The following are the latest articles and news from the team at Judge Accountants.
As we approach the Christmas period, it is common for many Australian SMEs to provide Christmas parties and gifts to employees and clients, but many businesses make the mistake of thinking these costs are automatically tax-deductible. Christmas parties A Christmas party is considered ‘entertainment’ and in many cases is subject to fringe benefits tax (FBT). … Continued
A recent report by Rice Warner comprehensively evaluates the comparative costs of running a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) versus an Australian Prudential Regulation Authority fund (APRA). Firstly, let’s take a look at what each fund is and how they’re set up. A self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) is a type of private super fund (a trust) … Continued
The NSW Government has recently announced that women in New South Wales who have found themselves unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be offered back-to-work grants of up to $5,000. The $10 million Return to Work Program is a NSW Government initiative, designed to provide tailored support to women who would like to re-enter … Continued
As anticipated the Government has delivered a budget with measures aimed at reviving the economy and creating jobs. In a budget that is encouraging spending on many levels, there are loads of tax-related measures for business, as well as several positives for individuals. We wanted to give you a summary of all the measures that … Continued
Are you aware of the adjustments to JobKeeper and how they affect you? As many of you are aware, the Government recently announced that JobKeeper payments will be extended until 28 March 2021, with payments being made over two separate extension periods. The extension periods are: Extension period 1, which covers the seven new JobKeeper … Continued
As anticipated, the Government has announced an extension to its two major stimulus programs; JobKeeper and JobSeeker, to ensure support is provided after 30 September when the programs were originally due to expire. The current extensions to the programs are as follows: JobKeeper Extension: JobKeeper has now been extended till 28 March 2021 – with … Continued
Are you one of more than 800,000 Australians who have opted to defer repaying your home loan due to the COVID-19 pandemic? The deadline to resume mortgage payments is fast approaching. Your lender may have contacted you to ask if you are able to recommence paying your loan at the end of the six-month deferral … Continued
It has been a tough year for most small business owners with many of you forced to shut doors due to COVID-19. As restrictions ease and we adjust to current conditions, you may be wondering what trade looks like for your business on the other side of this calamity? Under the new Small Business Recovery … Continued
You may have heard about the new Government HomeBuilder Stimulus package and be wondering if you could benefit? HomeBuilder provides eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. HomeBuilder will assist the residential construction market by encouraging the commencement of new … Continued
Are you aware of the new Government JobKeeper Payments and how they affect you and your business, or you as an employee? What is the JobKeeper Payment? Businesses impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible to access a subsidy to assist with paying employees. The Government will provide a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible … Continued
The Government has announced a second round of stimulus that is significantly larger than what was proposed two weeks ago, to assist businesses through the economic shocks of COVID-19. The measures currently in place are as follows: Boosting Cash Flow for Employers This stimulus measure has been enhanced with eligible businesses now able to receive … Continued
The following article highlights the current legislation surrounding workplace entitlements and obligations during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. At the present time there is no additional legal policies or regulations regarding COVID-19, so guidance is taken from existing legislation. Workplace health and safety laws Employers can direct employees to stay away from their usual workplace under … Continued
The Coronavirus outbreak: COVID-19, is wreaking havoc across the nation, leaving business owners around Australia counting costs. Fortunately, the government have put measures in place to support our economy and assist business owners with their cash flow during this difficult time. Cash flow boost for employers Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover under $50 million, … Continued
One of the most common mistakes made by property investors when completing their annual tax return is confusing repairs, maintenance and improvements. It’s important to understand and distinguish each deduction in order to correctly lodge your claim and maximise your tax refund. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), repairs are considered work completed to … Continued
What can you claim when renovating? More and more Australian investors are choosing to renovate their investment properties before leasing them out. However, investors who live in the property while renovating risk missing out on thousands of dollars in property depreciation deductions. Property depreciation is generally the second biggest tax deduction after interest, though it’s … Continued
Are you a business owner that purchases assets primarily for business use? Are you aware of the increased amount of claiming an instant asset write off for newly purchased assets, for the 2019 income year, be it brand new or second hand? Using the instant asset write-off, you can claim a deduction for each asset … Continued
Partial year depreciation deductions can boost your cashflow. If you haven’t owned your investment property for a full year you can still claim depreciation deductions this tax time. Investors can claim pro-rata depreciation deductions for the period their property is rented out or is genuinely available for rent. That is, the property is given broad … Continued
Sydney 2nd July 2019 RBA decision The cash rate has hit an all-time low! The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to a new low of 1 per cent, the second consecutive month it has cut rates. In the official statement released by the RBA, it … Continued
Most of us are concerned when it comes to closing off our 2019 accounts, and unfortunately, many small businesses forget to pause to plan for the year ahead. What we want you to do is ask yourself: Have I written it down to share with my staff, so I am not struggling to remember? Did … Continued
Property depreciation deductions can make a significant difference to any investment property owner’s cash flow. Despite this, of all the deductions available to be claimed by investors, depreciation is the most often missed. Every property investor can benefit from learning more about depreciation and discovering the process involved in finding out what deductions are available … Continued
Sydney 4th June 2019 2.30pm, Reserve Bank of Australia announcement. At its meeting today in Sydney, the RBA Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 per cent. The RBA Board took this decision to support employment growth and provide greater confidence that inflation will be consistent with the medium-term target. The outlook … Continued
With tax time fast approaching, here are five tax time tips to ensure you maximise the deductions for your investment property. 1. Understand what deductions you’re entitled to As a property investor, you’re entitled to a range of tax deductions. These will help lower your taxable income and make owning an investment property more viable. … Continued
Sydney at its meeting today, the RBA board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent. The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable, although the risks are tilted to the downside. Growth in international trade has declined and investment intentions have softened in a number of countries. In China, the authorities have taken … Continued
Shared assets in strata title lucrative for investors A strata title is used when individuals own part of a property usually called a ‘lot’. This is generally an apartment, unit or townhouse complex which shares ownership of common property including driveways, foyers and gardens. The ownerships are combined through a legal entity called the owners … Continued