In part one of this series published last month, we focused on some fundamental remote area concepts. In this second article in our series covering the various remote area housing exemptions and concessions we will cover the following specific concessions contained in the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 (‘FBTAA’): Remote area housing loan Remote …
Read moreFBT – Remote area housing concessions (Part 2 of 3)
Question Many of our staff are on the road or work outdoors and they often use their mobile phones as part of their duties. We supply them with mobile phones for this purpose. Some staff have asked if they can salary sacrifice the cost of Bluetooth ear pod type headsets for use with their phones …
Question With an increasing number of employees working from home we are considering providing a printer for use by the employee whilst at home. The employer will retain ownership of the printer and each printer will cost about $800. In practical terms we expect there will be some private use of the printer and employees …
Read moreMember Q&A – Providing printers to employees working from home: FBT considerations
Question We maintained a valid 12 weeks car parking register for the 2018 FBT year. In July 2020, the number of car parking spaces (or the number of employees allowed to park if this is less) increased by more than 10%. Are we required to prepare a new 12 week register in the 2021 FBT …
It is stated in the ‘Productivity Commission 2020, Remote Area Tax Concessions and Payments, Study Report’ (Feb 2020), that remote Australia accounts for more than 85 per cent of Australia’s landmass but just 2 per cent of Australia’s population. Despite the Government announcing it would not proceed with proposed FBT changes recommended by the Productivity Commission that would have …
Read moreFBT – Remote area housing concessions – (Part 1 of 3)
Question One of our staff members is provided with a car fringe benefit by way of novated lease. The staff member met with an accident in which the car was extensively damaged. The vehicle was sent to a panel repairer for approximately 4 weeks. During this time, the staff member used a hire car provided …
Read moreMember Q&A – A car in a workshop for extensive repairs – ‘available for private use’?
Question We offer salary packaging on electronic devices providing certain conditions are met, the main condition being that the device is principally used for work purposes. In the case of laptop computers, often the staff member will purchase a laptop bag at or around the same time that they acquire the laptop. Can the cost …
On 14 August 2020 the ATO released guidance called ‘COVID-19 and car fringe benefits‘ dealing with certain issues related to determining the FBT treatment of cars in changed use scenarios arising from COVID-19. COVID-19 and car fringe benefits – what is the position taken by ATO The release is generally a re-statement of substantiation (log …
We are often asked via the TaxEd members Q&A portal about the FBT treatment where an employee’s self-education course fees are reimbursed by their employer. It is very common for staff to undertake further study in areas that assist or enable them to perform their employment role to a higher level. In most cases the …
Read moreFBT – Reimbursement of HELP funded employee course fees
It is relatively common for employers to buy and give vouchers or gift cards to staff (for example, as a gift or reward). This article looks at the GST and FBT implications that arise. Vouchers bought and given to staff Many employers provide vouchers or gift cards to staff. There are various reasons why vouchers/gift …