How do franking credits work?

Franking credits are a kind of tax credit that allows Australian companies to pass on the tax paid at company level to shareholders. Franking credits can reduce the income tax paid on dividends or potentially be received as a tax refund. Where a company distributes fully franked dividends (and those dividends are included in the…

What to consider before starting an SMSF

There are a lot of advantages to having a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). Increased flexibility and control over your savings are the most obvious benefits, with many SMSF trustees and members appreciating the ability to make their own investment decisions. Other advantages include the possibility of investing in a property, the ability to manage administrative…

Tax office uncovering Australia’s wealthy

The ATO is currently working with insurance providers in a bid to identify wealthy Australians with policies that cover an expanded range of asset classes. Last month, the office launched a data-matching program, which involves contacting insurers to distinguish policy owners of various classes of insured assets that are often associated with wealth. Insurance policies…

Types of fringe benefits

FBT law includes different categories of fringe benefits and specific valuation rules for each category. FBT is a tax employers pay on benefits they provide to their employees, including their employees’ family or other associates. The benefit may be in addition to, or part of, an employee’s salary or wages. Employers who provide fringe benefits…

Transition to retirement update

A transition to retirement allows older workers who are moving towards retirement to continue working, while at the same time, draw down on some of their superannuation benefits. Since its introduction in 2005 by the Australian Government, the policy has been used by many Australians as a strategy to save tax and boost super before…