Carrying on a business in an SMSF

Self-managed super funds can carry on a business providing the business is allowed under the trust deed and operated for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits for fund members. Carrying on a business through an SMSF does have restrictions that other businesses do not have, such as entering into credit arrangements or having overdrafts.…

Identifying undervalued assets

Recent research has found that an alarming 31 per cent of SMSF trustees consider choosing investments as one of the hardest aspects of running an SMSF. Value investing is one such strategy that SMSF investors can utilise to boost their portfolios. Value investing involves identifying undervalued assets that have the potential to increase in value…

Have you received personal services income?

Personal services income (PSI) is income mainly produced from your personal skills or efforts. There are special tax rules that apply if your income is classified as PSI. Almost any trade, industry or profession can receive PSI. The most common are financial professionals, IT consultants, engineers, construction workers and medical practitioners. PSI does not affect…

Increased access to Superannuation Clearing House

The ATO has changed the conditions of registration for businesses to access the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House. The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is a free online service available for small businesses to make super contributions for their employees. The Tax Office is now allowing businesses with 19 or less employees or businesses with…

Tax penalty remissions

The Australian Taxation Office distributes penalties to ensure individuals are not making misleading or false statements regarding income, business and wealth matters. Studies indicate there is over $5.5 billion lost every year through tax avoidance in Australia, a massive amount of money. One of the reasons these penalties exist is to ensure taxpayers take more…

Fuel tax credits – rate change

On 1 August 2017, fuel tax credit rates increased. Some of these rates also changed on 1 July 2017, due to a change in the road user charge and an annual increase to excise duty rates on biofuels. Fuel tax credit rates change regularly – they are indexed twice a year, in February and August,…

ATO targeting SMSF non-compliance

The Tax Office is warning SMSF trustees that they will be contacting SMSFs that have not regularly complied with their lodgment obligations. The ATO is reminding trustees that lodging an SMSF annual return is an obligation and failure to do so is a breach of super laws. To avoid penalties, the Tax Office is urging…

Lodge nil BAS in advance

Activity statements generally issue from the ATO by the end of the month but in some circumstances they can be generated early. Business owners can access activity statements early in the following cases: your business has ceased you will be travelling and will not be able to obtain your activity statement if generated under normal…