It’s natural for us to want to protect everything we care about. So, why don’t more of us protect our income? Many of us insure our cars, our houses and our possessions, but how many of us protect our weekly income with income protection insurance? The answer is, no many! In fact, when we surveyed taxpayer data we discovered that […]
The Etax Blog: Tax Tips
Private Health and Your Taxes: “Should I get Private Health Cover?”
There is a lot of debate in the media about the pros and cons of private health insurance. People are often asking, “Should I get private health cover?” Opinions about private health cover are changing. Saving money when it comes to tax time is an important part of the decision. According to Australian consumer watchdog, Choice, cheaper […]
ATO crackdown on ride sharing drivers
Concerned that too many drivers are avoiding tax, the ATO is cracking down on ride sharing drivers contracted to companies such as Uber, Ola and Didi Last year the ATO warned Uber drivers that avoiding tax wasn’t an option, this year it’s getting evening tougher. Banks are required to provide details of ALL customer payments […]
Sun Protection Tax Deductions: Are you covered?
There are many professions that require employees to work in the sun for periods of time. With sun exposure one of the key causes of cancer in Australia, sun protection is an absolute necessity for these people. However, sunglasses, sunscreen and protective head gear can end up costing a lot of money. So what can you do? If you’re […]
Work related car expenses: what can I claim on my tax return?
If you use your car for work related journeys, other than to and from work, it’s likely that you can claim your car expenses on your tax return. Work related car deductions are a very common type of deduction, are easy to claim correctly, and will boost your refund. What car expenses can I claim? […]
Tax Deductions for University Students – What can I claim
Uni students can sometimes claim great tax deductions during their degrees and qualifications if they meet certain criteria. In this post we’ll discuss tax deductions for uni students – and outline some expenses you are not allowed to claim. It’s worth noting straight away that in order to claim any kind of tax deduction, you […]
Overseas HELP Debt – What is it?
The ATO implemented formal changes to how they recover “overseas HELP debt”. So, if you have lived overseas for more than 6 months and have a HELP debt, you may need to make HELP repayments How does the ATO recover HELP debts? Prior to 2017, Australians with a HELP or TSL debt did not have […]
Pilot and Cabin Crew Tax Deductions
We explore tax deductions for cabin crew and pilots. What if there wasn’t a welcoming cabin crew with huge smiles when we board an airplane? Where would we all be without that extra pillow, hot meal, or glass of wine to ease the tedium of being squeezed into an area the size of a cat bed for hours […]
What do I need to know about Superannuation rules?
Your employer sets aside a portion of your income as superannuation, for you to access when you retire. Strict superannuation rules and mandatory fund contributions have put Australians’ retirement savings ahead of people in many other counties that have no required retirement contributions. Superannuation is fairly straightforward for most of us who earn a wage […]
Claiming laptop on tax – what you need to know…
Many of us work after hours at home or spend a portion of our week working from home. Quite often you might use our own equipment for this, especially if you don’t have a work laptop or removing it from the office poses a security risk. If this is this case for you, it’s likely you […]
Retail Worker Tax Deductions: What can you claim? (With Case Studies)
Putting the spotlight on tax deductions for retail staff Retail employees like sales assistants, store managers, suppliers and buyers often ask us what tax deductions for retail they should claim on their annual tax return. If you work in a retail shop, there are a lot of tax deductions you might be able to claim. Many […]
Claim personal grooming expenses as tax deductions
Do you have to pay for make up or other personal grooming expenses? If these purchases are essential for your job, you may be able to claim your money back at tax time. When we’re in the public eye at work, we all want to feel like we are well presented or reflect the role […]
Zone Tax Offset: Do you live in a remote area?
What is a zone tax offset? The zone tax offset is a tax concession offset offered by the Australian Tax Office for people who live in remote areas of Australia. This offset is to assist with the higher cost of living, amenities and other environmental factors associated with remote living. The zone tax offset provides […]
Overseas Forces Tax Offset: Are you claiming yours?
A question we often hear from people who have worked or are working overseas in the Australian Defence Force is: Am I eligible to receive an overseas forces tax offset when lodging my tax return The answer is YES as long as you meet certain criteria. How can I claim the overseas forces tax offset? […]
Simple Ways to Improve Your Tax Refund
Here’s the most common question people ask us in July every year about how to improve your tax refund; “What can I do to get a bigger refund or pay less tax?” Australians are always looking for ways to improve their refund. That’s why we’ve decided to answer this common question with four easy ways […]
