Debts with the ATO can be daunting and something that many of us prefer not to think about.  We also know that no matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about these debts they never go away.   

Believe it or not, the ATO are extremely supportive of small to medium sized businesses.  They are such a crucial part of our community that assisting them is a priority.  If the debt has come about due to a genuine mistake or through cash flow difficulties or the like, the ATO can assist by setting up Payment Plans in order to help reduce and eliminate the debt.   

When entering a payment plan, the first requirement is that all returns and activity statements are lodged up to the current date.  The payment plan will cover the outstanding amount payable at the time the plan was initiated.  The repayment amount is suggested by you, the business owner, and should be a reasonable amount which fits within your business’s budget at the time.   

Going forward, you should note, the payment plan will not cover any future activity statements or returns.  The new statements or returns will be expected to be paid on or before the due date.   

Whilst the unfavourable cost of business, taxes, will never go away – it is reassuring to know that when we become a little stuck for cash flow, there are options to carry us through.  It is crucial to stay on top of our lodgements though – always keep your activity statements and tax returns lodged, up to date! 

To kickstart the economy after Australia’s massive COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Government has released a huge spending and tax cuts Budget for 2020. 

Here is our summary of the 2020 Federal Budget and what it means for you. 

• This appears to be a great Budget for the young, anyone still working and business owners.  
•  The massive Government spending, tax cuts and wages subsidies will lead to higher spending throughout the economy and ideally greater business investment.  
• This pushes up confidence and job creation so hopefully more economic growth.  

There are a few key areas we would like to make you aware of. 

I, Business Owners 

Tax Loss “Carry Back” 

If your business is making losses now because of the COVID-19 recession, you can get a tax refund out of the taxes you have paid on profits going back to the 2019 year. And you can use the “carry back loss” trick for the 2021 and 2022 financial years. 

Specifically, a company can carry back losses from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 financial years to offset previously taxed profits in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 financial years. 

However, this only applies to companies. Sole traders, partnerships and trusts won’t be able to access this benefit. 

This tax refund will be available as a choice to be made when a company lodges its 2021 and 2022 Tax Returns. 

Immediate Asset Write Off 

The Government wants businesses to spend big. This measure allows businesses with a turnover of less than $5 billion to claim a full up-front tax deduction for the cost of new business assets. There is no cost cap with this measure – it is not limited like the previous $150,000 instant asset write off that is in place until 31 December 2020. 

This applies to the purchase of capital assets from 6 October 2020 and first used or installed by 30 June 2022. 

This means that if you buy a new truck for $250,000, then you get a 100% tax deduction in year one. 

*Important: Remember, this does NOT mean that you get $250,000 in tax back. You effectively save tax at your marginal tax rate. So, a company with a 27.5% tax rate will save $68,750 in tax if they buy a $250,000 truck. 

For businesses with a turnover under $50 million, this also applies to secondhand assets. 

Small Business Pooling – Immediate Write Off 

Small business entities that have a turnover of less than $10 million using the simplified depreciation rules can claim as an expense the balance of their simplified depreciation pool at the end of the 2021 year. 

This is great because it gives business owners a tax deduction for the full amount of non-depreciated assets they have purchased in prior years. 

JobMaker Hiring Credit 

The JobMaker hiring credit will be available to eligible employers over 12 months from 7 October 2020 for each additional new job they create for an eligible employee. 

Employers will receive $200 a week for hiring someone aged 16 to 29 and $100 a week for taking on someone aged 30 to 35. 

The JobMaker hiring credit will be paid quarterly in arrears and will be available for 12 months from the date of employment with a maximum amount of $10,400 per additional new position created. 

To be eligible, the employee will need to have worked for a minimum of 20 hours per week averaged over a quarter, and have received the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance or Parenting Payment for at least one month out of the three months prior to when they are employed. 

Employers will need to prove that the new employee will increase overall employee headcount and payroll. 

Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements 

A business that takes on a new or recommencing Australian apprentice will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy. The subsidy is paid in arrears and is available for wages paid from 5 October 2020 to 30 September 2020, up to a maximum amount of $7,000 per quarter. 

FBT Changes

A few FBT changes have been announced, including removal of FBT on car parking and portable electronic devices from 1 April 2021, and on retraining and reskilling costs for employees from 2 October 2020. 

R&D Tax Incentive Changes 

The Government has backflipped on previously proposed cuts to research and development tax incentives.  

For small companies (turnover less than $20 million) the refundable R&D tax offset will be set at 18.5% above the company tax rate and there won’t be any cap on annual cash refunds. 

The R&D laws are quite complex, so please feel free to contact us for further information if R&D is something that your business would like to claim. 

II, Individuals 

Personal Tax Cuts 

To kick start the economy, the Government is introducing tax cuts totaling $50 billion backdated to 1 July 2020. 

There are 2 key parts to it. An offset which will get paid in a lump sum after July next year when you lodge your 2021 Tax Return, and an immediate reduction in the tax taken from your wages as soon as this legislation passes Parliament. 

In both cases there is nothing you need to do and no extra forms to fill out at tax time – the adjustments will happen automatically. 

Here’s what tax cuts you’ll get: 

The average teacher’s wage is around $90,000, so a couple who both teach can expect a tax cut of up to $3,060. That’s massive! The big question is if people will spend these tax cuts or reduce their home mortgages and save them. 

$250 Economic Support Payments 

A payment of $250 in December 2020 and another payment of $250 in March 2021 will be made to individuals receiving Age or other pensions and health care card holders. These payments will be exempt from tax and will not count as income support for any income support payments. 

Superannuation – “Stapling” of Accounts 

This is something that really makes sense. Under this measure, an individual’s super account will be “stapled” to them as they change jobs. New super accounts will no longer be automatically created every time someone starts a new job. 

Capital Gains Tax removed from “Granny Flats” 

Currently, there is a risk of capital gains tax (CGT) applying if you sell your family home and if you have entered a formal granny flat arrangement with an elderly parent or relative. The Budget has now included a measure where CGT will not apply to this. 

NEXT STEPS: If you have any questions about how the 2020 Federal Budget affects you – please contact us and one of our expert accountants will help you!