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New ATO guidance for rental property owners
The ATO has released updated guidance to clarify how it assesses rental property income and expenses, to reflect changes in the way investors rent out their properties. This is particularly important for clients whose rental property also doubles as a holiday home. If a rental property that doubles as a holiday home is not used primarily to earn assessable income,
ATO warns of Tax Time misinformation and focus areas
The ATO is warning the community to be wary of incorrect or misleading information this Tax Time, particularly claims promising greater refunds, shortcuts or hacks. The ATO is seeing a rise in tax-related content and ‘tips’ being shared — especially online — and is urging taxpayers to treat unverified advice with caution. Australians should think twice before acting on information
SMSF year end reminder — what to check before 30 June
The end of the financial year is fast approaching. For SMSF members and trustees, a few timely checks now can avoid headaches later and help preserve valuable tax and contribution opportunities. Below is a checklist of the things members and trustees should consider before 30 June. Contributions — timing matters Get contributions into the fund by 30 June: For both
Government to wind back electric vehicle FBT exemption in three stages
The Government has announced a staged wind-back of the current Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles (EVs), following recommendations from the Statutory Review of the Electric Car Discount released in May 2026. While the policy continues to support EV uptake, it also aims to make concessions more sustainable and better targeted. The changes are expected to save the
Ending card surcharges: What you need to know before 1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has confirmed that all surcharges on credit and debit card payments — across eftpos, Mastercard and Visa — will be banned from 1 October 2026. This represents one of the most significant updates to Australia’s payments landscape in years and will have a direct impact on businesses and consumers. Why this matters Australians pay
Key 2026–27 Federal Budget tax reforms: What they mean for you
The 2026–27 Federal Budget, released on 12 May 2026, has received more attention than most budgets in recent years. With proposed changes to negative gearing, the CGT discount and the taxation of trusts, this is a budget that has the potential to materially impact on property investors, business owners and families using discretionary trusts. However, it is important to remember that
Superannuation contribution caps to increase from 1 July 2026
Following the recent release of the December 2025 quarter average weekly ordinary times earnings (AWOTE) the annual concessional contribution (CC) cap will increase from $30,000 to $32,500 from 1 July 2026. The annual non-concessional contribution (NCC) cap will also increase to $130,000. When considering contribution opportunities some individuals may have higher caps due to the carry forward CC rules or
New ATO ‘Verify Call’ Feature: Instant Protection Against Phone Scams
As tax time approaches, so does the annual spike in scam calls pretending to be from the ATO. These calls are becoming increasingly convincing — and increasingly costly for those who get caught by them. The ATO has now launched a simple, powerful solution: the ‘verify call’ feature in the free ATO app. Rolled out in early April 2026, it
Practical Help for Businesses Impacted by Fuel Disruptions
With global fuel supply chains still under strain from conflict in the Middle East, many Australian businesses are feeling the impact through higher operating costs, delayed deliveries and pressure on cash flow. To help stabilise affected sectors, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the ATO have announced a package designed to give businesses immediate breathing room and reduce administrative burden during a
ATO Updates EV Home Charging Rate: What It Means for You
The ATO has announced a significant update that will affect anyone using electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for work or fleet purposes and where the vehicle is charged at the relevant individual’s home. From 1 April 2026 (for FBT purposes) or from 1 July 2026 (for income tax purposes), the ATO’s standard home-charging electricity rate will