-free retirement account. Each December, the cap is indexed to the Consumer Price...

The Government has announced its intention to introduce mandatory standards for large superannuation funds to, amongst other things, deliver timely and compassionate handling of death benefits. Do we have a problem with paying out super when a member dies? The value...

"Succession planning, and the tax risks associated with it, is our number one focus in 2025. In recent years we've observed an increase in reorganisations that appear to be connected to succession planning."ATO Private Wealth Deputy Commissioner Louise Clarke The...

The Federal Court has denied a sports company's appeal to claim research & development incentives for the creation of an Australian signature basketball shoe. The Movie Air highlighted the importance of the signature Air Jordan shoe to Nike. While...

The last few years have been a rollercoaster ride of instability. 2025 holds hope, but not a guarantee, of greater stability and certainty. We explore some of the key changes and challenges. An election Welcome to political advertising slipping into your social media,...

Can you avoid giving the Australian Tax Office a gift this Christmas? The top Christmas party questions What can I do to make the staff Christmas party tax deductible or tax-free? Not have one? Ok, seriously, it's likely that you will pay tax one way or another; it's...

Australian voters tend to reject US-style education, favouring more egalitarian systems where income does not determine access. In the US, the average student debt is USD $37,693 (public and private debt), taking an average of 20 years for individuals to repay. But,...

The Fair Work Commission has determined that a Philippines-based "independent contractor" was an employee unfairly dismissed by her Australian employer.  Like us, you are probably curious how a foreign national living in the Philippines who had an 'independent...

The cost of living has eased over the past year, but consumers are still under pressure. For business, planning is the key to managing Christmas volatility. The countdown to Christmas is on, and we're in a headlong rush to maximise any opportunities before the...

Suppose you are aged 55 years or older. In that case, the downsizer contribution rules enable you to contribute up to $300,000 from the proceeds of the sale of your home to your superannuation fund (eligibility criteria apply). In 2023-24, over 57% of people making a...