Everyone has different ideas of how their retirement might ‘look’. How much super will be enough depends on many things, starting with what a ‘comfortable’ retirement looks like to you. You might want to travel or you may want to dine out every week at a fancy new restaurant. It could be that just want […]
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 […]
eBay Income: Do you sell online? The ATO is watching…
As online retail continues to expand, the ATO is keeping a careful eye on everyone’s eBay income When eBay launched in 1999 it was simply an auction site where people could sell household goods they no longer needed. This has changed dramatically over the past 20+ years, with many people now using eBay income as […]
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 […]
$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 […]
Superannuation Co-Contribution: Get More Money for Your Super
Ever wonder how you can better prepare yourself for retirement? Low or middle-income earners can give your super a nice boost – with very little sacrifice! Read on to find out how you can take advantage of the Federal Government’s superannuation co-contribution scheme. What is it the government super co-contribution scheme? The super co-contribution scheme is […]
Generation Y: The first generation to be poorer than their parents?
Parents from every place, in every era, share something important: We all want our children’s lives to be better, happier and more prosperous than anyone’s before. Could the opposite become reality for Australians? Baby Boomers may well be the first generation seen as wealthier than their children. That’s one of the conclusions drawn from a […]
HECS-HELP Benefit
The HECS-Help benefit was created to provide an incentive for graduates in particular fields to pursue industry relevant roles and/or work in specified locations. Taxpayers who meet the relevant eligibility criteria can apply to the Australian Tax Office for the HECS-HELP benefit and if approved, the ATO will pay a “benefit amount” up to approximately […]
How to apply for Jobseeker Payments (or other coronavirus stimulus payments)
Loosing your job is a stressful enough event on it’s own, take into account the global COVID-19 pandemic and the last thing you will want to have to deal with is the process of applying for a jobseeker payment at Centrelink. It is not easy to navigate the myGov or the Centrelink website. To make […]
How Can I Help My Children To Be Successful and Financially Secure?
How to improve your children’s financial future can be an interesting debate. Parents have lots of different ideas about success for their children (and themselves). But most parents share similar concerns and worries about their children’s long-term financial security and happiness. Money and happiness are not the same thing, but it appears that certain habits […]
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS): your guide to buying your first home sooner
If you’re someone who’s been saving for a first home deposit, then there’s one scheme you should know about. It’s called the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS). The point of the scheme is to help people of all ages get into their first homes sooner. It was introduced by the Australian Government in the […]
Gender Pay Gap: Why do women still earn less than men in Australia?
It may be a surprise to some that the gender pay gap still exists. Many of us assume that gender inequality has been overcome in Australia. That might be true in some respects, but unfortunately not where income is concerned. The fact is, on average, women still earn 15.3% less than men – a gap […]
Live-in Landlord Tax Deductions: What you should know about rental income tax
Live-in landlords are common these days, as more and more people choose to lease out rooms in a house they own and live in. It can help pay the mortgage, cover the rising costs of living expenses and fill up space that’s otherwise unused. If you lease out part of your home, you’ll receive rent. This is […]
Coronavirus Stimulus Information for Small Businesses: Everything small businesses need to know
The devastating coronavirus pandemic has hit small businesses hard. As a result, a number of sole traders are without work and many small businesses closed their doors and let go staff. Consequently, the Australian Government recently issued two rounds of stimulus packages to help business owners. The first stimulus package on 12 March included a […]
Unpaid Internships: The Experience Problem
If you’re studying or looking to change careers, you’ve probably encountered the ‘experience paradox’. Most job ads prefer that you have previous experience in the industry, but you can’t get that experience without a job in the first place. Enter: unpaid internships. They can give you the experience you need to flesh out your resume […]
