Our Info Base is a collection of fact sheets, templates, downloadable forms, lodgement checklists, taxation details and other relevant information.
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Resources
INFO BASE
Individuals
Residents: Personal tax rates and thresholds
These rates apply to individuals who are Australian residents for tax purposes:
read more »Non-Residents: Personal tax rates
Non-Foreign Resident Individual income tax rates
read more »Rental Properties
Purchasing a rental propertyWhen purchasing a financed rental property you may consider:o The interest on the debt is deductible in contrast to the interest on the debt for your main…
read more »Motor Vehicle Deductions
Since 1 July 2015 there are only two methods available for claiming a deduction for motor vehicle expenses:Logbook, orCents per kilometre All motor vehicle claims need to be supported by…
read more »Private Health Insurance Rebate 2024
Private Health Insurance Rebate 2023/24The private health cover rebate changed on 1 July 2023:It is income tested on a single income or family income basis.The…
read more »The Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge & Private Health Care Rebate 2024
The Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge & Private Health Care Rebate are all items administered via the taxation system that are affected as your level of taxable income changes.Medicare Levy:The…
read more »Understanding PAYG Instalments
What are PAYG Instalments?Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments is a system for making regular payments towards your expected income tax liability. It generally only applies if you earn business…
read more »Investment Properties - things to do, items to keep
When purchasing a property for investment purposes or changing the status of your main residence to an investment property there are several important steps you should take and documents you…
read more »How Cryptocurrency impacts your tax return
Cryptocurrencies emerged as the first digital currency to be used as an alternative for the…
read more »Airbnb Rental Income
With the increase in people using the sharing economy to supplement their income, for instance with AirBnb and Stayz, it’s helpful to keep in mind the tax implications these sorts…
read more »A Guide to HECS-HELP
What do you need to know about HECS-HELP? The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP, formerly known as HECS) is an Australian government scheme that helps students…
read more »
Tax Rates
Residents: Personal tax rates and thresholds
These rates apply to individuals who are Australian residents for tax purposes:
read more »Non-Residents: Personal tax rates
Non-Foreign Resident Individual income tax rates
read more »Weekly, Fortnightly & Monthly Tax Tables
To calculate the Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding tax amount for your employees download the weekly, fortnightly or monthly tax tables below, depending on your agreed pay frequency. These schedules incorporate the…
read more »
Checklists and Downloads
The AFYF Document Portal
You may have noticed access to our old Portal is no longer active. We have been rolling out our new system over the past months, which also includes a…
read more »Personal Tax Return Checklist
All documents for your tax return can now be sent to us via your client portal, using the upload function. Please get in touch if you'd like instructions on how…
read more »Company and Partnership Checklist
All documents for your tax return can now be sent to us via your client portal, using the upload function. Please get in touch…
read more »Super fund Checklist
All documents for your tax return can now be sent to us via your client portal, using the upload function. Please get in touch…
read more »Trusts Checklist
All documents for your tax return can now be sent to us via your client portal, using the upload function. Please get in touch…
read more »Tax Return Checklist for Rental Property Income
Income · Rental income …
read more »Spreadsheets - Business Income & Expenses
It's not always necessary to purchase, install, create and update complicated accounting package programs when starting up a business. Sometimes a simple Excel spreadsheet can be more suitable, particularly with sole traders and…
read more »Spreadsheet - Motor Vehicle Expenses
This spreadsheet is a useful tool for monitoring and recording your motor vehicle expenses for your year-end tax return. Keep track of your quarterly expenditure, including lease payments and interest on loans…
read more »Template - Motor Vehicle Logbook
A logbook can help you get the most from your business or work-related motor vehicle use. Download this template so you can keep track of each business or work-related trip…
read more »Share Register Spreadsheet
This spreadsheet is a useful tool for recording your share purchases, sales and transfers. Keep track of share values over time and record the details necessary for capital gain or loss calculations…
read more »Procedures for XERO
If you’re ready to make the switch over to Xero and ready to invite us to your data file now, please download the PDF below for the instructions.
read more »
Superannuation
The Super Guarantee Charge (SGC)
The SGC is a penalty charge that applies to employers who don’t pay the minimum amount of super guarantee (SG) for their employees to the correct fund by the…
read more »Consolidating your super
There are numerous benefits to keeping your super in one place. Apart from only paying one set of fees, you will also be able to keep track of your retirement…
read more »Binding Beneficiaries Nominations
Under superannuation law, the Trustee of your super fund has the discretionary power to decide which of your dependents receives your super if you die before you retire. The law…
read more »Audit Requirements
Below is the list of details needed for the annual audit of your SMSF:A copy…
read more »
Estate Planning
Template - Last Will & Testament
A Will is a legal document that clearly sets out your wishes for the distribution of your assets after your death. Having a clear, legally valid and up-to-date Will is…
read more »Templates - Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardianship, Advanced Care Directive
There may come a time in your life when you need someone to make imortant decisions for you, whether it is in regards to your health, living situation or your…
read more »
Starting a New Business
10 Most Important Things for New Businesses
1. Business PlanBefore you register for an ABN and start trading it is vital to sit down and flesh out the finer points of your business idea: Consider the different…
read more »Company & Trust Set Up
If you decide on a company or trust structure for your new business AFYF can assist you in meeting the various legal, ATO and ASIC documentation necessary for registration and…
read more »Registering a Business Name
When you first get started in a business you should register your business name with ASIC. Registration of a business name lasts for either one or three years, depending on the…
read more »Company & Partnership Agreements & Deeds
When first setting up your partnership, company or trust there may be a requirement to draw up and sign an agreement or deed. These agreements can regulate the arrangements between partners,…
read more »Invoicing - What to Include
Invoices can be hand-written, carbon copies or computer generated from programs like Xero or MYOB, but they all need to include certain details. For businesses registered for GST invoices need…
read more »Family (Discretionary) Trusts - Pros & Cons
You can use a family (discretionary) trust to facilitate investments, hold assets or as structure to facilitate the operation and ownership of a business. Trusts are often favoured for asset…
read more »Understanding ASIC: Your Business's Regulatory Guide
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is an independent Australian government body that regulates Australian corporations, financial markets, consumer credit, and financial services. Their…
read more »Director ID Application Process
A Director ID is a unique (15-digit) identifier that a director will keep forever, even if you cease being a director. If you are a director of multiple companies, you…
read more »
BAS & GST
Requirements for BAS
Below is a list of the detail required to be able to process BAS documentation for lodgement:Bank statements for the full BAS period – Make sure you have all the…
read more »
Business Planning
Business Planning
A business plan is an essential tool in starting up your business. It allows you to set a clear direction for your business, to communicate planning objectives and strategies to…
read more »Reviewing your Small Business
Reviewing your small business practices and position is an integral part of running a business, particularly as it expands.Below is a checklist put together by the ATO to help you…
read more »
Employing People
Checklist for Employers
1. Check Fair Work conditions Before you employ someone, you should read through the National Employment Standards as set out by Fair Work to ensure you can meet the necessary requirements.…
read more »Job Descriptions with Various Templates
The job description should be the very first step in the recruitment process. It provides a support for writing job advertisements, specifying necessary qualifications, interviewing candidates, planning job training and…
read more »Contracts & Letters of Offer with Example Templates
Contracts or letters of offer are important aspects when hiring a new employee as they outline the terms and conditions of the job being offered.Try to include as much detail…
read more »Letters of Appointment & Example
A letter of appointment is another aspect of the recruitment process that the employer should complete to confirm the details of employment. It generally only needs to be a short…
read more »How Single Touch Payroll impacts Employers & Employees
Single Touch Payroll (STP) has revolutionised how Australian employers report employee payroll information to the ATO. Introduced in stages, STP’s rollout began in July 2018 for larger employers (20+ employees)…
read more »
Individuals
Residents: Personal tax rates and thresholds
These rates apply to individuals who are Australian residents for tax purposes:
read more »Non-Residents: Personal tax rates
Non-Foreign Resident Individual income tax rates
read more »Rental Properties
Purchasing a rental propertyWhen purchasing a financed rental property you may consider:o The interest on the debt is deductible in contrast to the interest on the debt for your main…
read more »Motor Vehicle Deductions
Since 1 July 2015 there are only two methods available for claiming a deduction for motor vehicle expenses:Logbook, orCents per kilometre All motor vehicle claims need to be supported by…
read more »Private Health Insurance Rebate 2024
Private Health Insurance Rebate 2023/24The private health cover rebate changed on 1 July 2023:It is income tested on a single income or family income basis.The…
read more »The Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge & Private Health Care Rebate 2024
The Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge & Private Health Care Rebate are all items administered via the taxation system that are affected as your level of taxable income changes.Medicare Levy:The…
read more »Understanding PAYG Instalments
What are PAYG Instalments?Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments is a system for making regular payments towards your expected income tax liability. It generally only applies if you earn business…
read more »Investment Properties - things to do, items to keep
When purchasing a property for investment purposes or changing the status of your main residence to an investment property there are several important steps you should take and documents you…
read more »How Cryptocurrency impacts your tax return
Cryptocurrencies emerged as the first digital currency to be used as an alternative for the…
read more »Airbnb Rental Income
With the increase in people using the sharing economy to supplement their income, for instance with AirBnb and Stayz, it’s helpful to keep in mind the tax implications these sorts…
read more »A Guide to HECS-HELP
What do you need to know about HECS-HELP? The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP, formerly known as HECS) is an Australian government scheme that helps students…
read more »
Rental Properties
Purchasing a rental property
- When purchasing a financed rental property you may consider:
o The interest on the debt is deductible in contrast to the interest on the debt for your main residence. From a tax deductibility perspective it may pay to consider maximising the debt on the rental property and minimising the debt on your main residence
o If your planned rental property is to be negatively geared (i.e. expenses greater than income) and jointly owned, from a tax deductibility perspective it may pay to consider the ownership portions of the rental property to maximise tax effectiveness - When purchasing a rental property outright:
o If your planned rental property is to be positively geared (i.e. income greater than expenses) and jointly owned, from a taxable income perspective it may pay to consider the ownership portions of the rental property to maximise tax effectiveness - When purchasing a rental property make sure you keep copies of the following for any potential, future capital gains calculations:
o Copy of purchase contract
o Copy of settlement sheet
o Details of any expenses relating to the purchase
o Copy of your finance documentation, if applicable - Make sure that you get a depreciation schedule, if applicable
- Make sure that you take out a landlords insurance policy, if applicable
Changing your main residence into a rental property
- When you change the status of your main residence to a rental property:
o The interest on any outstanding mortgage on the property becomes deductible at the balance amount as at the date that it becomes a rental property
o All other expenses for the property become deductible from the date that it becomes a rental property
o If the property is negatively geared (i.e. expenses greater than income), then the rental losses will become deductible against other income according to ownership
o If the property is positively geared (i.e. income greater than expenses), the surplus needs to be declared as income in tax returns according to ownership - Make sure that you get a written valuation for the property at the time it becomes a rental as this may be useful when calculating potential capital gain at a later stage
- Make sure that you get a depreciation schedule, if applicable
- Make sure that you take out a landlord’s insurance policy, if applicable
Disposal of a rental property
- When disposing of a rental property make sure you keep copies of the following for any potential capital gains calculations:
o Copy of sale contract
o Copy of settlement sheet
o Details of any expenses relating to the sale
Income
- Any income received from a rental property needs to be declared as income in tax returns according to ownership
What’s deductible
- Any expenses incurred in the process of renting a property are deductible, they may include but are not limited to:
o Advertising for tenants
o Bank charges
o Body corporate fees and charges
o Borrowing expenses
o Capital works
o Cleaning
o Council rates
o Decline in value of depreciating assets
o Gardening and lawn mowing
o Insurance – building, contents and public liability
o Interest expenses
o Land tax
o Legal expenses (excluding acquisition costs and borrowing costs)
o Pest control
o Phone
o Property agent fees and commissions
o Repairs and maintenance
o Special building write off
o Stationery and postage
o Water charges - If your rental property is a holiday house that you use personally for part of the year, expenses will need to be apportioned according to the personal use and claimed as a percentage of the total
Depreciation
- There may be two types of depreciation available as a deduction depending on the age of the rental property:
o Depreciation of plant and equipment
This is a claim for the decline in value over the defined lifetime of each of the fixtures and fittings included in the property
o Division 43 Capital works allowance
This is a claim to write off the initial construction cost of the rental property
This may or may not be available depending on the age of the property - In order to claim depreciation as an expense it is highly recommended that you have the rental property assessed and a deprecitation schedule completed
- The cost of having a depreciation schedule completed becomes a deductible expense
- A number of our clients have used and we recommend, BMT Tax Depreciation for this service:
o BMT Tax Depreciation
Quantity Surveyors
Phone: 1300 728 726
www.bmtqs.com.au
Information required for your tax return
- We have a downloadable spread sheet for you to record your rental property income and expenses here
- We have a checklist for you to make sure that you have all of your rental property details together for your return here