Now that the end of the financial year has passed, CPA Australia has alerted taxpayers to the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) main focus areas for tax returns: rental property income, work-related expenses, and cryptocurrency profits. Scrutiny on Rental Property Claims Rental property owners should be meticulous with their claims, as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has heightened its scrutiny on various aspects of rental property deductions. One primary area of focus is the distinction between
Read moreAuthor: Jane Purnell
On the evening of 14 May 2024, the Government delivered what is possibly its last Budget in the current parliamentary term. The next election is expected to be held either late this year or early in 2025.Inflation, cost of living pressures, and housing all continue to dominate the fiscal landscape, impacting the lives of Australians. The key challenges addressed in this year’s Budget include:Easing cost of living and inflationary pressures,Building more houses,Strengthening Medicare and the care
Read moreWhether you are a homeowner or a renter, everyone is entitled to live in their homes with peace and quiet enjoyment. This right, however, can sometimes be challenged by various disruptions, making it essential to understand how to protect it without undue stress.For renters in Queensland, the concept of "quiet enjoyment" is enshrined in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. This legislation ensures that tenants can enjoy their rented premises without undue disturbance
Read moreHeading into end of financial year tax time is a good time to begin thinking about, and brushing up on, understanding how to determine the tax deductibility of expenses. The ATO allows for a wide variety of expenses to be offset against assessable income as part of your tax return. This applies to not only individuals, but also companies, trusts and even superannuation funds.The ATO publishes a wealth of information on its interpretation of what
Read moreWhile buying a home to live in remains out of reach for many Australians, investors are flooding back into the housing market. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows lending to investors - otherwise known as landlords, has jumped almost 20 per cent in the past year. That is, almost four in 10 people taking out a mortgage now are landlords. The combination of rising house prices, rising population growth (mostly due to migration), rising
Read moreIn Queensland, stepping into the property market can be significantly more accessible for first-time homebuyers, thanks to the First Home Concession on transfer duty. This concession is a boon for eligible buyers, potentially saving them a substantial amount on the costs associated with purchasing a home. Here’s what both real estate agents and first-time buyers need to know about qualifying and applying for this benefit. Eligibility Criteria To avail of the First Home Concession, several
Read morePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced changes to address ongoing cost of living pressures with all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers receiving a tax cut from 1 July 2024, compared to the tax they paid in 2023-24. Now is the time to assess what it means to your hip pocket and what implications it may have for end of financial year planning as a result of the new rules, due from 1 July 2024. The Federal Government has
Read moreWhen you look at the dynamics around sourcing a property for extended family including those that may be elderly or disabled, granny flats often come into play! Their demand is escalating given rising living costs and the accelerating lack of affordable housing for the vulnerable.When you list a property with a granny flat or a home that has the potential to have this added on, please carefully consider the legal framework that surrounds the scenario
Read moreOver one million Australians have embraced increased autonomy over retirement funds by opting for a self-managed super fund (SMSF). An SMSF offers the advantage of diversifying investments across a wider array of asset classes compared to conventional superannuation funds. Prioritising your financial objectives is essential when evaluating investment opportunities. While conservative assets (cash and bonds) offer stable cash flow, growth assets such as property, shares (Australian and global) and commodities contribute to wealth accumulation. Below
Read moreIt seems anyone you speak with is talking about how much they have in a particular “crypto” or how they want to own crypto. What is driving the latest interest in the sector?The best known of the cryptocurrencies is Bitcoin (BTC), so let’s use BTC as a proxy for all crypto as to a large extent, it sets the tone for how the currencies are perceived by traders. BTC reached its all-time high price of
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