Tax
TAX
Make your fiscal views add up
Mark Bouris The election is finally out of the way and the government has a big agenda ahead of it.
GETTING ELECTED
Rectify GST to ease tax burden
David Potts Not to put too fine a point on it, but the rate is too low and too much is exempted. It could be an election issue - next time.
Election
Top executives wary of tax cut costs
Gareth Hutchens, Clancy Yeates Executives have questioned whether Australia can afford to lower the company tax rate.
GETTING STARTED
Don't fall foul of taxing questions
Penny Pryor Don't think you'd never get caught out by the Tax Office: you could, and the buck would stop with you, too.
Tax
FBT vehicles driven from the field
MAX NEWNHAM There has been much gnashing of teeth due to the final nail in the motor vehicle FBT coffin.
PROPERTY DEDUCTIONS
Landlords keep tax-time wheels in motion
John Collett Negative gearing is always targeted by the tax office because billions are claimed.
Little evidence to support corporate tax cut
GARETH HUTCHENS A popular argument is the idea that our economy will necessarily benefit if the corporate tax rate is cut.
TAX TIME
Dropping the ball now can be costly
Barbara Drury The big challenge facing Australian taxpayers this month is to reduce their tax bill before the end of the financial year without getting the Tax Office umpire offside.
CUT YOUR LOSSES
Realising value from shares that are worthless
Tony McLean If you have shares that are really of little or no value, you may be able to realise a capital loss for tax purposes in 2012-13.
Crackdown on landlords after surge in claims
John Collett The Australian Taxation Office is targeting more than 110,000 rental property owners who have been identified through last year's tax returns as making incorrect claims.
TAX TIME
Tax office takes aim at tradies
John Collett The Australian Tax Office is targeting building and construction workers and sales and marketing managers.
WELL HEELED
Maximise the money in your pocket at tax time
Melissa Browne The end of the financial year is only a few weeks away and the key to getting a better return this year is to do something rather than hope that it happens. So if you're like me and would rather spend your money on shoes, then here are my top 10 tips to save tax and to have more cash in your bank account.
BUDGET SPECIAL
The cuts are now personal
John Collett Baby, forget the bonus. With tax concessions gone the federal government's budget could also affect your health.
Taxing 'super' rich a good idea badly handled
Richard Livingston The government has cottoned on to a fair point but they are struggling to articulate it.
BUSINESS MAXIMS
Maximise your tax deductions on car expenses
MAX NEWNHAM There are many ways to claim a tax deduction for car expenses. Some require little to no record-keeping, while others mean keeping a detailed log book for 12 weeks.
Borrowers' feast
David Potts Another interest rate cut is in the offing, though in this case what's good for the goose won't appeal to the gander at all.
Firms use tax money for aid projects
RORY CALLINAN WEALTHY resource companies operating overseas are tapping into Australian taxpayer funds to set up aid projects potentially benefiting their corporate social responsibility credentials.
GST overhaul inevitable and desirable, business groups stress
Madeleine Heffernan An overhaul of the goods and services tax is inevitable and might help raise living standards, business groups say.
Unclaimed super set for Tax Office
CLANCY YEATES MILLIONS of dollars worth of lost superannuation is set to be transferred to the taxman, under a move the government says will save members from paying unnecessary fees.
Where to put taxman's 'gift' depends on you
Mark Bouris Over the next few weeks, a lot of readers will be receiving tax refund cheques from the Australian Taxation Office.
Henry warning to lift revenue
CLANCY YEATES State and federal governments must extract more tax revenue if they are to fund the nation's ballooning infrastructure needs in decades to come, former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says.
Online tax drive
Barbara Drury Those with uncomplicated finances are being urged to lodge returns via computer.
Insight: tax
CLANCY YEATES Now is about the time many people begin the yearly chore of digging out all those receipts and other papers needed to complete their tax returns.
Prepare for your return
ANNETTE SAMPSON The strategy: To get my things together to do this year's tax return.
Retailers warned on carbon tax ploys
DAVID WROE THE consumer watchdog is warning retailers who display an anti-carbon tax poster being distributed by Tony Abbott's office that they could inadvertently find themselves misleading customers, a breach that carries fines of up to $6600.
Super rich 'may keep' insurance rebate
Madeleine Heffernan The wealthy might retain the rebate for health insurance through complex tax structures.
Benefits of a safety net
Barbara Drury Income protection premiums are deductible but often overlooked.
In the tax office sights
Annette Sampson The department has sophisticated tools at its disposal to track down tax cheats.
June 30 tax tips to save a bundle
ANNETTE SAMPSON Here are 12 simple strategies guaranteed to put cash back in your pocket before the changes come in for the next financial year, writes Annette Sampson.
