Rental property tax deductions can be confusing so we thought we would expel a few myths and clarify a few essentials when it comes to claiming your property expenses. Often, a rental property is expensive to maintain, especially if you have gaps between tenants. However, provided you purchased a solid property in a good or progressive suburb, it generally […]
The Etax Blog: Tax Tips
Tax Deductions for Tradies – Give your refund a boost! (with Infographic)
I’m a tradie. What tax deductions can I claim? People who work in a trade such as builders, plumbers and electricians to name a few, often pay for work-related expenses out of their own pockets. And when you’re working long hours or busy meeting deadlines, it doesn’t leave you much time or energy to think […]
Top 3 Missed Tax Deductions
A great way to increase your annual tax refund is to claim tax deductions. People often ask us what tax deductions people often miss out on, so here is a quick list that might help boost your tax refund this year. Avoid these 3 commonly missed tax deductions… 1. Claim Union and Registration Fees Do […]
2017 Budget for Health Care: Who wins and who loses?
The 2017 Budget was handed down by Treasurer Scott Morrison on Tuesday 09 May, which included the Government’s $10 billion plan for Health Care funding. Most notably, the National Disability Insurance Scheme is being fully funded by taxpayers through a Medicare levy increase. Here’s our wrap-up on winners and losers in the 2017 federal budget for […]
2017 Budget for Students: Winners and Losers
Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the 2017 federal budget on Tuesday night, which included the government’s plans to save $2.8 billion over the next five years by reforming the Higher Education system. Read on for an overview of the changes announced in the 2017 budget for students. How does the 2017 Budget affect students? Higher Education […]
2017 Budget for Housing: Wins and Losses
To tackle housing affordability, particularly for first home buyers, the Government included a range of measures in the 2017 Budget. A new measure focused on housing as well as the property industry in general. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of a new ‘First Home Super Saver Scheme’. This scheme allows individuals to make […]
GST changes may impact your overseas online shopping
The Australian Government is attempting to level the playing field between Australian and overseas retailers with proposed GST changes effective from 1 July 2017. Here’s what you need to know. Australians are increasingly turning to overseas sellers when they shop online to access cheaper prices and a larger variety of goods and speciality items. The government […]
How To Get Your Tax Refund Faster
When you’re expecting a tax refund, waiting is never easy. Instead of just wishing for it to arrive sooner, read on! There’s no way to know exactly how long the ATO will take to process your tax return. Behind the scenes, the ATO examines tax returns more closely than ever, analysing and comparing your return […]
Income Protection Insurance is your safety net, with a tax-deductible perk!
It’s natural for us to want to protect everything we care about. So, why don’t more of us protect our income? Many of us insure our cars, our houses and our possessions, but how many of us protect our weekly income with income protection insurance? The answer is, no many! In fact, when we surveyed taxpayer data we discovered that […]
Private Health and Your Taxes: “Should I get Private Health Cover?”
There is a lot of debate in the media about the pros and cons of private health insurance. People are often asking, “Should I get private health cover?” Opinions about private health cover are changing. Saving money when it comes to tax time is an important part of the decision. According to Australian consumer watchdog, Choice, cheaper […]
ATO crackdown on ride sharing drivers
Concerned that too many drivers are avoiding tax, the ATO is cracking down on ride sharing drivers contracted to companies such as Uber, Ola and Didi Last year the ATO warned Uber drivers that avoiding tax wasn’t an option, this year it’s getting evening tougher. Banks will now be required to provide details of ALL […]
Sun Protection Tax Deductions: Are you covered?
There are many professions that require employees to work in the sun for periods of time. With sun exposure one of the key causes of cancer in Australia, sun protection is an absolute necessity for these people. However, sunglasses, sunscreen and protective head gear can end up costing a lot of money. So what can you do? If you’re […]
Work related car expenses: what can I claim on my tax return?
If you use your car for work related journeys, other than to and from work, it’s likely that you can claim your car expenses on your tax return. Work related car deductions are a very common type of deduction and are easy to claim correctly (and boost your refund). What car expenses can I claim? […]
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 […]
Overseas HELP Debt – What is it?
The ATO implemented formal changes to how they recover “overseas HELP debt”. So, if you have lived overseas for more than 6 months and have a HELP debt, you may need to make HELP repayments How does the ATO recover HELP debts? Prior to 2017, Australians with a HELP or TSL debt did not have […]