On 1 July 2021, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate will rise from 9.5% to 10% – the first rise since 2014. It will then steadily increase each year until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025. The 0.5% increase does not mean that everyone gets an automatic pay increase, this will depend on your employment agreement. If your employment agreement states you are paid on a ‘total remuneration basis (base… Read more
ou worked from home during a lockdown and spent money on work-related items that were not reimbursed by your business, you might be able to claim some of these expenses as a deduction – but not everything you purchase can be claimed. The ATO has stated that it is looking very closely at work-related deductions that are being claimed. If you are claiming your expenses, there are three methods you… Read more
Financial management is a vital part of running a successful business, but often entrepreneurs start their business with little understanding of how to make solid financial decisions. Managing your finances is about more than bookkeeping and paying taxes—although those are also important to a sustainable business. It’s about managing cash flow, preparing for income fluctuations, and having the resources to take advantage of opportunities. Here are 6 money management tips… Read more
Australia has had its fair share of disasters over the last few years – drought, bushfires and floods – that have ramped up the volume of insurance claims. Most people would assume that if and when they need to claim on their insurance, the insurance payout covers the damage and is not income assessed for tax purposes – but this is not always the case. Insurance payouts for damaged or… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Melbourne to Stay in Lockdown For Another Week Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended for another seven days, but stay-at-home measures will be lifted in regional Victoria. Residents of Greater Melbourne will only have five reasons to leave home: shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and education, care and… Read more
For some people, early retirement is a choice. For others, it’s a necessity. Regardless of which group you fall into, there are some steps you can take to help make early retirement a reality and live the life you dream about. 1. Know your goals Before you know exactly how much money you need to save, you need to know your goals for retirement. Do you want to live in… Read more
Every business experiences slow periods when the market for their goods or services lessens and sales drop. Business owners might be tempted to view downtimes as unproductive or wasted, but there are ways you can make the most of your business during these seasons. Here are four ways to ensure this time isn’t wasted. Take a good look at your business When things are busy it gets easy to fall… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. VIC: Melbourne’s Lockdown Fate Hangs in the Balance Authorities are locked in emergency talks about placing Melbourne in a five-day lockdown. A fresh cluster of COVID-19 cases in Victoria has grown to 15 in three days, and the next 24 hours are particularly critical as some of the infected… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. JobMaker Hiring Credit’s Second Claim Period Now Open The second claim period of the JobMaker Hiring Credit is now open. So if you’ve taken on additional young employees between 7 January and 6 April 2021, you may claim the following payments: up to $10,400 over a year for each… Read more
A Quick Overview The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is scheduled to increase to 10% from 1 July 2021. If you have employees, you need to be ready for this legislated increase. What is Superannuation Guarantee? The Superannuation Guarantee is the minimum super an employer must pay to their employees super fund. The current SG percentage rate is 9.5% of employees Ordinary Time Earnings, but this is changing. Ordinary Time Earnings or… Read more
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has released the 2021 Federal Budget and confirmed Australia’s economy is performing more strongly than was expected six months ago. This article has a summary of the “Winners and Losers” of the Budget and we’ve compiled a recap of the key points below. Get in touch with us if you have any questions. A Quick Overview This budget assumes our international borders won’t reopen until mid-2022. $1.9… Read more
We often get questions from clients about what they can and cannot do in their SMSF. Often the questions related to related party transactions – that is, interactions between the SMSF, its assets, and its members (or relatives of members). We’ve set out some of the common questions and answers. In general, all interactions between your SMSF and its members should be at arm’s length – that is, the terms… Read more
To protect older Australians, the Government has moved to formalise ‘granny flat arrangements’ by providing an incentive to protect all parties in the arrangement. Typically, granny flat arrangements occur when an older person transfers some sort of consideration (often title to property or proceeds from the sale of the property) to their adult child in exchange for the promise of ongoing care, support and housing. In some circumstances, it’s a… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australia to Reopen Doors to India Australia will lift a ban on its citizens returning from COVID-ravaged India next week, as state officials reported that an outbreak in Sydney appeared to be contained. The Prime Minister stood by his decision to impose a biosecurity order last month barring all… Read more
Builders, electricians, plumbers, architects, real estate agents, security guards and other workers who hold an occupational licence in their home state or territory and who want to do the same work in another state or territory will soon be automatically deemed to have the necessary licence. The Federal, State and Territory Governments have agreed to a mutual recognition regime that will be implemented by the Federal Government. Exposure draft legislation… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Perth Dodges New Lockdown West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced on Sunday that there will be no second snap-lockdown in Perth, but COVID-19 restrictions will still be imposed after reports that a hotel quarantine security guard and two of his housemates tested positive for the virus. Nightclubs will be… Read more
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has been concerned for some time about how many professional services firms are structured – specifically, professional practices such as lawyers, architects, medical practices, engineers, architects etc., operating through trusts, companies and partnerships of discretionary trusts and how the profits from these practices are being taxed. New draft guidance (PCG 2021/D2) released last month from the ATO takes a strong stance on structures designed to… Read more
Changes from 1 July 2021 will impact on how much money you can contribute to superannuation and how much you can have in your retirement phase superannuation account. general, your superannuation is either in an accumulation account (when you are building your super), a retirement account (when you meet preservation age and certain conditions of release and can withdraw your super), or in between when you are transitioning to retirement… Read more
Jeffrey Thomas & Partners (JT&P) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and we couldn’t be more excited about where we’ve come and where we’re going in the future. It’s been a pleasure to re-connect with various former staff and Partners as part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations and listen to their fond recollections of working days at JT&P. We are fortunate to have interviewed Jeffrey Thomas this month,… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Flights Between NZ and Western Australia Resumes New Zealand has reopened quarantine-free travel with Western Australia from midday Wednesday. This comes after it was revealed a traveller from Perth was able to enter New Zealand despite the Australian city being locked down. Travelers who have been identified as contacts… Read more