It’s tax time…..and we all know what that means! Yes, it’s time to get the shoebox out, sort the receipts and get organised for your dreaded tax return.
But the start of a new financial year also tends to bring another issue altogether….scammers who are keen to cash in on peoples confusion and lack of time when it comes to filing their return.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has given small businesses some breathing space by extending the deadline for compliance with the new SuperSteam to October 28 this year.
On 13 May 2013 the Federal government announced that it would introduce a 10% withholding tax on payments made to foreign residents who dispose of certain taxable Australian property. Do you know what this means and does it affect you?
Please be aware that if you have created a MyGov account and linked it to MyTax, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has advised that any assessments or other important information will be delivered to your MyGov inbox and not directly to us as it has been in the past.
SuperStream is a new initiative introduced by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) designed to standardise processing of superannuation data and payments electronically, allowing the process of employers paying superannuation entitlements to employees more streamlined.
In March we wrote about our friend and client Leigh Gesthuizen who was embarking on The Long Ride - a ride of more than 500kms raising much needed awareness and funds for the fight against Prostate Cancer. LMP are proud to support Leigh on this epic journey.
In this blog Leigh shares with us his experiences.
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.
