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Housework & tax deductions

Today let’s talk about housework – working from the house that is, not cleaning the house!

Working from home has never been easier or more convenient – super fast broadband (for some!); reliable technology and long commutes mean that for many employees, it’s an attractive option. And with the rise of the gig economy and many choosing to go solo with the benefits of being your own boss, it’s super important to maximise your home office expenses and not fall on the wrong side of our friends at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Today, we will aim to do all that and leave you with more time to relax (who cares about the housework!). Continue reading “Housework & tax deductions”

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FBT FAQs

It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time in Australia when a boozy business lunch, an employer provided car and a free trip to the Grand Prix were common ways of doing business. Some might accuse the Tax Office of being fun police, but as 31 March draws closer, I thought it would be a good time to remind every one about fringe benefits tax (FBT). Nowadays, I think we all know that employers can’t give you benefits that aren’t taxed. But how does FBT work? What’s included? And does FBT mean that there’s no point to employers giving their staff non-salary perks? In this first post, I’m going to try and answer some of the common FBT FAQs. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll look at some of the more common benefits in depth. Continue reading “FBT FAQs”

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How to maximise your tax refund…. without panicking about an audit!

According to recent press releases from the Tax Office, there will be more than 1 million Australian taxpayers being contacted about their 2017/18 tax returns…. and you’re not alone if the thought of a call from the Tax Office makes you a little nervous! The latest estimate suggests that errors and fudging in tax returns costs the Government $8.7 billion per year. Continue reading “How to maximise your tax refund…. without panicking about an audit!”