Tax Time Targets

Clarke McEwan Accountants

Tax Time Targets


The ATO has flagged four priority areas this tax season where people are making mistakes.


With tax season almost upon us the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has revealed its four areas of focus this tax season:


1.      Record-keeping

2.      Work-related expenses

3.      Rental property income and deductions, and

4.      Capital gains from crypto assets, property, and shares.


In general, there are three ‘golden rules’ when claiming tax deductions:


  • You must have spent the money and not been reimbursed.
  • If the expense is for a mix of work related (income producing) and private use, you can only claim the portion that relates to how you earn your income.
  • You need to have a record to prove it.


1.0 Record keeping


101 of working with the ATO is that you can’t claim it if you can’t prove it. If you are audited, the ATO will disallow deductions for unsubstantiated or unreasonable expenses. Even if the expense is below the substantiation threshold of $300 ($150 for laundry), the ATO might ask how you came up with that number. For example, if you claim $300 in work related expenses (that is, make a claim right up to the substantiation threshold), how did you come up with that number and not something else?


In addition to the obvious records of salary, wages, allowances, government payments or pensions and annuities, you need to keep records of:

  • Interest or managed funds.
  • Records of expenses for any deductions claimed including a record of how that expense relates to the way you earn your income. That is, the expense must be related to how you earn your income. For example, if you claim the cost of RAT tests, you need to be able to prove that the RAT test was necessary to enable you to work. If you were working from home and not required to leave home, it will be harder to claim the cost of the test.
  • Assets such as shares or units in a trust, rental properties or holiday homes, if you purchased a home or inherited a property, or disposed of an asset (including cryptocurrency).


You need to keep your records for five years. These can be digital copies of the records as long as they are clear and legible copies of the original. If your records are digital, keep a backup.


Records can be tax invoices, receipts, diary entries or something else that proves you incurred the expense and how it related to how you earn your income.


2.0 Work-related expenses


To claim a deduction, you need to have incurred the expense yourself and not been reimbursed by your employer or business, and the expense needs to be directly related to your work.


What expenses are related to work?


You can claim a deduction for all losses and outgoings “to the extent to which they are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income except where the outgoings are of a capital, private or domestic nature, or relate to the earning of exempt income.” That is, there must be a nexus between the expenses you are claiming and how you earn your income.


It all sounds simple enough until you start applying this rule. Take the example of an actor. To land the acting job she needs to attend auditions. She wants to claim the cost of having her hair and make-up done for the audition. But, because she is not generating income at the stage of the audition, she cannot claim her expenses. The expense must be related to how you are currently earning your income, not future potential income. The same issue applies to upskilling. If you attend investment seminars with the intention of building your investment portfolio the seminar is not deductible as a self-education expense unless it relates to managing your existing investment portfolio - not a future one. Or, a nurse’s aide who attendees university to qualify as a nurse. The university degree and the expenses associated with this are not deductible as the nursing degree is not required to fulfil the role of a nurse’s aide.


The second area of confusion is over what can be claimed for work. If the item is “conventional” it’s unlikely to be deductible. For example, you can't claim conventional clothing (including footwear) as a work-related expense, even if your employer requires you to wear it and you only wear the items of clothing at work. To be deductible clothing must be protective, occupation specific such as a chef’s chequered pants, a compulsory uniform, or a registered non-compulsory uniform.


Work related or private?


Another area of confusion is where expenses are incurred for work purposes but used privately. Internet access or mobile phone services are typical. A lot of people take the view that the expense had to be incurred for work so what does it matter if it’s used for private purposes? But, if you use the service on more than an ad-hoc basis for any purpose other than work, then the expense needs to be apportioned and only the work-related percentage claimed as a deduction. And yes, the ATO does check usage in an audit.


Claims for COVID-19 tests will be a test of this rule. COVID-19 tests are deductible from 1 July 2021 if the purpose was to determine whether you may attend or remain at work. The tax deduction does not apply if you worked from home and didn’t intend to attend your workplace, or the test was used for private purposes (for example, to tests the kids before school).


Claiming work from home expenses


Last financial year, one in three Australians claimed working from home expenses. Now we’re out of the pandemic, the ATO will be focussing specifically on what is being claimed. If you claimed work from home expenses last year and returned to the office this year, then there should be a reduction in your work from home claim. The ATO will be looking for discrepancies.


If you are claiming your expenses, there are three methods you can use:


  • The ATO’s simplified 80 cents per hour short-cut method – you can claim 80 cents for every hour you worked from home from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022. You will need to have evidence of hours worked like a timesheet or diary. The rate covers all of your expenses and you cannot claim individual items separately, such as office furniture or a computer.
  • Fixed rate 52 cents per hour method – applies if you have set up a home office but are not running a business from home. You can claim 52 cents for every hour and this covers the running expenses of your home. You can claim your phone, internet, or the decline in value of equipment separately.
  • Actual expenses method – you can claim the actual expenses you incur (and reduce the claim by any personal use and use by other family members). You will need to ensure you have kept records such as receipts to use this method.


It’s this last method, the actual method, the ATO is scrutinising because people using this method tend to lodge much higher claims in their tax return. Ineligible expenses include:


  • Personal expenses such as coffee, tea and toilet paper
  • Expenses related to a child’s education, such as online learning courses or laptops
  • Claiming large expenses up-front (instead of claiming depreciation for assets), and
  • Occupancy expenses such as rent, mortgage interest, property insurance, and land taxes and rates, that cannot generally be claimed by employees working from home (especially by those who are working from home solely due to a lockdown).


3.0 Rental property income and deductions


For landlords, the focus is on ensuring that all income received, whether long-term, short-term, rental bonds, back payments, or insurance pay-outs, are recognised in your tax return.


If your rental property is outside of Australia, and you are an Australian resident for tax purposes, you must recognise the rental income you received in your tax return (excluding any tax you have paid overseas), unless you are classified as a temporary resident for tax purposes. You can claim expenses related to the property, although there are some special rules that need to be considered when it comes to interest deductions. For example, if you have borrowed money from an overseas lender you might be subject to withholding tax obligations.


Co-owned properties


For tax purposes, rental income and expenses need to be recognised in line with the legal ownership of the property, except in very limited circumstances where it can be shown that the equitable interest in the property is different from the legal title. The ATO will assume that where the taxpayers are related, the equitable right is the same as the legal title (unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise such as a deed of trust etc.,).


This means that if you hold a 25% legal interest in a property then you should recognise 25% of the rental income and rental expenses in your tax returns even if you pay most or all of the rental property expenses (the ATO would treat this as a private arrangement between the owners).


The main exception is where the parties have separately borrowed money to acquire their interest in the property, then they would claim their own interest deductions.


4.0 Capital gains from crypto, property or other assets


If you dispose of an asset - property, shares, crypto or NFTs, collectables (costing $500 or more) - you will need to calculate the capital gain or loss and record this in your tax return. Capital gains tax (CGT) does not apply to personal use assets such as a boat if you bought it for less than $10,000.


Crypto and capital gains tax


A question that often comes up is when do I pay tax on cryptocurrency?


If you acquire the cryptocurrency to make a private purchase and you don’t hold onto it, the crypto might qualify as a personal use asset. But in most cases, that is not the case and people acquire crypto as an investment, even if they do sometimes use it to buy things.


Generally, a CGT event occurs when disposing of cryptocurrency. This can include selling cryptocurrency for a fiat currency (e.g., $AUD), exchanging one cryptocurrency for another, gifting it, trading it, or using it to pay for goods or services.


Each cryptocurrency is a separate asset for CGT purposes. When you dispose of one cryptocurrency to acquire another, you are disposing of one CGT asset and acquiring another CGT asset. This triggers a taxing event.


Transferring cryptocurrency from one wallet to another is not a CGT disposal if you maintain ownership of the coin.


Record keeping is extremely important – you need receipts and details of the type of coin, purchase price, date and time of transactions in Australian dollars, records for any exchanges, digital wallet and keys, and what has been paid in commissions or brokerage fees, and records of tax agent, accountant and legal costs. The ATO regularly runs data matching projects, and has access to the data from many crypto platforms and banks.


If you make a loss on cryptocurrency, you can generally only claim the loss as a deduction if you are in the business of trading.


Gifting an asset might still incur tax


Donating or gifting an asset does not avoid capital gains tax. If you receive nothing or less than the market value of the asset, the market value substitution rules might come into play. The market value substitution rule can treat you as having received the market value of the asset you donated or gifted for the purpose of your CGT calculations.


For example, if Mum & Dad buy a block of land then eventually gift the block of land to their daughter, the ATO will look at the value of the land at the point they gifted it. If the market value of the land is higher than the amount that Mum & Dad paid for it, then this would normally trigger a capital gains tax liability. It does not matter that Mum & Dad did not receive any money for the land.


Donations of cryptocurrency might also trigger capital gains tax. If you donate cryptocurrency to a charity, you are likely to be assessed on the market value of the crypto at the point you donated it. You can only claim a tax deduction for the donation if the charity is a deductible gift recipient and the charity is set up to accept cryptocurrency.


Leveraging Xero for Medical Practices: The Importance of Monthly Bank Reconciliation

Leveraging Xero for Medical Practices: The Importance of Monthly Bank Reconciliation

By Clarke McEwan • June 12, 2025
Leveraging Xero for Medical Practices: The Importance of Monthly Bank Reconciliation In the evolving world of financial management, the use of cloud-based accounting software like Xero has transformed how businesses, including medical practices, handle their finances. For healthcare providers in Australia, maintaining accurate financial records is crucial, not only for compliance but also for ensuring business efficiency and growth. One of the fundamental accounting processes that support this is regular bank reconciliation. Why Choose Xero for Your Medical Practice? Xero is a user-friendly, cloud-based accounting software designed to simplify day-to-day financial operations. Here are some key reasons why medical practices are increasingly adopting Xero: Streamlined Billing and Invoicing : Xero allows for easy creation and management of invoices, ensuring that patients are billed correctly and efficiently. Real-Time Financial Overview : With Xero, you can access your financial data anytime, anywhere, providing you with a real-time snapshot of your practice's financial health. Integration with Other Systems : Xero integrates seamlessly with a plethora of healthcare management systems, reducing manual data entry and enabling smooth workflow. Efficient Payroll Handling : Automate payroll processing within your practice, helping you manage employee payments and relevant compliance efficiently. The Significance of Regular Bank Reconciliation Bank reconciliation is the process of aligning the records in your practice's accounting system with the corresponding information on your bank statement to ensure both sets of records are accurate. Here’s why doing this every month is vital: 1. Error Detection and Correction Bank reconciliation allows you to spot any discrepancies between your records and the bank's data. This includes identifying double payments, missed transactions, or bank errors that could cost your practice a significant amount if left unchecked. 2. Fraud Prevention By regularly reconciling your accounts, you create an opportunity to detect early signs of fraudulent activity or unauthorized transactions, safeguarding your practice’s funds. 3. Cash Flow Management Accurate reconciliation ensures that your cash flow statement reflects the true financial state of your practice, helping you plan for any financial commitments and investments with confidence. 4. Compliance and Reporting Regular reconciliation ensures your financial statements are accurate, facilitating smoother tax filing and adherence to Australian financial regulations. 5. Financial Decision-Making When reconciled correctly, your financial data becomes a reliable foundation for making strategic business decisions, such as expanding your practice or acquiring new equipment. Incorporating Xero into Your Routine To maximize the benefits of Xero for your medical practice: Schedule Monthly Reconciliation : Set aside dedicated time each month to complete your bank reconciliations without fail. Leverage Automation : Use Xero’s bank feeds to automate transaction imports, which makes the matching and reconciliation process quicker and more efficient. Stay Informed : Regularly review reports generated by Xero to keep abreast of your practice’s financial performance and trends. Consult with Professionals : Collaborate with your accountant or financial advisor to ensure that your reconciliation processes are optimized and aligned with best practices. In conclusion, adopting Xero and maintaining regular bank reconciliations in your medical practice are not merely about staying compliant; they are essential components of robust financial management. They ensure your practice operates smoothly and is prepared for growth, making them indispensable tools in today’s healthcare landscape. Discover how our accounting services can further enhance your financial management processes. Get in touch with us today for tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of your medical practice. To arrange a no obligation meeting please use the link here
Choosing the appropriate business structure is crucial for any doctor setting up a practice in Austr

Selecting the Right Business Structure for Doctors: Tax and Asset Protection in Australia

By Clarke McEwan • June 11, 2025
Choosing the appropriate business structure is crucial for any doctor setting up a practice in Australia. The decision not only affects your tax obligations but also significantly impacts asset protection and legal liabilities. This article delves into the primary business structures available to Australian medical professionals and their implications.

Labor's Victory: unpacking the promises and priorities

By Clarke McEwan • June 2, 2025
Individuals Personal income tax cuts: the 2025-26 federal budget introduced a modest income tax cut for all taxpayers from 1 July 2026 and again from 1 July 2027. The tax rate for the $18,201-$45,000 tax bracket will reduce from its current rate of 16%, to 15% from 1 July 2026, then to 14% from 2027-28. The saving from the tax cut represents a maximum of $268 in the 2026-27 year and $536 from the 2027-28 year. Legislation enabling the tax cut passed Parliament on 26 March 2025. $1,000 instant work related expenses tax deduction The Government has committed to providing taxpayers who earn labour income with a $1,000 shortcut work related deduction claim on their tax return. Taxpayers who are likely to have claims higher than $1000 can claim in the usual way. The simplified tax deduction is only available to those earning labour income. Those earning business or investment income only will not be able to claim this shortcut deduction. Taxpayers will be able to claim other non-work related deductions in addition to the instant work related deduction. Energy rebate extended The 2025-26 federal budget extended energy rebates . From 1 July 2025, households and small business will be eligible for a further $150 energy rebate until the end of the 2025 calendar year. The rebates will automatically apply to electricity bills in quarterly instalments. Cheaper home batteries The Government has committed to reducing the cost of home batteries from 1 July 2025 . Through the scheme, households will be able to purchase a typical battery with a 30% discount on installed costs – saving around $4,000 on a typical battery. The initiative extends the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme . 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers The Government has committed to a 5% deposit scheme for all Australian first home buyers . Under the scheme the Government will underwrite eligible first home buyers, enabling them to purchase a property with a 5% deposit without the need for Lenders Mortgage Insurance. Expanding the existing first home buyer scheme, the media release says, “there will be higher property price limits and no caps on places or income, in a major expansion of the existing scheme.” The existing Home Guarantee Scheme is limited in places and subject to income tests. The scheme is open to Australian citizens or permanent residents who have never owned property or land in Australia, or have not owned property or land in Australia in the last 10 years, and available to owner occupiers only. Superannuation Legislation enabling the proposed Division 296 tax on superannuation balances above $3m lapsed when Parliament dissolved. The question now is whether the Government will seek to push this reform through the Senate with the support of The Greens. Greens Senator Nick McKim has previously advocated for the Division 296 threshold to be lowered to $2m and indexed to inflation. In addition, the Senator tied his support for the tax to a “prohibition for super funds to borrow to finance investments.” Originally intended to apply from 1 July 2025, if enacted, Division 296 will increase the headline tax rate to 30% for earnings on total superannuation balances (TSB) above $3m. The proposed calculation captures growth in TSB over the financial year allowing for contributions and withdrawals. This method captures both realised and unrealised gains, enabling negative earnings to be carried forward and offset against future years. Small business Extending the instant asset write-off for small business: An increase to the $1,000 instant asset write-off threshold has been a consistent feature of federal budgets by various governments as an incentive for small business investment. The extension of the increased instant asset write-off threshold to $20,000 for the 2024-25 financial was passed by Parliament on 26 March 2025. The Government has committed to extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off threshold to 30 June 2026 . National small business strategy The Government has released its National small business strategy for consultation. The strategy primarily addresses how different government jurisdictions work with small business and how to relieve some of the friction when dealing across government systems and requirements. Energy Green Aluminium Production Credit: The Government has $2bn set aside for a new Green Aluminium Production Credit to support Australian aluminium smelters switching to renewable electricity before 2036 (there are four of them). If you are wondering why the aluminium industry has been singled out, the reason is two-fold; aluminium is the second most used metal in the world and according to the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, represents about 10% of Australia’s electricity demand - Tomago Aluminium just north of Newcastle in NSW, is the largest single user of electricity in the country with electricity making up about 40% of its costs. Transition from brown to green energy is not just a consumption issue for the industry, it’s a recreation of the value chain. Under the initiative, smelters will be able to negotiate an emissions linked credit contract payable per tonne of green aluminium produced for up to 10 years. The final credit rates will be based on individual facility circumstances and be dependent on reducing Scope 2 emissions. Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat or cooling. They account for around 85% of emissions from aluminium smelting. See: Aluminium to forge Australia's manufacturing future and Department of Industry, Science and Resources. New Green Aluminium Production Credit will support the transition to green metals.

From air fryers to swimwear: Tax deductions to avoid

By Clarke McEwan • June 2, 2025
• A mechanic attempting to claim an air fryer, microwave, two vacuum cleaners, TV, gaming console and gaming accessories as work related expenses • A truck driver seeking to deduct swimwear purchased during transit due to hot weather • A fashion industry manager attempting to claim over $10 000 in luxury branded clothing and accessories for work related events. These claims were deemed personal in nature and lacked a sufficient connection to income earning activities. The advice here would be - if in doubt leave it out or run it by us. 2025 priorities The ATO is focusing on areas where frequent errors occur including: • Work related expenses: as above, claims must have a clear connection to income earning activities and be substantiated with records including receipts or invoices. Even if an expense seems to relate to income earning activities, it can’t normally be claimed if it is a private expense. There are a wide range of common expenses that normally don’t qualify for a deduction. • Working from home deductions: taxpayers must prove they incurred additional expenses due to working from home. The ATO offers two methods for calculating these deductions: the fixed rate method and the actual cost method (more detail below). • Multiple income sources: all sources of income, including side hustles or gig economy work must be declared. Each source may have different deductions available. Working from home deductions For those working from home there are two methods to calculate deductions: • Fixed rate method: claim 70 cents per hour for additional running expenses such as electricity, internet and phone usage even if you don’t have a dedicated home office. This method can only be used if you have recorded the actual number of hours you worked from home across the income year. A reasonable estimate isn’t enough. • Actual cost method: claim the actual expenses incurred, with records to substantiate the claims. This method potentially enables a larger deduction to be claimed, but the record keeping obligations are more onerous. It's important to note that double dipping is not allowed. For instance, if you claim deductions using the fixed rate method you can’t separately claim a deduction for your mobile phone costs.  As always, if you’re unsure or need help with your tax return please reach out.

ATO's new requirements for NFP's

By Clarke McEwan • June 2, 2025
Annual NFP self-review return From the 2023–24 income year, non-charitable NFPs with an active Australian Business Number (ABN) are required to lodge an annual NFP self-review return with the ATO. This return notifies the ATO of the organisation's eligibility to self-assess as income tax exempt. The return has three sections: • Organisation details: standard information on the NFP. • Income tax self-assessment: confirmation of the organisation's income tax exempt status. • Summary and declaration: acknowledgement of the information provided. When the return is being completed the NFP must answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Does the organisation have and follow clauses in its governing documents that prohibit the distribution of income or assets to members while it is operating and winding up?’ This requirement needs to be satisfied in order for the NFP to self-assess its position as a tax exempt entity. If a NFPs governing documents don’t have these clauses then it can still self-assess as income tax exempt for the 2024 income year as long as no income or assets have been distributed to members. As a transitional arrangement, the ATO is allowing NFPs until 30 June 2025 to update their governing documents. Failing to do this will mean that the organisation cannot self-assess as income tax exempt from 1 July 2024 for the 2025 income year, which would lead to the organisation being treated as a taxable entity that might then need to lodge a tax return. Mandatory clauses in governing documents Governing documents are the formal documents which set out the purpose of the organisation, its character and the rules and requirements for how decisions are made, how it operates and how long it operates for. A s noted above, NFPs must include specific clauses in their governing documents to selfassess as income tax exempt. These clauses must: • Prohibit the distribution of income or assets to members during the organisation's operation and on winding up. • Ensure that any surplus assets are transferred to another NFP with similar purposes upon dissolution. NFPs should also ensure that there are sufficient controls in place to ensure that members don’t receive income, property or assets which belong to the organisation, except where they are receiving remuneration for work performed for the entity or a reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the organisation.  The advises that NFP governing documents should be reviewed at least annually or whenever there is a major change to the structure or activities of the organisation. An annual general meeting is a good time to review governing documents. Taking a proactive approach helps identify any issues and reinforces your organisation's commitment to good governance.

Economic crossroads: US shrinks, China stimulates, Australia holds steady

By Clarke McEwan • June 2, 2025
The other was a decline in Government spending. Mr Trump’s tariffs are deflationary for the world and inflationary for the US. The sharp weakening in soft economic data points to rising recession risks, although markets still only seem priced for a mild slowdown which now seems right given the backdown. It is no surprise that China announced a new stimulus package including interest rate cuts and a significant liquidity injection, as the Government looks to boost an economy that has been hit by the collapse in the property market and now the trade war with the US. China’s factory activity contracted at its fastest pace in 16 months in April following the frontloading of orders to beat the tariffs. Trade talks between the US and China have driven market optimism over the past few weeks and sentiment has turned positive. The US-China deal has 30% import taxes on Chinese goods, which could still stem trade flow. The trade announcement with the UK has disappointed many in the market as it kept the 10% tariff on imports into the US up from 3.4%. The EU hasn’t even begun negotiations with the US. In Australia, the election has come and gone fairly uneventfully for financial markets. We are waiting on GDP data to be released in the next few weeks which should confirm a sluggish economy given consumer spending remains weak. The RBA has cut interest rates and this should underpin mild growth. The outlook for financial markets remains one of uncertainty reflected by the increase in volatility. Tight policy, lingering inflation risks and tariff-related drag still weighs on markets. What seems to have been achieved so far is a whole lot of volatility and the realisation the US needs China as much as China needs the US. Within the Australian share market there was a notable softening in outlook statements by company management in the recent reporting season. With full-year forecasts being revised lower, it is reasonable to suggest that marketwide earnings growth is slowing, with expectations moderating for the rest of this year and potentially into the next.
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