Taxes

Tax Refund Cheques - Tips On How You Can Use Them

Friday, August 1st, 2008

Its the first August today and soon and many Australians will start getting their tax refund cheques. Filing your tax return is a lot of effort but the cheque that comes in afterwards, makes all the hard work worthwhile (unless you have to pay the ATO).
Don’t let your money sit in your everyday savings [...]

Work, Training, Study Test Criteria For Child Care Tax Rebate

Friday, July 25th, 2008

My two year old son has started going to child care two days a week. Anyways, while I was organising all the paperwork for the child care payments, it struck me that I had forgotten to write about one important eligibility criteria for the 50% child care tax rebate - It is the ‘work, training, [...]

When Will I Get My Tax Refund Back

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

ATO claims that most returns will be processed and turned around within 14 days. You can file your tax return in one of the following ways:
1. Grab a tax pack from a newsagent and do your tax return yourself.
2. Get the help of a professional (tax agent).
3. Do it online - Visit ATO website [...]

What You Need For Filing Your Tax Return…

Monday, July 14th, 2008

It is that time of the year…Most of us look forward to receiving a cheque from the tax man but dread the tax filing part. But the fact is there is no escape from filing your taxes. SO you might as well get it over with. You need to file your taxes by October 31st [...]

Get Your Teenagers’ Teeth Checked

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

In the new Federal Budget, the Government has introduced a ‘Teen Dental Plan’. I should have added this new benefit when I blogged about Federal Budget And Families, but I was not aware of it then…
The Government will provide $150 for each eligible teenager (aged between 12 and 17) towards an annual comprehensive dental check [...]

Child Care Costs For Families - Federal Budget 2008/2009

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

We have heard women with young kids complain many times that going back to work does not make financial sense - because almost everything you earn goes towards child care expenses. Federal Budget 2008-2009 seems to have addressed these womens’ needs. The budget has introduced changes to child care benefit and child care tax [...]

Net Medical Expenses Tax Offset

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

You can claim 20% of your entire family’s total out of pocket medical expenses - provided the total out of pocket expenses is more than $1500 in a financial year. Lets try to understand what this offset means:
Out Of Pocket Medical Expenses

This is the total medical expenses for your entire family minus the money [...]

Federal Budget 2008 And Families

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

The federal budget 2008 has been received with mixed reaction…Here are the new rules/changes that affect the families….Read through and see how you are affected:
Medicare Levy Surcharge Threshold Increase

Currently the government charges a levy for people who earn a certain amount but don’t take private health insurance. From July 1st 2008, the threshold for the [...]

Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT)

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

A Fringe Benefit is a benefit provided to you or to your associate (spouse or children) because of your employment. The benefit is provided either by the employer or by an associate of the employer.
ATO defines fringe benefits as

“The term benefit is broadly defined and includes any right (including any property right), privilege, service or [...]

File Your Taxes And Get Ready To Claim Your Tax Refund

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

The end of the year is fast approaching - a hectic time for many. Most of us leave the organising and planning to the last minute. The deadline for filing the tax return is October 31st…But the sooner you get it done, the sooner you can pocket some money (if your expecting a refund). May [...]