Issue 115 – Bonus Content

Bonus Issue

TAX SAVING TIPS (2022) – OVER 150 IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER 

1. Accounting on the Cash Basis?

Paying all creditors by 30 June will allow these expenses to be deducted this financial year. If you have the funds, making payments on 29 June instead of…say 8 July will defer tax for another year. 

2. Always Lodge on Time

In the event you have inadequate funds to pay a tax liability, always lodge BAS and Income Tax Returns on time!

The ATO will impose a penalty of $222 a week for late lodgement and are now less willing to remit penalties. Directors can be held personally liable for unreported PAYG and superannuation guarantee payments in excess of 3 months.

The act of lodgement and crystallisation of tax debt forces a business owner to work out a payment plan and address the business’s cash flow issues.

3. ATO Data Matching the Cash Economy and the Sharing Economy

Be aware that the ATO’s data matching capacities continually improve. Throughout 2021/22, the ATO will intensify its attack on the cash economy using industry benchmarks – also targeting cities and districts in the process. Those who have decided not to declare a significant percentage of tax income are about to be found out.

Also, be aware that the sharing economy – Airbnb, Uber, et al. is now firmly in the sights of the ATO. In 2022 the ATO will also focus on “side hustles” such as multilevel marketing receipts.

4. Audits (Tax) – Disclose Early

There are many ways of legitimately reducing taxation, ATO fines and interest penalties. The penalties for recklessly or knowingly keeping incorrect records start at $4,440 for a natural person plus up to 200% of the tax avoided.

Most taxpayers fail to disclose in these circumstances out of carelessness rather than willful intent. Nonetheless, penalties often are applied for failing to take reasonable care.

If you are aware that an error has occurred, make a voluntary disclosure before the audit to minimise the penalties. Get advice beforehand, as your tax agent may put a “reasonably arguable” case that can further reduce any penalties.

5. Bad Debts

To claim a tax deduction, bad debts must be written off prior to year end. A journal entry must be made in the book of accounts to 30 June.

Realistically, assess your debtors prior to 30 June – if there is a reasonable belief a debt is bad, write it off. Of course, if the cash method of tax accounting is being used, you cannot write off bad debts for tax purposes as no income has yet been taken into account.

6. Beneficiary Loan Accounts – Trusts

Over time a trust can build up considerable liabilities due to income allocated (but not paid) to young beneficiaries. It is wise to keep the balance of these loans to a minimum by paying private expenses such as school fees from the trust. It is possible for a young adult to call up their loan account.

7. Benefits of Mobile Beneficiaries

The flexibility to steam different classes of income to beneficiaries with varying tax attributes explains the popularity of discretionary trusts. Significant tax savings can often be achieved where a trustee can stream specific classes of income to non-resident beneficiaries as long as the trust deed provides for this.

Given the global labour market and the increasing mobility of younger people, this is becoming a topical issue.

Australian tax can be minimised by streaming franked dividends tax-free to non-resident beneficiaries. Unfranked dividends passing via a discretionary trust to a non-resident are subject to a 30% withholding tax, but most treaties reduce this to 15%. Interest income distributed to a non-resident attracts 10% withholding tax.

In the case of distributions to Australians studying or working abroad, it should be established they are non-resident for some or all the relevant tax year. For an Australian domiciled individual, this requires that the Commissioner be satisfied that the individual has a ‘permanent place of abode’ overseas. All relevant circumstances must be taken into account when considering residency issues. The ‘rule of the thumb’ suggested by the ATO is that an individual will be a non-resident of Australia if they have a settled lifestyle (i.e., a temporary home) abroad for at least two years. This often fits conveniently with undertaking an employment secondment or a master’s degree. In addition, many young adults simply choose to work abroad as part of their life experience.

As always, the beneficiary should be able to receive or (at least gain a present entitlement to) an Australian discretionary trust distribution without being subject to any material foreign tax. Whilst this will depend on where the beneficiary is based, it should be noted that many countries, including the UK, do not tax the foreign source of temporary resident expatriates.

As long as the person who receives the funds satisfies the criteria to be considered a non-resident of the relevant taxing years, funding their lifestyle through the discretionary trust is a tax-effective means of funding Australians studying or working abroad.

8. Blinded by The Light – Tax Deductions That Mean Nothing

We have covered this in part but would mention that first and foremost, it is vital to make sound commercial decisions. Tax deductions mean nothing if you are already below the tax threshold or already have tax offsets, such as the low-income tax offset and/or the small business tax offset discount.

Sometimes expensive purchases, including motor vehicles, are justified by the tax deductions available. The tax saved is not the tax deduction – it is the marginal tax rate – (refer to page 4 of our annual publication) that is relevant.

For instance, if you are paying 21% marginal tax on a relatively low income, an after-tax expense of 79% is still incurred. Consider whether you have the cash flow to fund these additional expenses.

9. Borrowing to Fund Super Contributions for Employees

Employers faced with limited funds, but major expenses of a non-deductible nature should consider borrowing to fund super contributions on behalf of their employees, using the limited funds to pay non-deductible expenses.

Note: If superannuation contributions are not made in time, later payments forced by the superannuation guarantee charge will not be tax-deductible, and a penalty may apply.

‘One touch’ payroll means the ATO is now aware of small business compliance with super in ‘real time’. It is essential to keep up to date with super payments. The severe cash flow challenges caused by COVID-19 are acknowledged.

10. Business Travel

Ensure you keep accurate records for your work-related travel expenses, especially where your travel is for six consecutive nights or more. You must record in a travel diary:

• the nature of the activity
• the day and approximate time it began
• how long it lasted
• location of the meeting.

11. Buying and Selling a Business

Always consider that the buyer and seller will have conflicting agendas. As the other party will be taking professional advice, it is essential you receive expert advice on capital gains tax, income tax and GST. Another issue for negotiation between the parties will be the amounts apportioned between goodwill and depreciable assets.

12. Buying and Selling Intellectual Property

Prior to acquisition, IP must be clearly identified, and careful consideration given to optimal treatment, particularly when dealing with core technology. This is because a number of different treatments are outlined in the tax law – each with its own set of definitions.

13. Capital Gains Tax

Get the timing right! A capital gains tax event occurs when the contracts are signed – not when settlement occurs. Many taxpayers have been caught out on this one. To defer a CGT event, defer the sale contract. Similarly, the 50% discount for assets held longer than 12 months for individuals and trusts is from contract to contract.

Further, if you have made a capital gain this financial year – if at all possible, realise capital losses prior to 30 June on other assets held to offset the tax liability.

14. Capital Works Expenditure

When purchasing an investment or commercial property, check your eligibility for this deduction. A quantity surveyor can be engaged to assess the situation. The deductions, which vary from 2.5% to 4% (depending on the type of building and date of construction) and relate to capital expenditure incurred in constructing income-producing buildings – Structural improvements also qualify.

15. Catch Up Concessional Superannuation Contributions

From 01.07.2018,  individuals have been allowed to make additional concessional contributions where they have not reached their concessional contributions cap in previous years. Access to these unused cap amounts will be limited to those individuals with a superannuation balance of less than $500,000. Amounts are carried forward on a rolling basis for a period of five consecutive years, and only unused amounts accrued from 1 July 2018 can be carried forward.

This could be of benefit if you have had a large capital gain in the year and did not make maximum concessional contributions in prior years.

16. Cents per Kilometre Expenses Reimbursed

Car expenses reimbursed on a cents per kilometre basis are not subject to FBT. Employees should declare the reimbursement as income. They should then claim the deduction under work-related travel up to a limit of 5,000 kilometres. It is not uncommon for the deduction to exceed the employer reimbursement.

Note that where two or more taxpayers own or lease a car and each uses that car separately for income-producing purposes, each person is entitled to claim a deduction using the cents per kilometre method.

17. Cessation of Business – Interest

Interest on loans may be still deductible after cessation of business if:

• It is established the loans relate solely to the relevant business; and
• There is no legal entitlement to repay the principal, and the consequent stream of interest outgoings is unavoidable. This may also have some application to investments.

18. CGT and Departing Overseas

In a global job market, more taxpayers consider this option. If you cease to be an Australian resident for tax purposes, it is possible to elect to pay CGT on a deemed disposal of these assets at the time of your departure. This may be because you expect the shares or property to increase substantially in value in your absence.

Upon your return, you will be deemed to have acquired the relevant assets at market value, meaning the increase in value in your absence is effectively exempt from tax. Note you may not only be furthering your career, but you may also be taking a “tax holiday” on the capital appreciation on your assets while you are away!

19. CGT Asset Register

You may find that a simpler way to keep records of assets is to keep a CGT asset register. This is a register of information about your CGT assets that you have transferred from your CGT records (for example, invoices, receipts, and contracts).

For most assets, this information includes:

• the date the asset was acquired
• the cost of the asset
• a description, amount and date for each cost associated with purchasing the asset (for example, stamp duty and legal fees)
• the date the asset was disposed of
• the amount received on disposal of the asset; and
• any other information relevant to calculating your CGT obligation.

You can discard your CGT records five years after having an asset register entry certified if:

• you enter all the necessary information about an asset in your CGT asset register
• the entry is in English and is certified in writing by an approved person (for example, a registered tax agent); and
• the asset register entry is certified after 31 December 1997 (although the asset itself may have been acquired before this date).

If you do not keep an asset register, you generally must keep CGT records for at least five years after you dispose of an asset. For example, if you hold an asset for 10 years and then sell it, you will have to keep the records for 15 years.

To claim a capital loss, you also need the above data.

20. CGT Discount

You may be eligible to use the CGT discount to calculate your capital gain if:

• the CGT event giving rise to the capital gain happened after 11.45 am on 21 September 1999; and
• you owned the asset involved for at least 12 months
• the CGT discount is not limited to capital gains from business assets.

The discount allows individuals (including partners in partnerships) and beneficiaries of trusts to reduce their capital gain by 50%. There are further rules for beneficiaries entitled to a share of a trust capital gain. Companies cannot use this CGT discount.

21. CGT Discount and Trusts

It is commonly accepted that CGT Assets are often best held by discretionary trusts. The capital gains can be distributed to an individual family member with the lowest marginal rate of tax. Furthermore, the trust can pass on the CGT discount for assets held longer than 12 months to the relevant individual.

22. CGT- Third Element Cost Base

This is often overlooked and applies to assets purchased after 20.08.1991. These costs of owning an asset include rates, land taxes, repairs, and insurance premiums. You can also include any non-deductible interest on loans used to finance:

• the acquisition of the CGT asset
• capital expenditure to increase an asset’s value.

It is crucial to note that these are expenses for which a tax deduction has not been claimed. Record keeping is essential, and an example of this could be a holiday home or a spare property that you allow a family member to live in.

23. Child Maintenance Trusts

Maintenance payments are not tax deductible. The establishment of a child maintenance trust will result in the payment of maintenance out of pre-tax income. If properly established and administered, trust income will be taxed at normal individual rates and should avoid the operation of Div 6AA penalty rates of tax.

24. Claiming the Spouse Superannuation Tax Offset

This offset allows 18% of your contribution to your spouse’s complying super fund, up to a maximum contribution of $3000 – resulting in a maximum possible offset of $540. It should be noted that this maximum gradually decreases to nil if your spouse’s income is between $37,000 and $40,000.

Note that your spouse must also have not exceeded their transfer balance cap or their yearly non-concessional contributions cap.

25. Client Gifts

An income tax deduction is available for gifts of alcohol or food hampers provided to clients provided they are taken away for private consumption. This means gifts made where there is immediate consumption, such as in a restaurant, are not deductible. Gifts of other items such as cosmetics and perfumes are tax deductible, and input tax credits may be claimed.

26. Company Losses

The Government will allow companies with aggregated annual turnover less than $5 billion to carry back tax losses from 2019-20, 2020-21-, 2021-22- or 2022-23-income years to offset previously taxed profits in the 2018-19 or later income years.

Eligible corporate tax entities can elect to apply tax losses against taxed profit in a previous year, generating a refundable tax offset in the year in which the loss is made. The tax refund is limited by requiring that the amount carried back is not more than the earlier taxed profit and cannot result in a franking account deficit.

The tax refund will be available on election by eligible companies when they lodge their 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 tax returns. Note that the 2022-23-year extension was announced in the May 2021 Budget.

Companies that do not elect to carry back losses under this measure can still carry losses forward as normal.

27. Company Tax Is Now 25% for SBEs

A Small Business Entity must be conducting a business. A share trading business may be an option for some high-net-worth families. Considering that the highest marginal individual tax is now 47%, this may be a reasonable option. Such a company could also receive trust distributions.

We note that the company tax remains at 30% for recipients of passive income not conducting business.

28. Companies and the CGT Small Business Concessions

The 50% CGT discount on assets held longer than 12 months is not available on company assets; however, the active asset exemption and the retirement exemption are available.

The active asset exemption enables a 50% exemption for the relevant “significant individuals” with net assets up to $6 million.

The retirement exemption enables a full exemption from CGT (up to a lifetime limit of $500,000) on the sale of the small business’s qualifying assets, provided certain criteria are met. If being paid in cash, the significant individual needs to be over 55, otherwise under 55’s can roll the amount into a complying super fund and retain the tax-free status.

Taking the retirement exemption instead of the active asset exemption can provide benefits when withdrawing the funds from the company.

29. Compensation Payments

Take particular care when accepting lump sum settlements in cases that involve an action where there is no underlying asset.

If the lump sum compensation payment is not dissected, it is possible the entire amount could be caught for CGT.

Where the compensation payment has several factors, identify the components, but more importantly, the nature of its source, ideally linking it to existing assets that may have a cost base.

30. Consumables

Stocking up on consumables, including stationery, just before 30 June can help reduce profits, resulting in a lower tax bill.

31. Contributions to Superannuation – Notice of Intention to Claim a Tax Deduction
    Be very careful with these notices of intent, as the below case study shows.

In May, Rachel makes a personal contribution to her super fund, intending to claim it as a deduction when she does her tax.

Rachel does not submit a notice of intent at the time. Instead, she rolls her two existing super funds into a new fund that offers investment options more suited to her goals.

In early November, Rachel decides to do her tax return. She lodges a notice of intent to claim a deduction for personal super contributions with the fund that now holds the rollovers from her two previous funds.

However, that notice is invalid as she has not made any personal contributions to the new fund. The notice would also be invalid if she sent it to the old fund (where she made the contribution) for two reasons: first, when she gives the notice in early November, she is no longer a member of the fund and second, the fund no longer holds her contributions.

Rachel has lost her entire tax deduction for the contribution.

32. Control the Timing of Tax Deductions – Prepaid Expenses

In addition, as an SBE taxpayer, you can claim an immediate deduction for certain prepaid business expenses, such as subscriptions to professional associations, rent or insurance payments, that satisfy the 12-month rule.

Similarly, those on PAYG should bring forward expenditure prior to 30.06.2022, particularly for tax-deductible items they may have to pay early in the subsequent financial year.

33. Converting Non-deductible Interest

If you are a shareholder/director of your own company and have a home mortgage, consider converting non-tax-deductible interest payments on a private loan to deductible interest payments. The company needs to borrow the funds to pay dividends or eliminate a debt owed to you for this to happen. With these funds, you may reduce or eliminate the mortgage.

34. Creating Intellectual Property

The capital costs incurred in creating or purchasing Australian patents, registered designs, or copyrights used to produce assessable income are deductible. A claim is allowed in the income year when the property is first used to produce assessable income. The deduction is based on the effective life of the property.

Deductions terminate when the rights themselves cease to exist. Write off the residual value of the capital costs if the IP is no longer used to generate income.

35. Deceased Estates

Simply dividing the estate between children may overlook tax planning opportunities. Some beneficiaries may wish to receive ASX listed shares in specie – not cash and in so doing defer the CGT event. Testamentary Trusts should be considered for at-risk or vulnerable beneficiaries.

36. Defer Income

It may be possible to defer a one-off payment such as bona fide redundancy packages, other ETPs and bonuses into the next tax year. This may be negotiated with your employer.

37. Depreciation

To maximise claims:

• If plant has fallen below book value and is surplus to needs, bring forward this disposal at a loss prior to year end.
• Scrap obsolete plant prior to year end.
• Delay disposal of plant at a profit into the next tax year.

38. Directors’ Fees

Directors’ fees are deductible to a company when incurred. If prior to the year end, a resolution is passed at a director’s meeting to pay reasonable directors’ fees and bonuses. The company has a legal obligation to make the payments, and the amounts determined are tax deductible as at the date of the resolution. They are not assessable to the employee until paid, which usually takes place in the following year. At this time, PAYG should be deducted.

Effectively, a deferral of tax has occurred in the book of accounts. The liability should be shown as “Directors Fees Payable”. If credited to a director’s personal loan account, the director is assessable on the income under constructive receipt.

Refer to the ATO issued taxpayers alert 2011/4 on this subject. Make sure you are within their guidelines.

39. Discretionary Trusts– Streaming Income

Streaming income and capital gains to particular beneficiaries can significantly reduce your family tax burden.

Where a discretionary trust derives substantial income and capital profits, identifying the tax profiles of the beneficiaries and making distributions accordingly can result in significantly less tax. Where the individual beneficiaries are on marginal tax rates in excess of the corporate tax rate (currently 25%), distribution of income to a corporate beneficiary can produce a ‘tax deferral’ advantage. Alternatively, where a trustee makes capital gains, distributing them to individual beneficiaries may effectively reduce tax to 23.5% or less.

40. Dividends and Imputation Credits

In order to claim a credit for the tax a company has already paid on a dividend, the shares must be held at least for 45 days or more. Credits are available to individuals via franking credits and companies via the inter-corporate dividend rebate.

Where a taxpayer’s total franking credits do not exceed $5,000, these rules do not apply. Where shares are held in a trust, and the beneficiaries receive more than $5,000 of credits, the credits will be denied unless the trust has made a “family trust election”.

41. Division 293 Tax Threshold

From 1.7.2017, this has been lowered to $250k (formerly $300k). This means many more taxpayers will be affected.

You are liable to pay Division 293 tax if you have taxable contributions for an income year.

Suppose your income – for surcharge purposes, plus your low-tax contributions – is greater than $250k. In that case, the taxable contributions will be the lesser of the low-tax contributions and the amount above the $250k threshold.

Being aware of this changed threshold allows a taxpayer to defer income, accelerate deductions or, in a discretionary trust situation, choose another beneficiary to absorb the income.

Division 293 tax is calculated based on your income for surcharge purposes, similar to the calculation for income for Medicare levy surcharge purposes. This information is collected from your income tax return.

For Division 293 tax purposes, the ATO disregards any reportable super contributions reported on your income tax return – these contributions are included in another part of the calculation.

Low-tax contributions

Division 293 tax uses contribution information reported on member contribution statements (MSC) and the self-managed super fund (SMSF) annual return, which are lodged to them via your super fund, to determine the total taxable super contributions.

The contributions counted for Division 293 tax purposes generally include:

• employer contributed amounts
• other family and friend contributions
• assessable foreign fund amounts
• assessable amounts transferred from reserves
• personal contributions for which you have been allowed a deduction
• defined benefit contributions.

These contributions are concessionally taxed at 15% within the super fund.

The total taxable super contributions amount is not the same as low-tax contributions. To calculate which contributions are the low-tax contributions, any contributions that attract certain additional taxes are disregarded.

42. Division 7A – Debt Forgiveness

If you are a shareholder or an associate of a shareholder in a private company that directly or indirectly makes a payment or loan to you or forgives a debt you owe the company. In that case, the company may be taken under Division 7A of the Tax Act to have paid you a dividend. You may need to include this amount in your tax return as an unfranked dividend.

Generally, the amount treated as a dividend will be equal to:

• the payment made
• the amount of the loan that has not been repaid at the end of the private company’s income year; or
• the amount of the debt that has been forgiven.

43. Division 7A- Loans

Loans to company shareholders or associates should be reviewed prior to 30 June. Loan agreements should be in place. Otherwise, there is the danger that outstanding loans can be treated as an unfranked deemed dividend.

The soundest risk management practice that family companies can adopt is to enter into a Division 7A facility loan agreement as soon as practicable after formation. There must also be a binding agreement between shareholders or associates and the company to use setoffs as the method of repayment.

44. Donations – Timing

You may consider spreading large donations over 2 or more years, making proper reference to your estimated taxable income. Do not donate more than it takes to get to the tax-free threshold.

45. Donations v Purchases

If you give to a charity but receive something for the money expended, this is considered a purchase and not a donation. The amount expended is non-tax deductible.

An example is raffle tickets. You may wish to simply make a donation and claim a tax deduction.

46. Do not overlook Tax Offsets!

Too often, when allocating the taxable income of a discretionary trust, the focus is on only the marginal tax rates of the beneficiaries.

When these decisions are made, advisors should also consider entitlements to the Family Tax Benefit. Consider other Centrelink Benefits that may be lost if taxable income exceeds certain thresholds. The Superannuation Co-Contributions, which are means-tested, should also be considered.

Reportable Fringe Benefits are also included in the definition of taxable income to determine eligibility for these benefits.

47. Eliminate Capital Gains

If you have made a large capital gain, check if you are eligible to make a tax-deductible contribution into your super. If you are an employee receiving substantial employer support, consider salary sacrificing salary into super and spending down on the capital received from the CGT event.

48. Estate Planning – Super Payments to Non-dependents

If a superannuation fund member is in terminal decline and they have no dependents, the trustee should consider paying the benefits to the member tax-free prior to death.

Payments to non-dependents attract tax, and this should be avoided.

49. Franking Credits

If you are an Australian resident who does not need to lodge a tax return but has a franking credit on dividends or managed funds, it is possible to phone the ATO requesting a “Refund of franking credits form” to organise a refund.

50. Franking Credits – Trusts

If your trust has share investments that yield franked dividends, always try and ensure the trust has a net income. This is because franking credits cannot be distributed to beneficiaries if the trust has a loss. This means a potential tax refund could be lost.

51. Get Organised

You should keep all receipts and have these summarised in an organised and systematic manner. When you see your Accountant, you should also have a checklist of items you wish to discuss with them. This enables you to plan for the future and get the most out of the meeting. Rather than your Accountant sorting out your mess… you get some good advice!

In the event you have mislaid receipts, all is not lost – mine emails, your bank statements, and your diary for evidence of expenditure. You do need to substantiate expenditure, but receipts can often be recovered.

Are you fighting a paper war, concerned that you may be missing out on some taxation deductions? If so, then consider alternatives. These could include a designated business account to track expenditure or scanning receipts and electronically storing them. There are also Smart Phone Apps that attend to this.

52. Get the Structure Right

When commencing a new venture, take professional advice to ensure you are properly structured. A simple company is not always the best way to go for capital gains purposes.

Trusts have become increasingly popular. Consider asset protection having one “at risk” spouse holding company directorships and the other “not at risk” spouse controlling private assets, which may be placed in an asset protection trust.

53. Going Concern- Commercial Buildings

Buying a commercial building under the going concern exemption enables the purchaser to reduce unnecessary stamp duty as the purchase price becomes the GST exclusive amount (not the GST inclusive price). For this to occur, a valid lease must be in place.

54. Going Concern – Exemption

The sale of an enterprise as a going concern is GST–free if certain requirements are met. This means that if you sell an enterprise as a going concern, GST is not payable on the sale.

A sale of a going concern is a sale where:

• all the things necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise are supplied to the buyer; and
• the supplier carries on the enterprise until the day it is sold.

A sale of an enterprise as a going concern is GST–free where:

• the sale is for consideration
• the purchaser is registered or required to be registered for GST, and
• both parties agree in writing that the sale is of a going concern.

If all these requirements are met, GST is not payable on the sale.

55. Halving Tax on Shares

Despite the turbulence in equity markets over the last 12 months, many share traders are still sitting on substantial accrued profits. Did you know that if you hold these shares long term, you can legally halve your tax bill on not only future gains but also the substantial gains already accrued?

The trading stock provisions of the Tax Act allow you to change the manner in which you hold your shares. This means you can cease to hold shares as your trading stock even though you continue to own them.

This ‘change of use’ has no tax implications as the original shares are treated as having been disposed of and immediately ‘reacquired’ as a capital asset at their original tax cost. Effectively, an item that was originally trading stock then becomes a capital asset upon the change of use. No formal written election is required to evidence the change.

56. Home Office Expenses

If carrying on a home-based business, you may claim office expenses as long as the work area is separate and distinct. Deductible items include heating, lighting, depreciation of furniture and equipment and cleaning.

The percentage apportionment is normally done on floor space. Think carefully before claiming council rates and mortgage interest as this could trigger Capital Gains Tax if the property is sold.

Avoid making ambit claims which cannot be justified in the event of a tax audit.

57. Income Averaging – Creative Persons

Australian individual residents who derive “above average special professional income” being authors of dramatic, literary, artistic, or musical works, inventors, performing artists, production associates or sportspersons may access income averaging. Their whole taxable income is taxed at a rate that would apply to a taxable income, including only 20% of that income.

Tax determination TD 93/65 indicates computer programmers are authors and able to access income averaging if they have derived ‘above average special professional income’.

58. Income Splitting – Investments

This is so fundamental but so often overlooked.

If you have a spouse or child over 18 years on a lower marginal tax rate, consider placing investments in their name and ensure they have full entitlement and control of the investments.

The investment income will be taxed at their lower marginal tax rate. Of course, using a family discretionary trust allows even more flexibility.

59. Insurance Bonds

Insurance bonds can be a handy tax break for higher income earners because they are tax-paid investments, where earnings are taxed in the bond at 30 per cent and do not affect the investor’s taxable income. These are regarded as the most tax-effective product after super.

If you are on a higher marginal tax rate than 30 per cent, it is tax effective. Insurance bonds are good for education savings or leaving money to grandchildren outside of a will. However, the 10-year time frame may be unsuitable for some.

60. Instant Asset Write-Off Changes – Temporary Full Expensing Incentive 

Eligible businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion are able to deduct the full cost of new eligible depreciating assets that are first held and first used or installed between 7:30 pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2023. For small and medium sized businesses (with aggregated turnover of less than $50 million), full expensing also applies to eligible second-hand assets.

The 2020-21 Budget effectively removed any write-off thresholds and allowed full expensing in the first year of use to new depreciable assets and the cost of improvements to existing eligible assets.

The 2021-22 Budget extended this concession until 30 June 2023.

61. Interest – Partnership Capital

A tax deduction is available for interest on a loan used to pay out a partner’s capital account. The individual receiving the funds could then pay out non-tax-deductible debt.

62. Interest Claims

In 1999 the High Court in Steeles’ Case confirmed that interest is ordinarily a revenue item and not capital. The judgement in Steele’s case confirmed that interest incurred before a business commences operations or derives assessable income can be deductible. This is particularly the case for developer’s expenses incurred in the construction phase. However, read our tax tip limiting deductions on vacant land for other taxpayers.

63. Invalidity Payments

Payments made as a result of the termination of employment due to the disability of the employee are tax deductible and exempt in the hands of the employee.

Disability can be physical or mental and covers incapacity for that particular employment, although not limited to total incapacity.

64. Legal Expenses

Legal expenses incurred in gaining assessable income are deductible but only if they are not of a capital or private nature. However, there may be a deduction under ‘black hole expenditure’.

65. Limiting deductions for vacant land

Recent changes apply to limit the deductions that can be claimed for holding vacant land incurred on or after 1 July 2019, even if the land began to be held before that date.

For the purposes of determining whether deductions for holding cost are denied, land is considered vacant if:

• at the time the expense was incurred, the land did not contain a substantial and permanent structure; or
• the land did contain a substantial and permanent structure that is residential premises. The premises are not lawfully able to be occupied, or it is not rented out or made available for rent.

Deductions for vacant land holding costs are not impacted by these changes if:

• the land is held by:

• corporate tax entities, superannuation funds (other than self-managed superannuation funds), managed investment trusts or public unit trusts; or
• unit trusts or partnerships of which all the members are entities listed above.

• the land is used in carrying on a business by:

• you
• your affiliates
• an affiliate of you
• your spouse or child (under 18) or
• an entity connected with you.

• you or an entity listed above is carrying on a business of primary production, and the land is leased or hired to another entity
• the land is made available at arm’s length to a business for use in the business
• a substantial and permanent structure was on the land, but an exceptional circumstance occurred that resulted in the land becoming vacant.

So, the message here is clear if you are able to offset the holding costs for passively held land against other income, then do this in a corporate tax entity (or similar) as outlined above.

66. Liquidations

The Archer Bros judgment has observed that ‘By a proper system of bookkeeping, the liquidator in the same way as the accountant of a private company, which is a going concern, a distribution could be made out of …. particular profits or income….’

This has led to what is commonly referred to as the Archer Bros principle, and there will be times when its application will give rise to favourable outcomes.

This will be particularly the case where there are pre-CGT companies (with capital profits) with pre-CGT shareholders but may even be worthwhile in the case of post CGT companies.

67. Living Away from Home Allowance

In limited circumstances, a living away from home allowance paid to an employee required to live away from his home may be tax deductible to the employer and exempt from FBT.

68. Logbooks – Now More Important Than Ever…

If you genuinely use your motor vehicle for business, go to the effort of filling out a complying logbook for 12 consecutive weeks – individuals owning MVs will save on tax (substantiation) or alternatively, you may make your salary package with your employer more effective through lower amounts of FBT being costed to your package.

Taxpayers often come to grief with sham logbooks filled out when faced with an audit. The ATO check barcodes and can quickly spot anomalies. Make this your New Year resolution!

69. Losses by Theft

These losses are deductible if incurred by theft or stealing by an employee unless committed by a person who is only employed for private or domestic purposes.

70. Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)

Whilst the joint income may not exceed the threshold if one person’s income is over the individual limit, they are liable for the surcharge unless exempt. The best way to avoid the surcharge is to obtain private family health cover. This must be for hospital cover, not just ancillaries. You can reduce the premium with an excess and still be exempt from the surcharge.

For individuals, the 1% surcharge can apply from taxable incomes as low as $90,000. You may wish to consider private health cover.

71. Medicare Levy Surcharge Private Health Cover: Make Sure You Maximise Your Tax Refund

If you do not have private hospital insurance and your income is more than $90,000 for singles or more than $180,000 for families, you will pay a minimum of 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge. That is on top of the compulsory 2% Medicare levy paid by most taxpayers.

A basic private health cover plan can cost less than 1% of your gross income – less than the Medicare levy that you will pay if you have no insurance – and that’s why private cover may save you money. Private health cover may also have other advantages, such as shorter waiting times.

72. Money Held in Trust

People operate bank accounts in trust for a multitude of reasons. For instance,  mum and dad in trust for a child, or son in trust for a frail parent. Usually, bank accounts such as these are titled “mum as trustee for the child” or similar. Such a title clearly indicates the trustee nature of the relationship.

When you operate a bank account as trustee for someone else, the money is theirs, not yours. Also, the interest earned on the account is theirs, not yours, and is declared in their tax return, not yours. When opening the account, the bank will ask to be given a tax file number and what they want is the TFN of the person whose money is being held in trust, not yours.

The ATO conducts data matching on the basis of names and TFNs.  If you give the bank your own TFN, you will eventually have the ATO suggesting you have not disclosed and paid tax on the interest earned by the account for which you are merely acting as trustee. Make sure you give the bank the TFN of the person whose money it is.

73. Mortgage Reduction

This is not an uncommon situation where a husband and wife have a principal residence with a mortgage of $250,000. They have a share portfolio of $180,000, which is ungeared. It is possible they may even have carried forward capital losses. Also, consider the use of mortgage offset accounts. After careful consideration of the CGT issues, it may be possible to sell the shares to reduce the non-deductible loan.

Given the increased equity in the principal residence, there should not be a problem in getting a tax-deductible margin loan to re-invest in the stock market, making interest on such a loan tax deductible.

74. Negative Gearing

It may be explained as paying more interest and other outgoings than you receive in income from your investment. There are also other (non-cash outgoings) such as depreciation, which are also tax deductible.

Although negative gearing reduces the holding cost of an asset through tax savings, as a wealth accumulation technique, it is predicated on eventual capital gains, such as choosing a quality asset to invest in and taking independent financial advice.

75. Non-Cash Super Contributions

Contributions to a superannuation fund need not necessarily be made in cash. Assets such as shares listed on an Australian Stock Exchange or Business Real Property can be transferred to a super fund by an employer, and a deduction claimed for the value. Be aware that a residential property owned by a member or associate of a member cannot be transferred. Also, there will be CGT and stamp duty to consider. Limits apply to the value of deductible contributions for an employee.

76. Non-Commercial Rent

Landlords should be aware of the ATO’s views on non-commercial rental arrangements – often arising in family situations.

Typically, one family member may rent a property to another family member at a nominal rental. The ATO view in these situations is that a deduction for rental property deductions can only be claimed up to the amount of rental income received from the arrangement.

77. Other CGT Rollovers

Rollover relief is available in many cases allowing the taxpayer to preserve the “Pre CGT status” of some assets or defer a CGT liability in the case of a post CGT asset.

These include:

• Replacement Asset: where a taxpayer receives a replacement asset or compensation for the loss, destruction, or compulsory acquisition of an asset.
• Marriage Breakdown: the transfer of assets between spouses on the breakdown of the marriage. This must be court approved.
• Strata Title Conversions: On conversion of a home or unit into a strata title arrangement.
• Scrip for Scrip: CGT rollover relief is available where equity in a company or fixed trust is exchanged for replacement equity interests. This is typically the result of a takeover or scheme of arrangement.
• Sole Trader, Partnership or Trustee to Company Transfer: Relief is available where assets are transferred into a wholly owned company. This strategy is useful when restructuring entities.
• From a Fixed Trust to a Company: This is not available to discretionary trusts.
• Renewal or Extension of a Statutory License: These cover a wide range of industries, including taxis, primary production & exporting.
• Exchange of Shares in the Same Company: This can be useful when reorganising capital to do with the entry or exit of an equity holder.

78. Partnerships – Varying Entitlements

Merely changing percentage allocations of partnership income is ineffective for tax purposes. Of course, this may be desirable when one partner has other sources of income. However, any variation in the allocation of partnership income (or losses) should be documented and entered into before the start of the financial year, reflecting:

1. The capital entitlements of the partners; and/or
2. Their personal exertion in generating partnership income. 

79. Personal Use Assets and CGT

These assets are kept mainly for your personal enjoyment and exclude collectables – such as artwork. Any capital gain is exempt when these assets are acquired for $10,000 or less (ex. GST). Capital losses from the disposal of personal use assets cannot be claimed no matter the original cost. 

80. Prepayment of Interest

It is still possible for owners of an investment property to make a 12-month prepayment of interest prior to 30 June. This strategy may be worthy of consideration if you have an abnormally high taxable income in a given year.

81. Private Rulings

In situations of uncertainty and special circumstances, obtaining a private ruling from the ATO usually gives personal guidance regarding deductibility. Private rulings can provide you with exemptions or deductions not available to other taxpayers. The ATO may reverse a private ruling, but you are protected from underpaid tax, penalties, and interest in relation to the item(s) covered by the ruling. Full disclosure of all relevant facts is critical to the effectiveness of a private ruling.

82. Professional Expenses – Starting a New Business

From 01.07.2015, there has been an immediate tax deduction for a range of professional expenses associated with starting a new business, such as professional, legal, and accounting advice, instead of spreading the deduction over five years.

83. Rates and Land Taxes

On purchase of a property, check the settlement statements for adjustments to make sure you maximise deductions if the property is used for income-producing activities.

84. Record Retention

You need to keep your records for the last five years from 31 October or the date the return is lodged if that is later.

However, in the event of an audit, the onus is on the taxpayer to explain how assets have accumulated over a number of years. The Commissioner sometimes makes what is known as an “Asset Betterment Assessment” based upon what is considered to be an unexplained increase in assets.

When there are disputes in the Courts, invariably, the taxpayer loses because of inadequate record keeping explaining the increase in assets. It may be prudent to retain records for more than five years in this context.

85. Redundancy and Early Retirement Payments

Bona Fide redundancy and approved early retirement payments up to an indexed threshold (2021-22) $11,341 plus $5,672 for each completed year of service are tax deductible to the employer and tax free to the employee.

Bona fide redundancy occurs where an employer no longer requires an employee to carry out a particular form of work. Note the termination must be initiated by the employer, and it must be the job that becomes redundant and not the employee.

86. Refunds of Tax paid Overseas

Often the GST (or like mechanism) can be refunded on certain items when leaving a country and heading back to Australia. Generally, it is on items purchased in that country and are in effect being exported when you leave. Each country varies, so it is best to check what is on offer for the country you are visiting.

87. Rental Property – Repairs

It may be possible to bring forward expenses for repairs and expenses on or before 30 June to maximise tax deductions.

Note that some repairs may be capital in nature and, as a result, subject to depreciation and not an outright deduction if they are:

• an improvement to an asset over and above its original working condition
• initial repairs to a recent capital purchase
• a substantial replacement of an asset.

88. Rental Property – Restriction on Depreciation Deductions

From 1.7.2017, ‘ Plant and Equipment’ depreciation deductions have been limited to outlays actually incurred by investors in residential real estate properties. These are usually mechanical fixtures or those that can be easily removed from a property, such as dishwashers, ceiling fans, and includes carpets.

As it is made clear that someone purchasing a second-hand property will be denied these claims, it is an issue that purchasers and vendors alike need to be aware of. For instance, it may now be more tax effective for investors to purchase a property and do the renovations themselves.

This means they have incurred the depreciation on fixtures and fittings. Note the 2.5% capital allowance tax deduction is not affected by these changes.

89. Rental Property – Travel Expense

From 1.7.2017, tax deductions are disallowed for travel expenses relating to inspecting, maintaining, or collecting rent for a residential rental property. However, as travel expenses for seeing your Accountant are still a tax deduction, such expenses are claimable if they are in the same location. An apportionment may be necessary if the trip is for an extended length of time (a holiday) and/or for mixed or personal purposes.

90. Research and Development

If you genuinely engage in research and development (R&D), take advantage of the enhanced R&D tax offset. The Government announced further enhancements to the Research and Development Tax Incentive. The changes will apply for income years starting on or after 1.7.2021.

• For companies with an aggregated turnover below $20 million, the refundable R&D tax offset rate will be increased to an 18.5% premium to the company’s corporate tax rate. Note the previously proposed cap on $4 million annual cash refunds will not proceed.

• For companies with an aggregated turnover of $20 million or more, the number of R&D intensity tiers (which measures the company’s R&D expenditure as a proportion of total expenses for the year) will be reduced from three to two, and the non-refundable R&D tax offset will be increased as follows:

 

R&D intensity	Non-refundable R&D tax offset
0-2%	Corporate tax rate + 8.5%
>2%	Corporate tax rate + 16.5%

Reforms from the 2019-20 MYEFO announcements will be retained, including the proposal to increase the limit for R&D expenditure which is eligible for the R&D tax incentive from $100 million to $150 million per annum.

Ensure your claims are genuine and the funds extended meet the “at risk” requirement. In late 2021 the ATO published guidance on this.

91. Residency for Tax Purposes

Refer to Chapter 11 of our annual publication. In the past nine years, we have covered a number of cases.

The message is clear – if you intend working overseas, take specialist advice. It does not follow that you cease to be an Australian resident just because you spend more than 183 days overseas in any given tax year. For instance, do you still maintain a permanent home in Australia, and where do your spouse and children live?

In recent years there have been a number of cases where Australians who have spent considerable time overseas have still been found to be tax residents of Australia. It is essential that you establish a permanent place of abode outside Australia to have any prospect of being considered to be a non-resident.

In the May 2021 Federal Budget, the Government announced it would replace the individual tax residency rules with a new modernised framework. If you are leaving or returning to Australia, you may need to take advice on these proposed changes to legislation.

92. Review your Structure

Whether you operate as a company, trust, partnership, or sole trader, it is vital that you review your current business structure and not only from a taxation viewpoint. Risk Management and asset protection must also be carefully considered.

93. Salary Earners and Negative Gearing

It is possible to have your PAYG deductions lowered if you are a salary earner who has a negatively geared investment.

Apply for a “2022 PAYG Income Tax Withholding Variation Application” from the ATO; they will issue a variation certificate stipulating a lower percentage, which they will also send to your employer.

94. SBE – Leasing Plant

This can be an effective form of financing for SBE taxpayers because they are still able to prepay up to 12 months of rental.

95. Self-Education Expenses

Self-education expenses are expenses related to a course of education provided by a school, college, university, or other educational places. You must have undertaken the course to gain a formal qualification for use in carrying on a profession, business, or trade or in the course of employment.

You can only claim self-education expenses that are related to your work as an employee at the time you were studying. If your self-education was to help you get a new job, you cannot claim your expenses.

You generally cannot claim the cost of meals. However, you can claim the cost of meals during an absence from home if:

• you were participating in self-education directly connected to your current work, and
• that self-education required you to be temporarily away from your home for one or more nights.

You can claim other expenses such as:

• textbooks
• stationery
• student union fees, and
• the decline in value of your computer.

If you did not use your computer solely for self-education purposes, you would need to apportion your deduction. This means you divide the amount between private use and work-related use. For example, if you used your computer 40% of the time for deductible self-education purposes and 60% for private purposes, you can only claim 40% of the decline in value.

96. Seriously Consider Whether You Need to Lodge a FBT Return

This is directed at small employers who provide motor vehicles to working directors and arm’s length employees. This is now an area of ATO focus. Showing you are compliant with FBT decreases the risk of an audit.

97. Single Car Families and Motor Vehicles Expenses

Where a car is jointly owned, a common error when claiming deductions is that couples assume that the second person cannot claim expenses because one person already claims the car. This is incorrect. This relates to the “cents per kilometre” claim for Motor Vehicle expenses.

98. Small Business CGT Concessions

The following four CGT concessions are available only for small businesses.

1. The small business 15-year exemption provides a total exemption for a capital gain on a CGT asset if you have continuously owned the asset for at least 15 years and the relevant individual is 55 or over and retiring or is permanently incapacitated.
2. The small business 50% active asset reduction provides a 50% reduction of a capital gain.
3. The small business retirement exemption provides an exemption for capital gains up to a lifetime limit of $500,000. If the recipient is under 55, the amount must be paid into a superannuation (or similar) fund.
4. The small business rollover provides a deferral of a capital gain if a replacement asset is acquired. However, you may make a capital gain equal to the deferred gain if the replacement asset is disposed of or its use changes in particular ways. In this case, the deferred capital gain is in addition to any capital gain made when the replacement asset is disposed of.

 It is important to note:

• More than one of the four concessions may apply to the same capital gain if the conditions for each are satisfied.
• They may apply in addition to the CGT discount if it also applies.
• If the small business 15-year exemption applies, you can disregard the entire capital gain and therefore do not need to apply any further concessions.
• With the exception of the small business 15-year exemption, you apply the small business concessions after reducing any capital gains by all available capital losses.
• If you have more than one capital gain, you can choose the order in which to reduce capital gains by capital losses; and
• The small business CGT concessions do not apply to gains from depreciating assets. 

99. SMSF – Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements

Normally a SMSF is restricted from borrowing money to purchase assets to be held by the fund (S67 of the SIS Act). However, this ruling has one exception: a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA).

Under a LRBA, a SMSF can borrow money as long as the lender uses only the asset being purchased as security; the lender’s recourse is limited only to the purchased asset. However, Trustees should always consider the quality of the investments and whether the fund can meet all future obligations under the arrangement.

A trustee can only enter into such an arrangement where the purchase of the asset is consistent with the fund’s investment strategy, and the fund’s governing rules allow the trustee to enter into any borrowing arrangement.

ATO legislation states, if your SMSF chooses to use a LRBA, then the arrangement must satisfy the following conditions:

• The fund uses the borrowed monies to purchase a single asset or a collection of identical assets with the same market value (that together are treated as a single asset). For example, you can borrow to purchase shares in the one company, but you will need to take out another LBRA if you intend to purchase shares in another company.
• The borrowed money cannot be used to improve the purchased asset.
• The asset is held on trust so that the SMSF receives the beneficial interest in the purchased asset.
• The SMSF has the right to acquire legal ownership of the asset by making one or more payments.
• Any recourse the lender or any other person has under the LBRA against the SMSF Trustee is limited to the single fund asset (including the rights to income).
• Replacing the asset subject to the LRBA is possible in very select circumstances, i.e., if a company undertakes a share split or a takeover or merger.

As there have been a number of recent changes, it is essential to get specialist advice.

100. SMSF – Purchase of Business Real Property

It is possible to obtain tax advantages on the purchase of a commercial property by a self-managed super fund. This could serve as the employer’s business premises. A number of conditions need to be met, and professional advice should be taken before proceeding.

101. SMSF – Segregating Assets

If superannuation fund assets are being set aside to pay retirement income streams, these are termed “segregated assets”. The fund does not pay tax on earnings generated by current segregated assets. This means earnings are added to the client’s account tax free.

As some retirement income streams have considerable flexibility, your SMSF should go into pension phase as soon as possible. Note the $1.7 million cap.

102. Sole and Principal Place of Residence (PPR)

Consider this scenario:

• You buy one of your children a home unit.
• Your child is around 20 and very unlikely to enter the home market for some considerable time.
• The child plans to work overseas or interstate in the not-too-distant future.
• Your child initially moves into the unit but leaves to travel as above.
• The unit then derives rental income with the net income (after expense) assessable to your child.
• A six-year temporary absence is allowed, and the CGT exemption for PPR is maintained. There is no requirement that the unit be re-occupied.
• The unit is sold after 5 years at a substantial CGT free gain due to the six-year temporary absence concession.

Under legislation enacted December 2019, this course of action would only be effective if the owner was an Australian tax resident at the time of sale.

103. Split or Linked Loans

When purchasing a rental property, considerable care needs to be taken with the financing arrangements. Take advice from a competent tax practitioner (not the financial institution or the finance broker) to avoid being steered into arrangements that are not tax effective and difficult to unwind.

104. Substantiation – Computer Expenses

When substantiating the usage of a home computer for work purposes, a taxpayer must demonstrate how they calculated their claim for the expenses. If the computer is also used for private purposes, a basis of apportionment is required. This could be done by keeping a log for a representative month period recording hours of business use compared to private use. See Taxation Ruling TR 93/30, paragraphs 24 to 27.

105. Substantiation – Home Office Expenses

Evidence is needed to substantiate home office electricity, gas, and depreciation on office furniture.

When taxpayers use their home office for work, they should note it in their diary. They should do this for a representative four-week period as establishing a pattern of use for the entire year. A taxpayer can support their claim for heating, cooling, lighting, and depreciation of office furniture by either:

• Claiming 52 cents per hour in relation to the average weekly work-related use of the home office established by keeping a diary record of that use for a period of at least four weeks. A taxpayer will need to keep a new diary record if there is a substantial change in their work-related use of the home office; or
• Using the actual cost method by keeping appropriate records to show the amounts of the expenses incurred and the extent to which they are incurred in deriving assessable income.

To support claims for repairs, cleaning, and other home office expenses – including home office equipment such as a computer, printer, or photocopier – the taxpayer should keep a diary record for a representative four-week period recording the income and non-income related use of the area or equipment. They should keep documentary evidence to support the claim.

We note in passing, the temporary 80 cents per hour all-inclusive rate for claims made during the COVID-19 has now been extended to 30.6.2022.

106. Substantiation – Part Day Travel Expenses

Food and drink are generally deductible only when the taxpayer sleeps away from home when travelling with work. The exception to this general rule is for overtime meal allowance expenses if they receive an award overtime meal allowance.

Taxpayers can claim deductible incidental expenses incurred during part-day travel – for example, taxi fares – provided their employer has not reimbursed their expense, and they have kept the necessary written evidence to support their claim. These expenses are covered under the normal written evidence rules and are not covered by any exception to the substantiation requirements.

If an employee receives an allowance to cover part-day travel expenses – for example, food and drink – the payment must be included as income in their tax return. Employers (payers) who pay part-day travel allowances are required to include the whole amount of the payment as part of salary and wages on the employee’s payment summary and have tax withheld.

107. Substantiation- Telephone Expenses

When establishing the work-related proportion for phone calls and rental costs, identify work-related calls from an itemised phone account. If such an account is not provided, a reasonable estimate of call costs – based on diary entries of calls made over a representative one-month period – together with relevant phone accounts will be acceptable for substantiation purposes.

Taxation Ruling TR 98/14 identifies situations where phone rental, especially for employees, is deductible. A proportionate deduction will be allowable if the phone is not used 100% for work-related purposes. The business proportion can be calculated by dividing the number of business calls (incoming and outgoing) by the number of total calls (incoming and outgoing).

If the employer reimburses the taxpayer for phone expenses, the amount received has to be deducted from the expenses claimed as a deduction.

108. Superannuation

Make sure superannuation contributions are actually made prior to 30 June to enable a tax deduction to be claimed. Avoid the imposition of the Superannuation Guarantee Charge, as this will involve penalties and deny you a tax deduction.

109. Superannuation Co-Contributions

If you are a lower income employee, you may want to make personal after-tax (undeducted) contributions to a super fund. This concession also applies to the self-employed.

Implementing this strategy can boost your retirement savings and possibly receive a government co-contribution of up to $500 each year. To qualify for the full contribution ($500), you generally need to make a personal after-tax super contribution of $1,000 and earn less than $41,112 p.a.

However, a reduced amount may be paid if you contribute less than $1,000 and/or earn between $41,112 p.a. and $56,112 p.a. (2021/2022)

There are some considerations. If you operate your business through a family trust, be certain that you pay family members (who wish to claim the co-contribution) a salary subject to the Superannuation Guarantee 10% statutory superannuation.

If you fail to do this and they merely receive a trust distribution, you will not be eligible for the co-contribution.

110. Superannuation Non-Concessional Contributions

From 01.07.2021, annual non-concessional contribution allowances have been capped at $110,000, and if you’re under 65, the three year bring forward provision falls to a maximum of $330,000.

Note that if you have in excess of $1.7 million in superannuation, you can no longer make non-concessional contributions.

Also, note that from 01.07.2017, the removal of the ’10 per cent rule’ has ensured a level playing field for access to super tax concessions irrespective of the employment situation. This helps contractors who also draw some salary from salary and wages. They are now able to make tax deductible contributions up to their contributions cap which will be $27,500.

From 01.07.2018, individuals with super balances of less than $500k are able to carry forward the unused balance of their non-concessional contributions cap for up to five years, which will help those with broken work patterns (mainly women) save for their retirement.

111. Superannuation Obligations and Individual Contractors

As an employer, the superannuation guarantee requires you to contribute towards the superannuation support of most employees, including contractors who you employ.

An employee for superannuation guarantee purposes includes a person engaged under a contract that is wholly or principally for the person’s labour. Labour can include mental and artistic effort as well as physical work. This means that a contractor (the party to the contract) can be considered an employee under the superannuation guarantee.

Superannuation support is required for contractors where the terms of the contract and the subsequent conduct of the parties indicate that:

• The person is renumerated (either wholly or principally) for their personal labour and skills.
• The person must perform the contractual work personally (there is no right of delegation), and
• The person is not paid to achieve a result.

If the contract is partly for labour and partly for something else (for example, the supply of goods, materials or hire of plant or machinery), it will still be a contract for labour if it is principally (chiefly or mainly) for labour.

Contracts can be made either orally or in writing. To help determine whether a contract is a contract for labour, it should state clearly whether the work must be performed by the party to the contract. Suppose you make a contract with someone other than the person who will actually be providing the labour. In that case, there is no employer-employee relationship between you and the person actually doing the labour.

This would happen:

• if you make a contract with a company, trust, or a partnership; or
• If the person you have the contract with is free to hire other people to perform the work, even if the person ends up performing the work themselves.

In either of these situations, the contract is not for the labour of the individual.

112. Tax Agent Fees

Expenses incurred for managing a taxpayer’s income tax affairs or complying with an obligation imposed by Commonwealth Law are deductible in the year the expense is incurred.

However, what is often overlooked is that a visit to your tax agent may also be a tax deduction. Taxation Determination TD 2017/8, the Tax Office states that the cost of travelling to a recognised professional tax adviser for the purpose of having an income tax return, a Business Activity Statement or an Income Activity Statement prepared is deductible. In addition, other incidental costs such as accommodation, meals, taxi fares and travel insurance are also deductible. However, note that TD 2017/8 gives specific guidance on apportionment where the trip has a mixed purpose.

Income tax returns must be lodged by 31 October, where a tax agent is not used. If a tax agent is used, the lodgement dates are extended considerably, meaning if you have a liability, you do not have to pay tax until much later in the year.

113. Tax Averaging for Primary Producers

Tax averaging enables you to even out your income and tax payable over a maximum of 5 years to allow for good and bad years. This ensures that you do not pay more tax over a number of years than taxpayers on comparable but steady incomes.

You receive an averaging tax offset when your average income is less than your taxable income (excluding capital gains). When your average income is more than your taxable income (excluding any capital gains), you must pay extra income tax on the averaging component of your basis taxable income in the form of a surcharge.

The amount of the averaging tax offset or extra income tax is calculated automatically, and your notice of assessment will show you the averaging details.

If you wish, you may choose to withdraw permanently from the averaging system and pay tax at ordinary rates. However, once you have made this choice, it will affect all your assessments for subsequent years and cannot be revoked. This means you will be taxed on the same basis as taxpayers not eligible for averaging provisions.

114. Tax Effective Borrowing

Before undertaking any borrowings, consider the taxation implications and take professional advice. Income-producing investments should be geared, if possible. Focus on paying off your home mortgage as soon as possible.

115. Tax Effective Distributions from Trusts

As long as the trust deed allows for it in its clause of eligible beneficiaries, a distribution may be made to a tax-exempt body or institution. As this is in “before-tax dollars”, this can be highly tax effective.

116. Tax Losses

When purchasing a company or other legal entity for tax losses, be very wary. You must ensure that the debt forgiveness provisions have not previously applied or may apply on purchase.

The entity may have less revenue or capital losses than you think.

There may also be fewer future tax benefits in the form of future deductions or hidden CGT exposures on the subsequent disposal of reducible assets for CGT purposes.

117. Tax Schemes / Tax Dreams

Has the ATO issued a product ruling? If it seems too good to be true, it generally is, and the ATO will catch up with you further on down the line. Keep it real and keep it legal.

Beware of scheme promoters talking about private rulings. These only apply to the ruling’s individual recipient – not to you. This should serve as a warning.

118. Taxi Travel

This is increasingly popular with staff living in the inner city. Taxi travel provided to employees arriving at or leaving their workplace at any time during normal hours is tax deductible and exempt from FBT. From 1.4.2019, this exemption was extended to ride sharing such as Uber, Didi, Ola etc. Arranging for your employer to pay for your travel by way of salary sacrifice will produce a substantial tax benefit.

119. Temporary Residents

There are significant tax concessions for temporary residents of Australia, and indeed this is a tax planning issue before attaining permanent status.

If you are an Australian resident for tax purposes and meet the requirements to be a temporary resident, the temporary resident rules mean:

• Most of your foreign income is not taxed in Australia except income earned from employment performed overseas for short periods while you are a temporary resident. This income is subject to income tax and would still be declared in your return for the year in which you earned it. Where you have paid tax in a foreign country, you may be entitled to claim a foreign income tax offset when you lodge your tax return.
• A temporary resident is not liable to capital gains tax (nor is treated as having made a capital loss) unless the asset is ‘taxable Australian property.’
• The interest you pay to foreign residents (for example, foreign lenders) is not subject to withholding tax.
• Controlled foreign company record-keeping obligations are partly removed.

This is something for advisors to consider, particularly to reduce capital gains tax.

120. The Accidental Developer

Before seeking council approvals, subdividing the family home, business premises or farm, take expert advice. Clearly, the objective should be to fall under the CGT regime. The GST (if any) implications have also to be considered.

121. Think Twice About Luxury Cars

In addition to the luxury car depreciation limit, there is also a GST issue. The maximum input tax credit allowable on a business car is limited to 1/11^th of the luxury car depreciation limit, i.e., $5,521. The additional GST paid on a vehicle costing over 60,733 cannot be recovered.

Quite often, SMEs want to purchase a motor vehicle to claim back the GST credits only to wind up with an unwelcome FBT issue. Make sure you do the sums and carefully assess the extent of your business use.

122. Thinking of Working Overseas?

If you plan to work overseas for several years, do not automatically assume you will be a non-resident for taxation purposes. A recent case study Commissioner of Taxation v Pike [2020], clearly shows that just because an individual is overseas for extended periods, it does not necessarily follow that the taxpayer becomes a non-resident. In this case, the taxpayer’s dominant economic interests and family remained in Australia. It is essential to establish a permanent residence overseas and seek specialist advice before moving overseas.

123. Transition to Retirement Income Pension (TRIP)

Recent reforms make investing in superannuation extremely attractive over investments outside of a superannuation environment. Those approaching retirement can look at a combination of strategies allowing them to transition to retirement income pension (TRIP), stream from their superannuation fund and continue to contribute to superannuation through appropriately drafted salary sacrifice agreements.

Effectively you are substituting receipt of salary/wages for a TRIP. It should be noted that from 01.07.2017, the tax exemption on pension fund earnings financing a TRIP was removed. However, in some circumstances, the arrangement may still be tax effective.

124. Transport

Where an employee is required to live away from home to perform employment duties or is similarly required to relocate their usual place of residence, the costs of providing relocation transport (and any meals and accommodation en route) to the employee (and family members) are exempt FBT benefits. The exemption also applies where the employee is returning to their usual place of residence after working at another location.

The exemption does not apply to a reimbursement of the employee’s car expenses where the reimbursement is calculated according to the distance the car travels. However, the taxable value may be able to be reduced.

125. Travel Allowance

Refer to Taxation Determination TD 2021/6 – travel expenses incurred by an employee who receives an allowance for travel costs within Australia are not subject to the substantiation requirements. This is providing the claims for the cost of accommodation, food, drink, and incidental expenses does not exceed the reasonable amounts as set out in TD 2021/6. Each year the ATO updates the reasonable amounts by way of a Taxation Determination, and these limits can apply to employees who comply with the rules. Note to make a claim; you need to have actually received an allowance which is subject to tax.

126. Travel – Home to Work

Normally, commuting expenses are non-deductible. However, if it is necessary for you to transport bulky tools or equipment between your home and workplace each day, you may claim a tax deduction for this travel.

For this to occur, there must be no secure area at your workplace to store the tools or equipment, and it must be necessary for you to take them home each night for safekeeping.

127. Trust Vesting Requirements

What happens to a trust on vesting will depend on the requirements set out in your trust deed, broadly beneficiary interests in the property of the trust become fixed.

As each trust deed has its own vesting date and vesting terms, it is important to read your deed carefully to know when the trust will vest and what is required on vesting.

• You cannot change the vesting date after it has passed.
• If your trust’s vesting date has passed, or if you have questions about the tax consequences of trust vesting, you can seek specialist advice.

128. Wages Paid to Family

If paying wages to family members, ensure they are commercially realistic and paid up to date prior to 30 June. The ATO takes a dim view of journal entries for unpaid wage entitlements. Often overlooked is the fact that Statutory Superannuation (10%) must be paid on these wages.

129. Work-related Expenses (WRE) – Keep it Real!

What are the fundamentals here? The expenditure must have incurred (and not been reimbursed) in the course of earning assessable income and not be precluded from being a deduction, i.e., entertainment.

With more people doing their own tax returns via myTax, there are more frivolous and incorrect WRE claims being made, and it is for this reason that such claims are increasingly an area of ATO focus.

Examples include:

• Overseas travel claims that simply cannot be justified. Think about it — it is a genuine claim the employer will normally pick up the tab. On occasion, modest claims can be made, but they must be genuine.
• Cents per kilometre motor vehicle expenses when all the taxpayer does is the commute to and from work. Often the justification is transporting bulky tools due to no storage facilities being available at work, but invariably, this is not the case when the employer is contacted.
• Claiming overnight travel stays away from home using ATO figures which the taxpayer wrongly believes do not require substantiation. Here it is a requirement that the employer pays an allowance, and other conditions must be met.

These claims often result from “pub talk” and general misinformation and, on occasion, through recklessness. While the ATO has been reasonable when applying penalties, they are now taking a harder line.

As mentioned, employers are being increasingly contacted for verification, so making false and frivolous claims will hardly enhance your standing in the workplace, particularly where the employer knows the claim is false or has been reimbursed.

Above all… do not make “cut and paste” claims from prior years. Due to COVID-19, it is clear that activity may have changed, and this should be reflected in the claims made. For example, some people are working from home, using “Zoom”, etc. This should result in lower claims for Motor Vehicle and Travel expenses.

130. Work Specific and Protective Clothing

Compulsory uniforms are generally deductible if they identify you as an organisation employee. For non-compulsory uniforms, get your employer to register the designs. Do not forget to claim laundry and dry cleaning on uniforms and protective clothing such as sunglasses and sun protection, e.g., sunscreen.

THE 2021-22 YEAR END FRINGE BENEFITS TAX (FBT) CONSIDERATIONS

FRINGE BENEFITS TAX RATES

The FBT rate aligns with the top marginal income tax rate for individuals.

• The Type 1 gross-up rate is 2.0802. This rate is used where the provider is entitled to a GST credit in respect of the benefit.
• The Type 2 gross-up rate is 1.8868. This rate is used if the benefit provider is not entitled to claim GST credits.
• The FBT rate is 47%.

 

FBT treatment for certain employers
Employer type	FBT concession for the years ending 31 March 2018, 2019, 2020,2021 and 2022
Public benevolent institutions (other than public hospitals) and health promotion charities	FBT exemption capped at $30,000. Salary packaged meal entertainment and entertainment facility leasing expense benefits capped at $5,000.
Public hospitals, not-for-profit hospitals, and public ambulance services	FBT exemption capped at $17,000. Salary packaged meal entertainment and entertainment facility leasing expense benefits capped at $5,000.
Rebatable employers – certain registered charities, non-government, and not-for-profit organisations	FBT rebate of 47% capped at $30,000. Salary packaged meal entertainment and entertainment facility leasing expense benefits capped at $5,000.

 

1. Car Fringe Benefits Change

A statutory formula single flat rate of 20 per cent now applies regardless of the distance travelled.

Refer to our annual publication for vehicles on contracts entered into prior to 10.05.2011.

However, the impact of these changes has led to a move away from the statutory formula to the logbook method of calculating motor vehicle fringe benefits, particularly in a private family business. Be warned the logbooks should exist and be real because the ATO has ramped up audit activity in this area in 2022, using data matching with a particular focus on luxury vehicles.

2. Exempt Fringe Benefits

These are benefits specifically exempted from FBT and offer any business an opportunity to provide tax effective incentives to reward employees.

Examples include:

• Electronic diaries
• Briefcases
• Laptop computers (one per year)
• Mobile phones (where there is a predominate business use)
• Taxi travel to and from work, very popular in the inner city
• Membership of airline flight lounges.

Providing such tax effective benefits can play a vital role in staff retention.

Note that from 01.04.2016, the Government extended the FBT exemption for SBEs that provide employees with more than one qualifying work-related portable electronic device. This is the case where the items have substantially similar functions – note that the FBT exemption only applies if the relevant items are primarily for business use.

3. FBT In-house Benefits

An employer can also gift employee’s $1,000 worth of in-house benefits throughout the year tax free. These benefits are goods or supplies that the employer sells to third parties in the ordinary course of its business. For example, a clothing wholesaler or retailer could gift up to $1,000 worth of clothes to an employee tax free. This would be a tax deduction for the employer with input tax credits fully claimable.

However, concessional treatment was removed for these benefits if accessed through a salary sacrifice arrangement from 22.10.2012.

4. Flu Vaccinations

The provision of a free flu vaccination to an employee will be an FBT exempt benefit if the employer has made free flu vaccinations available to all its employees and the vaccinations have been administered by a nurse or doctor. COVID-19 vaccinations are provided at no cost by the Government.

5. Late Lodgement Penalties

Meet lodgement deadlines to avoid penalties. Penalties can be imposed for non-lodgement or late lodgement of most statements, including Income Tax, BAS, and annual investment reports, even if no money is owed to the ATO. Keep regular contact with your tax agent.

With improvements in its data matching, the ATO is expected to take a more rigorous approach to lodgment enforcement in 2021.

6. Make the Most of Minor FBT Benefits

These are items not given frequently or regularly throughout the year and have a GST inclusive value of less than $300. Examples include bottles of wine, hampers, tickets to sporting events and shopping vouchers.

These items and other gifts can be given to staff free of FBT. An employer would generally be able to claim a full tax deduction and input tax credits in regard to these gifts.

7. Mature Workers Salary Sacrifice into Superannuation

Workers over 60 years old may withdraw superannuation tax free from a taxed fund in some circumstances. To pay no more than 15% income tax, they should sacrifice their income down to pay 15% contributions tax.

8. Novated Leases

A Novated Lease is a three-way agreement between the employee, the employer, and the financier. The basic principles of a Novated Lease are:

• The employee leases the vehicle directly from the financier.
• The employee, employer and financier sign a Novation Agreement.
• The employer undertakes to cover all agreed vehicle expenses deducted from pre-tax salary during the employee’s term of employment.

A major benefit of the Novated Lease is that the total cost of the vehicle is allocated against the employee’s package, with expenses deducted from pre-tax salary.

9. Overtime Meals

Costs are tax deductible for giving employees working overtime a meal allowance. A tax deduction is allowed for food and drink provided to employees while working overtime if provided and consumed on the employer’s business premises. No FBT applies, and the ATO does not consider a meal entertainment merely because alcohol is served.

10. Public Benevolent Institutions – FBT

Employees of concessionally taxed entities, including PBIS, can receive up to $30,000 per annum in fringe benefits without the employer being subject to FBT. The same applies to employees of public and private nonprofit hospitals. However, here the “grossed-up limit” is $17,000 per employee.

Certain entertainment benefits are currently excluded from these caps, i.e., restaurant meals, holiday accommodation and special events. However, note that from 01.04.2016, there has been a separate, single grossed-up cap for salary sacrificed meal entertainment and other entertainment benefits. Where the $5,000 cap grossed-up is exceeded, they can also be counted in calculating whether an employee exceeds their existing relevant cap. From 01.04.2016, all meal entertainment benefits are now reportable fringe benefits.

11. Reduction in Cost Base Vehicle

If a vehicle has been held for more than four full FBT years, the cost base can be reduced to two-thirds of the original cost. So, if a vehicle originally cost $45,000, the taxable benefit calculation cost would reduce to $30,000.

12. Removal and Storage of Household Effects

The benefit is FBT exempt, where you pay for the removal and storage of household effects of employees (both new and existing) who have to live away from home because of a change in their job location. The exemption includes the costs of removal, storage, packing, unpacking and insurance of household effects (including pets) kept primarily for the personal use of the employee or their family.

Similarly, the exemption also applies where the employee’s usual place of residence changes to another location if the removal takes place or the storage commences, not more than 12 months after the employee begins employment duties at the new location.

13. Remuneration Packaging

This is where part of an employee’s pre-tax salary is ‘sacrificed’ in return for employment-related benefits, which are not assessable in the employee’s hands but are taxed concessionally in the employer’s hands as fringe benefits. Some benefits may include concessionally FBT taxed cars (only for employees on the top marginal rate), FBT exempt superannuation contributions and FBT exempt laptops. Other FBT exempt items include a briefcase, calculator, tools of the trade, electronic diary, mobile phone or computer software. The key is such items must be used primarily for work-related purposes.

For a salary sacrifice arrangement to be valid, an agreement (where an employer enters into an employment contract to provide a component of an employee’s remuneration package with benefits other than salary) must be entered into before the employee’s service is rendered. A salary sacrifice arrangement will be invalid if the employee has already earned the income. Although not required, it is always preferable to have the agreement in writing.

Employees can salary sacrifice superannuation contributions up to a concessional limit, and business owners or directors can also make superannuation contributions on their own behalf up to the age-based limit.

14. Reportable Fringe Benefits – Exemptions

The value of benefits that are FBT exempt is also exempt from the reporting requirements. Try and maximise these benefits. There is a reportable fringe benefits amount where an employee’s non-grossed-up individual fringe benefits amount exceeds $2,000.

15. Reportable Fringe Benefits

If your employer provides certain fringe benefits exceeding $2,000 to you or your relatives, your employer is required to report the total grossed-up amount (the actual amount plus notional FBT payable on that amount) on your PAYG summary (group certificate). It is not included in your taxable income, so there is no income tax or Medicare levy payable on it but is used in determining other tax issues, including some tax offsets and Centrelink benefits.

16. Salary Sacrifice – Superannuation

Increase superannuation contributions beyond statutory levels (10%) by way of salary sacrifice. The long-term wealth accumulation potential is obvious with contributions and normal fund income taxed at only 15% (less with franking credits). Furthermore, capital gains in a super fund are only taxed at 10% if the asset is held longer than 12 months.

17. Salary Sacrificing

This must be prospective relating to future income, and the employment contract should always be documented. Note that if an employment agreement containing non-cash benefits breaches industrial awards, relevant law or the workplace agreement, the employee retains a legal entitlement to salary and wages.

18. Sale or Acquisition of Dwelling

Where you provide relocation expenses incidental to an employee’s sale and/or purchase of a home, the expenses may be exempt from FBT benefits. These incidental costs include stamp duty, advertising, legal fees, agent commission, discharge of a mortgage, borrowing expenses, or any similar capital expenses. Costs associated with the connection or reconnection of gas, electricity and telephone services to the new home are also exempt.

19. Staff Functions Including Christmas Parties

A “fringe benefit” is a benefit to your staff by something other than a cash (salary) payment. Your employees get the “fringe benefit” tax free. However, the employers generally pay tax on that “benefit”. Careful planning can stop this from happening to your staff Christmas Party.

• Keeping expenditure below $300 per person.
• Keep the Christmas Party as a “one-off”. The Christmas Party needs to be “minor, infrequent and irregular” to avoid Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).
• $300 not enough? If you want to spend more on the Christmas Party, then have it on a working day at your office. FBT is then not payable.

20. Staff Functions and Gifts – FBT, Income Tax and GST

Consider the tax implications of the following:

A $200 gift to a client is deductible as Tax Determination TD 2016/14.

A $40 gift to an employee is deductible as long as these are not “entertainment gifts” and are exempt from FBT. Under minor and infrequent benefits exemption, non-entertainment gifts provided to employees are usually exempt from FBT where the total value is less than $300 inclusive of GST. A tax deduction and GST credit can also be claimed. These include skincare and beauty products, flowers, wine, perfumes, gift vouchers and hampers, as mentioned above.

Non-entertainment gifts given to clients and suppliers do not fall within the FBT rules as they are not provided to employees. Generally, a tax deduction and GST credit can be claimed for these gifts, provided they are not excessive or overly valuable.

The provision of entertainment gifts has different tax implications (examples include theatre tickets, passes to attend a musical, live play, movie, tickets to a sporting event or providing a holiday). Where the cost for the employee and their associate is each less than $300 GST inclusive, FBT is not payable, and no tax deduction or GST credit can be claimed.

However, if the cost for the employee and their associate is each $300 or more GST inclusive, a tax deduction and GST credit can be claimed, but FBT is payable. The cost of any entertainment gifts provided to clients is not subject to FBT, and no tax deduction or GST credit can be claimed.

It is important that your business maintain separate accounts in the general ledger for recording the above transactions to ensure that the correct income tax, GST and FBT treatment is applied.

A restaurant/pub meal and drink at the end of year break-up (value approximately $70 per employee) is “offsite”. There will be no tax deduction or GST credit claimable because this will constitute entertainment. However, no FBT will be payable under the minor and infrequent payments exemption.

The cost of clients attending the party are not subject to FBT, and no tax deduction or GST credit can be claimed on their portion of the cost.

21. Private Use of Exempt Vehicle and FBT Residual Benefits

We cover this in detail as it affects a number of our members.

In July 2018, the ATO released Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2018/3 Exempt car and residual benefits: compliance approach to determining private use of vehicles (PCG 2018/3).

This draft Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG) provides an optional practical compliance approach that employers can adopt to determine if private travel by employees in exempt vehicles is eligible for a fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption.

It should be noted:

• Employers that apply the practical compliance approach in the draft PCG are eligible for reduced record-keeping requirements.
• PCG 2018/3 provides three key, measurable criteria for determining whether an exempt vehicle’s private use is considered minor, infrequent, and irregular.
• Employers should consider their eligibility to use the practical compliance approach in PCG 2018/3 for the FBT year ended 31 March 2022.

Minor, infrequent, and irregular private travel by an employee in an exempt vehicle will be exempt from FBT. Exempt vehicles include some single cab and dual cab Utes, panel vans and some four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Business leaders and their advisers had expressed concern that claiming the FBT exemptions for exempt vehicles created a compliance burden as employers were required to assess whether employee travel was minor, infrequent, and irregular.

The PCG aims to provide increased certainty and transparency for employers that claim FBT exemptions for minor, infrequent, and irregular private use of exempt vehicles by employees.

22. Travel expenses – otherwise deductible rule

When an employer reimburses an employee for an expense, no FBT is payable if the expenses would have been a tax deduction for the employee. The majority of these expenses will be transport expenses. Taxation Ruling TR 2021/1 provides guidance in this area… “when are deductions allowed for employees’ transport expenses”?

23. Staff Retraining

Give your staff retraining without having to pay fringe benefits tax (FBT). The Government will provide an exemption from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for employer-provided retraining and reskilling for redeployed employees to a different role in the business. The exemption applied from 2.10.2020.

Removing costly barriers to training as the economy rebuilds is essential to ensure Australian employees have the opportunity to reskill or retrain for jobs that will come back as the economy reopens.

Currently, FBT is payable if an employer provides training to employees that are not sufficiently connected to their current employment. For example, a business that retrains their sales assistant in web design to redeploy them to an online marketing role can get hit with FBT. By removing FBT, employers will be encouraged to help workers transition to new employment opportunities within or outside their business.

The exemption will not extend to retraining acquired by way of a salary packaging arrangement or training provided through Commonwealth supported places at universities, which already receive a benefit.

24. COVID-19 and FBT

A range of potential fringe benefits tax (FBT) issues has arisen from changing work conditions and support provided by employers to employees in the current COVID-19 environment. Given this, the ATO has issued guidance that addresses the FBT consequences, which may apply if employers provide benefits relating to working from home arrangements or health-related support. Of course, this may also have other implications, such as calculating the taxable value of motor vehicle fringe benefits using the operating cost method.

25. FBT Benefits for Medium-Sized Business

If you are a medium sized business with a turnover between $10 million and $50 million, for the first time, you will have access to up to ten small business tax concessions. The changes are estimated to support an additional 20,000 businesses and their employees.

The expanded concessions, as part of the 2020-21 Budget, will apply in three phases:

• From 1 July 2020, eligible businesses are able to deduct certain start-up expenses and certain prepaid expenditures immediately.
• From 1 April 2021, eligible business is exempt from the 47 per cent fringe benefits tax on car parking and multiple work-related portable electronic devices, such as phones or laptops, provided to employees. 

26. FUTURE CHANGES

Note that from 1 April 2022, the ATO has broadened the definition of commercial car parking to include shopping centre car parks and other car parking facilities.

ATO Ruling TR 2021/2 outlines the new Car Parking and FBT rules applicable from 1 April 2022. This effectively results in a level playing field for all car parking, FBT and employers.

For the first time, many businesses will have to consider the FBT implications for employer-provided parking at locations outside large CBD areas and in smaller cities and towns. Note that these changes only apply to entities with a turnover in excess of $50 million per annum.