Claiming a tax deduction for expenses for a home-based business

Claiming a tax deduction for expenses for a home-based business

If you operate some or all of your business from your home, you may be able to claim tax deductions.   If you operate some or all of your business from your home, you may be able to claim tax deductions for home-based business expenses in the following categories:...
Cyber Security – Optus data breach

Cyber Security – Optus data breach

In light of the recent Optus data breach, we thought it timely to provide a list of things you should consider to help protect your identity   THINGS TO CONSIDER IF YOUR DATA HAS OR MAY OF BEEN BREACHED 1. Check bank accounts and credit cards regularly to check for...
Super changes apply, don’t get caught short

Super changes apply, don’t get caught short

To avoid additional costs (including the superannuation guarantee charge (SGC)), you must pay the right amount of super for all your eligible employees by the quarterly due date.   Whether you’re paying super weekly, monthly, or quarterly it’s important to check that...
ATO taking ‘harsher’ stance on loans to members

ATO taking ‘harsher’ stance on loans to members

The ATO is paying closer attention to attempts by accountants to “patch up” mistakes by SMSF clients involving the removal of money from the fund.   Speaking at a recent Tax Institute conference, BDO partner, superannuation, Shirley Schaefer said sometimes where a...
How costs can add up

How costs can add up

There is quite a bit of truth to the old adage “there is no free lunch in life” or its more recent equivalent “if you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product” because pretty much everything in life comes at a cost these days.   Which is probably why many of...
Partial property sales eligible for downsizer

Partial property sales eligible for downsizer

Superannuation fund members making a downsizer contribution do not have to sell the whole property or even move out of it after the sale, but cannot claim a contribution for land that has undergone a subdivision, a technical expert has advised.   Colonial First State...
The advantages of investing early

The advantages of investing early

You may have heard it said, “No risk, no reward.” But did you know that time can actually decrease your risk while increasing your reward?   Investing: Risky business? When some people think of investing, they focus on the potential for great rewards—the...
Take action on valuations now to avoid delays, says ATO

Take action on valuations now to avoid delays, says ATO

The ATO is urging SMSFs to get their asset valuations done before their annual audit to help avoid delays and late lodgements.   In an online update, the ATO reminded trustees that one of their many responsibilities when managing their SMSF is valuing their fund’s...
Four powerful ways to build investing confidence

Four powerful ways to build investing confidence

Here are some tips that can help you build confidence in your investing approach, no matter what the markets are doing.   Emotions always play a role in investing. For some investors, especially newer ones, it can be hard to separate the idea of investing from “losing...