Category: Small Business

Changes under STP expansion

Employers need to prepare for changes under STP expansion Single Touch Payroll (‘STP’) reporting has been expanded. This expansion, known as ‘STP Phase 2’, means that employers will need to start reporting extra information to the ATO each time they run their payroll. Some digital service providers (‘DSPs’) needed more time to update their products

Read More »

ATO support for businesses in difficult times

The ATO has reminded taxpayers that it has a range of support available for small businesses experiencing difficult situations, such as natural disasters, mental health challenges or financial hardship. Depending on the business taxpayer’s circumstances, the ATO may be able to: Give the business extra time to pay its tax; Set up a payment plan

Read More »

Employee or independent contractor: Impacts for PAYG & SG

The distinction between who is an employee and who is an independent contractor has been an evolving and lengthy process. To check if your worker is an employee or contractor, you need to consider the whole working arrangement. There are a number of factors that need to be considered, not just the terms of the employment

Read More »

Government extends SME Recovery Loan Scheme to 30 June 2022

The Government has recently extended the SME Recovery Loan Scheme by a further six months (to 30 June 2022) to support SMEs adversely economically affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Under the Scheme, eligible businesses can obtain loans through participating bank and non-bank lenders with the backing of a Government loan guarantee. Around 80,000 loans worth

Read More »

Scam Alert!

Scamwatch is warning that scams cost Australian consumers, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year and cause serious emotional harm to victims and their families. Cryptocurrency scams are the most ‘popular’ type of investment scams, representing over 50% of losses. Often the initial investment amount is low (between $250 and $500),

Read More »

Travel allowances and ‘LAFHAs’

The ATO has released a ruling explaining: When an employee can deduct accommodation and food and drink expenses when travelling on work; The FBT implications, including the application of the ‘otherwise deductible rule’, where an employee is reimbursed for accommodation and food and drink expenses, or where the employer provides or pays for these expenses;

Read More »

Extending administrative relief for companies to use technology

The Government has passed legislation renewing temporary relief that allows companies to use technology to meet regulatory requirements under the Corporations Act 2001. These temporary relief measures will allow companies to hold virtual meetings and use electronic communications to send meeting materials and execute documents until 31 March 2022. This should ensure that companies can

Read More »

Budget 2021 – 2021

To support household income and create more jobs, the Government will deliver an additional $7.8 billion in tax cuts by retaining the low and middle-income tax offset (LMITO) in 2021-22. This is on top of the $25.1 billion in tax cuts announced in previous Budgets that is expected to flow to households in 2021-22. Around

Read More »

Passenger movement data-matching program

Passenger movement data-matching program The ATO will access data from the Department of Home Affairs on passenger movements during the 2016/17 to 2022/23 financial years, and match it with certain sections of ATO data holdings to identify taxpayers that can be provided with tailored information to help them meet their tax and superannuation obligations, or

Read More »

Paper PAYG & GST Quarterly Notices

The ATO had previously advised it would no longer issue paper installment notices for PAYG and GST quarterly installments once an activity statement or installment notice is lodged, revised, or varied electronically through its online services, however, feedback from tax professionals have alerted the ATO to issues arising for some of their clients, as a

Read More »