News Updates

Stay up to date with what's happened in Australian and global markets over the past month.  

Our February update video also takes you through key economic indicators so you can understand how the Australian economy is faring as we recover from the COVID-19 induced recession of 2020. Please get in touch if you’d like assistance with your personal financial situation.

During these challenging economic times, many small businesses are still in the recovery phase where every dollar counts, the last thing these businesses need is to be paying more tax than they should. So, if you’re a small business don’t forget that you can access a variety of concessions including those related to FBT. These concessions could result in no FBT being payable.

2021 may have had a subdued start, but a new year brings in new resolutions, perhaps one of your resolutions this year is to boost your super balance so you can enjoy an early retirement. Even if retirement is not on the horizon for you, it is good practice to take any opportunity to grow your retirement savings. With the unused concessional contributions cap carry forward, you are now able to contribute more to your super than ever before.

With the other government COVID-19 economic supports such as the JobKeeper and JobSeeker winding down in the next few months, businesses that are seeking to employ additional workers but need a bit of help can apply for the JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme. Unlike the JobKeeper where the payment has to be passed onto employees, the JobMaker Hiring Credit is a payment that the business gets to keep. Depending on the age of the employee, eligible businesses may be able to receive payments of up to $200 a week.

While the government continues to help businesses through the current pandemic-related recovery with various revenue measures, it is inevitable that some businesses may not make the journey back. To assist those businesses with dealing with insolvency issues, the government has made significant changes to the framework to introduce a new, simplified debt restructuring process.

One of the many responsibilities of being a trustee for an SMSF is preparing financial statements and accounts for the SMSF every year. As a part of this reporting process, the trustee is also required to ensure that the fund’s assets contained in the report is at market value as per the various superannuation regulations.

A new administrative approach has been released by the ATO in relation to the exercise of the Commissioner’s discretion to retain tax refunds where a taxpayer has an outstanding notification. Previously, the ATO was able to retain refunds where a taxpayer has an outstanding notification in relation to BASs or PRRT (petroleum resource rent tax), but this power has been extended to encompass all outstanding notifications in an effort by the government to combat illegal phoenixing.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closed borders, many seasonal workers who were a part of the seasonal work program (SWP) have been stuck in Australia since their visa ended. With uncertainty of tax consequences stemming from their visa status, many workers as well as employers are rightly confused as to the tax obligations they have.