Tax Rebates Tax Advice: 2024 Tax Return | Increase Your Tax Refund | Tax Deductions | Medicare and Health Insurance | Tax Rebates Claiming Home Office Expenses in 2024 The ATO announced big changes to how you claim home office expenses on your 2024 tax return. Before we get into the details, don’t stress – at Etax we’ll help get it right for you. Some of the changes to work-from-home claims are complicated, BUT, Etax will automatically calculate which deduction method gives you the […] What is the maximum ATO late lodgement penalty? The maximum fine handed out by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for not lodging your tax return by the 31 October deadline is $1,565! Fines can start at $313 for being just one day overdue, then increase over time, as follows: Days overdue Total fine amount 1 – 28 days $313 29 – 56 days […] New changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts explained In a snapshot, it is confirmed that the government’s proposed tax changes comes into effect from 1 July 2024. Compared to the original stage 3 tax cuts, these changes give a break to low and middle-income earners by lowering the tax withheld from their take home pay. The result: Australians get more money in their […] What is negative gearing and is it the right strategy for you? Put simply, negative gearing occurs when an investor borrows money to buy a property, and the cost of owning and running that property exceeds the rental income it generates. As an investor of a negatively geared property, you make up the gap between the expenses on the property and the rental income. This isn’t always […] Tax deductions for IT professionals – what you can claim There’s no denying it, IT professionals are the unseen frontline heroes of a business. Whether you’re a developer, a support guru or a security ninja, it’s never an easy job to keep services and people working, 24/7. What is surprising is the number of available tax deductions for IT professionals. So, let’s get our IT […] Paying GST at Settlement: What you need to know What is GST Withholding If you buy a new residential property, or land with the intention to build a residential property and you make this purchase from a GST registered business, you need to withhold an amount for GST to pay directly to the ATO on settlement. When does the GST Residential Withholding payment apply […] The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO) is Over – What Does it Mean for You? We all enjoy an extra boost in our tax refund. Most recently, the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO) has helped boost refunds for millions of Aussie workers. The government introduced LMITO in the 2018-19 tax year and increased in value in 2021-22 with an additional “cost of living tax offset”. Unfortunately, the end […] Salary Sacrifice and Tax: The Basics Salary sacrifice arrangements, also known as salary packaging, can be a smart way to get ahead, but it can also get confusing. Essentially, salary sacrificing means you use a portion of your pre-tax income in exchange for certain benefits or items. And, as you use your pre-tax income, you pay less tax overall. Many employers […] Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Whether you receive fringe benefits as part of your employment contract or a salary sacrifice package, it’s important to understand how fringe benefits tax affects your tax return. Your employer must pay any tax applied to the fringe benefits you receive, but you will also need to report them on your tax return. What are […] Claim tax deductions to get a better tax refund If you’re not sure how to claim tax deductions or what you’re actually allowed to claim, you’re not alone! The most common things our clients ask us is, “exactly what tax deductions can I claim on my tax return?” When you claim tax deductions the right way, you get more cash back in your pocket at […]