Blog

November 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights Five Phases of a High Performing Leader Enhancing Employee Engagement Leadership Diagnostic Tax Updates New Limits on ATO Interest Deductions The Commonwealth Penalty Unit has Increased Contractor or Employee? Recent Case Offers Insight for Businesses Federal Court Ruling on Unexplained Bank […]

October 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights A Detailed Guide to Creating and Managing Workplace Policies Utilising Small Business Restructuring When In Financial Distress A Detailed Guide to Effective Family Business Succession Planning Selling a Business Diagnostic Tax Updates New ATO Guidelines on Personal Services Income Handling Employee […]

September 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights Effective Risk Management for Business Success Implementing a Family Governance Framework Wealth Protection Diagnostic Tax Updates Super Guarantee Compliance: A Key Focus for ATO Debt Collection Maximise Your Super Contributions in 2024–2025: Key Changes to Bring-Forward Arrangements Navigating ATO’s Online Selling […]

August 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights 5 Tips For Developing A Business Plan Experience Success Diagnostic Tax Updates Updated ATO Guidance For Extended Definition of Employee For Superannuation Purposes The Risks of Undisclosed Business Income: Lessons from a Recent Tribunal Decision Choosing the Right Method to Claim […]

July 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights Key Business Succession Issues The Crucial Importance of an Up-to-Date Will Succession Planning Diagnostic Tax Updates New Financial Year Compliance Checklist for Businesses Streamlined STP Finalisation for Employers Payroll Tax Annual Reconciliation: Including Key Considerations for Employers with Remote Workers Taxable […]

Tax Time Scams: Be on Guard (July 2024 Scam Awareness Update)

Relevant For: Everyone. Key Points: ATO impersonation scams are rising. In May 2024, ATO impersonation scam reports increased by 31%. Scammers use unsolicited SMS, email and social media to offer fake refunds or resolve tax issues. ATO is removing hyperlinks from unsolicited SMS to prevent phishing. Verify ATO communications through official contact numbers. The ATO […]

Beware of Fake ASIC Branding on Social Media (July 2024 Scam Awareness Update)

Relevant For: Australian investors. Key Points: Fake ASIC branding is being used in social media scams. Reports include misleading social media ads, cold calling and fake Telegram accounts. ASIC does not endorse investment training or platforms. ASIC does not cold call investors about investments. Investor need to be cautious and verify ASIC-related communications. Full Article: […]

June 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month we have the following Insights & Updates for you: Business Improvement Insights Implementing a Performance Improvement Plan for Employees Staff Performance Diagnostic 10 End of Financial Year Tasks For Businesses Tax Updates Uncertainty over the instant asset write-off threshold for 2023-24 Why your PAYG withholding reporting cycle must soon change Tax Issues to […]

10 End of Financial Year Tasks For Businesses (June 2024 Business Insights)

Relevant For: Business owners, financial controllers and bookkeepers preparing for the end of the financial year. Key Points: Reconcile all financial accounts for accuracy and clarity. Conduct thorough inventory audits to correct discrepancies and update valuations. Review and analyse financial reports to assess performance and identify improvement areas. Assess and ensure compliance with all tax […]

Beware of cold callers offering to switch your super (Scam Awareness Update)

Relevant For: Australian investors and superannuation holders. Key Points: ASIC warns against cold callers urging super fund switches using personal data from brokers or baiting techniques. Particular note to people aged 25-50, due to significant risk of reduced retirement savings due to unsuitable investments and high fees. ASIC calls for increased vigilance from super trustees. […]

Bond and term deposit scams on the rise (Scam Awareness Update)

Relevant For: Individuals and businesses considering investment opportunities, particularly in bonds and term deposits. Key Points: Rise in scams involving fake bonds and term deposits. Scammers impersonate legitimate financial services using real business details. Scams often involve online ads and social media posts. Professional and convincing counterfeit investment materials are used. Scammers gain trust by […]

$20,000 instant asset write-off for small business extended to 30 June 2025 (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

The Government will extend the instant asset write-off concession for small businesses for another 12 months. This will allow small businesses with turnovers capped at $10 million to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible depreciating assets costing less than $20,000 that are first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose between […]

HECS/HELP debt indexation changes (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

There are no further details contained in the Budget papers on the announced changes to the way that the indexation factor applied to HELP debts will be calculated. Here is an outline of the recently proposed changes. A student who receives a HELP loan under any of the student loan schemes has an “accumulated HELP […]

Low income tax offset: Unchanged (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

No changes were made to the low income tax offset (LITO) in the 2024–2025 Budget. For completeness, and as a reminder, while the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO) ceased from 1 July 2022, low and middle income taxpayers remain entitled to the LITO. The maximum amount of the LITO is $700. The LITO is […]

Medicare levy low-income thresholds for 2023–2024 (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

The Medicare levy low-income thresholds for 2023–2024 would normally have been announced in this 2024–2025 Budget. However, the Government released the 2023–2024 Medicare levy thresholds on 25 January 2024 when it announced the changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts. The new thresholds to provide cost-of-living relief were enacted by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost […]

Payday super: no further details but funding to improve unpaid super in bankruptcy (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

The Budget papers did not reveal any further details on the Government’s proposal to require all employers to pay their employees’ super guarantee (SG) at the same time as their salary and wages from 1 July 2026. However, the Government said it will provide $111.8 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $12.4 million per year […]

ATO BAS notification period extended (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

The Government will extend the time the ATO has to notify a taxpayer if it intends to retain a business activity statement (BAS) refund for further investigation. The ATO’s mandatory notification period for BAS refund retention will be increased from 14 days to 30 days to align with time limits for non-BAS refunds. The extended period […]

Increased ATO funding to counter fraud (May 2024 Federal Budget Update)

The Government will provide $187.0 million over four years from 1 July 2024 to the ATO to strengthen its ability to detect, prevent and mitigate fraud against the tax and superannuation systems. Measures to be funded includes: upgrades to information and communications technologies to enable the ATO to identify and block suspicious activity in real […]

May 2024 Insights & Updates for Munro’s Clients

This month for you we have the following Insights & Updates: Business Improvement Insights Tips for Improving Cash Flow in Your Business Profit Improvement Diagnostic Tax Updates Increase in the instant asset write-off threshold to $30,000 Self-education expenses not tax deductible First ASIC prosecution for failing to have a director ID Small business skills and […]

ATO identifies common mistakes with Division 7A (May 2024 Tax Update)

Relevant For: Business owners dealing with private company loans, who need to ensure compliance with tax laws to avoid costly mistakes. Key Points: Division 7A treats loans from private companies to shareholders/associates as dividends unless conditions are met. Loans must be repaid by the lodgement day or meet specific conditions to avoid dividend classification. Complying […]