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Tax and tinsel Q&As
What can I do to make the staff Christmas party tax deductible or tax-free? Not have one? Ok, seriously, it’s likely that you will pay tax one way or another; it’s just a question of how. If you structure your celebrations to avoid fringe benefits tax (FBT), then you...
Phasing out cheques
The Government has announced a transition plan to phase out the use of cheques. Under the plan, cheques will stop being issued by 30 June 2028 and stop being accepted on 30 September 2029. The use of cheques has declined dramatically over the last 10 years, declining...
Tax deduction denied for signature basketball shoe R&D
The Federal Court has denied a sports company’s appeal to claim research & development incentives for the creation of an Australian signature basketball The Federal Court has denied a sports company’s appeal to claim research & development incentives for the...
What’s ahead in 2025?
The last few years have been a rollercoaster ride of instability. 2025 holds hope, but not a guarantee, of greater stability and certainty. We explore some of the key changes and challenges. An election Welcome to political advertising slipping into your social...
Are student loans too big?
Australian voters tend to reject US style education favouring more egalitarian systems where income does not determine access. In the US, average student debt is USD $37,693 (public and private debt) taking an average of 20 years for individuals to repay. But,...
When overseas workers are Australian employees
The Fair Work Commission has determined that a Philippines based “independent contractor” was an employee unfairly dismissed by her Australian employer. Like us, you are probably curious how a foreign national living in the Philippines, who had an ‘independent...
What makes or breaks Christmas?
The cost of living has eased over the past year but consumers are still under pressure. For business, planning is the key to managing Christmas volatility. The countdown to Christmas is on and we’re in the midst of a headlong rush to maximise any remaining...
Succession The Series: Part One
Ok, not that Succession series. Each month we’ll bring you a new perspective on transferring property. Be it estate planning, managing an inheritance, or the various forms of business succession. This month, we look at the tax consequences of inheriting property....
The Ban on Genetic Test Insurance Discrimination
The ability for life insurers to discriminate based on adverse predictive genetic test results will be banned under a new Government proposal. Predictive genetic tests detect gene variants associated with heritable disorders that appear after birth, often later in...
Payday Super: The Details
‘Payday super’ will overhaul the way in which superannuation guarantee is administered. We look at the first details and the impending obligations on employers. From 1 July 2026, employers will be obligated to pay superannuation guarantee (SG) on behalf of their...
More Women Using ‘Downsizer’ Contributions to Boost Super
If you are aged 55 years or older, the downsizer contribution rules enable you to contribute up to $300,000 from the proceeds of the sale of your home to your superannuation fund (eligibility criteria applies)…
Is the RBA to blame? The economic state of play
The politicians have weighed in on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s economic policy and their reticence to reduce interest rates in the face of community pressure. We look at what the numbers are really showing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stated that global uncertainty...
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