The ATO has rules for how to calculate car deductions. Find out how new car deduction rules may affect you (and your tax refund).
The Etax Blog: Tax Tips
Simple Ways to Improve Your Tax Refund
Here’s the most common question people ask us every year: How can I get a bigger refund and pay less tax?” Australians are always looking for ways to improve their tax refund. We’ll answer this common question with four easy ways to improve your refund… 1. Manage your tax receipts Keeping track of your receipts […]
A Simple Guide To Tax Deductions in Australia
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.
School holiday ideas for a tight budget
Looking for cheap school holiday activity ideas? You’ve found them! From creative projects to local adventures, there are countless ways to enjoy school holidays on a budget. In this post, we’ve hunted out all kinds of cheap and free school holiday ideas for activities that children (and adults) will love, that won’t put a strain […]
How much does a dog cost? – Really!
Dreaming of becoming a fur parent? Get up to speed on the REAL cost of owning a dog, so you know what to expect before your commit We are a nation of pet lovers, and our canine friends are the most popular pet in Australia. With post pandemic flexible work arrangements now commonplace, dog ownership […]
Christmas on a Budget: Festive cheer that won’t leave you broke!
It’s very easy to get swept up in the expectations of a grand Christmas but this often leads to financial stresses, both during and well after Christmas has passed. Fortunately, celebrating Christmas on a budget doesn’t need to be dull or difficult. It just takes a little planning and a little extra thought. How to […]
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.
Australian Tax Deadline – October 31
The tax deadline for lodging Individual Tax Returns each year is October 31st Beating the tax return deadline takes just a few minutes, with live online support to make it easy. Get Started NowReturning Users Login To lodge your 2025 tax return now, follow these easy steps: What happens next? After you sign your return, […]
“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 can hairdressers claim on tax?
It’s common for hairdressers to pay for items like hair clippers, travel between clients and uniforms out of their own pocket without claiming them back on tax. Expenses like these are usually considered tax deductions, which means you can claim them on your tax return. But for hairdressers, there are strict rules on what is […]
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 […]
Reportable Superannuation Contributions – what you should know…
Superannuation is important when planning for your future. There are so many types of super contributions and payments, that it’s sometimes confusing and hard to know what each of them are. One part that people often don’t understand is reportable superannuation contributions. Let’s take a look at what you should know… What are reportable superannuation […]
