Tips for tax time
By Adrian Raftery
It is that time of the year when we all need to do some tax planning.
June 30 is rapidly approaching so here are some tips for you to get your house in order and increase your refund.
Car log book
Deductions can be in the thousands if you use your car for work purposes and keep a log book for 12 weeks so keep all car running costs.
Super co-contribution
If your income is under $31,920 and you contribute $1,000 post tax into super the Government will match it dollar for dollar. Whilst this year’s co-contribution is less generous than previous years it is still free money!
Education Tax Refund
Don’t miss out on this tax rebate which gives a 50 per cent refund on certain education expenses up to $780 expenditure for each primary school child and $1,559 for each secondary school student. You must be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A to receive.
Minimize capital gains tax (CGT)
The stock market had a bumper year this year so you may have made a nice capital gain or two. Reduce CGT by selling any non-performing shares that you may be holding. Any unrealised gains should be sold after 1 July to defer tax for another year. Remember that if you hold shares for more than 12 months you reduce CGT by half.
Salary sacrifice into super
For those under 50 years of age you can contribute up to $25,000 per year into super and only pay 15 per cent tax. This figure increases to $50,000 if you are over 50. Build your wealth quicker rather than paying up to 46.5 per cent.
Prepay interest
Prepaying interest 12 months in advance before year end on your rental property or margin loan is an excellent strategy for those that will have a lower income next year due to factors such as maternity leave or redundancy.
Keep your receipts
With the ATO increasing their audit activity this year yet again it is important that you keep your receipts. The ATO motto is no receipt = no deduction so you could be costing yourself $$$ by not keeping those dockets!
Spouse super contribution
If one spouse’s income is less than $10,800 then the other can put up to $3,000 into the spouse’s super fund and receive an 18 per cent rebate ($540) in tax.
Get a great accountant
Great accountants are like quantity surveyors … they know where the boundaries are. Avoid paying too much in tax or leaving yourself to a visit from the ATO. And their fees are tax deductible!
Please note that not all of the tips will be applicable to you or your business and you should consult your own adviser/s to assess your own particular needs before implementing any of them. Remember that effective tax planning should be over 365 days per year, not merely the few weeks before 30 June.
