A tax deduction is something you paid for, out of your own pocket, that can be listed on your tax return. Deductions can help reduce your taxable income, which boosts your tax refund at tax time.
Tax Advice
Tax Advice: 2025 Tax Return | Increase Your Tax Refund | Tax Deductions | Medicare and Health Insurance | Tax Rebates
A Simple Guide to Understanding Depreciation
Depreciation allows Australian taxpayers to claim tax deductions for income-producing assets over $300 by spreading the cost over the asset’s effective life. Learn how depreciation works, which method to use, and how to claim it on your tax return Everything you need to know about claiming depreciation Let’s take a more detailed look at depreciation, […]
Why Is My Tax Refund So Low?
And How Do I Avoid It Happening Again?
Approximately eight out of every ten Australians who lodge a tax return receive a tax refund. But for some of us, the refund that we get isn’t quite as big as we expect.
“Instant Tax Refunds” – Read This Before You Sign
At tax time you often see ads for a “same day tax refund” or “instant tax refund”. It might sound appealing to get your tax refund today… But the truth is, a “same day tax refund” is not really what the name suggests. Can I Get my Tax Refund Today? Most Australians wait only 6-10 […]
Claiming Home Office Expenses
The ATO changed how you claim home office expenses moving forward 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 biggest refund, so you don’t have […]
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 $1,650! Fines can start at $330 for being just one day overdue, then increase over time, as follows: Days overdue Total fine amount 1 – 28 days $330 29 – 56 days […]
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 […]
Etax Property Investment Tax Hub
Find out which property investment expenses can claim as tax deductions. Learn about depreciation, negative gearing, Capital Gains Tax and more.
The Etax Investment Property Tax Hub has everything you need to know about owning, renting and selling an investment property.
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 […]
ATO Data Matching – What is it and will it affect me?
You may have heard that ATO data matching technology is now being used in Australia. The ATO launched the system to find missing income from individual tax returns. It’s a new, more sophisticated way to collect more tax from taxpayers who may, either accidentally or deliberately, understate their income. What is ATO Data Matching? ATO […]
How to defer a HELP debt during financial hardship
If you have a HELP debt and are experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible to ask the ATO to defer your HELP debt for a temporary period. If the ATO accepts your request, it means that they will put a temporary hold on your repayments. What is a HELP debt? Commonly referred to as […]
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 […]
