The ATO has recently replaced the Taxation Ruling (TR) 93/7W on whether penalty interest is deductible to the new TR 2019/2. This new ruling highlights the circumstances in which penalty interest is deductible and the situations where it is not. “Penalty interest” refers to an amount charged by a lender to a borrower under a…
When forming a fund’s investment strategy, diversification is a notable consideration for SMSF trustees. By spreading the investments of a fund across different asset classes and markets that offer varying risks and returns, SMSF members can better position themselves for a secure retirement. Why diversify?The intention of diversification is to spread the investment risk of…
Starting your business with a good record keeping system can help you track your business performance, meet reporting responsibilities and access financial history with ease. Since different rules apply to different types of documents, the length of time that a business needs to retain documents depends on what the documents are. Some businesses may need…
The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme was introduced in the Federal Budget 2017–18 to reduce pressure on housing affordability. The scheme allows people to save money for their first home inside a superannuation fund, helping first home buyers to save faster. Changes introduced to the FHSS scheme in the Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Measures…
Although the 2018-19 financial year is coming to an end, there are still a number of tactics you may be able to employ to ensure that you get the most out of your tax return. Bring forward expenses:It is a common recommendation at tax time for small business owners to claim all of the appropriate…
Financial ratios are useful tools for business owners to monitor, analyse and improve their business performance. By using ratio analysis methods, you can gain insight into a company’s liquidity, efficiency and profitability by comparing the information contained in its financial statements. Solvency:Solvency ratios measure the company’s capacity to fulfil long-term financial commitments. Debtor days is…
The ATO will start processing 2018-19 tax returns on 5 July 2019 and are expected to start paying refunds from 16 July 2019, with the majority of electronically-lodged current year tax returns completed within 12 business days of receipt. There a few changes to tax returns that individuals should take note of going into this…
While hiring the right staff is a key element when running a business, to be successful you will need to build a strong team. Here are some tips on turning a group of individuals into a cohesive, collaborative team that will help your business to reach its full potential. Have a vision:When starting a new…
A number of changes to superannuation will come into effect from 1 July 2019. The ‘Protect Your Superannuation’ Bill passed through Parliament in February and forms part of the Government’s package of reforms that were announced in the 2018-19 Federal Budget. The new legislation is designed to protect Australians’ superannuation savings by ensuring that their…
The event-based reporting (EBR) framework for self-managed super funds (SMSFs) commenced on 1 July 2018. This system allows the ATO to administer the transfer balance cap. Reporting under the EBR framework commences when your first member begins a retirement phase income stream. The transfer balance account report (TBAR) is then used to report certain events…