November 2019 Newsletter

November 2019 Newsletter

CGT and the family home: expats and foreigners targeted again

The Government has resurrected its plan to remove access to the main residence exemption for non-residents - a move that will impact on expats and foreign residents.

Vacant land deduction changes hit 'Mum & Dad' property developments

Legislation that passed through Parliament last month prevents taxpayers from claiming a deduction for expenses incurred for holding vacant land.  The amendments are not only retrospective but go beyond purely vacant land.

Calculating Super Guarantee: The new rules

From 1 July 2020, new rules will come into effect to ensure that an employee's salary sacrifice contributions cannot be used to reduce the amount of superannuation guarantee (SG) paid by the employer.

Can the tax office take money out of your account?  Your right to know

You might have seen the recent spate of media freedom advertisements as part of the Your Right to Know campaign.  The prime-time advertising states that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can take money from your account without you knowing.  The question is, do you really know what powers the ATO have?

Are you paying your staff correctly?  Woolworths $200m plus remediation

Woolworths is the latest company facing a fallout from the underpayment of staff.  In what is believed to be the largest remediation of its kind, Woolworths have stated that they have underpaid 5,700 salaried team members with remediation expected to be in the range of $200m to $300m (before tax).

We can help you get your tax position right ... Please give us a call.

HR MATTERS

Paid parental leave entitlements to be increased

The Paid Parental Leave work test is being altered to take into account the circumstances of pregnant employees who are unable to continue working because of the hazardous nature of their employment that presents a risk to their pregnancy - and there is no safe job alternative available.

Recruitment ads may result in legal action against employer

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has referred an unfair dismissal case to the other "relevant agencies" to investigate possible breaches of anti-discrimination laws, after it found the sacking was likely to be racially motivated.

Common payroll no-nos tripping up employers

With regulators cracking down on non-compliance with wages, tax and reporting laws, employers are being urged not to fall for some of the most commonly broken rules around payroll.

If you have any concerns regarding HR Matters ... Please give us a call.

Best wishes from the DA Team

The material and contents provided in this publication are informative in nature only.  It is not intended to be advice and you should not act specifically on the basis of this information alone.  If expert assistance is required, professional advice should be obtained.