Negative gearing happens when an investment property costs more to own and run than it earns in rent. As the investor, you cover the gap between what the property costs and what it earns. The shortfall isn’t always easy to cover, but the tax benefits make negative gearing an attractive strategy for many Australian investors. […]
Tax Advice
Tax Advice: 2026 Tax Return | Increase Your Tax Refund | Tax Deductions | Medicare and Health Insurance | Tax Rebates
HELP Repayment Rates: How To Repay HELP Debt Quickly
Need help with HECS-HELP debts? Here are some tips on repaying your HELP debt… If you are one of many people who finished university with a HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) debt, you might not be sure exactly what the steps are to repay help debt. It’s important that you know how to repay HELP debt, […]
Redundancy Payment and Your Taxes
What is a Redundancy Payment? A redundancy payment, also known as Employment Termination Payment (ETP), is a lump sum amount paid to an employee after redundancy. There are a few different types of redundancy payments, and each one can have a different effect on your tax return at tax time. For tax purposes an Employment […]
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 […]
Private Health Rebate: How does it impact my Private Health Insurance?
The private health rebate is a percentage of the total premium amount which can be applied as a reduction to your health insurance premiums or it can be applied as a refundable tax offset come tax time. What impacts my private health rebate? Your rebate is calculated based on your living status, age and income […]
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.
$1,700 in Unpaid Super Every Year – Here’s What You Can Do About It
Would it bother you if your weekly or fortnightly pay was consistently 12% short? Once you noticed, would you do something about it? If you’re like most Australians, the answer would be a resounding “Yes!”. Here’s the scary part: this is exactly what’s happening to as many as one in three Australians. So, what’s the […]
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 […]
Do you receive the Government Aged Pension in Australia?
You may still need to lodge a tax return. Many Australians on the aged pension are unsure about their taxes and what their obligations are once they are no longer working? Common questions from pensioners include… In this post we’ll discuss the different circumstances where you may (or may not) need to lodge a tax […]
Work related car expenses: how to claim cents per km or the logbook method
The ATO has rules for how to calculate car deductions. Find out how new car deduction rules may affect you (and your tax refund).
How to boost your refund (and get your best tax return yet)
Many Australians lose hundreds of dollars each year – simply because they forget about work-related deductions and the receipts they can claim. Do you compare your tax refund to your friends and family and wonder, “How can I get a better refund”? There are many ways Australians can improve their tax refund. Every year, Australians […]
The 5 most common Australian tax return mistakes (and how to avoid them)
These common tax return mistakes are easily detected by the ATO The five most common tax return mistakes Australians make are incorrect income reporting, inflated deductions, undeclared overseas income, rental property over-claims, and deductions without receipts. The ATO works hard to find mistakes on your tax return, and with more funding and staff each year, […]
DoorDash tax in Australia: A complete guide for DoorDash Dashers
DoorDash connects Australians with local restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores — with delivery handled by independent contractors known as ‘Dashers’. This guide covers everything you need to know about tax as a DoorDash Dasher in Australia. 1. Do Dashers need an ABN? Yes. As a DoorDash Dasher, you must have an ABN, as DoorDash pays […]
Tax Deductions for University Students – What can I claim
Uni students can sometimes claim great tax deductions during their degrees and qualifications if they meet certain criteria. In this post we’ll discuss tax deductions for uni students – and outline some expenses you are not allowed to claim. It’s worth noting straight away that in order to claim any kind of tax deduction, you […]
The Top 5 Forgotten Tax Deductions
Now is a great time to discuss tax deductions – especially the ones too many people miss out on We surveyed our senior accountants and asked them: What are the top 5 forgotten deductions on individual tax returns? – that is, deductions people can claim, but often forget or don’t know about. We’ve compiled the […]
