Middle-Income Earners Warned of End to LMITO Relief

The low and middle-income tax offset (LMITO), also referred to as the lamington offset, is a tax relief that an estimated over 10 million Australian taxpayers have enjoyed since the 2018-2019 financial year. Introduced by the previous Liberal government, it was due to end on 30 June 2022. The current…

Super Fund Satisfaction Declines

Leading market research firm, Roy Morgan, has released its Superannuation Satisfaction report that indicates a decline in overall satisfaction with the super fund in February 2023. The results are based on findings from in-depth interviews with over 60,000 Australians. Satisfaction with super funds was found to have dipped by 5.4%…

Government Doubles Tax On Super Balances Over $3M

Treasurer Dr, Jim Chalmers has said that the labour government will be doubling the tax rate applied on the future earnings for superannuation balances over $3 million as of 2025-26. Currently, this concessional rate stands at 15% but will increase to 30% in a couple of years. It is estimated…

RBA Hikes Interest Rates To 1.85 percent

Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Philip Lowe, has announced that the cash rate target has been increased by 50 basis points to 1.85%. This is the fourth consecutive month in which the cash rate has been increased. In June and July, the rate was similarly increased by…

Accounting Professionals to Temper Salary Increment Expectations

The 2022-2023 Hays Salary Guide has shown that the accounting and finance sector is facing increased competition for skilled professionals. This is a problem many other industries are facing and has led to unemployment dropping to just 3.9% this year. It is expected to drop further to 3.5% in 2023,…

ATO to Resume Recovery of Debts on Hold

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has informed tax professionals that their clients will begin receiving notification letters on any outstanding aged debt beginning May 2022. Aged debt, or debts on hold, are uneconomic non-pursued debts that are not visible on the balance of taxpayers’ accounts as they have been classified…

IPA Criticizes ATO On New 100A Guidelines

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) released draft documents concerning the tax treatment of trusts. These guidelines provide recommendations as to how section 100A under the Income Tax Assessment Act of 1936 should be applied in regards to trust stripping arrangements. A key focus of the documents is where distributions are…

Directors Targeted In ATO Debt Collection Drive

Seen as a sign that the government is now ending its soft approach to tax debt since the pandemic started, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) announced earlier this year that they would be contacting company directors via letter concerning their potential liability for company tax debts. Since then, over 50,000…

Accountants Put On Notice Over LMITO Changes

As part of the pre-election budget reading on 29 March 2022, the government declared plans to boost the low and middle-income tax offset (LMITO) by an additional $420. Prior to this, the cost of living offset amount was $1,080. This brings the new total to $1,500 for individuals and $3,000…

Modern Tax Compliance Measures To Come

In announcing the government’s fourth Federal budget before elections likely to take place in May, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has introduced new tax measures seemingly aimed at streamlining the tax return process and making it easier for taxpayers to meet their tax payment obligations. The budget indicates that as of 1…