The following are the latest articles and news from the team at Judge Accountants.
Both new and established investment properties attract depreciation deductions for their owners, however, there are differences in what owners are eligible to claim. Here, BMT Tax Depreciation outlines the differences in depreciation eligibility between new and established investment properties. Depreciation overview Depreciation is the natural wear and tear of a property and the assets within … Continued
Last week we hosted a workshop, From Direction to Decision, that assisted business owners to really work on the goals that specifically matter to their business. Too often, small business owners become entrenched in the running of the every day and when it’s time to make those important decisions that influence the future of their … Continued
Choosing to use a Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding variation could allow a property investor to routinely increase their cash flow by changing the amount of tax withheld by their employer. Here, BMT Tax Depreciation outlines how a PAYG withholding variation works, the benefits and how claiming depreciation can further improve cash flow. What … Continued
New South Wales (NSW) has been inundated with torrential rain leading to flash flooding across the state. The NSW Government recently announced the provision of financial support to businesses and individuals impacted by the floods in NSW from February 2022. If you or your business is affected by the current NSW floods, the following financial … Continued
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many industries are seeing income either disappear completely or drop to dangerous levels. To be able to navigate the future path of your cashflow, it’s vital you map out your financial position over the coming months so that you can take the appropriate action to safeguard your cash position. Forecasting … Continued
Cash flow management can be an ongoing and difficult process to manage. If you’ve arrived at the end of the year feeling defeated because you’ve seen large profits throughout the year, but you have barely any cash in hand, cash flow is likely to blame. Here are our top 7 tips to help you manage … Continued
For many, the word ‘budget’ is about as appealing as the word ‘diet’. It seems to imply what you will go without, rather than what you will achieve. To a successful business owner, however, the word ‘budget’ has a very different meaning. A budget is more like a roadmap that clearly outlines where you intend to take … Continued
Rent is one of the largest fixed costs for many small businesses and with current lockdown restrictions cash flow may have ceased or significantly reduced. Fortunately, the NSW Government has announced greater protection and financial support for commercial tenants and landlords impacted by COVID-19. The NSW Government will re-introduce the National Cabinet’s Mandatory Code of … Continued
The NSW Government today announced a major new grants package and changes to the Dine & Discover program to help tens of thousands of small businesses and people across NSW impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions. The package includes grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 for small businesses, payroll tax deferrals for all employers, an … Continued
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
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
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
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
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
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
What is depreciation? As a building gets older and items within it wear out, they depreciate in value. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows property investors to claim a deduction relating to the building and fixtures it contains. Depreciation can be claimed by any owner of an income producing property. This deduction essentially reduces the … Continued
There are a number of factors that determine the cost of an insurance policy. A cheap life insurance or income protection insurance policy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an inferior one, and by the same token, the most expensive policy may not be the best to suit your needs. The price of an insurance policy is … Continued
Often when starting out in a business, the simplest and cheapest structure to use is either an individual (i.e. sole trader) or partnership. The cost to setup these structures are low, and with the expectation of low revenue in the initial years, it can also be the most tax effective. For a little more money, … Continued
All employees want to minimise their tax payable. Who wouldn’t? A major assumption is that claiming deductions on most receipts means minimising the tax payable – but you need to ensure you are following the ATO guidelines. The ATO states that in claiming deductions, individuals need to ensure they claim only what is related to their profession. With increasing … Continued