Practice Update December 2018

4 December 2018
Cash economy under fire: ATO directly contacting taxpayers

P r a c t i c e   U p d a t e

December 2018

 

Company loans to shareholders under review

The Government has released a consultation paper outlining proposed reforms to ‘simplify’ the loan agreements that are generally required when a shareholder (or their associate) borrows funds (or receives a payment) from a related company.

Editor: Broadly, where a private company makes a payment or loans funds to a shareholder and/or their associate, the amount will be treated as a taxable unfranked dividend paid to the recipient.  

To avoid this, many shareholders enter into complying 'Division 7A loan agreements' (basically agreeing to repay the relevant amount within 7 years, or 25 years if the loan is secured).

With this in mind ,Treasury is currently looking at (amongst other things):

 

q     simplifying the Division 7A loan rules by converting to a new 10-year model; and

q     clarifying that distributions from a trust to a ‘bucket’ company that remain 'unpaid present entitlements' come within the scope of Division 7A.

Editor: The proposed amendments are intended to apply from 1 July 2019 and will arguably be the most significant tax reforms impacting business and investment clients over the next two years.

At this stage of the consultation process, the Government is currently considering submissions made with respect to these proposals and it is expected that draft legislation, and further clarity, will be available early in the 2019 calendar year.    

ATO to send text messages if bank account details incorrect

The ATO has advised that it will send SMS text messages directly to taxpayers where incorrect bank account details were included in their tax returns and they were entitled to a refund.

The SMS will advise impacted taxpayers that:

 

q     their refund cannot be processed due to incorrect bank account details; and

q     they should phone the ATO on 13 28 61 to correct their details.

If impacted taxpayers contact the ATO with their correct details within seven days, any refund due will be issued electronically.

Editor: In the wake of an increase in recent tax fraud attempts, it is clear that taxpayers need to exercise additional caution when dealing with electronic messaging from (or purportedly from) the ATO.

The authenticity of ATO correspondence can be verified by calling the ATO on 1800 008 540 ; however, if you are ever unsure about any correspondence received, please contact our office.

 

ATO contact regarding business cars and Fringe Benefits Tax ('FBT')

The ATO has recently advised that it will be contacting taxpayers (and tax agents on behalf of their clients) that have been identified as having cars registered in their business name who have not lodged an FBT return.

The ATO has reminded businesses that:

 

q     a car fringe benefit will occur when a business owns or leases a car and makes it available for an employee's private travel or use (including garaging the car at or near an employee's home and making it available for private use); and that

q     business directors are also 'employees' for FBT purposes.

 

External collection agencies to enforce ATO lodgment obligations

The ATO has finalised a trial relating to sending overdue taxpayer lodgment obligations to external collection agencies.

As a result, it may now refer taxpayers to an external collection agency to secure tax return lodgment.

The ATO has stated that it will only refer a taxpayer to an external collection agency where the taxpayer takes no action in response to its initial correspondence letters.

 

ATO data matching and share transactions

The ATO has extended its data matching program, this time focusing on share data.

The ATO will continue to receive share data from ASIC, including details of the price, quantity and time of individual trades dating back to 2014, with more than 500 million records obtained.

The ATO will use the information to identify taxpayers who have not properly reported the sale or transfer of shares as income or capital gains in their income tax returns.

It seems share transactions are high on the ATO's priority list, given more than 5 million Australian adults (almost one-third) now own shares.

 

Improvements to employee share schemes announced

The Government has announced it intends to introduce legislation to improve the ability of small businesses to offer employee share schemes by simplifying the current regulatory framework, and reducing the time and cost burden for businesses by (amongst other things):

 

q     increasing the value limit of eligible financial products that can be offered in a 12-month period from $5,000 per employee to $10,000 per employee;

q     creating an exemption for disclosure, licensing, advertising and on-sale obligations in the Corporations Act; and

q     allowing small businesses to offer (in most instances) employee share schemes without publicly disclosing commercially sensitive financial information.

 

ATO guidance regarding 'downsizer contributions'

The ability to make 'downsizer contributions' effectively commenced on 1 July 2018, prompting the ATO to release further guidance with respect to this new superannuation contribution classification.

Editor: This new measure will be of most assistance for individuals approaching retirement, where they dispose of their family home in an effort to ‘downsize’ and they want to contribute part or all of the proceeds to superannuation.

Basically, these measures allow older Australians to make a downsizer contribution where:

q     they are aged at least 65;

q     there was consideration received for the disposal of an eligible Australian dwelling;

q     the contract of sale for the property was entered into on or after 1 July 2018 ;

q     a superannuation contribution is generally made within 90 days of settlement;

q     the contribution does not exceed the lesser of $300,000 and the proceeds received from the sale of the dwelling;

q     an ownership interest in the dwelling had been held for at least 10 years (usually by the individual making the contribution or their spouse);

q     either a full or partial CGT main residence exemption applies to the disposal of the dwelling;

q     a choice to treat the contribution as a downsizer contribution is made in the approved form; and

q     broadly speaking, it is the first downsizer contribution the taxpayer has made.

 

Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.

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18 December 2024
Don’t let taxes dampen your holiday spirit! Just like Santa carefully checks who’s naughty or nice, businesses need to watch the tax rules when spreading Christmas cheer. Hosting festive parties for employees or clients can lead to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). FBT is a tax employers pay when they provide extra perks to employees, their families, or associates. It’s separate from regular income tax and is based on the value of the benefit. The FBT year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and businesses must calculate and report any FBT they owe. With a bit of planning—just like Santa’s perfect delivery route—you can celebrate while keeping your tax worries in check! FBT exemption: A little Christmas gift from the taxman The tax rules include a “minor benefit exemption”—like a small stocking stuffer. If the benefit given to each employee costs less than $300 and isn’t a regular thing, it’s exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). Christmas parties fit perfectly here because they’re one-off events. Businesses can avoid FBT hassles if the cost per employee stays under $300. Remember: the more often you give out perks, the less likely they’ll qualify for this exemption. Thankfully, Christmas only comes once a year! Christmas parties at the office If you host your Christmas party at your business premises during a regular workday, costs like food and drinks are FBT-free, no matter how much you spend. However, you can’t claim a tax deduction or GST credits for those expenses. If employees’ family members join and the cost per person is under $300, there’s still no FBT, but again, no tax deduction or GST credits can be claimed. However, FBT will apply if the cost is over $300 per person. The good news is that you can claim both a tax deduction and GST credits in that case. FBT check for Christmas parties at the office Who attendsCost per personDoes FBT applyIncome tax deduction/Input Tax Credit available? Employees onlyUnlimitedNoNoEmployees and their familyLess than $300NoNoMore than $300YesYesClientsUnlimitedNoNo Think of it like this: at your Christmas party, the food and drinks are like Santa’s bag of gifts – no dollar limit exists for employees enjoying them on business premises. But if you add a band or other entertainment, the costs can add up quickly, and if the total cost per employee exceeds $300, FBT kicks in. Keep it under $300 per person, and you’re in the clear. Christmas parties outside the office If you hold your Christmas party at an external venue, like a restaurant or hotel, it’s FBT-free as long as the cost per employee (including their family, if they come) is under $300. But remember, you can’t claim a tax deduction or GST credits in this case. FBT will apply if the cost exceeds $300 per person, but you can claim a tax deduction and GST credits. Good news: employers don’t have to pay FBT for taxi rides to or from the workplace because there’s a special exemption. FBT check for Christmas parties outside the office Who attendsCost per personDoes FBT applyIncome tax deduction/Input Tax Credit available? Employees onlyLess than $300NoNoMore than $300YesYesEmployees and their familyLess than $300NoNoMore than $300YesYesClientsUnlimitedNoNo Clients at the Christmas party If clients attend the Christmas party, there’s no FBT on the expenses related to them, no matter where the party is held. However, you can’t claim a tax deduction or GST credits for part of the costs that apply to clients. Christmas gifts Many employers enjoy giving gifts to their employees during the festive season. If the gift costs less than $300 per person, there’s no FBT, as it’s usually not considered a fringe benefit. FBT check for Christmas gifts Who attendsCost per personDoes FBT applyIncome tax deduction/Input Tax Credit available? Entertainment giftsLess than $300NoNoMore than $300YesYesNon-entertainment giftsLess than $300NoYesMore than $300YesYes However, FBT might apply if the gift is for entertainment. Entertainment gifts include things like tickets to concerts, movies, or holidays. Non-entertainment gifts—like gift hampers, vouchers, flowers, or a bottle of wine—are usually FBT-free if under $300. So spread the festive cheer, but keep an eye on the taxman to avoid surprises!

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