Posts Categorized: News
Asset depreciation claims for 2023/24
You don’t know depreciation limits for 2023/24? I don’t blame you for it is not at all clear.
The instant asset write-off brought in during covid was in place until 30th June 2023.
You may have heard that in last month’s Federal Budget, the limit was to be increased from $1,000 to $20,000 for next financial year. But that hasn’t been passed into law yet.
It was announced in last year’s Federal Budget that the limit for 2023/24 was to be $20,000. Only problem is that hasn’t been passed into law yet either! But there is some good news behind that. An amendment has been brought forward to lift the limit for this financial year to $30,000. If only they would pass the bill!
TIP The $20,000 limit (or is that $30,000?) is the ex GST amount.
TRAP being an ex GST amount, beware of buying a car costing say $20,900 (assuming only a $20,000 limit is passed into law) bought privately. Being private there will be no GST so the GST exclusive price is over the limit.
Should I buy an asset I need costing more than $20,000 before July?
Yes – Assets costing more than $20,000 result in a15% depreciation claim even if bought on the last few days of the year. Depreciation claimed in subsequent years will then be 30% of the reduced balance.
So if you by a $30,000 asset on 28th June, your business can claim $4,500 of depreciation in 2023/24 and then $7,650 in 2024/25.
If buy the same asset on 3rd July, your business will have no claim for this 2023/24 year and only $4,500 in 2024/25.
Only buy assets you need!
Depreciation is like any other expense – it’s a deduction which reduces your tax. But if your business is a company then at the 25% small business tax rate, you will save $7,500 in tax over the years. Which means you will have paid the other $22,500.
How should I finance an asset or pay for it?
It depends.
Depreciation (allocating cost over a number of years) reflects that an asset is used to produce income over many years. So it is often appropriate to seek finance to fund the purchase and match your cash flow to the use of the asset.
That said, some assets are hard to finance. Computers lose value as soon as they are bought and lack re-sale value. Consequently, the interest rates are high. And the same is true for unusual assets that are hard to re-sale.
It should also be said that gone are the many welcome years where the interest rates on car finance agreements and the like were historically low. For some with excess cash reserves, paying cash may be the more suitable option.
What form of finance should I use?
Well that depends on your circumstances.
But please be mindful that under a lease you are not the owner until you pay out the residual value. As such you are not the owner until the contract comes to an end. This means your deduction is lease payments (and which will be the same as the first year as the last year). Which means that you are not claiming depreciation and interest (in which case your claim is higher in the first year than the last year).
What if my business buys multiple numbers of the same asset?
That is OK as assets are not grouped. So as long as each asset costs less than $20,000 (or is that $30,000?) then 5, 10 or more of the same assets can be deducted.
What if I am an employee and not a business?
Then you can only deduct in full the cost of assets costing less than $300 (including GST). Anything costing more than that must be depreciated.
Want to know what is best for you? Then call us – we welcome your call as we love helping small business owners.
Can you benefit from catch-up super contributions?
It’s that time of year when people are looking for tax deductions. The relatively new catch-up concessional contribution system may be ideal for some.
Long gone are the days when contributions of more than $100,000 could be made into super.
And now that the deducible contribution limit is just $27,500 it just doesn’t leave much to fund for retirement after taking out 15% contribution tax and life insurance premiums. And this low limit becomes more of problem if one doesn’t use their limit in any year(s).
This low limit particularly hurts those who leave the workforce to bring up children. The same can also be said for those who have a couple of tough years financially. This is particularly true of many Victorian business owners during covid and beyond.
The catch up concessional system allows some to contribute more than the $27,500 limit for which a tax deduction can be claimed for the full amount.
To qualify to make a catch-up concessional contribution before 30th June 2024 one must:-
- Have less than $500,000 in super as at 30th June 2023.
- Not used all of one’s limit in any year from 2018/19 to 2022/23.
- Must qualify to be able to make a contribution.
This year is particularly important as it is the first year an unused year will drop off. That is, if you didn’t have concessional contributions of $25,000 accepted by your super fund(s) in the 2018/19 year, that shortfall will be lost if not used by the end of this month.
Things to be wary or mindful of:-
- Some super funds cease accepting contributions by Monday 24th
- The 30th June falls on a Sunday. Those with their own self managed super fund need to avoid making a contribution (banking transfer) after cut off time on Friday 28th June as it will be treated as a contribution in July. That is next financial year.
- And that problem becomes doubly worse if you are not able to make a contribution in July 2024.
- A contribution may not suit you from a tax perspective this year as your income may be too low.
- Or perhaps it is a good year to trigger a capital gain.
- Those with incomes over $250,000 need to be mindful of the extra 15% tax on contributions (and be mindful of how Section 293 income is defined).
- A catch-up concessional contribution cannot be accessed one satisfies what is called a “condition of release” is satisfied (with the main one becoming retired).
So there are many factors to take into consideration.
Whether you should or shouldn’t make a catch up concessional contribution is best done by receiving personal financial planning advice. Such personal advice will address your current situation and future goals and needs. Please let us know if you would like a referral.
2024 super co-contribution
Under the super co-contribution scheme, the government will contribute $1 for every $2 of personal contributions made by an employed or self employed person.
The maximum government co-contribution is $500. So if you wish to target the full $500, you will need to contribute $1,000.
To be qualify, one must:-
- Be employed with their employer paying the compulsory SGC or be a self employed person running a business.
- Have 10% or more of one’s income coming from employment and/or a sole trader business.
- Be less than 71 at the end of the financial year.
- Have combined assessable income (that being income before deductions), Reportable Fringe Benefits (RFBA) and employer super contributions in excess of basic SGC amount (RESC) of less than $60,400.
- Have paid a non-deductible contribution into superannuation from after tax money by 30thJune 2024. This means the contribution must be made from a personal or joint bank account.
- Not be a temporary visa holder.
- Lodge a Tax Return for the year ending 30thJune 2024.
- The maximum co-contribution for a personal contribution of $1,000 is $500 if your combined assessable income is under $45,400. Thereafter it progressively reduces by 3.333 cents for every dollar in excess of $45,400. There is no entitlement if your combined assessable income exceeds $60,400.
- Not have contributed more than your non-concessional cap.
- Have a total super balance under the Transfer Balance Cap (between $1,800,000 and $1,900,000).
If you want to find out what you might be entitled to, click on the following link to the ATO’s calculator here
Other matters to note are:-
- One’s own contribution and that made by the government will be preserved. That is, one will not be able to access it until one retires or satisfies another condition of release.
- The ATO will deposit the co-contribution into one’s super account once they have reconciled one’s lodged 2024 Tax Return with the information provided by one’s super fund(s). Consequently, most co-contributions will not be credited until at least January 2025.
- If your super is with a public or employer superannuation fund, you will need to ensure they accept such contributions. You also need to obtain the appropriate form.
- You will need to make your contribution well before 28th June (as 30th June falls on a Sunday). For those with your own SMSF, your fund can only accept such a contribution if permitted by its trust deed. We will take no responsibility where a client does not consult with us beforehand.
What is best for you depends on your circumstances and take into account a large number of considerations.
You should therefore seek financial planning advice to ensure such a contribution will work as intended and is in your best overall interests.
Tips and traps in the 2024 Federal Budget
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March super payment reminder
Friday 26th April is the end date for satisfying Super Guarantee (SG) super obligations for the March 2024 quarter.
But as super clearing houses may take up to 8 days to pass the money through to the super fund, it means that processing and payment to the clearing house should be made no later than Tuesday 16th April.
Please note the ATO’s Small Business Clearing House has a much shorter clearance period – read more at https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/super-for-employers/paying-super-contributions/how-to-pay-super/small-business-superannuation-clearing-house/clearing-house-terms-and-conditions
And please make sure you have been calculating SG super at 11% since it increased on 1st July 2023.
We take the opportunity to remind you that SG super is payable on all forms of remuneration including:-
- Commissions.
- Bonuses (but see below).
- Directors’ fees and all other forms of remuneration to directors.
- Allowances (except where fully expended).
- Individual contractor paid mainly for their labour.
But excluding the following forms of remuneration:-
- Overtime.
- Reimbursements.
- Unused annual leave on termination.
- Bonuses that are only in respect of overtime.
- Bonuses that are ex-gratia but have nothing to do with hours worked (harder to satisfy than what you might think).
- In respect of employees younger than 18.
- Employees carrying our duties of a private or domestic nature for less than 30 hours in a week (such as nannies).
- On quarterly remuneration greater than $62,270.
- Non-residents performing work for an Australian business outside Australia.
SGC super should never be paid late as late payments attract substantial interest and penalties. Furthermore, and SG (and BAS) liabilities that remain unreported and unpaid after 3 months automatically become personal debts of directors.
We welcome any question you might have.
Stage 3 tax cuts and you
After much speculation, the Government has announced that they will amend the legislated Stage 3 tax cuts scheduled to commence on 1 July 2024. This will mean that more Australian taxpayers will receive a personal income tax cut and take home more in their pay packet from 1 July, but for some, the impact will be less favourable than it would have been prior to the redesign.
What will change?
The revised tax cuts redistribute the reforms to benefit lower income households that have been disproportionately impacted by cost of living pressures.
So under the proposed redesign, all resident taxpayers with taxable income under $146,486, who would actually have an income tax liability, will receive a larger tax cut compared with the existing Stage 3 plan. For example:
- An individual with taxable income of $40,000 will receive a tax cut of $654, in contrast to receiving no tax cut under the current Stage 3 plan (but they are likely to have benefited from the tax cuts at Stage 1 and Stage 2).
- And an individual with taxable income of $100,000 would receive a tax cut of $2,179, which is $804 more than under the current Stage 3 plan.
However, an individual earning $200,000 will have the benefit of the Stage 3 plan slashed to around half of what was expected from $9,075 to $4,529. There is still a benefit compared with current tax rates, just not as much.
There is additional relief for low-income earners with the Medicare Levy low-income thresholds expected to increase by 7.1% in line with inflation. It is expected that an individual will not start paying the 2% Medicare Levy until their income reaches $32,500 (up from $26,000).
While the proposed redesign is intended to be broadly revenue neutral compared with the existing budgeted Stage 3 plan, it will cost around $1bn more over the next four years before bracket creep starts to diminish the gains.
How did we get here?
Tax cuts delivered in 3 stages were first announced in the 2018-19 Federal Budget. The personal income tax plan was designed to address the very real issue of ‘bracket creep’ – tax rates not keeping pace with growth in wages and increasing the tax paid by individuals over time.
The three stage plan sought to restructure the personal income tax rates by simplifying the tax thresholds and rates, reducing the tax burden on many individuals and bringing Australia into line with some of our neighbours (i.e., New Zealand’s top marginal tax rate is 39% applying to incomes above $180,000).
Stage 1 tax cuts took effect from 1st July 2018.
Stage 2 tax cuts took effect from 1st July 2020.
Stage 3 as legislated were due to to take effect from 1 July 2024 – but will now change as per the following table.
The current, legislated and re-designed Stage 3 rates for Australian tax residents are:-
| Tax rate | 2023-24 | 2024-25 legislated | 2024-25 proposed |
| 0% | $0 – $18,200 | $0 – $18,200 | $0 – $18,200 |
| 16% | $18,201 – $45,000 | ||
| 19% | $18,201 – $45,000 | $18,201 – $45,000 | |
| 30% | $45,001 – $200,000 | $45,001 – $135,000 | |
| 32.5% | $45,001 – $120,000 | ||
| 37% | $120,001 – $180,000 | $135,001 – $190,000 | |
| 45% | >$180,000 | >$200,000 | >$190,000 |
Any concerns?
If you have any concerns about the impact of the proposed changes please just give us a call.
SG deadline reminder for Dec 23 qtr
I trust you had an enjoyable festive season – but it is now time to focus on time critical obligations. So here is a quick SG deadline reminder.
With the 28th falling on the weekend and the Australia Day public holiday on the 26th, Thursday 27th January is the end date for satisfying your Super Guarantee (SG) super obligations for the December 2023 quarter.
Please make sure you do not confuse this obligation with the December quarter BAS. The December quarter BAS automatically has a one month extension to 28th February . There are no extensions for reporting and payment of SG super.
Please note that super clearing houses can take up to 8 days to pass the money through to the super fund. It therefore means that processing and payment to the clearing should be made as soon as possible.
And please make sure you have been calculating super at 11%% since it increased on 1st July 2023.
Please refer to our previous quarterly reminder as to what forms of remuneration are subject to and not subject to Superannuation Guarantee.
SG super should never be paid late as late payments attract substantial interest and penalties. Furthermore, SG (and BAS) liabilities that remain unreported and unpaid after 3 months automatically can become personal debts of directors.
We welcome any questions you might have.
Christmas & tax (& FBT & GST)
Entertaining and providing gifts at Christmas time to staff, customers and suppliers is a cost of doing business. However, there are some important FBT, GST and income tax considerations and outcomes to keep in mind.
As an employer, you need to be careful at what you provide at Christmas. The rules are complex and the costs of getting it wrong can prove very expensive.
We will outline some of the more common scenarios and what to be careful of.
Under-pinning the implications are the following key points:-
- Christmas parties, entertainment and gifts are all treated under entertainment tax rules.
- FBT applies to benefits given to employees.
- There are no FBT implications on entertainment and gifts given to customers, clients and suppliers.
- A business can adopt one of three methods to quantify the taxable components of any entertainment expenditure – in fact there are 38 permutations depending on who is entertained where, how and with whom. We will largely address the actual method which is the one used by most small businesses (as it usually results in the best outcome). It is beyond the scope of this briefing to address the 12 week log method and we will only touch upon the 50/50 method where relevant.
- Christmas comes but once a year and to the best of my knowledge and experience does so on 25th Nevertheless, the ATO treats Christmas parties and gifts as being what are called minor, infrequent and irregular benefits.
- Such minor benefits are FBT exempt where they cost less than $300 (including GST) provided the actual method is used to quantify entertainment.
The Christmas party
Where entertainment is calculated under the actual expenditure method (which is the most common method for small businesses):-
- A Christmas party is held on-site on a work day, the whole cost for each employee will be an exempt fringe benefit. So too will the spouse’s cost provided the cost per spouse is less than $300. No income tax deduction can be claimed for the cost of the party including that in respect of any family members that may attend. Taxi travel to or from the workplace (not both ways) will be exempt from FBT and not tax deductible.
- When a Christmas party is held off the work premises, then the whole cost will be exempt from FBT provided the party costs less than $300 per person (employees and their spouses). No income tax deduction can be claimed for the cost of the party including that in respect of any family members that may attend.
- If an external Christmas party costs more than $300 or more per person then the total cost is subject to FBT.
- The cost of any entertainment provided during the party (whether that be at the work premises or outside) will be exempt if it costs less than $300 per head – for example a DJ, musician, clown and comedian.
- The cost of entertaining clients, customers and suppliers is not subject to FBT and is not tax deductible.
- Where any exemption is exceeded then FBT is payable. Consequently, an FBT Tax Return must be lodged and FBT paid (the FBT tax rate being the same as the top marginal tax rate). Please keep this in mind when completing the 2018/19 FBT Questionnaire in early April 2019.
- All other entertainment during the year will be subject to FBT on a case by case basis.
Where entertainment is calculated under the 50/50 method:-
- 50% of the cost will be subject to FBT and this portion will be tax deductible. The other 50% will not be subject to FBT and will not be tax deductible. An FBT Tax Return must be lodged and FBT paid.
- Only taxi travel from home to the venue will be FBT exempt and not deductible for tax.
- 50% of all other entertainment during the year will be subject to FBT.
Gifts
The following gifts are exempt from FBT and are tax deductible:-
- Hampers, bottles of wine, gift vouchers, a pen set costing less than $300 (inclusive of GST).
The following gifts are subject to FBT and are not tax deductible:-
- Tickets to a sporting event or theatre, holiday, accommodation, etc.
The GST treatment of gifts is:-
- That the GST component of any tax deductible portion can be claimed back.
- But the GST component that relates to the non tax deductible portion can’t be claimed.
Please do not hesitate to call us should you have any queries.
Small businesses protection against unfair contract laws
Unfair contract laws to protect small businesses were introduced in 2016. We are pleased to report that as of Thursday 9th November, they have substantially tightened.
One of the main changes is that fines can now be imposed against those enforcing unfair contract terms on small businesses. Those fines are up to $2,500,000 for individuals and $50,000,000 for corporations. Previously there were no fines. Now these laws have some teeth!
Furthermore, a person who breaches the new rules can be disqualified from being a director for up to 6 years.
Following are some examples of unfair contract laws (where it gives one party but not the other):-
- Vary the terms of a contract.
- Terminate a contract.
- Renew or not renew a contract.
- Apply penalties to the other party for a breach of contract.
- Vary the price payable without the other party having the right to terminate the contract.
- Vary the characteristics of the contracted goods or services.
- Restrict one party’s right to the sue the other party.
- Another important change is the definition of a small business has been increased from 20 to 100 full and part time employees.
The somewhat recent small business protection now really has some teeth. Moreover, it will act as a deterrent against those who have unfairly acted against small businesses in the past.
Please contact us if you would like a referral for a unfair contract matter to a qualified lawyer.
Two important WorkCover obligations
It’s a busy time of year and therefore timely to remind you of two important WorkCover obligations.
Injured at work posted
One of the fundamental WorkCover obligations is to display the If you are injured at work poster.
If a Victorian WorkCover official visits you then they ask to see it. And you will be fined if you don’t have it displayed.
Please note that this poster is to be displayed at each work location.
If you don’t have a copy you can download a copy at – click here
If you employ workers (and some types of contractors) interstate then you will also need to comply with that state or territory’s obligations.
WorkCover remuneration certification
It may be time to complete your 2023 WorkCover remuneration certification.
Large employers are required to submit early. Other employers have delayed lodgement dates. That said, it still may be in your interest to lodge soon. This is particularly the case if your remuneration will be significantly less in 2023/24 than for 2022/23.
You will get back what you over pay based off their estimate; but why over pay in the first place.
You will also ensure it is lodged. Many employers forget to lodge and suffer from WorkCover’s default 20% annual increase. So get it done now when you have finalised and issued the PAYG Payment Summaries.