Practice Update February 2021

25 January 2021

WHAT IS NEW IN 2021?

From January 2021, a number of new measures came into effect across government including:
  • The most significant changes to Australia’s insolvency framework in 30 years, reducing costs, cutting red tape, and helping more small business recover from the pandemic. The reforms introduce a new, simplified debt restructuring process, drawing on key features of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy model in the United States. These measures apply to incorporated businesses with liabilities of less than $1million – covering around 76 per cent of businesses subject to insolvencies today, 98 per cent of whom who have less than 20 These measures were passed by Parliament on 10.12.2020.
  • Australians will have more power to choose their own superannuation fund, instead of being forced into a fund because of enterprise bargaining agreements. ‘Your Superannuation, Your Choice’ allows around 800,000Australians to decide where their hard-earned retirement savings are invested, representing around 40 per cent of all employees covered by a current enterprise agreement.
  • The successful HomeBuilder program extends to 31March The scheme is expected to support the construction or major rebuild of an additional 15,000 homes, bringing the total to around 42,000 projects across Australia. HomeBuilder continues to drive demand in the construction sector, helping to protect the jobs of the more than one million Australians it employs.
  • Up to 30,000 more Australians can now study for a university degree as part of the Government’s Job-ready Graduates package, helping drive Australia’s COVID-19 recovery. Course fees are to be discounted in areas of expected future job demand, including teaching, nursing, clinical psychology, agriculture, and engineering. Regional students also have access to a $5,000 one-off scholarship to help with relocation costs.
  • Major reforms to Australia’s foreign investment framework take effect, with new requirements for foreign investors. This aims to ensure Australia keeps pace with emerging risks and global developments including similar changes to foreign investment regimes in comparable countries.
$10K CASH BAN BILL KILLED IN THE SENATE
On 3.12.2020, the Senate unanimously agreed to discharge the Currency (Restrictions on the Use of Cash) Bill 2019 designated to tackle the black economy and tax evasion by banning businesses from engaging in large cash transactions.
On 3.12.2020, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts moved that the bill be discharged.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar acknowledged the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses and the broader economy.
According to Mr Sukkar:

  • As we progress through to the recovery stage, we recognise now is not the time to impose an additional burden on small business.
  • The government is implementing a number of measures to tackle serious organised crime, as well as increasing the resources of the serious and organised crime program, a cross-agency program of work comprising the ATO, Commonwealth, state and territory policing, and other law enforcement agencies, working to disrupt serious organised crime in Australia.
In our view, it is very unlikely this legislation will be revived in 2021.

AAT DECISION ON BACKDATED ABNS
On 21 December 2020, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) handed down its decision in Apted and Federal Commissioner of Taxation (Tribunal reference 2020/4562).
This case involves eligibility for the JobKeeper Allowance.

AAT decision
The AAT held that the applicant did meet the requirement to have an ABN on 12 March 2020, in circumstances where the ABR Registrar decided to reactivate a previously cancelled Australian business number (ABN) after 12 March 2020 and backdated the reactivation to have effect on or before 12 March 2020.

The ATO is currently considering the decision and its implications, including whether to appeal.

The AAT’s decision has not changed the need to satisfy all the other eligibility conditions. If your JobKeeper application was declined because you did not meet the requirement to have an ABN on 12 March 2020, and you are satisfied that you meet all other eligibility requirements, the ATO will be providing updates over the coming weeks.

The ATO will provide further information on your next steps once they have considered the AAT decision and its implications.

LOSS CARRY BACK REFUNDABLE TAX OFFSET
Loss carry back is a tax incentive and part of the government’s JobMaker Plan.
Loss carry back is a refundable tax offset for eligible corporate entities (companies, corporate limited partnerships and public trading trusts).

It allows them to carry back tax losses from the 2019–20, 2020–21 or 2021–22 income years to offset income tax liabilities in the 2018–19 income year or later.

You cannot claim the tax offset in your 2019–20 company tax return. You will be able to claim the tax offset in your 2020–21 or 2021–22 company tax return.

The ATO is updating the 2020-21 company tax return forms with additional loss carry back labels to be ready for 1 July 2021.

Currently the ATO is working through how companies that lodge their 2020–21 company tax return before 1 July 2021 can make a loss carry back claim. In the near future they will be updating their web content and give you information on how to claim.

Loss carry back is intended to interact with the temporary full expensing measure. If you are an eligible corporate entity and you make a tax loss in the 2019–20, 2020–21 or 2021–22 income years as a result of claiming an immediate deduction under the temporary full expensing measure, you can still claim a refundable tax offset.

We will keep you informed on developments.

TAX CONCESSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS FROM 2020/21
Temporary full expensing of depreciating assets
Eligible businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion can deduct the business portion of the cost of eligible new depreciating assets.
These 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 until 30 June 2022.

For small and medium sized businesses (aggregated turnover of less than $50 million), temporary full expensing also applies to the business portion of eligible second-hand depreciating assets.

Businesses can also apply temporary full expensing to the business portion of the cost of improvements made to eligible depreciating assets. This applies even if those assets were acquired before 7.30pm (AEDT) on 6 October 2020.

Under temporary full expensing, small businesses also deduct the balance of their small business pool at the end of the income years ending between 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2022.

Small businesses will need to apply the simplified depreciation rules to claim temporary full expensing. From 7.30pm (AEST) 12 May 2015 to 30 June 2022, the ‘lock out’ rules are suspended to allow small businesses that choose to stop using the simplified depreciation rules to take advantage of temporary full expensing and the instant asset write-off.

Instant asset write-off
There have been changes to the instant asset write-off.
From 12 March 2020, the instant asset write-off:
  • threshold amount for each asset is $150,000 (up from $30,000)
  • allows businesses until 30 June 2021 to first use or install the asset ready for use, provided the asset is purchased by 31 December 2020.
  • eligibility was expanded to cover businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $500million (up from $50 million).
Lower company tax rate changes
From the 2017–18 to 2019–20 income years, companies that are base rate entities must apply the lower 27.5% company tax rate.

The lower company tax rate for base rate entities will reduce to 26% in 2020–21 and to 25% from the 2021–22 income year.

A base rate entity is a company that both:
  • Has an aggregated turnover less than the aggregated turnover threshold – which is $25 million for the 2017–18 income year and $50 million for the 2018–19 to 2021–22 income years.
  • 80% or less of their assessable income is base rate entity passive income (such as interest, dividends, rent, royalties, and net capital gain) – this replaces the requirement to be carrying on a business.
When working out the rate to use when franking your distributions, you need to assume that your aggregated turnover, assessable income, and base rate passive income will be the same as the previous year.

Increased small business income tax offset
You can claim the small business income tax offset if you either:
  • are a small business sole trader
  • have a share of net small business income from a partnership or trust.
From the 2016–17 income year, the small business income tax offset:
  • increased to 8%, with a limit of $1,000 each year
  • applies to small businesses with turnover less than $5
The tax offset increases to 13% in 2020–21 and to 16% from the 2021–22 income year.
The ATO will work out your offset based on amounts shown in your tax return.

Expanded access to small business concessions
More businesses may now be eligible for most small business tax concessions.
From 1 July 2016, a range of small business tax concessions became available to all businesses with turnover of less than $10 million (the turnover threshold). Previously the turnover threshold was $2 million.

The $10 million turnover threshold applies to most concessions, except for:
  • The small business income tax offset, which has a $5million turnover threshold from 1 July 2016.
  • Capital gains tax (CGT) concessions, which continue to have a $2million turnover threshold.
The turnover threshold for fringe benefits tax (FBT) concessions increased to $10 million from 1 April 2017 and will increase to $50 million from 1 April 2021.

From 1 July 2020, businesses that are not small businesses because their turnover is $10 million or more but less than $50 million can also access an immediate deduction for certain start-up expenses and for prepaid expenditure.

From 1 July 2021, businesses that are not small businesses because their turnover is $10 million or more but less than $50 million can also access these small business concessions:
  • simplified trading stock rules
  • PAYG instalments concession
  • a two-year amendment period
  • excise concession.
PRACTICAL COMPLIANCE GUIDELINE PCG 2020/3
Claiming deductions for additional running expenses incurred whilst working from home due to COVID-19 has been recently updated by the ATO.
While the changes are not substantive, we re-visit examples which provide valuable guidance, contained in PCG 2020/3 as this is the first full (hopefully last!) financial year we live with COVID-19.

Example 1 – not working from home
Abed’s employer has requested staff take leave while the business is suffering a downturn due to COVID-19. Abed takes four weeks annual leave. During that period, he occasionally checks his email to see if there is anything he needs to keep abreast of while he is on leave. His employer also sends him text messages to keep him up to date on changes to the business.

This would not qualify as working from home as Abed is on leave and not actively working; he is just occasionally checking in. As such, Abed cannot rely on this Guideline.

Example 2 – working from home
Bianca is a sole trader who works as a copy writer and editor. She usually works out of a shared workspace in the central business district as it is easier to meet with her clients face-to-face. Bianca decides to work from home as a result of COVID-19 and replaces her face-to-face meetings with online video conferencing. Bianca continues to operate her business and would meet the criteria for working from home. As such, Bianca can rely on this Guideline to claim her additional running expenses.

Example 3 – additional running expenses incurred – existing arrangement
Duyen is an employee of an online trading business. Up until the end of February, Duyen spent two days working from home and three days working at the office of her employer. As a result of COVID-19, she starts working from home five days per week from 1 March 2020. For the period from 1 July 2019 to 29 February 2020, Duyen uses the current fixed rate of 52 cents per hour to calculate her additional running expenses including electricity expenses, cleaning expenses and the decline in value and repair of her office furniture. She also calculates her work-related phone and internet expenses using the itemised phone bill for one month on which she has marked her work-related phone calls and the four-week representative diary of internet usage that she kept.

As Duyen is working from home she can rely on this Guideline to claim her additional running expenses for the period from 1 March 2020.

Duyen ends up working from home for five days per week until 30 June 2020 as a result of COVID-19. Rather than continuing to use the current fixed rate and working out the actual expenses she incurred on her phone and internet expenses from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020, Duyen decides, for simplicity, to calculate all her running expenses using the shortcut rate. Duyen uses the timesheets she is required to provide to her employer to calculate the number of hours she works from home in the period from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 and keeps those timesheets as evidence of her claim.

Example 4 – additional running expenses incurred – business owner
Elizabeth runs a small business selling art and framing pictures. She has a store with a workshop to display the art and frames. She also does all her bookkeeping and administrative tasks in the office at the store. As a result of the downturn in people coming into her store due to COVID-19, Elizabeth decides to close her store and continue running her business online from home. As Elizabeth continues to run her business from home due to COVID-19, she can rely on this Guideline to claim her additional running expenses.

The shortcut rate
The shortcut rate is 80 cents per hour. This rate can be claimed for every hour that is worked at home. The hourly rate covers all additional running expenses, namely:
  • electricity (lighting, cooling/heating and electronic items used for work, for example a computer) and gas (heating) expenses
  • the decline in value and repair of capital items such as home office furniture and furnishings
  • cleaning expenses
  • phone expenses including the decline in value of a phone handset
  • internet expenses
  • computer consumables
  • stationery, and
  • the decline in value of a computer, laptop, or similar device.
If a taxpayer uses the shortcut rate to claim a deduction for their additional running expenses, they cannot claim a further deduction for any of the expenses listed in this Guideline.

Example 5 – calculating additional running expenses using shortcut rate
Ephrem is an employee and as a result of COVID-19 he is working from his home office. In order to work from home, Ephrem purchases a computer on 15 March 2020 for $1,299. He intends to use the shortcut rate to claim his additional running expenses.

During the entire period he is working from home as a result of COVID-19, Ephrem notes in the calendar on his computer, when he starts and finishes each day along with a note about any breaks he has and how long those breaks were.

When it comes to lodging his 2019-20 tax return, Ephrem works out that during the period he worked from home as a result of COVID-19, he worked a total of 456 hours.

Ephrem calculates his deduction for the 2019-20 income year for additional running expenses as:

456 hours × 80 cents per hour = $364.80

As Ephrem has claimed his additional running expenses using the shortcut rate, he cannot claim a separate deduction for the decline in value of his computer. Ephrem keeps a record of the calendar entries he has made to demonstrate how he calculated the number of hours he worked from home. Ephrem also keeps the receipts for his computer purchase in case he will need to claim depreciation in future.

Personal super contribution and deductions

11 February 2025
Personal super contribution and deductions

January 2025

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!

Christmas hours

28 November 2024
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