Self Managed Super Fund rules
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5 key SMSF rules

The lure of greater control over your retirement savings with a self-managed super fund may be enticing but the freedom to chart your own destiny also comes with the responsibility to comply with the rules. An SMSF is a private super…
Calculating Super Guarantee
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Calculating Super Guarantee: The new rules

From 1 July 2020, new rules will come into effect to ensure that an employee’s salary sacrifice contributions cannot be used to reduce the amount of superannuation guarantee (SG) paid by the employer. Under current rules, some employers…
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Super Guarantee Amnesty Resurrected

The Government has resurrected the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) amnesty giving employers that have fallen behind with their SG obligations the ability to “self-correct.” This time however, the incentive of the amnesty is strengthened by…
ATO calling SMSF trustees

SMSF trustees being contacted by ATO

The investment strategies of Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) are under scrutiny with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) contacting 17,700 trustees about a lack of asset diversity. The ATO is concerned that, “a lack of diversification…
small business tax gap
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The small biz tax gap

Last month, the ATO released statistics showing small business is responsible for 12.5% ($11.1 billion) of the total estimated ‘tax gap’. These new figures give visibility to tax compliance issues within the small business sector…
ATO takes gloves off for overseas income

ATO take ‘gloves off’ on overseas income

Five years ago, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offered a penalty amnesty on undisclosed foreign income. Five years on, the ATO has again flagged that underreporting of foreign income is an issue but this time the gloves are off. How…
Uber taxi FBT ruling
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FBT and Uber style ride sharing

When an employee uses a taxi service for travel to or from work or if the employee is sick, it is generally exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) under the FBT taxi travel exemption. The question is, what about Uber and other ride sharing services,…
Optimised Accounting sponsoring a bike ride

Sponsoring a charity bike ride

We are excited to share that we are a major sponsor for a charity bike ride coming up in October. Some of our long time clients will be participating in this ride, and we are happy to support them! The bike ride will go towards MND…
1 July changes from the ATO
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1st July changes: what you need to know

As of 1st July 2019 there were some changes that came into affect. This includes: Insurance inside Superannuation funds We let you know the tax tip-offs from the ATO Laundry expenses are going to be reviewed Who owns the assets…
Optimised budget wrap-up 2019
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2019 Budget wrap-up

How will the 2019 Federal Budget effect me and my business? Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's main talking point was that this budget will bring us back to surplus. Back in black, back on track. Here are the most important bits: Small/medium…

How do I know it's really the ATO calling me?

We have had a few phone calls regarding some scam phone calls from some very dodgy people claiming to be the ATO. It's important that you know what to do, and you don't fall into their trap. So, someone is calling you claiming to be the…
Long Service Leave changes in Victoria

Changes to Long Service Leave from 1 November 2018

From 1 November 2018 the new Long Service Leave legislation will come in to effect in Victoria. The fundamental that Long Service Leave starts accruing after 7 years of continuous service still remains, however much more flexibility has…
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Budget wrap-up 2018

Tuesday night Scott Morrisson handed down what can be best described as an pre-election Budget and in our opinion a very tax centric budget. No major announcements of increases or decreases in service spend and It is still expected that…
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Dissecting the PM's Tax cut teaser

You may have heard the PM drop a big hint earlier this week that tax cuts are coming for middle-income Aussie families. However it was all very light on detail, so here’s what to make of it. In case you missed it, here’s the tidbit…
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2017 Budget wrap-up

We have put together a summary of the key tax and financial changes that were announced in last night’s federal budget. This was Scott Morrison's 2nd budget and is focused on increased transport infrastructure spending which will support…
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Your 2 minute guide to the tax and super changes that affect you and your business.

Below is a summary of the key tax and superannuation changes that were announced in this years federal budget. There are some wins for business – aimed to stimulate ‘Jobs & Growth’ which was this year's slogan. There are plenty…