The ATO has published guidance on some employer issues arising due COVID. The material includes assistance with questions relating to FBT and superannuation. The ATO has answered some questions frequently asked by employers in relation to matters that are connected with COVID. The information is buried in the ATO website. For ease of considering immediate …
Can a councillor salary package amounts otherwise due? Question Can a Councillor salary package amounts otherwise due from Council and instead receive use of a Council provided car (in a novated lease scenario)? Answer The simple answer is ‘yes”. However there are some important conditions that apply and it is useful to understand why salary …
Read moreSalary Packaging Q&A – Councillor access to salary packaging
NSW has set aside funds to support a Council Job Retention Allowance of $1,500 per fortnight to limit job losses in local government. Apart from its relevance to NSW councils, councils in other jurisdictions will be interested in this development as a possible impetus for similar action in their circumstances. It is expected that many …
Read morePayroll Article – NSW Council Job Retention Allowance payment
What are the employment-related tax implications for employers and employees if an employer makes a once-off working from home allowance to an employee? What is the effect of making a reimbursement instead of an allowance? During COVID-19, many employees are required to work from home and incur working from home expenses. Some employers are providing …
Read morePayroll – Working from home allowances vs reimbursement during COVID-19
In the wake of the ever-changing COVID-19 crisis, the State and Federal Governments have released a number of stimulus and assistance measures to help ease the burden on entities and households alike. Payroll tax (PRT) has been a key focus of stimulus measures in each of the States and Territories. Whilst welcome, these PRT measures …
Read moreEligibility and Payroll – A summary of the Payroll Tax COVID-19 measures
Employers have been obliged to make superannuation guarantee payments since the September quarter 1992. Failure to make any of the payments on time leads to liability to pay the shortfall amounts, ‘nominal interest’, administrative charges, GIC, and penalties. The amnesty which was announced in May 2018 has now been implemented. Employers and other persons (e.g. …
Read morePayroll – Superannuation Guarantee Amnesty: Its nature and relevance for NFPs
Question An employee has received a bone fide redundancy with applicable tax concessions. Is there a minimum re-employment period, e.g. 12 months? If so, if an employee re-commences employment with the same organisation within that period, is the employee liable to repay tax to the ATO? Would there be any employer obligations in such a …
Employers need to consider the superannuation guarantee implications of equalisation payments made in lieu of increased super contributions. An interesting matter crossed our desk recently. Whilst the matter was received by way of a question submitted to the TaxEd member Q&A portal, we will deal with the issue by way of a short article. Consider …
Question As a local government entity, does council need to report payments (e.g. sitting fees and allowances) to council members in the taxable payments annual report (‘TPAR’)? Answer Government entities, whether federal, state, territory or local, are required to report the total payments they make to an entity for providing services (whether wholly or partly) …
Read morePayroll Q&A – TPAR reporting and council member payments
There is a change to the way in which super guarantee contributions are calculated. Employers should review their calculation practices to ensure conformity with the law. Recent changes made to the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (SGA) by the Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Tax Integrity and Other Measures No 1) Act 2019 (the amending Act) …
Read morePayroll – Check you’re making the correct super contributions for your employees