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ATO Extends Data Collection to Ensure Compliance in JobKeeper Programme

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The administrative trend toward data collection and analysis continues, as the ATO extends its data-matching programme with the Department of Home Affairs. The 3-year extension will further consolidate their database regarding recent visa grants in the 2020-21 to 2022-23 financial years. Each financial year, an estimated 10 million individual records…

What does 2021 have in store for ATO audit activity?

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Much of the world has experienced some sort of shutdown this year, with governments implementing financial support strategies to keep their economies from slipping into a recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia was no exception, with support packages such as JobKeeper and cash flow boost propping up the country. In…

‘Shortcut’ Method Extended For Home Office Tax Deductions

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Australians claiming deductions for home office expenses may continue to use the ‘shortcut’ method until December 31, after the ATO extended the period for making claims. The extension is aimed at providing additional tax relief for people working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic period. The shortcut method covers a…

New Budget Includes Steps to Modernise Australian Tax Collection

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The Australian government has made a series of announcements in an effort to adapt the country’s tax collection system to modern conditions. Among these is the removal of the 47% fringe benefits tax (FBT) for businesses that retrain workers who have been repositioned or made redundant. Other tax concessions will…

Cybercrimes Said to Have Affected 1 in 6 People

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A report by NortonLifeLock Digital Transformation claims that one in every six people in Australia were defrauded by cybercrimes during the lockdown. Increased screen time has led to a spike in the number of suspected cases. The spread of the coronavirus led to a work-from-home environment for many businesses, yet…

Tax Office Examines Those Who Accessed Superannuations

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The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is examining over 400 account owners who issued early release claims on their retirement savings. In the investigation, ATO will scrutinise taxpayers and organisations that may have used a system loophole to dodge eligibility compliance, as a way of gaining early access to their superannuations.…

Australia Faces Huge Budget Deficit Due to COVID-19

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The coronavirus pandemic is expected to give Australia its largest budget deficit since World War II. After almost three decades of economic growth, the budget deficit is now expected to reach $184.5 billion in the new fiscal year. As Finance Minister Mathias Cormann put it: “We know why we’re here.…

Australian Government Invests in Cyber Security

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In response to a number of apparently state-sponsored cyberattacks in June, the federal government has announced its largest ever investment in cyber security – with $1.35 billion of funding dedicated over the next ten years “My government’s record investment in our nation’s cyber security will help ensure we have the…

The latest tax audit claim stats that all accountants in Australia will want to know

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Every accountant will know that reviews or audits of your client’s tax returns can sometimes be unavoidable. This is seldom a reflection of the work that is put into preparing the returns and is more often than not due to a specific crackdown by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or other State government revenue authorities. It could be through a variety of data matching or artificial intelligence sources used to assist in initiating audit…