News

Who can make a claim against a deceased estate?
In Australia, the law recognises that a will maker may sometimes fail to make adequate provision for close family or dependants. In that situation, certain people can ask the Supreme Court for a share, or a larger share, of the deceased’s estate. This is usually called a family provision claim or a claim against a…

Christmas and tax
With the festive season fast approaching, business owners will be turning their mind to year-end celebrations with both employees and clients. Knowing the rules around Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), GST credits and what is or isn’t tax deductible can help keep tax costs to a minimum. Holiday celebrations generally take the form of Christmas parties…

Renting your holiday home
With summer around the corner and beach holiday homes back on the agenda, perhaps it is time to revisit a few tax matters about their use. And the big issue is how you claim expenses if your holiday home is only rented for part of the year. Well, the ATO takes the view that you…

Division 296 tax revisited
Big news for anyone with a large super balance – the government has gone back to the drawing board on the controversial Division 296 tax, and the changes are a big step toward fairness and common sense. A quick recap When the Division 296 tax was first announced in 2023, it caused an uproar. The…

Reducing your tax bill while topping up your super
Let’s say you’ve just sold the house you inherited from your parents 12 years ago for $1.3 million. You’ve been renting it out for most of that time, but the property market has been hotting up and you were told by several real estate agents that they could get you a good price. But what…

Helping your kids buy their first home using super
If you want to give your children a head start on saving for their first home, the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) is worth considering. It offers a tax-effective way for young people to grow a deposit more quickly and is open to anyone who meets the eligibility rules and has never owned property….