To most people, including the vast majority of small and medium-sized businesses, the Commissioner appears almost immune to defeat. He holds extraordinary powers, including the ability to compel a taxpayer to produce nearly any documents, even without evidence that the taxpayer has done anything wrong.

To most people, including the vast majority of small and medium-sized businesses, the Commissioner appears almost immune to defeat. He holds extraordinary powers, including the ability to compel a taxpayer to produce nearly any documents, even without evidence that the taxpayer has done anything wrong.

Postponing superannuation and retirement planning can impact your long-term financial goals. Move beyond a set-and-forget mindset to maximise contributions and unlock valuable tax benefits.

During the March quarter, the Investment Committee conducted a thorough review of our international equity exposure. We maintained allocations within the 44% to 48% range across most portfolios. Following an extensive evaluation, we made the strategic decision to transition from the IFP Global Franchise Fund to the Arrowstreet Global Equity Fund.

During the March quarter, the Investment Committee conducted a thorough review of our international equity exposure. We maintained allocations within the 44% to 48% range across most portfolios. Following an extensive evaluation, we made the strategic decision to transition from the IFP Global Franchise Fund to the Arrowstreet Global Equity Fund.

For a business, whether a business expense is "entertainment" will generally also determine whether the cost is deductible. If the expenditure can be shown to be directly connected with the carrying on of a business, it should be deductible.

It’s getting ever closer to the festive end of the year, we thought it prudent to run over the rules regarding Christmas parties and FBT. And borrowing money from a private company, even if it is your own business, can have serious pitfalls if not carried out correctly, so we look at the dangers of “Division 7A”.

There were a couple of housing-based superannuation contribution proposals contained in this year’s Federal Budget, for which draft legislation has finally been tabled.

The small business CGT concessions can be extremely valuable, but sometimes the complexity of the details can be confusing. We clear up some of the more obscure factors.The rules around LRBAs for SMSF trustees have been fiddled with again, and necessitate (again) a look at the fine print.

The ATO is on the warpath over incorrect deductions that many taxpayers try to claim for holiday rental properties, so we take a look at the issues that have been grinding the taxman’s gears.And if you’re going to soon make an appointment to complete your tax return, we’ve made a general checklist of things to prepare.

There can be capital gains conundrums when sub-dividing the family property, so we run through the typical scenarios to dissect the likely tax outcomes. And another perennial head-scratcher is the deductibility of the interest payable on borrowed funds.

There’s nothing wrong with sourcing certain business assets through peer-to-peer websites like Gumtree or even a Facebook group. It’s when it comes to substantiating a tax claim that these sorts of transactions can end up being difficult.

There’s nothing wrong with sourcing certain business assets through peer-to-peer websites like Gumtree or even a Facebook group. It’s when it comes to substantiating a tax claim that these sorts of transactions can end up being difficult.

One of the big motivations for considering using a trust is to protect assets. Property and other assets can be moved into a trust for protection from creditors, to maintain an estate until a beneficiary becomes old enough to have legal possession, or isolate valuable assets from a trading company that may be more exposed to litigation, for example.

Every investor goes in with dreams of a pot of gold, but there is a fundamental dichotomy of investor types – one looks to line their pockets with investment returns along the way, and another who is patient to wait until the end of the rainbow to reap the rewards.

It is generally accepted that an exemption to capital gains tax (CGT) applies to the family home, or “main residence”, and the exemption usually applies for only one home at any given time. But there is a rule that allows for a taxpayer to have two main residences and still maintain that CGT-free status for both premises for a temporary period.

The new ‘debt levy’ will directly hit many small businesses, particularly those that are unincorporated – which comprise up to 70% of small businessesThe new ‘debt levy’ will directly hit many small businesses, particularly those that are unincorporated – which comprise up to 70% of small businesses