The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its
approach to how you claim expenses for working from home.
The ATO has ‘refreshed’ the way you can claim deductions for the costs you incur when you work from home. From 1 July 2022 onwards, you can
choose either to use a new ‘fixed rate’ method (67 cents per hour), or the ‘actual cost’ method depending on what works out best for your
scenario. Either way, you will need to gather and retain certain records to make a claim.
The first issue for claiming any deduction is that there must be a link between the costs you incurred and the way you earn your income. If
you incur an expense but it doesn’t relate to your work, or only partially relates to your work, you cannot claim the full cost as a
deduction.
The second key issue is that you need to incur costs associated with working from home. For example, if you are living with your parents and
not picking up any of the expenses for running the home then you can’t claim deductions for working from home as you have not incurred the
expenses, even if you are paying board (the ATO treats this as a private arrangement).
Let’s take a look at the detail:
Some people might find that the actual method produces a better result if their expenses are higher. As the name suggests, you can claim the actual additional expenses you incur when you work from home (and reduce the claim by any personal use and use by other family members).
However, you will need to ensure you have kept records of these expenses and the extent to which the expenses relate to your work.
Using this method, you can claim the work related portion of:
Be careful with this method because the ATO are looking closely to ensure these expenses are directly related to how you earn your income.
For example, you can’t claim personal expenses such as coffee, tea and toilet paper even if you do use these items when you are at work.
Nor can you claim occupancy expenses such as rent, mortgage interest, property insurance, and land taxes and rates unless your home is
a place of business. It is unusual for an employee’s home to be classified as a place of business.
\Where your home is also your principal place of business and an area is set aside exclusively for business activities, you can potentially
claim a deduction for an appropriate portion of occupancy expenses as well as running costs. An example would be a doctor who runs their
surgery from home.
The doctor may have one-third of the home set aside as a place of business where they see patients.
It is important to keep in mind that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) might be payable on the eventual sale of the home. While your main residence is normally exempt from CGT, the portion of the home set aside as a place of business will not generally qualify for the main residence exemption for the period it is used for this purpose, although if you are eligible, the small business CGT concessions and general CGT discount may reduce any resulting capital gain.
We provide strategic business and tax advisory, underpinned by our expertise in financial planning to ensure we develop financial structures that are smart and well considered.
A proficient financial adviser collaborates with you to understand your goals and overall desired financial and lifestyle outcomes
Despite the 13 interest rate increases in 19 months, your mortgage interest rate could and should still start with a ‘5’.
If you have an investment property loan and redraw on the loan for a different purpose the loan account becomes a mixed purpose account.
A recent case before the AAT demonstrates how fine the dividing line is between GST-free and taxable foods.
When it comes to financing your new car it’s possible to use either a low-doc car loan or a full-doc car loan.
A well-thought-out plan is the first step toward executing a cost-effective renovation.
Treasury has released draft legislation for consultation to enact the Government’s plan to increase tax rate superannuation balances above $3m from 15% to 30% from 1 July 2025.
Australian properties from overseas property seekers have risen 11.5 percent in the past three months. Meanwhile, rent searches are up 7.8 percent from the same demographic.
“Wage-theft” is illegal in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria under State laws.
The statistics on employer superannuation guarantee (SG) compliance look pretty good with over $71 billion, collected without intervention from the regulators in 2020-21.
A bridging loan allows you to acquire your next property before selling your current one, streamlining the transition between homes.
With inflation remaining high, interest rates are likely to stay at elevated levels for some time.
A crucial lesson for all budding startups is that maintaining a healthy cash flow is a pivotal factor in ensuring the long-term survival of your business.
Accountants play a crucial role in providing expertise and guidance to businesses during their startup and initial growth stages.
Aged care financial advice involves addressing a range of complex and unique issues that necessitate careful consideration.
Your credit score is an important factor that all lenders use to decide if they are prepared to lend to you.
As your business grows and evolves, your financial needs change too. Here are five signs that it might be time to consider upgrading to a larger, more specialised accounting firm.
Paying off your home loan reduces your mortgage debt and increases the equity you have in your property.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may be nearing the end of its interest rate hiking cycle, but the Australian economy is already feeling the effects.
The recent rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) have understandably put borrowers under pressure.
Property investors that choose to utilise their property for short-term stays (or leave it vacant) are firmly in the sights of the regulators.
According to CoreLogic, the jump in prices marks the eighth consecutive month of growth which has also seen values increase 2.2% over the quarter.
Treasury has released draft legislation to enact the Government’s plan to increase the tax rate on superannuation balances above $3m.
Before investing in a new truck or equipment, make sure you understand the fleet requirements of your major clients and any potential future partners.
As your business expands, the need for a specialised and strategic business accountant who can provide ongoing advice and guidance becomes increasingly evident.
The Australian Taxation Office have released a new draft ruling on self-education expenses.
With both domestic and international travel showing improvements, investment levels in hotel assets across the country has increased.
Electricity is the new black. Gas and other fossil fuels are out. A new, limited incentive nudges business towards energy efficiency.
In the wake of COVID-19, Australian offices have undergone a significant shift – and things aren’t likely to change anytime soon.
New listings have risen by 13.2% through the winter season, driven by a 17.9% rise across the capital cities.
ONLINE WEBINAR
28 September 2023 // 12:30 - 1:30p.m.
In today's ever-changing economic landscape, facing redundancy can be daunting, impacting both your financial and emotional well-being. This
webinar is tailored to address these concerns, offering practical insights and strategies to navigate the complexities of redundancy and
secure your financial future.
Spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a better outcome. In many instances, focusing on the basics can make a big impact and make your home more appealing.
Buyers need to realise that sales agents are there working for the vendor. It’s important that new buyers know how to effectively negotiate with real estate agents.
When purchasing a new car, you’re going to be faced with various financing options for buying the vehicle.
Investment markets have shown a lot of enthusiasm for AI and Chat GPT technology. AI productivity gains could boost economic growth and
share market performance across the world.
A global agreement on halting and reversing biodiversity loss could benefit investors as well as the planet. Here’s what a heightened focus on bio- diversity could mean for your investment portfolio.
1.3 million home loans are expected to move from low fixed rates to high variable rates in 2023 and 2024, with the peak to hit in the second half of this year.
An increasing number of older Australians are starting their own businesses – using their consider- able expertise to create value for their customers and the economy.
The release of resilient economic data and sticky inflation readings indicated that official interest rates might need to be raised further in key regions, or at least remain high for longer than was previously anticipated.
The launch of ChatGPT late last year was greeted with a frenzy of enthusiasm as investors eyed the potential for productivity gains and innovation. We look beneath the hype and consider the implications for your investment portfolio.
Unlike traditional loans, invoice financing offers another way. Borrowing against your invoices means that you can gain access to the money you are owed immediately.
The commercial property market in regional Queensland is experiencing a surge of interest from Melbourne investors, as the state's booming population continues to grow.
What will the Australian community look like in 40 years? We look at the key takeaways from the Intergenerational Report.
As businesses continue trying to woo workers back to the office, demand for high-quality office space continues rising.
Tax planning is more than just a financial necessity—it's a strategic advantage for businesses of all sizes. By proactively managing your tax strategy, you can significantly reduce your liabilities, enhance cash flow, and ensure full compliance with ever-evolving tax regulations.