ATO to send text messages if bank account details incorrect
The ATO has advised that it will send SMS text messages directly to taxpayers where incorrect bank account details were included in their tax returns and they were entitled to a refund. The SMS will advise impacted taxpayers that:
- their refund cannot be processed due to incorrect bank account details; and
- they should phone the ATO on 13 28 61 to correct their details.
If impacted taxpayers contact the ATO with their
correct details within seven days, any refund due
will be issued electronically.
Editor: In the wake of an increase in recent tax fraud
attempts, it is clear that taxpayers need to exercise
additional caution when dealing with electronic
messaging from (or purportedly from) the ATO.
The authenticity of ATO correspondence can
be verified by calling the ATO on 1800 008
540; however, if you are ever unsure about any
correspondence received, please contact our office
ATO contact regarding business cars and Fringe Benefits Tax ('FBT')
The ATO has recently advised that it will be
contacting taxpayers (and tax agents on behalf of
their clients) that have been identified as having
cars registered in their business name who have
not lodged an FBT return.
The ATO has reminded businesses that:
- a car fringe benefit will occur when a business owns or leases a car and makes it available for an employee's private travel or use (including garaging the car at or near an employee's home and making it available for private use); and that
- business directors are also 'employees' for FBT purposes..
External collection agencies to enforce ATO lodgment obligations
The ATO has finalised a trial relating to sending
overdue taxpayer lodgment obligations to external
collection agencies.
As a result, it may now refer taxpayers to an external
collection agency to secure tax return lodgment.
The ATO has stated that it will only refer a taxpayer
to an external collection agency where the
taxpayer takes no action in response to its initial
correspondence letters.
ATO data matching and share transactions
The ATO has extended its data matching program,
this time focusing on share data.
The ATO will continue to receive share data from
ASIC, including details of the price, quantity and
time of individual trades dating back to 2014, with
more than 500 million records obtained.
The ATO will use the information to identify
taxpayers who have not properly reported the sale
or transfer of shares as income or capital gains in
their income tax returns.
It seems share transactions are high on the ATO's
priority list, given more than 5 million Australian
adults (almost one-third) now own shares.
Improvements to employee share schemes announced
The Government has announced it intends to introduce legislation to improve the ability of small businesses to offer employee share schemes by simplifying the current regulatory framework, and reducing the time and cost burden for businesses by (amongst other things):
- increasing the value limit of eligible financial products that can be offered in a 12-month period from $5,000 per employee to $10,000 per employee;
- creating an exemption for disclosure, licensing, advertising and on-sale obligations in the Corporations Act; and
- allowing small businesses to offer (in most instances) employee share schemes without publicly disclosing commercially sensitive financial information.
ATO guidance regarding 'downsizer contributions'
The ability to make 'downsizer contributions'
effectively commenced on 1 July 2018, prompting
the ATO to release further guidance with respect to
this new superannuation contribution classification.
Editor: This new measure will be of most assistance
for individuals approaching retirement, where
they dispose of their family home in an effort to
‘downsize’ and they want to contribute part or all
of the proceeds to superannuation.
Basically, these measures allow older Australians
to make a downsizer contribution where:
- they are aged at least 65;
- there was consideration received for the disposal of an eligible Australian dwelling;
- the contract of sale for the property was entered into on or after 1 July 2018;
- a superannuation contribution is generally made within 90 days of settlement;
- the contribution does not exceed the lesser of $300,000 and the proceeds received from the sale of the dwelling;
- an ownership interest in the dwelling had been held for at least 10 years (usually by the individual making the contribution or their spouse);
- either a full or partial CGT main residence exemption applies to the disposal of the dwelling;
- a choice to treat the contribution as a downsizer contribution is made in the approved form; and
- broadly speaking, it is the first downsizer contribution the taxpayer has made.
Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.