The Long Ride is more than 500kms and many days on the back of a motorcycle travelling with groups of other riders across the Australian countryside.
Why? It’s all in the name of raising much needed awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer. And, of course, doing something different, adventurous and fulfilling with your life.
Cloud computing has become a $100+ billion industry across the globe. For users it is easy to access and easy to use because for users on a desktop computer or handheld device, the cloud provides instant access to data anytime, anywhere there is an Internet connection.
So…you are thinking about getting into the property investment market, but you haven’t quite worked out what the strategy is. Everyone else is doing it so maybe I should. There are a lot of people that spruik rental property purchases but they focus heavily on the tax benefits. Is that a good reason to buy or is there something else? What does negative gearing mean and why has there been so much talk in the media about it.
LMP's own Jon Moller is trying to make a difference and support JDRF Australia - a cause he is very passionate about.
If you work in a particular trade that involves manual labour then you are undoubtedly a tradie…or trades person.
Any financial outlay that you have in order to be able to carry out your job is classed as an expense. Tradies have many costs in doing their business, including transport, tools and safety or particular types of clothing.
Given recent ups and downs in the share market, Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF's) have become a hot topic once again. SMSFs allow you to control your Super input and investments more than an Industry Super Fund would. However, it's important to know a little bit more about them before you decide to take the leap.
There has been a lot of discussion about China lately – Free Trade Agreements, financial stability and growth and the impact on the Australian economy, and Chinese investment in Australia. With the help of our international contacts, we explore the impact of China on Australia and give some context to the debate.
Many business owners don’t realise that the business has outgrown its structure until something comes up – and this something is usually something negative.
Your SMSF’s trust deed is its rulebook. If the deed does not allow or recognise something then the trustees can’t do it. Despite this, a lot of trustees are unaware of what their trust deed says – it was just something that was required when the fund was established. The problem with any document is that unless you amend it, it is only current for the circumstances that existed at that time. However, the law changes regularly and so do individual circumstances.
This month, we shortcut the review process and highlight the key SMSF trust deed problem areas.
The thought of the Australian Tax Office (ATO) sharing up to 50% of any gain you make on an investment decision is enough to strike fear into the hearts of most people. Given Australia’s love affair with property, it is little wonder that we are often asked about the impact of capital gains tax (CGT) on property. This month, we explore the most frequently asked questions.
Who doesn’t like a tax cut when they personally benefit from it? In a recent speech, the Treasurer said that personal tax cuts were required to prevent ‘bracket creep’ – that’s jargon for what happens when the tax rate thresholds don’t keep pace with inflation and more people are pushed into a higher tax bracket (they get taxed more and potentially lose access to benefits but are economically standing still).
One of the most common questions from clients with a Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) is, can I buy property? Followed by the second question, can I buy property in the United States?
SMSFs provide investment flexibility for those that understand the rules. They can also be a significant liability if you get it wrong.
Fifteen years after the introduction of the GST in Australia debate still rages over what should be taxed and whether the GST rate should increase.
Unless the Government changes the GST Act, any change requires the approval of the States and Territories. The Treasurers’ workshop late last month resolved to keep the GST rate at 10% but enable a series of other changes. We look at the key areas of change:
If you are not an Australian resident for tax purposes, you are excluded from many of the tax breaks available to residents and an increasing target of the Australian Taxation Office. We explore the widening gap between residents and non-residents.
In a recent speech, Small Business Minister Bruce Bilson stated that a lot of his time talking about the $20,000 immediate deduction for small business was convincing people it was not a hand out.
“I have spent a lot of my time explaining that asset write-off mechanisms aren’t grants, they are not gifts, they are not cash backs. They are a way of expensing a purchase in an asset that can contribute to a functioning business. Now, if you are not making any income there is not a huge benefit in you being able to write-off additional expenses at a faster rate.”
Every tax time is an opportunity for scammers to target the unwary.
This time around, the scammers are phoning and claiming to be from the prosecutions department of the ATO. They then state that they believe you have committed fraud and the Sheriff’s Office has been called. You can of course make this all go away by transferring cash using the details they provide or by giving your details to them. All of it is fake.
There has been a lot of negative conversation about negative gearing lately. But, if you are currently negative gearing your investment property, should you be concerned?
Negative gearing is when you claim more in deductions than you earn for an income producing asset that you have purchased using debt. It is not limited to property, you can for example negatively gear shares, but property is the dominant negatively geared asset claimed by Australians.
So, your business has a turnover under $2 million and you want to know how to use the $20,000 immediate tax deduction that’s been all over the news?
Before you start spending, there are a few things you need to know.
* announced change not yet law.
“This information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, you should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness, having regard to your objectives, financial situation or needs”.
