Posts Categorized: Tips of the week

10 key actions to claim JobKeeper v2.1

JobKeeper as we know finishes on Sunday 27th Sep. 

It is not automatic that current recipients will continue to receive this valuable government support.  On the other hand, employers who did not qualify previously may now do so.

You now have just 9 days to be able to claim from Monday 28th September.

To claim for JobKeeper v2.1, you will need to have 10 key actions completed (and pronto):-

  1. Have your accounting file up to date with correct GST allocations

  2. Assess your decline turnover under the new definition of GST turnover

  3. If you fail re-assess under newly set alternative tests

  4. Work out which employees will qualify

  5. Work out which of the two new rates apply to each employee

  6. Issue and collect completed newly qualified employees with a JobKeeper Payment Employee Notification form

  7. Advise employees what their rate will be

  8. Register new employees

  9. Attend to same process for eligible business participants

  10. Update payroll system

If you want to know more, you can enrol in our free webinar which will be held at 5.30pm on Monday 28th September – to do so click here

We welcome any question you may have – please e-mail accountants@mrsaccountants.com.au

 

CGT hit on those who sell their home whilst living overseas

Late last week, a highly contentious bill passed which levies a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) hit on those who sell their home whilst living overseas.

It doesn’t matter how long you lived in your former Australian home.  If you sell it whilst loving overseas, you pay tax on the whole gain.  There is neither a reduction for:-

  • The time it was your home, nor
  • The 50% general CGT tax discount which non-residents are not entitled to since 2012.
We will set out more later.

In the meantime, if this affects you, family or friends, keep the following two tips front of mind:-

  • It doesn’t apply to house owned since May 2017 which are sold before July 2020.
  • Normal CGT treatment applies if the house is sold when you again become a tax resident of Australia.

In the meantime we welcome any question you may have.

 

Binding death benefit nomination

For a binding death benefit nomination to be binding:-

  • It must be made in favour of a tax dependent.

  • It must be done using the approved form for the fund.

  • It must be witnessed.

  • It must be made whilst having mental capacity (so an elderly person may be wise to have their GP assess their cognitive powers).

A binding death benefit nomination only holds for 3 years.  After 3 years, it loses its validity.

Whilst a binding death benefit nomination must be followed by the super fund trustees and therefore creates certainty, it may not be the best option for you.  

You should not execute a binding death benefit nomination until you have completed a full estate planning review and done so with the input of your accountant, financial planner and estate planning lawyer.

Tips to stay positive in the face of COVID-19

We are doing all we can to help our clients.  With this in mind, we publish below a series of tips to stay positive in the face of COVID-19. 

We give thanks to the UK’s James Ashby who has allowed this document to be openly shared.

COVID-19 matters

We are sorry to have not posted over recent weeks.

In the face of various COVID-19 matters, we have been flat out:-

  • Helping our clients with their challenges,

  • Creating a Business Continuity Plan and support program,

  • Creating and delivering Friday’s business survival webinar, 

  • Undertaking necessary precautions internally, and

  • Preparing ourselves for a possible office closure.

We can now return to providing more regular blogs and if you aren’t an existing client, welcome the opportunity to assist you to be informed and in control in these volatile and uncertain times.

 

SG amnesty – prior reported breaches

An employer who is late in paying their super must pay it to the ATO on an SG Super Charge Statement. 

An admin charge and lost earnings component are added to the amount payable.  Worse still, the total amount paid is not tax deductible.  As we always say super liabilities are the liabilities you pay first.

Last week the SG Amnesty laws were passed by Parliament.  This amnesty allows employers to report and pay any underpaid super and do so without the usual penalties. 

What it also enables is those that have previously lodged a SG Super Charge Statement to seek a refund.

We welcome the opportunity to assist you with this and will provide guidance once we have been trained on the amnesty.

 

 

ATO focusing in on investment strategies

The ATO is focusing in on investment strategies. 

Last September they wrote to, and scared the life out of, 17,700 self managed super fund (SMSF) trustees. 

Last week they released their guidelines.  We will explain their approach and demands as we study these guidelines.

We will also be in discussion with our SMSF auditor.

We do not believe any major shift will be applied retrospectively. 

Reducing tax on the former home

An often over looked way to reduce the tax paid on the sale of a former home is to use the six year absence rule.

The net rent you receive is assessable (or deductible if negatively geared) but the gain itself can be disregarded.

However, you must take care when choosing to use this method when you live in another home.  One is only entitled to one principal residence (family home) exemption so choose carefully

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss what is best for you.  We welcome your call.

Maximise your health insurance entitlements

The end of the year is fast approaching.  So amongst your festivity planning, make sure you maximise your health insurance entitlements.

Health funds re-set their limits for extras come January.  If you have an unused cap for things such as dental, physios and the like, you may wish to use up your health insurance entitlements before they are lost. 

Seeing the physio might be a good move if, like me, you seem to be carrying and lifting a lot of heavy things over the next 30 days!

Don’t forget to register for GST!

Don’t forget to register for GST!  If you don’t it could be costly.

The GST registration threshold for businesses that are not non-profits and taxis is $75,000.  If your annual turnover exceeds $75,000 and you are not registered, then the ATO will demand you pay them 1/11th of your turnover.

It can prove rather costly!

Where turnover is not seasonal, we recommend that clients register once their turnover exceeds $6,000 per month.  And sometimes earlier if they will soon be at the limit and have good accounting processes (which we can help set up).

Not sure what is best for you – call us for a free discussion.