Tax
YOUR QUESTIONS
Path to retirement
George Cochrane Focus on enjoying your money, rather than leaving it to younger relatives.
Eight steps to the best tax refund
![melissa browne dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/10/12/4825691/melissa%20browne%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Melissa Browne Now is the time to ensure you are doing everything you can to make sure you get the best return possible.
TAX
Make your fiscal views add up
![Mark Bouris](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/02/26/3075173/Mark_Bouris-90x60.jpg)
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
![SPECIAL 001 glc000618.001.005 Photograph by Gabriele Charotte Generic GST salary pay tax fines ticket parking machine - pay here fees sign](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/09/03/4715358/rh-320-gst_20130903131348240039-90x60.jpg)
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
![Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/08/07/4641113/SG_th_tax-90x60.jpg)
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
![Reciepts, abn numbers, dockets, invoices, bill spike, tax office, tax time , smhcreative money. Pix by Quentin Jones. qcj080613.001.SMH First Use. SPECIALX 86256](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/08/06/4633768/rh-320-spike_20130806122818711363-90x60.jpg)
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
![Business dink.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2011/08/25/2582481/Max-Newnham-Biz-90x60.jpg)
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 dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2011/05/24/2382929/John_Collett-90x60.jpg)
John Collett Negative gearing is always targeted by the tax office because billions are claimed.
Little evidence to support corporate tax cut
![A hand trying to catch sinking dollars.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/14/4492017/SG_th_taxcut-90x60.jpg)
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
![Money cover, Tax issue. 12/06/13 illustration: Jamie Smetkowski](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/11/4480878/rh-320-face_20130611134008920225-90x60.jpg)
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
![11 September 2012 Sunday, Journalist, The Canberra Times, Photo Jay Cronan. Generic, Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre. Rubbish, tip, garbage, recycle](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/11/4480959/rh-320-tip_20130611142010205799-90x60.jpg)
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
![ATO](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/11/4482059/th-ato-90x60.jpg)
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
![Building Melb 101209 AFR pic by Erin Jonasson. Building and construction generic hold for files. Carpenters, builders on site, building houses. Aprenticeships, cost of living, building homes, house, real estate, property, new construction, housing fiugres.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/11/4480969/rh-320-tradie_20130611143440908202-90x60.jpg)
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](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/06/08/4475550/Melissa-Browne-90x60.jpg)
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
![729_pie.jpg](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/05/21/4290428/rh-320-budgie_20130521152740805805-90x60.jpg)
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
![mcj050510.001.002 Painting a bathing box at 4.21 pm on Dendy Street Beach Brighton. For 24/7 or Generic pic.
The Age/24-7. Painter , painting a beach box.
Picture Michael Clayton-Jones, Brighton. SPECIAL BRIGHTON](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/04/15/4193344/rh-320-beach_20130415153934654618-90x60.jpg)
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
![car yard](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2011/03/15/2233784/car-yard_320-90x60.jpg)
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](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2011/05/07/2349989/David%20Potts-90x60.jpg)
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
![Fist with money](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/01/29/3990674/th-fistwithmoney-90x60.jpg)
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
![CPA.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/07/03/3424205/320accountant-90x60.jpg)
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
![Unclaimed super](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/10/22/3734806/th-unclaimed-super-90x60.jpg)
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](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/02/26/3075173/Mark_Bouris-90x60.jpg)
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
![Dr Ken Henry.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/08/20/3569748/th-Ken-Henry-90x60.jpg)
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
![Young man having trouble studying.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/07/31/3514160/th-655878917-90x60.jpg)
Barbara Drury Those with uncomplicated finances are being urged to lodge returns via computer.
Insight: tax
![Clancy Yeates](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2011/10/30/2740655/clancy_yeates_business-90x60.jpg)
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](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/01/24/2911847/annette_sampson_dinkus_new2-90x60.jpg)
ANNETTE SAMPSON The strategy: To get my things together to do this year's tax return.
Retailers warned on carbon tax ploys
![Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/06/26/3406972/th-carbon-th-90x60.jpg)
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
![Ultra-rich Australian's may retain the government health rebate for private health insurance through complex tax structures.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/06/13/3373057/ZAH_rich_TN_230312-20120613214418317339-90x60.jpg)
Madeleine Heffernan The wealthy might retain the rebate for health insurance through complex tax structures.
Benefits of a safety net
![rescue](http://web.archive.org./web/20131227223244im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2012/05/29/3333953/th-635505901-90x60.jpg)
Barbara Drury Income protection premiums are deductible but often overlooked.