Since the lockdowns of 2020-2021, the idea of working from home has become much more mainstream, with many still working from home at least some days of the week in 2024. As we head into the 2023/24 tax season, we offer this refresher on how to claim a tax deduction in your personal tax return, for expenses incurred while working from home. The Australian Taxation Office offers two methods to choose from, when calculating your working from home tax deduction; the fixed rate method an...

How to end the financial year on a high note   As the financial year draws to a close, it's the perfect time to review your financial affairs and set the stage for a successful new financial year. By taking care of essential tasks and implementing strategic planning, you can position yourself for a smooth transition and a strong start for the year to come. Topping up super One important item for the To Do list is to top up your super with either concessional (pre-tax) or non-conc...

What does the Federal Budget mean for me? Treasurer Jim Chalmers has high hopes that his 2024 Federal Budget will rein in inflation earlier than expected, ease cost-of-living pressures and build a stronger economy in the future. It’s a Budget for the here and now, he says, but also for the decades to come. More than $8.4 billion has been allocated to quick-fix cost-of-living adjustments along with the previously announced Stage 3 tax cuts and the waiving of $3 billion in student debt...

New Increased Super Contribution Caps As the end of financial year gets closer, some investors are thinking about the most effective ways to boost their super balance, particularly with an increase in the caps on contributions from 1 July. The concessional contributions cap, which is the maximum in before-tax contributions you can add to your super each year without paying extra tax, is increasing to $30,000 from $27,500 in the new financial year.i The cap increases in line with average we...

Understanding the new $3m super tax The much-debated tax on superannuation balances over $3 million is inching closer and those who may be affected should ensure they have considered the implications. Although it is not yet law, the Division 296 tax should be taken into account when it comes to investment strategy and planning, particularly in relation to any end-of-financial-year contributions into super. Tax for higher account balances The new tax follows a Federal Government annou...