News & Resources

This month we focus on several significant developments affecting employers, investors, business owners and SMSF trustees.
 
While the Federal Budget was only handed down in May, the Government has already announced some changes to key proposals and we take a look at the latest developments. We highlight the commencement of Payday Super from 1 July 2026 and what employers need to do now to ensure they comply with more frequent superannuation payment obligations. We also examine the ATO’s increased scrutiny of personal services income arrangements and the practical steps business owners can take to reduce the risk of anti-avoidance rules applying. We explore the sharp rise in complaints to the Tax Ombudsman, including important developments around tax debt interest and penalty remission. Finally, we provide a practical checklist for SMSF trustees as a new financial year begin.

This month we unpack some of the most controversial proposals from the Federal Budget, including changes to negative gearing, the CGT discount and trust taxation. We examine key proposals and practical issues that can be considered now, even though some of the final details of the changes aren’t yet available. We then turn to the business payments landscape, outlining the Reserve Bank’s ban on card surcharges from 1 October 2026 and the practical actions businesses should take now. We explore the Government’s plan to wind back the current FBT exemption for electric vehicles and how this will play out over the next few years. Finally, our SMSF year-end article highlights the critical compliance steps trustees should turn their minds to before 30 June, including valuations, contributions, pensions and documentation.

This month we cover several practical updates that will matter for businesses and individuals as we head towards the financial year-end. The ATO’s revised EV home-charging rate delivers more generous deductions for work-related car claims and can impact on FBT calculations too. The Federal Government has also released targeted tax relief to help businesses hit by Middle East–driven fuel disruptions, with new flexibility around payment plans, interest remissions and compliance activity. We look at the ATO’s new “verify call” feature, a simple but powerful tool that lets you instantly confirm whether an ATO caller is genuine — a major safeguard as scam activity peaks. Finally, we outline the upcoming increases to superannuation contribution caps from 1 July 2026 and what they mean for optimising concessional and non-concessional contribution strategies.

This month we step through the newly enacted Division 296 superannuation tax—what it means for those with large super balances, how it will operate in practice, and the planning opportunities now available.
 
We also bring a clear message for business owners and high-wealth individuals: long-standing assumptions are being tested, with the ATO and courts setting new benchmarks for compliance, valuation and planning.
 
We look at the SEPL decision and why it’s a timely warning for family businesses relying on informal arrangements that blur the line between ownership and employment. The Full Federal Court’s judgment in Kilgour offers fresh guidance on how the “market value” of assets is really determined in business sale transactions, with important implications for accessing the small business CGT concessions. We also unpack the ATO’s escalating focus on work-vehicle FBT issues, where misunderstood exemptions and poor record-keeping are driving significant audit activity.

This month we focus on key developments and practical guidance for business owners, property holders, and SMSF trustees navigating complex tax obligations. We begin with a deep dive into Director Penalty Notices (DPNs), highlighting the Tax Ombudsman’s review in response to a 136% surge in notices and the personal risks directors face if company taxes go unpaid. Next, we clarify the ATO’s updated position on capital gains tax for home-based businesses, emphasising when small business CGT concessions apply—and when they don’t.

We also examine the ATO's draft ruling on inherited homes and how the ATO's approach to the main residence exemption could impact on family estates and estate planning strategies. Finally, we provide practical reminders for SMSF trustees on maintaining compliance, focusing on the sole purpose test and arm’s length requirements for related-party arrangements.