1 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to this episode of The Money Puzzle. 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: I'm your host James Gerard's standing in again for James Kirby, 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: who will be back next week. In our last episode, 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: we had property developer Deichi Samahara, who gave us an 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: insider's view on the world of property development. And today 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: we're going to continue with the theme of looking under 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: the hood, but this time all things tax an accounting. 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: To help me do this, we have a superstar of 9 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: the accounting world, and to give our listeners an idea 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 1: of the stardom our guest has. When he's spotted at 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: accounting conventions, fellow accountants drop their pencils and calculators in 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: all and when our guest goes to his local shopping center, 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: he's treated like a celebrity, mobbed by adoring fans who 14 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: are holding their twenty twenty three tax returns, wanting to 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: grab our guest attention and garnish his autograph. So, without 16 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: further delay, let me introduce to today's guest. He's an accountant 17 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: and he's actually my accountant. I've known him for over 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: twenty years. A big money Puzzle. Welcome to Central Coast 19 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: accountant Timothy Ricardo. Welcome Tim, And how about that for 20 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: an intro? 21 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: Hey, well thanks, James. I give it an embarrassing factor 22 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: of ten, so it's right up there. 23 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: Fantastic. All right, Well let's get straight into it. We're 24 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: gonna have a chat about end of financial year tax 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: planning because it's upon us this time of year again, 26 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: but maybe not directly related to that to start up with, 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: but to electric vehicles, the prices are dropping, and so 28 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask, is it worthwhile considering one from 29 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: a tax perspective under an ovated lease? 30 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 2: Well, this is one of your favorite topics. I think, James, 31 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: you just want to talk about your own electric car. 32 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: I think I do you actually caught me? I want 33 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: to ask you some questions and not have you charge me. 34 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: For a time. Yeah, fair enough. Well, look, the short 35 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: answer is yes, you know, you should definitely consider it, 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: especially if you want to get an ev car anyway, 37 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: because they can be a it can be a real 38 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: tax savor getting it through a novated lease, and you know, 39 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: one hundred per tax exempt sounds too good to be true, 40 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: but that seems to be the case at the moment. 41 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 2: So yeah, definitely worth considering if you're interested in a EV. 42 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: Car excellent, So it sounds like a very attractive way 43 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: to fund a vehicle, and so never at least it's 44 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: pretty tax effective anyway, but under the electric vehicle discount 45 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: scheme that came in a little while ago, it makes 46 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: it even more attractive. So moving on to Stage three 47 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: tax cuts, they start from one July. They were introduced 48 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: by the Coalition and amended recently by the Labor government. So, Timothy, 49 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: is there anything that people need to do given that 50 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: tax rates are higher this financial year for most and 51 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: they'll be slightly lowered next financial year for most. 52 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, I think knowing that the brackets are coming down, 53 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: we want to generally bring forward deductions into this financial year, 54 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: which is a pretty common thing you do anyway for 55 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: tax planning because it sort of gets the benefit sooner, 56 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: but you may also get that benefit it at a 57 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: higher tax rate, which means that you're saving more money 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: as if you're compared to deferring it to next year. 59 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 2: And secondly, obviously on the other side is deferring your 60 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 2: income to next year. So if you're a small business 61 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: owner and you're wanting to try to manage your tax planning, 62 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 2: trying to push your income or dividends into next year 63 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: if you can make use of the lower tax rates. Yeah, 64 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: that's definitely something to look at. Yeah, and for low 65 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: income earners, I think you mentioned recently in the Breakfast 66 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: Show the other day, James, about the new pay rise 67 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: from the low income earners. What are they getting? 68 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: That's right, Well, I'll just recap that so that the 69 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: Fair Work Commission they do an annual wage review of 70 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: the minimum wage, and they introduced a three point seventy 71 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: five percent increase this year, which is in line with 72 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: your inflation, the broader inflation rates three point six percent. 73 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: Yes, So I thought that was interesting to bring up 74 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: because in line with the tax cuts as well. I 75 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: looked up the low income earners. They're going to be 76 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: getting another sixteen dollars in the hand per week on 77 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: top of their twenty three dollars from that, So you're 78 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: almost almost at forty dollars a week extra for those 79 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: lower income earners with the two of these combined. So yeah, 80 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 2: that's pretty good. But across the board, everyone seems to 81 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 2: be benefiting, and some more than others. But yeah, so 82 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 2: something else to look forward to with these tax cuts 83 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: coming in. 84 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: And what about people who are retired who drawed down 85 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: a pension from their super account, particularly those people that 86 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: were taking the reduced minimums which went on for was 87 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: it like four or five financial years? Is there anything 88 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: that they should be considering this financial year? 89 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: Definitely, Okay, so this is a good thirtieth of June 90 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: sort of tax planning issue to bring up with all 91 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: those retirees, the ones who have self managed supers, or 92 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: even the ones that have pensions with their funds that 93 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: want to make sure that they're complying. And it's I 94 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 2: think the pension reduction it was half the rate of 95 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: what it normally is. So definitely for this financial gear, 96 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: double check your minimum withdrawal so that your pension can 97 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: stay compliant because otherwise there's a whole lot of messy 98 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: admin work that needs to be done and yeah, you 99 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: might lose some tax benefits there. So yeah, at the 100 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 2: end of each year, we usually give a letter to 101 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: all of our when we finish their tax to all 102 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 2: of our self made super clients, and they've got in 103 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: black and white they're what they need to draw down on. 104 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: So you should always double check your end of year 105 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: paperwork and make sure that you've got those that amount 106 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 2: drawn down before thirtieth of June, which I think for 107 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 2: a sixty five year old, just to give an example, 108 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: two and a half percent was what it used to 109 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: be and that's now been brought under the harving and 110 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 2: now it's been brought back up to five percent, So 111 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: it's a pretty significant change absolutely. 112 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: I guess the fortunate thing is that people who are 113 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: in retail or industry super funds the trustee of those funds. 114 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: So if you're an industry fund with like Australian Super 115 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: if you're a retail fund with say BT, the trustee 116 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: will say, hey, you need to increase your pension payments 117 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: and make sure you take out that the minimum you 118 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: were taking two and a half percent, but this financial 119 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: un you need to take out five. But it's probably 120 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: the people in the self managed super funds who are 121 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: the ones that are potentially going to be caught out 122 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: because they're the trustee themselves and they're the one responsible 123 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: for making sure that they meet the minimum requirements. 124 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: Is that right, Tim? That's right? 125 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, good well, moving on to family trusts. I read 126 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: about this recently in the Australia and it was quite 127 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: interesting that there's some things that people need to do 128 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: before the end of the financial year if they run 129 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: their own family trust, generally in conn junction with their 130 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: advisor being a tax accountant on the true US. Did 131 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: you want to run through what that is? 132 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, certainly. So. The main one is to make sure 133 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: you get your resolutions in place for your income distribution. 134 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: ATO has done a lot of work in this space 135 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: in the last few years in sort of making sure 136 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: that people are making their resolutions and if not, you 137 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: can be caught out being paid paying the highest marginal 138 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: rate of tax inside the trust if it's left undistributed. 139 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: So you've got to make sure you do a resolution, 140 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: make sure that resolution is compliant with your with your deed, 141 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: and yeah, I guess also making sure that you've paid 142 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: through that amount to your beneficiary, which you've got a 143 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: little bit of time to do that, but you need 144 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: to make sure that you're doing what you're saying you're 145 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: going to do in that resolution. It's very important. 146 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: And for individuals, does this apply the instant tax? Right off? 147 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: I believe there's an amount and you can run through 148 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: the details of how many thousands of dollars people can 149 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: buy things for and then write them off straight away. 150 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: Was that more a business thing? 151 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's definitely a business thing, James. The businesses can 152 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: I think they've passed it in the last budget. It's 153 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: twenty thousand dollars. Now, this is a massive change from 154 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: last year where we had temporary full expensing the under 155 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: the sort of COVID honeymoon rates there, where they were 156 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: letting everyone write off everything they bought, so people would 157 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: go and buy a new piece of equipment could be 158 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: one hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, they'd claim the whole 159 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: thing and write it off. But they've reduced that back 160 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 2: down to a meager twenty thousand dollars as soon as 161 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: the all the budget provisions passed the parliament. But yeah, 162 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: that's only four businesses and individuals. They're sort of stuck 163 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 2: with the usual three hundred dollars threshold, which is very 164 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: old and dates back to the eighties or whenever it 165 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 2: was that was put as a what is an asset 166 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 2: and over that amount need to depreciate. So if you're 167 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 2: going to go buy that computer for one thousand dollars 168 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 2: in your personal tax, you need to depreciate it. But 169 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: but yes, it's three hundred dollars. Anything less than that 170 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: you can ride it straight off. 171 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: So yeah, good and June is a very popular trading 172 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: time for the share market. There's a lot of volume 173 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: that goes through, and that's partially attributed to people selling 174 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: things in June for for tax reasons. 175 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 2: Running through at a. 176 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: High level what people can and can't do with regards 177 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: to selling shares for a loss. Can they just buy 178 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: the exact same chairs back in July. I know that 179 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: the ATO have a thing called wash sales, which they 180 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: don't really like, so yeah, maybe if you can run 181 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: through all that. 182 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you've said it. They're basically acting doing things 183 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: for the sake of tax. Now, the ATO have tax 184 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: avoidance rules, which are basically, if you're making a decision 185 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: just for the sake of saving tax, then you've got 186 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 2: a bit of a problem there. Now, it's obviously everybody 187 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 2: does things that are tax effective. They try to do 188 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: things that are tax effective. But if you're specifically coming 189 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: up to the end of financial gear and you're trying 190 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 2: to save some money on tax, and you go, oh, 191 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: I've got these shares sitting there at a twenty thousand 192 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 2: dollars loss, so I'll sell those shares and lock in 193 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: that loss so that I can offset that against my 194 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 2: other gains, and then maybe I just buy back exactly 195 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 2: the same parcel of shares the next day or even 196 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 2: the same day. It's not going to fly with the 197 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: ATO because they basically they call that a wash sale, 198 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 2: So it's purely done that tax for the tax advantage 199 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: of it, and they don't see it as a decision 200 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 2: that's been made for any other reason other than that, 201 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 2: and that's when you can fall a foul of the ATO. 202 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: But essentially, you know, you've got to be considering if 203 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 2: you're doing it for a financial decision, which is more 204 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 2: in your camp there, James. So if you've got clients, 205 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 2: they've got a good reason to sell things, and obviously 206 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,599 Speaker 2: it works for them to be doing that towards the 207 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 2: end of financial year, and there's also tax advantages to 208 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 2: do that, then that shouldn't be a problem. And then 209 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 2: later on if they want to change their mind on that, 210 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 2: and there's another financial reason behind that, and that's a 211 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: different issue, but it's more if you're just making that decision, 212 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 2: you know, just for the sake of tax avoidance, that's 213 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 2: crystal clear. 214 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: End of financial year. We've been talking about this now 215 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: for ten minutes. What I want to ask in the 216 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: final part of this part of out our chat is 217 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: around who should be having a tax planning meeting with 218 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: their accountant, because we hear that term thrown around tax 219 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: planning the end of financial year? Is it people that 220 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 1: run businesses? Should an individual who's a page you go 221 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: with one investment property, should they be contacting their account 222 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: and what sort of relevant circumstances should people have to 223 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: be warranting a tax planning meeting? 224 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: Right? Okay, well, I think I do often get asked 225 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 2: by people can we talk about my tax? And they 226 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: might just be an individual, you know, with just a 227 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 2: wage that's coming through, and you know they've already spent 228 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 2: what they've spent on things they're not going to buy 229 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 2: anymore or do anything different. There's not a lot of 230 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 2: point to them getting you know, a tax having a 231 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 2: tax planning meeting, paying hundreds of dollars to an accountant 232 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 2: or even thousands for them to run through things with 233 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 2: them if they can't do much. But obviously the benefit 234 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: comes more when you've got complex tax structures and think 235 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: like trusts and companies. And also if you maybe you 236 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: have a lot of capital gains and different assets that 237 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 2: you own. Maybe you have a family trust with other 238 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: investments that are bought and sold. Well, maybe you have 239 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: even property and you just want to see where you 240 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 2: could be sitting. Like with property owners. Quite often people 241 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: might in their tax planning meeting might consider maybe pre 242 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 2: paying a few things which might bring forward a few 243 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: deductions if that's going to benefit them in this financial gear. 244 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 2: So look at it's all about scale, and it's all 245 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: about what you can do. Your accountant should be able 246 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 2: to give you a good idea just you know quickly 247 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: whether or not one would benefit you. But yeah, it 248 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 2: is quite common for me to say, oh, look it's 249 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: probably not going to be worth your while once you 250 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: consider the cost. But yeah, those with businesses, yeah, pretty 251 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 2: well it could benefit them. It's just whether or not 252 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 2: they you know how much it's going to benefit and 253 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 2: really yep, and. 254 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: That makes sense. So pauses for courses. Common sense applies. 255 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: The more complex year situation is, the more likely it 256 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: is it shouldn't you should have a tax planning meeting. 257 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: But it sounds like anyone can have a tax planning meeting. 258 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: Fair accountant, they're just going to be charged for it, 259 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: and the benefit might not be exceeding what the cost is. Yeah, 260 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: all right, well, I'm very excited to get onto our 261 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: next segment. It's around I heard a friend say this 262 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: at a barbecue. Can I do this as well? But 263 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: before we jump into that, let's take a short break. 264 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome back to the Money Puzzle. I'm James 265 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: Gerard right to, a contributor to the Wealth section of 266 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: The Australian and also founder a financial advisor dot com 267 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: dot au, and this week on the show, I have 268 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: Timothy Ricardo, certified practicing accountant from Central Coast of Sydney. Now, 269 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: before we get started on this particular part of the episode, 270 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: I just want to remind all of our listeners that 271 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: everything that we discussed is general information and should not 272 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: be taken as personal tax or personal financial advice, So 273 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: please seek out a qualified advisor before making any decisions. Now, Timothy, 274 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: I've compiled a list of questions that I've heard over 275 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: the years in regards to to tax and most of 276 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: these have come about from someone saying I was at 277 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: a barbecue and my friend told me that they're doing this, 278 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: Why can't I do this? Or I was at a 279 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: party and someone told me they're doing this. Or I 280 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: was in a taxi and a taxi driver said that 281 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: he's doing this. So I've got a good dozen or 282 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: so of these questions. Are you ready to confirm or 283 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: dispel these tax myths? 284 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, this sounds like it's going to be quite a 285 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: painful one here, James. I think this is probably why 286 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 2: I don't attend many barbecues, apart apart from the obvious 287 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 2: of you always too busy to do so, I don't know. 288 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: All right, Well, here we go the first one. If 289 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: I have a family trust, can I distribute four hundred 290 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: and sixteen dollars, which is the tax free threshold for 291 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: a minor, to each of my fifty nieces and nephews 292 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: as a tax free distribution? So that would be an 293 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: extra twenty thousand dollars per year tax free. Somebody distributed 294 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: four hundred and sixteen dollars to fifty people under the 295 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: age of eighteen who are family members. So what do 296 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: you reckon about that one? 297 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 2: Tim, Wow, that's a lot of nieces and nephews there, James, 298 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: I think I've got is it sixteen nieces and nephews? 299 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 2: So I thought I was doing pretty well, but fifty, yeah, 300 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: that's a good number. Look, I think it wouldn't be 301 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 2: recommended as an initial comment, mainly because of the ato's 302 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 2: focus on distributions and making sure you're following through on 303 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: those distributions and issues surrounding just paper distributions and then 304 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 2: taking the money yourself. But it's also a risky practice anyway, 305 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: distributing to a whole lot of people, because perhaps your 306 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 2: deed doesn't allow you to distribute to them, or maybe 307 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 2: you have a family trust election in place which doesn't 308 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 2: allow you to distribute to nephews and nieces, so you 309 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: can talk you're accountant about that one. But it's certainly 310 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 2: not a case of twenty grand tax free in your 311 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 2: pocket if you decide to distribute to your fifty nieces 312 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 2: and nephews. Do you know all their names, James? I do. 313 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 2: My beautiful wife, Kiara. 314 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: She's Vietnamese and she her parents, both of them have 315 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: large families, so her mother is like one of twelve 316 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: and her dad's about one of about the same, and 317 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: so almost everybody is family one way or another. So 318 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: picture the scene Timothy family barbecue happens to be a 319 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: bank nearby with an ATM and there's a line with 320 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: fifty little kids there, and someone's standing there pulling out 321 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: four hundred and twenty dollars at a time and distributing 322 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: it to each of the fifty nieces and nephews. And 323 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: the trustee says that that can be done. How are 324 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: we feeling about that now? 325 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: Look, I'm feeling terrible about it, James. But that's okay. 326 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 2: I think we're going to keep moving. Keep moving. Give 327 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: you the next one, all right? 328 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: I have a contractor. Can I operate through a p 329 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: Toy limited structure to reduce my tax bill by having 330 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: multiple shareholders to pay income to? So just to elaborate 331 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: on that a little bit more, a contractor rather than 332 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: they contract and invoice themselves and pay up to forty 333 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: seven percent tax. The question here is, can we just 334 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: use a company structure and invoice and I can split 335 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: my income to multiple people through that company structure so 336 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: I don't have to pay forty seven percent tax? 337 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 2: Okay? So I think there's a lot could be said 338 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 2: about this one. I've had this question recently. It's it's 339 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 2: a pretty common thing people wanting to try to use 340 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 2: structures as a bit of a sham business, you know, 341 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: to try to distribute income. The bottom line is you 342 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 2: just need to watch out for what's called personal income. 343 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 2: The Personal services Income provisions and the ATO don't really 344 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: allow you to split PSI what's called PSI income, so 345 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 2: they what they're looking at doing there would probably be 346 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 2: contrary to the rules. You just need to look at 347 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 2: how the business is running, whether it satisfies other conditions 348 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: eighty twenty rule results tests to see if maybe it's 349 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: a personal services business. But generally the question surrounding these 350 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: is to try to make people, like I said, set 351 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 2: up businesses that are not really businesses and they're charating 352 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 2: as such. So yeah, watch out. 353 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: Okay, So it sort of sounds like the tax office 354 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: just look at intentions. If something looks like you're doing 355 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: something to try and get around paying tax illegitimately, that 356 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: they're probably going to rule it that way. 357 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 2: In short, well, they've probably already got rules in place 358 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 2: to close those loopholes. But yeah, certainly, if that's your 359 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 2: taxi cab driver giving you that advice, James, I'd be 360 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: very wary. 361 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: All right, zero from two. Let's see if we can 362 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 1: get a yes on something. Can I become a taxed 363 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: resident of a tax free country such as Vanowatu and 364 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: then register a business there, start invoicing through that and 365 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: pano tax. 366 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: It sounds pretty good, doesn't it. It sounds amazing for 367 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 2: all of our except that I'd be out of a 368 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 2: job if I moved over there. That's the only problem, James, 369 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 2: not having any tax to pay. But for all of 370 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 2: our Vanua to listeners, potentially they could, they could be 371 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: over there and operating. But for any of you who 372 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 2: want to actually live and reside or have a home 373 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 2: or work in Australia, then most of the time the 374 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: answer is going to be nut James. So I don't 375 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 2: think that that's that's really a viable option if you're 376 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 2: if you're in Australia and operating in Australia, and yeah, 377 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 2: there's there's lots of complex rules here. You need to 378 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 2: talk to your advisors about this one, particularly if you 379 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 2: maybe looking at a dual sort of citizenship or residency. 380 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 2: There's all sorts of tax residents issues to consider there. 381 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: So okay, So sounds like if you live in Australia 382 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: work in Australia, there's no way it's unlikely to be 383 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: able to be classified as a hard to in taxism 384 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: and pay no tax. Well let's try again. Can we 385 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: buy an investment property or investment properties all around the 386 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: country and travel to them and claim the travel costs 387 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: as a tax deduction because I'm going to inspect my 388 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: investment property and coincidentally it lines up with a school holiday. 389 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: I mean, they just might take a bit of extra 390 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: time staying in that location as well. 391 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 2: Okay, so this one's been a no as well, James. 392 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 2: You should have mixed these up a bit more and 393 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 2: put some yes ones in there. But I feel like 394 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 2: a bit of a wet blanket. But no travel has 395 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 2: not been allowed with rental properties since twenty seventeen something 396 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: like that, so it's been a number of years now 397 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: that travel can't be claimed. But also with holiday homes, 398 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 2: you've got to be careful because you've got to reduce 399 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 2: your claims when you're using them personally as well. So 400 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: there's also a bit of another trap to be to 401 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: be watching out for when you're when you're looking at 402 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 2: holiday investment properties. 403 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: Okay, well, I'm determined to get a yes out of you. 404 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 1: Let's try this one. Assume I have a dog and 405 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: I work from home as well. Can I claim my 406 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: dog food and pet bills as a expense because my dog, 407 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: well that was the Chihawa, doubles as a guard dog. 408 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: Once again, like I said, I don't attend many barbecues. 409 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: If these are the type of questions, I don't think 410 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 2: I'll go to any anytime soon. But generally no. Well, 411 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,719 Speaker 2: pretty well, it's that's going to be a no, especially 412 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 2: if it's chihuahua. They're James. But some businesses that require 413 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 2: legitimate guard dogs, you know, then you know, they can 414 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: sort of claim that those sort of expenses for those 415 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: for looking after their guard dogs and that sort of thing. 416 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 2: But for the general, run of the mill sort of 417 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 2: home office worker, that's going to be a definite no. 418 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: Okay, I feel like there's a yes coming on this one. 419 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: Who can claim gym membership as a tax deduction? So 420 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: someone asserts that I need to be physically fit for 421 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,119 Speaker 1: my work, and so part of me staying fit for 422 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: my work is going to the gym, I want to 423 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: claim that as a tax deduction. Is this possible under 424 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: any circumstances? 425 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely? There we go, we go. Yeah. So look as 426 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 2: far as someone who's got an elite level of fitness. 427 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 2: Someone that's emergency services workers that are at that higher level, 428 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 2: you know, and we've got your personal trainers, are the 429 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 2: professional athletes, anyone that sort of ticks those boxes of 430 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 2: requiring an elite level of fitness, then yes they can 431 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 2: claim that for your I mean, you've got your Simpson's 432 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 2: picture of what police officers look like. I'm not saying 433 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 2: that that's what they all look like, but obviously the 434 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 2: general police officer or the you know, your sort of 435 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 2: general worker that doesn't require that higher level of fitness. 436 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 2: It's it's going to be you know, but but yeah, 437 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: there's certainly options there when ability to claim when you've 438 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 2: got that higher level of fitness required. 439 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: Look like, what, what's an elite sort of level of 440 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: things we talk like a laborer who works on in 441 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: the building industry. 442 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,199 Speaker 2: No, it is. It is going to be few and 443 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 2: far between, to be honest, it is. Yeah, I wouldn't 444 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 2: have many of these that I've I've I've had I 445 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 2: had a few professional sort of sports people and they 446 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 2: all are able to claim their their gym membership. You've 447 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 2: also got I had an actual specific rescue worker that 448 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: you know required a higher level. Certainly you know, like 449 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 2: your sas your army, people that require that higher level 450 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: as well of fitness. Yeah, they are few and far between. 451 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 2: And you know, out of every thousand tax returns you 452 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 2: might have maybe maybe half a dozen or so, there's 453 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 2: not going to be many James. So it's not nothing 454 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 2: to really write home about. But yes it is, it 455 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 2: is a possibility. 456 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: All right. What about if I'm a professional dog walker 457 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: and I'm walking five dogs at a time, five times 458 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: a day. I need my cardio fitness? Tim, Can I 459 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: claim you just want me. 460 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 2: To say no again, don't you? All right? 461 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: I think everyone knows the as to that, and I 462 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: think Tim thinks that the ATM is listening to this. 463 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: We'll move on to the next word. Now continue on 464 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: the home office team. I work in a home office. 465 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: I just bought a new TV and speakers for my 466 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: home office. Can I claim that as a tax reduction? 467 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 2: Okay, So this would be a capital asset anyway, because 468 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,159 Speaker 2: we spoke before about the three hundred dollars threshold. But 469 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 2: that aside, it depends on whether you're using it for 470 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 2: business or not, so it would need to be depreciated 471 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 2: Number one, and which means basically you have to claim 472 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: it over a number of years. So you can't just 473 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 2: claim ten thousand dollars off your tax for that. But yes, 474 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 2: you certainly would need to have a legitimate claim there 475 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 2: as far as it's not being used privately, and any 476 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,640 Speaker 2: private use would have to be apportioned out of that. Now, 477 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 2: how you did that? The problem you're going to come 478 00:26:55,840 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 2: up with is substantiation, So trying to prove that you 479 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 2: use it for work. Certainly, if you're in the audio 480 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 2: visual space and you have lots of meetings and it's 481 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 2: set up on in your home office that you've got 482 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 2: specifically set up for work, and it's being used one 483 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: hundred percent for work, then yes, that would be a 484 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 2: potential to claim. But trying to prove that is often 485 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 2: the challenge people have the substantiation requirements, which the onus 486 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 2: is sort of on the taxpayer there to be able 487 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 2: to prove that. 488 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, good, all right, Well, before we go through 489 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: more of my friend told me that they're doing this. 490 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: Can I do this? Let's take another short break. Hello, 491 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: and welcome back to today's episode of The Money Puzzle. 492 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 1: I'm James Gerry, this week's host, and I have Timothy 493 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: Ricardo certified practicing accountant from the Central Coast of Sydney. Now, 494 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: Timothy is the next. One's a little bit risky and 495 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: any listeners with children maybe just pause. This will skip 496 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 1: a minute forward, so you've been warned. Now the question is, 497 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 1: if I worked in the adult industry, can I claim 498 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: silicon implants as a tax deduction being tools of trade? 499 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 2: Well, James, I would have left the barbecue at this point, 500 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 2: so I don't. I don't know that I'm that keen 501 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 2: on these questions. 502 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: But you're not going to dodge this one. I want 503 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: an answer out of you for this time. 504 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: You just want me to it's a no again, which 505 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 2: I'm going to say it is a no from me. Certainly, 506 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 2: cosmetic medical has been ruled out for a long time, 507 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: and cosmetic sort of you know, cosmetic medical procedures have 508 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 2: been sort of excluded from you know, being able to 509 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 2: be claimed. Certainly not as the tools of trade either, 510 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 2: So I think, yeah, I'm going to I couldn't say 511 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 2: that I've had experience with this one, but I wouldn't. 512 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be jumping to allow that one. 513 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 1: All right, moving right along and listen as you can 514 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: bring your children back in the room. Can I claim 515 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: my ildren's school fees as a tax deduction as an 516 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: education expense because I plan to employ my children in 517 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: the future in my business. 518 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 2: No, unfortunately, they's That's another one that people used to 519 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 2: distribute actually through their trusts because a lot of education 520 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 2: you know, the facilities, they're all charities under education charities. 521 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,239 Speaker 2: So people used to distribute to this city, you know, 522 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 2: twenty odd years ago. I remember it happening quite a lot. 523 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: But then they decided that that was an actual benefit 524 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 2: to the beneficiary rather than to the charity itself. So yeah, 525 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 2: this hasn't been allowed for some time in any sort 526 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 2: of way, shape or form. So that's another no, James. 527 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: All right, feel free to say, yes, we indemnified ourselves. 528 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: We said that this is just general information, so no 529 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: one's going to go and do anything. No one's going 530 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: to go get any implants or anything like that, so 531 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: it's all okay. Next one is, can I register them 532 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: as a motor vehicle dealer buy luxury cars not pay 533 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: the luxury car tax, which I think that doesn't happen 534 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: when you're a motor vehicle dealer, But anyone you can 535 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: answer this, drive the car and then sell it for 536 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: profit a year or two later because you didn't sell 537 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: the luxury car tax. So something along the lines of 538 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: you spend two hundred thousand dollars in the car, and 539 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: I don't know what the luxury car tax is, at 540 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: least to say it's like thirty thousand, So it cost 541 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: you one seventy, You drive it for a year, you 542 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: sell it for one seventy or thereabouts, and then you've 543 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: got a free car, and you just keep doing that 544 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: over and over. 545 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 2: Sounds great, it sounds really great. They're probably you're going 546 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 2: to fall into there is fringe benefit tax, and that 547 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:40,479 Speaker 2: is if you're using the car personally anyway, it's going 548 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 2: to be caught up. And fringe benefit tax is something 549 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 2: you pay on the full value of the car. So 550 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,719 Speaker 2: if you're talking about your two hundred thousand dollars Ferrari 551 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 2: aspirations there, James, and you're using that car personally, you 552 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 2: know obviously the ATO wants you to pay some tax 553 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 2: on that. So what that means is fringe benefit tax 554 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 2: applies on the full value of the car, and yeah, 555 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 2: that would all need to be factored in. Yeah, as 556 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 2: far as any scheming here, James, I certainly would not 557 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,959 Speaker 2: want to support anything there that's, you know, just to 558 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 2: try to fund your your two hundred thousand dollars Ferrari, 559 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 2: So I would as your accountant, I would advise against 560 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 2: this as well. 561 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: All right, last one, then, on social media platforms I 562 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: see all the time there's ads for self help business 563 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: incubator type things. Go out there and make a squillion dollars. 564 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 1: We can help you to do it. Come join our 565 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 1: program and it's good as done. Can you claim the 566 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: cost of those things as a tax reduction in the 567 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 1: education area? 568 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 2: Okay, so education is something that they've actually released a 569 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 2: ruling on this just recently. The ATO have to give 570 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 2: a bit more already surrounding education claims. There were two 571 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 2: things that that you know, sort of limbs of being 572 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 2: able to claim education expenses. One of them being that 573 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 2: it was going to increase your income in your current 574 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 2: income earning activity, and the other one is that it's 575 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 2: going to improve the skills in your current income earning activity. 576 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 2: So there's there's got to be the connection to what 577 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 2: you're doing, and the problem that people usually have with 578 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,920 Speaker 2: education self education is that it doesn't link up with 579 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 2: what they're currently earning their income on. So if I'm 580 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 2: I'm an accountant, and I think that we'll find on 581 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 2: financial planning is pretty easy, and look, most of us 582 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 2: do think really, so you know, we think we might 583 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 2: become financial planners as well, like you, James, because you know, 584 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 2: you're someone that we all look up to as as 585 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 2: a successful individual. So if I start doing some financial 586 00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 2: planning courses and what I claim them, my current income 587 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 2: earning does relate to that, now I would have a 588 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 2: hard time trying to link up and you know that 589 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 2: would seem quite related to accounting, but you'd have a 590 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: hard time linking that up to your income earning. Now, 591 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 2: there may be some crossover there and you might get 592 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 2: some increase in skills relating to your your accounting, but 593 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 2: it's a real they're really cracking down on this one 594 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 2: as well. So specifically for your question, I wouldn't say 595 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 2: they'd be earning any money from that particular venture initially, 596 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 2: certainly initially, so getting those self education claims upfront is 597 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 2: probably not going to occur either. 598 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 1: Sure thing, all right, Well, I'm out of questions. Hopefully 599 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: our listeners learnt a lot bit from that. Yeah, If anything, 600 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: they probably learned don't invite anything to their barbecue, and 601 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: don't ask if any tax questions because you can't say 602 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 1: no to everything, but we want or two yeses and 603 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: a few maybes in there. So I think that was 604 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 1: somewhat us. 605 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,800 Speaker 2: This was orchestrated. That's trying to make me look bad, jameson. 606 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: No, it shows that there's tax laws in place and 607 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: everything's black and white, and it's there for a reason. 608 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 2: I'm going to throw one more. 609 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: Curve ball question actually before we wrap up for today. 610 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,400 Speaker 1: It's a really big question, but try and pick your 611 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 1: brain and get some concise answers here. 612 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:18,040 Speaker 2: Now. 613 00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: Over the years, people constantly ask me for recommendations to accountants, 614 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 1: and my observations are that the best accountants, such as 615 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 1: Timothy Ricardo here, have lots of clients, but they also 616 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:37,680 Speaker 1: focus somewhat their time on the clients that have structures 617 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 1: so run businesses, have family trusts, run self managed super funds, 618 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: and I'm sure Timothy would love to be able to 619 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: help absolutely everybody, but there's only a certain amount of 620 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: time that these elite accountants have, so they need to 621 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 1: focus their time with the right clients. So my question is, 622 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,360 Speaker 1: how can an every day mum and dad for a 623 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:01,520 Speaker 1: relatively simple tax situation, two income, maybe an investment property, 624 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:04,799 Speaker 1: maybe a share portfolio. How do they make sure that 625 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 1: they're getting the best tax advice and tax service when 626 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: they do their tax returns every year if they want 627 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: to use a professional because generally the best accountants busy 628 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 1: with the bigger fisher I guess you. 629 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 2: Could say, yeah, well, look, that's a really good question individuals. Yeah, 630 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 2: it is a difficult one because accountants are often looking 631 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 2: at those sort of touch point required you know, touch 632 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 2: points required with a client, and how much you're having 633 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,399 Speaker 2: to spend with each client. But essentially, if you can 634 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 2: find an accountant that obviously ticks the boxes as far 635 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 2: as their registrations are concerned, and they're either CPAs or 636 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:50,160 Speaker 2: c as, they've got the qualification being able to have 637 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 2: that conversation with them either before or after your tax return, 638 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 2: feel free to ask any of your questions and if 639 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 2: you can do it at the same time, you know, 640 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:05,799 Speaker 2: rather than the ad hoc little questions throughout the year, 641 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 2: it's easier if you can you can sort of you know, 642 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 2: try to build that I suppose structure surrounding that annual 643 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 2: meeting you have with them to get the use out 644 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:21,279 Speaker 2: of that. And certainly it might cost you a little 645 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 2: bit more seeing a qualified professional that's willing to give 646 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:29,400 Speaker 2: you the time face to face, but but yeah, certainly 647 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 2: it can pay dividends. So I suppose from that point 648 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 2: of view, James, try to find someone that you can 649 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 2: you can actually access and and have and and you know, 650 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 2: sort of drawer on their experience and and also one 651 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 2: that's going to provide them updates and you know, like yourself, 652 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 2: sending out newsletters and making sure that key issues are 653 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 2: being addressed so that they don't get they don't miss anything. 654 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, And from personal experience, I'd add that 655 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,560 Speaker 1: you have to actually like your accountant. So whichever accountant 656 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,439 Speaker 1: you use, you have to feel comfortable to be able 657 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,760 Speaker 1: to communicate with them, email them, pick up the phone 658 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: and get back to them when they're asking you things 659 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:13,240 Speaker 1: as well. 660 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 2: Do you agree to him? Yeah? Absolutely, there we go. 661 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: Well, that's a wrap for today's episode. Timothy Ricardo, certified 662 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: practicing accountant from Sydney Central Coast, thank you for your 663 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: contribution today. It was very informative and we went through 664 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: lots of different tax and accounting topics. Very good thank 665 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:31,280 Speaker 1: you for having me my pleasure, and to our listeners, 666 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: thank you for tuning in to today's episode of The 667 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 1: Money Puzzle. The show will return to its regular format 668 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: next week when James Kirby returns, but in the meantime, 669 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:40,759 Speaker 1: send us your questions. I'm sure James would love to 670 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,440 Speaker 1: see a full inbox to dig his teeth into. Next time. 671 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 1: You can tweets your questions and thoughts. Just use the 672 00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:48,439 Speaker 1: hashtag the Money Puzzle or one word, or email us 673 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,439 Speaker 1: at The Money Puzzle at the Australian dot Com. Today 674 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,080 Speaker 1: you until next time, I'm James Gerard. Talk to you 675 00:37:54,120 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 1: soon at