ATO

Tax & Super Australia (TSA) has welcomed the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman’s (IGTO’s) report – An investigation into the effectiveness of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) communications of taxpayer rights to complain, review and appeal ­– after nearly 60% of TSA members said the ATO’s communication in this area was inadequate.   While 82% of respondents

Tax & Super Australia (TSA) says the ATO Corporate Plan for 2021-22 is worryingly scant on details for how it will work with tax practitioners, despite this group of professionals being critical to the taxation system’s successful operation. Millions of Australians and small businesses rely on tax agents to help them through tax system complexity.

Tax & Super Australia (TSA) has called for the ATO to consider tax agent feedback about its lodgement program after a TSA member survey showed that the program caused nearly two thirds of tax agents stress, and most believe the Inspector General of Taxation should review the ATO’s administration of it. Nearly 450 TSA tax

The ATO’s release of LCR 2021/2 – which relates to expenditure incurred by superannuation funds under non-arm’s-length arrangements ­– is probably the most concerning tax interpretation ever made by the ATO regarding superannuation funds, says Tax & Super Australia (TSA).  All superannuation fund trustees (from both SMSF and APRA regulated funds) should be very concerned

The ATO’s test case litigation program was established to fund cases that have broader implications beyond individual disputes with the ATO. The ATO says it can help fund your client’s reasonable litigation costs if the outcome of their case will affect a significant number of taxpayers by: clarifying the law, and/or developing legal precedent. The

As a tax concept, “entertainment” can be relevant not only to fringe benefits tax (FBT), but also to income tax and even goods and services tax (GST). For a business, whether a business expense is “entertainment” will generally also determine whether the cost is deductible. If the expenditure can be shown to be directly connected

The small business income tax offset (also known as the unincorporated small business tax discount) can reduce the tax a business pays by up to $1,000 each year. The offset is worked out on the proportion of tax payable on business income. To be eligible, a taxpayer must be carrying on a small business as

Tax & Super Australia (TSA) members have identified a significant problem caused by a recent decision of the ATO to change paper-based activity statements to digital delivery from the month of November 2020.  This change in technology is causing problems for tax agents and their clients. TSA’s Tax Counsel John Jeffreys says the ATO is

At the time when the superannuation guarantee amnesty measure ran its course (it expired 7 September 2020), the Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume reported the amnesty resulted in 24,000 employers coming forward, with about $588 billion paid into nearly 400,000 accounts. Your eligible clients who qualified for the amnesty by disclosing unpaid SG before

The ATO’s Cash Flow Coaching Kit is a free resource that it has provided for tax professionals and business advisers. It is designed as a value-add advisory service to use with small business clients, but does not replace any existing accounting or financial tools, although it can be used to complement software accounting packages. With