Important updates
Important updates for individuals and businesses
This newsletter includes a range of information, including:
Tax planning for business and individuals
Changes to company tax rates
Temporary full expensing for new depreciating assets
Changes to STP reporting from 1 July
When is it a fringe benefit?
Reporting stimulus vouchers in your tax
Claiming the JobMaker Hiring Credit
JobKeeper is ending
Wagga Annual Grants Program - applications are open!
COVID-19 vaccinations & the workplace
Tax planning for business and individuals
As we near the end of another financial year have you thought about whether you need to consider tax planning for yourself or your business?
Tax planning strategies are employed to assist individuals and businesses, both large and small, to achieve their business and financial goals through reducing expected taxable income and lowering tax rates. Measures that may be considered include:
taking advantage of the temporary full expensing, which allows you to immediately deduct the cost of most business assets installed ready for use after 6 October 2020.
prepaying some of your 2021 – 2022 expenses.
reviewing your invoicing for the current financial year.
topping up your voluntary superannuation contributions.
There are a number of reasons why tax planning is important. If you would like to know how you can manage your tax more efficiently, call our office on 0269 384600 to make an appointment with one of our tax professionals today.
Changes to company tax rates
There are changes to company tax rates. While the full company tax rate is 30%, your company may be eligible for a lower company rate.
If you are a 'base rate entity', your company tax rate is:
27.5% from the 2017–18 to 2019–20 income years
26% for the 2020–21 income year
25% from the 2021–22 income year onwards.
For your company to be a 'base rate entity', it needs to meet the following eligibility criteria:
aggregated turnover of less than $25 million for the 2017–18 income year or $50 million from the 2018–19 income year onwards, and
if your company earns passive income, it cannot exceed 80% of the company's assessable income, which can include:
corporate distributions and franking credits on these distributions
royalties and rent
interest income
gains on qualifying securities
a net capital gain.
There are different rules for the 2015–16 and 2016–17 income years.
Temporary full expensing for new depreciating assets
Businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion can immediately deduct the business portion of the cost of eligible new depreciating assets. Corporate tax entities unable to meet the $5 billion turnover test may still be eligible for temporary full expensing under the alternative test. The eligible new assets must be first held, and first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose, between 7.30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2022.
For businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $50 million, temporary full expensing also applies to the business portion of eligible second-hand depreciating assets.
Changes to STP reporting from 1 July
Employers should now be reporting through Single Touch Payroll (STP), unless they only have closely held payees or are covered by a deferral or exemption.
There are changes to STP reporting for small employers with closely held payees and to quarterly reporting for micro employers from 1 July 2021. This may affect how you report to the ATO.
From 1 July 2021:
employers must report any closely held payees through STP. You can choose to report these payees each pay day, monthly or quarterly.
STP quarterly reporting concessions for micro employers will only be available to micro employers who meet certain eligibility requirements. These now include the need for exceptional circumstances to exist.
Employers can apply for this concession through the online deferral tool from 1 July 2021.
Employers who haven't started reporting through STP and don't have a deferral or exemption need to start reporting now.
Remember, registered tax agents and BAS agents can help you with your tax.
When is it a fringe benefit?
The fringe benefits tax (FBT) year ends on 31 March. That means it's time to review benefits you've provided to your employees for the last 12 months and work out which benefits attract FBT.
You need to lodge your FBT return by 21 May 2021. This date may differ if you lodge through a tax agent.
Examples of fringe benefits include:
private use of work cars
entertainment (e.g. concert tickets)
reimbursement of employees' expenses (e.g. school fees)
salary sacrifice arrangements.
Over the past year there have been many changes and restrictions due to COVID. To adapt, you may have provided your employees different benefits to those you usually provide, and these may be exempt from FBT.
Generally, you do not need to pay FBT for:
items provided to employees to enable them to work from home (e.g. laptop or portable device)
emergency accommodation, food and transport
emergency health care.
The minor benefits exemption may also apply for minor, infrequent and irregular benefits under $300.
Reporting stimulus vouchers in your tax
Most states and territories are providing assistance to help boost local economies affected by COVID-19.
Many governments are doing this by issuing vouchers to eligible customers to pay towards purchases from eligible businesses for dining out, entertainment or accommodation.
If your business accepts stimulus vouchers from customers, you may be wondering how to deal with this in your tax.
When you accept a voucher, you need to:
treat the amount the voucher covers and your customer's payment as income
report GST on the total of payments received.
Each state or territory has their own method for your business to claim payments associated with vouchers. You may want to seek further information on the method in your state or territory.
Claiming the JobMaker Hiring Credit
We're halfway through the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme's first claim period, which runs from 1 February to 30 April 2021.
The JobMaker Hiring Credit is available for eligible employers who create new positions for eligible young people between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021.
To receive JobMaker Hiring Credit payments, you don’t need to satisfy a fall in turnover test. All you need to do is complete three steps:
Register - via ATO online services, Online services for business or the Business portal, or through your registered tax or BAS agent.
Nominate your eligible additional employees - by running payroll events through your Single Touch Payroll (STP) enabled software by 27 April 2021.
Claim payments - using ATO online services, Online services for business or the Business portal, or through your registered tax or BAS agent.
The ATO have resources available to help you work out your payment, including a guide and a payment estimator.
You can register at any time until the scheme ends. You must register before the end of the claim period for the first JobMaker period you want to claim for.
JobKeeper is ending
The final JobKeeper payment will be processed in April 2021.
If you haven't yet enrolled there's still time. If you're eligible you can enrol at any time until the end of March 2021.
If you already receive JobKeeper payments for your eligible employees, you don't have to do anything when the program closes.
However, you will need to complete your final monthly business declaration for March by 14 April 2021.
If you still need assistance you may be eligible for the JobMaker Hiring Credit or other help.
Wagga Annual Grants Program - applications are open!
Each financial year, Wagga Wagga City Council makes funds available under its Annual Grants Program for local non-profit community groups, individuals and small business' within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.
The program assists recipients to deliver quality programs, events and projects which support the community and enhance wellbeing.
This year there are 10 categories that you can apply for grant funding under:
Community programs and projects
Recreational facilities
Neighbourhood and rural villages
Rural halls
Arts, culture and creative industries
Local heritage
Events
Natural environment
Youth led initiatives
Small business
Applications close Monday 3rd May 2021 at 10pm.
COVID-19 vaccinations & the workplace
As COVID-19 vaccinations roll out, employers and employees may have questions about their workplace rights and obligations.
Fair Work Ombudsman has provided information and guidance in response to some of these common questions:
Can an employer require an employee to be vaccinated?
What happens if an employee refuses to be vaccinated?
Can an employer require an employee to provide evidence that they have been vaccinated?
If an employee refuses to be vaccinated, can an employer require evidence about why they’ve refused?
Can an employer take disciplinary action if an employee refuses to get vaccinated?
How does a vaccination requirement interact with anti-discrimination laws?
Can an employee refuse to attend the workplace because a co-worker isn’t vaccinated against coronavirus?
Can an employer require a prospective employee to be vaccinated before starting work?