Need a tax lodgement extension?

Tax lodgement extensions are available but the deadline is looming!

In the coming weeks there will be publicity regarding your income tax return lodgement for 2022/2023 by the 31^st October 2023 deadline.

However, the good news is… this doesn’t apply to those who use a registered tax agent!

If you are on a tax agent’s list prior to 31 October, generally you will have an extended deadline to lodge your 2022/2023 tax return by 15 May 2024.

If you could you benefit from an extension of the tax return lodgement deadline, then don’t delay!

CONTACT US before the 31^st October 2023 deadline.

We can add you to our tax list and prepare your income tax return ready for lodgement by the tax agent deadline of 15 May 2024.

Did you know our website has some handy checklists for individual taxpayers, investors and business owners, to assist you in gathering your tax records, as well as other free info and useful tools?

Remember, you must be on our tax list before the 31^st October deadline to get the tax agent extension!

Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation processing for the end of financial year must be lodged with the Australian Taxation Office by 14 July.

STP works by sending tax and super information from your STP-enabled payroll or accounting software to the ATO when you run your payroll.

You finalise your STP processing by making a declaration indicating that you have fully and correctly reported for the financial year for each employee.

The ATO will consequently ‘pre-fill’ each employee’s tax return and display it as “tax ready” in the ATO online services accessed through MyGov.

The ATO provides the information in the form of an “income statement” which replaces the annual “payment summary”. The employee, or their registered agent, will then use the income statement to lodge their tax return.

The ATO will share STP information with Services Australia so they can streamline interactions with their customers. Similarly, super funds will report to the ATO when you make the super payment to your employees’ super fund.

Are you STP compliant? If you haven’t started STP reporting or transitioned to STP Phase 2 reporting, you may be subject to failure to lodge (FTL) penalties!

Need help with STP processing?  CONTACT US  today  – we can even process for you!

Tax planning for 30 June 2023

Traditionally, 30 June each year brings forth a rash of initiatives through which the level of taxation for the current financial year may be reduced.  Consult your tax advisor about tax planning for 30 June 2023 as follows:

Timing of Income

Where possible, defer receipt of assessable income until after year end.

Timing of expenses

Where possible, incur deductible expenses prior to year end.

Temporary full expensing

Eligible new assets first held and first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose between 7.30pm AEDT 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2023 may be fully expensed – i.e. immediate tax deduction.

Bad debts

Review debtors and, where debts are unrecoverable, physically write off before year end to claim a tax deduction.

Trading stock on hand

Scrap any obsolete or damaged stock before 30 June.

Superannuation

Ensure payments for employees or by self-employed persons are physically made and received by the fund on or before 30 June.

Pre-payments

Immediate deductions are available for:

• Pre-payment of salary
• Expenses <$1,000
• Individuals, for non business expenses incurred on or before 30 June for the next twelve months – g. interest on rental property

Superannuation rebates

Contributions made on behalf of a low or no income spouse of up to $3,000 can attract an 18% rebate – i.e. $540.

Superannuation co-contributions

The Government will contribute up to a maximum $500 to add to eligible employees’ personal contributions to superannuation funds of up to $1,000, subject to an assessable income (reportable fringe benefits, reportable employer superannuation contributions and salary sacrifice superannuation contributions) limit of $42,016, phasing out at $57,016, subject to age, income and total superannuation balance.

Motor vehicle expenses

Where significant employment or business use of a personal motor vehicle is claimed, maintain a log book for twelve weeks to maximise the tax deduction and keep records of all expenses.  The log book must be renewed every five years and can be kept in an electronic or paper format.

Record the financial year end odometer reading.

Plant and equipment

Review your asset schedule to scrap obsolete, worn out, lost or stolen items to maximise your depreciation claim.

Delay the disposal of any plant and equipment likely to be profitable in terms of written down value until 1 July.

Small businesses (turnover <$500m) can claim an immediate deduction for assets acquired, first used or installed ready for use, from 6 October 2020 until 30 June 2023, costing under $150,000 (GST exclusive) through temporary full expensing!

Home office expenses

If carrying on a business from your home, pro rata tax deductions for interest or rent, insurance etc are available but impact on the main residence exemption from capital gains tax.

Directors’/employees’ entitlements

Ensure any 2023/2024 salary packaging arrangements are in place before the commencement of the new tax year.

Bonuses and fees for the 2022/2023 year need to be approved at meetings and in place prior to 30 June 2023 but may be paid in the subsequent year.

Private company loans

Any loans to shareholders or associates during 2022/2023 need to be repaid on or before 15 May 2024 unless a formal loan agreement is put in place, with annual minimum principal repayments and interest.

Sale of investments

Delay the sale until after year end where a gain is anticipated to defer tax for a year.

Crystallise any capital losses in the tax year to offset against any gains made in the same year.

Timing of disposal under a contract for capital gains tax purposes is generally the date of making the contract, not settlement.

Capital gains tax concession

Assets need to be held for at least twelve months to access the 50% discount for individuals and trusts and the 33⅓% discount for superannuation funds.

Ceasing business / sale of business assets

Consider redundancy payments for employees.

Plan “golden handshake” payments for after the tax year end.

Small business capital gains tax relief measures may be available for:

• 15 year exemption
• 50% reduction
• Retirement exemption
• Replacement asset rollover

PAYG payment summaries

Summaries and summary statements for employees are required by the ATO by 14 August, otherwise substantial penalties apply.

Superannuation fund expenses

All expenses of a fund ought to be paid by the fund in order to claim a tax deduction.

Depreciable plant costing $300 or less

Salary and wage earners and rental property owners will be entitled to an immediate deduction if plant for work related purposes costing $300 or less is purchased before 1 July 2023.  Some purchases you may consider include:

• Books and trade journals
• Briefcases/luggage or suitcases
• Calculators, electronic organisers
• Software
• Stationery
• Tools of trade

Clothing expenses

Purchase and pay for work related clothing/expenses prior to the end of the income year, such as:

• Compulsory, non-compulsory (and registered) occupational specific and protective clothing
• Other expenses associated with such work related clothing such as dry cleaning, laundry and repair expenses

Self-education expenses

Consider pre-paying the following self-education items before the end of the income year:

• Course fees (but not HELP fees), student union fees and tutorial fees
• Interest on borrowings used to pay for any deductible self-education expenses

Also, bring forward purchases of stationery and text books – i.e. those which are not required to be depreciated).

Other work related expenses

Employees can pre-pay any of the following expenses prior to 1 July 2023:

• Union fees
• Subscriptions to trade, professional or business associations
• Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
• Seminars and conferences
• Income protection insurance (excluding death and total/permanent disability)

Note:  When pre-paying any of the above expenses before 1 July 2023, ensure that any services are provided within 12 months of the payment and before 1 July 2024.  Otherwise, the deductions must be claimed over the period of the pre-payment.  Any expense under $1,000 is exempt from pre-payment rules.

To ensure you don’t miss out on saving yourself $$$, CONTACT US TODAY about tax planning 30 June 2023.

Superannuation contributions 2022/2023

Superannuation remains a tax advantaged long term investment which will benefit from compounding over the years for retirement.

Concessional/deductible contributions by employers for employees

Maximum contributions for each employee up to 75 years of age, including “salary sacrifice” (needs to be proactive) and superannuation guarantee payments without incurring excess concessional contributions tax: $27,500.

Conditions:

• Contributions need to be received by the fund by the 28th of the month following quarter end.
• For mandated contributions (e.g. superannuation guarantee), no work test applies and no restriction on age
• For non-mandated contributions (e.g. salary sacrifice), these need to be paid before the 28th day after the end of the month in which member turns 75 to be deductible to the employer

Concessional/deductible personal contributions by individual taxpayers, including investors

Maximum contribution by each individual up to 75 years of age without incurring excess concessional contributions tax: $27,500.

Conditions:

• If the individual is 67 years or older, the work test must be satisfied in order for the fund to accept the non-mandated contributions (satisfying the work test will allow individuals 67 years or older to claim a tax deduction for the personal contribution)
• The individual must notify the fund of intention to claim a deduction (form NAT 71121) and the fund must acknowledge the notice
• Contribution cannot create or increase a loss (deduction cannot exceed taxable income).
• For individuals turning 75, only contributions received before the 28^th day after the end of the month in which member turns 75 are deductible
• From 1 July 2022, funds can accept non-mandated contributions (e.g. salary sacrifice contributions) for members under 75 years of age and there is no requirement to meet the work test however where an individual is 67 to 74 years old, they will be required to meet the work test in order to claim a personal superannuation contribution deduction.

High income earner contributions (Division 293)

From 1 July 2017, an additional 15% “contributions tax” is applied to those with adjusted taxable incomes (broad definition) exceeding $250,000.

Non-concessional/non-deductible contributions by individual taxpayers

An individual may make non-concessional contributions up to the annual cap of $110,000 (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024), provided the individual has a total superannuation balance less than $1.7m as at previous 30^th June.  If $1.7m or more, the non-concessional cap will be nil.

 An individual may be eligible to bring forward the next two years’ annual cap in the year of contribution without incurring excess non-concessional contributions tax, provided the individual satisfies the age restriction:

• From 1 July 2022, the bring forward arrangement is available to individuals less than 75 years
• From 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022, the bring-forward arrangement was only available to individuals less than 67 years old
• Prior to 1 July 2020, the bring-forward arrangement was only available to individuals under 65 years old

Excess concessional/deductible and non-concessional/non-deductible contributions

From 1 July 2013 excess concessional (only) contributions will be taxed at the member’s marginal tax rate with tax offset and an interest charge applied.  The excess may be withdrawn from the fund.  The punitive tax rate of 47% remains for excess non-concessional contributions.

Super co-contributions

The super co-contribution is available to employees and the self-employed less than 71 years of age at the end of the income year who make non-concessional/ undeducted personal superannuation contributions of up to $1,000 and whose total income (assessable, reportable employer superannuation contributions and reportable fringe benefit amounts) is less than $57,016.

The Government will co-contribute 50% of the contributions i.e. the government will co-contribute 50 cents for every dollar of contribution, up to a cap of $500.

Individuals with income up to the lower threshold of $42,016 will be entitled to the full co-contribution.

Conditions:

• 10% or more of the person’s total income is attributable to employment or carrying on of a business.
• Total superannuation balance must be less than the $1.7m cap at 30 June the previous year.

Low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO)

From 1 July 2017, individuals with adjusted taxable incomes of up to $37,000 will be eligible to a low income superannuation tax offset of 15% of concessional contributions made by or on behalf of individuals.

The tax offset is capped at $500.

The individual must lodge a tax return and 10% or more of their total income must come from employment and/or business.

Contributions for spouse – tax offset

A taxpayer making a personal non-concessional/non-deductible contribution for his/her non-working or low income spouse is eligible for a tax offset of up to $540 where a contribution of up to $3,000 is made for a spouse whose assessable income including reportable fringe benefit and reportable superannuation contribution amounts does not exceed $37,000.

No tax offset is available where the spouses’ assessable income including reportable fringe benefits and reportable superannuation contributions is $40,000 or more.

Condition:

No work test is applied if the spouse is under age 67, but between 67 and 74 years of age, the spouse must satisfy the work test. Offset applies if spouse was under 75 years of age at the time of the contribution.

Fund acceptance of contributions – age test

A regulated superannuation fund may accept contributions as follows:

• If the member is under 75 years:
  • mandated employer contributions
  • employer or member contributions
  • contributions for member turning 75 may be accepted up to the 28th day after the end of the month they turned 75
• If the member is 75 years or more
  • mandated employer contributions

 Superannuation guarantee contribution rate

From 1 July 2014, the contribution rate increased from 9.25% to 9.5% and remained so until 1 July 2021 when it increased by 0.5%.

The 2021/2022 SGC rate was 10% and the 2022/2023 rate is 10.5%.

From 1 July 2023 the rate is 11%.

The minimum monthly wage of $450 to qualify for super guarantee contributions has been scrapped effective 1 July 2022.

Reportable employer super contributions

From 1 July 2014, the payment of salary sacrifice superannuation and other additional* superannuation over and above the compulsory superannuation guarantee charge, paid by employers for employees, will need to be recorded on employees’ year end PAYG summaries.

 *Where employee influences the rate or amount of employer contributions.

An employee is considered to have the capacity to influence if he or she can directly negotiate the rate or amount of employer contributions.

As a guideline, the capacity to influence may be shown by:

1. The employer’s relationship with the employee. For example, the employee is the spouse of the employer.
2. The employee’s involvement in negotiations/preparation concerning the terms of any industrial agreement governing super contributions.
3. The amount contributed for the employee relative to the compulsory contributions the employer is required to make.
4. The employer’s super contribution arrangements for other employees.
5. Any non-arm’s length dealings.

Unused concessional/deductible contributions (both for employers and individual taxpayers, including investors)

From 1 July 2018, where an individual’s superannuation fund balance is less than $500,000 (as at previous 30 June), unused concessional contributions (up to the annual cap) may be aggregated and claimed on a rolling five year basis.

The unused contributions are available for a maximum of five years, expiring after five years.

The unused contributions can be accessed from 1 July 2019 and contributed in addition to the $25,000 (1 July 2019 to 30 June 2021) / $27,500 (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024) cap already allowed.

Notice of intention to claim “catch up” needs to be provided to the fund.

From 1 July 2022 no work test applies for non-mandated contributions for those less than 75 years of age however if a tax deduction is to be claimed on these unused concessional contributions, the work test needs to be satisfied for individuals aged 67 to 74.

Home proceeds (known as “downsizing”, one-off contribution, not subject to usual cap)

From 1 July 2018 proceeds from sale of home may be contributed, subject to:

• Individuals aged 65 years or more (from 1 July 2022 aged 60 years or more and from 1 January 2023, aged 55 years or more)
• Must be proceeds from sale of primary dwelling / main residence
• Must have lived therein and owned for at least 10 years
• Contract must be signed on or after 1 July 2018
• If house sells for at least $600,000, each joint owner may contribute up to $300,000
• Contribution must be made within 90 days of receiving the proceeds of sale (usually settlement)
• A downsizer contribution form (NAT 75073) must be completed and submitted to the fund before or at the time of making the downsizer contribution
• Usual age and work tests not applicable

CONTACT US TODAY for all things relating to superannuation!

Do you know your tax obligations?

The ATO has always required  taxpayers to keep detailed records.  In the past, the perception was that a summary of expenses would suffice and so the ATO requirement was largely ignored.  The ATO is now raising awareness of this requirement through random audits, education programs for taxpayers/tax agents, applying penalties and interest charges, and so on.

We foresee that the need to keep detailed records both by taxpayers and tax agents will continue, given that most records/transactions are readily available electronically these days.  At different times the ATO will target certain deductions or occupations/industries.  In recent years one area of focus has been rental property deductions.  Most rental property owners are keen to maximise their deductions, however, few would be happy about paying further tax should their claims be disallowed by the ATO because they can’t substantiate those claims.

We assist our clients by providing a detailed information list which can be used as a checklist to tick off records as they are collected.  This  helps to reduce accounting costs as there are usually fewer queries when we receive quality records in full and up front.

The Australian Government and the Tax Practitioners Board have released the following factsheet to explain your tax obligations and those of your tax agent.

CONTACT US TODAY so we can help you meet your  tax obligations and ours!