Government Benefits

By September 5, 2011

On Father’s Day the Australian Government started public consultations on its plan to introduce two weeks of paid leave for dads to take time off work to spend with their newborn babies. From 1 January 2013, the current Paid Parental Leave scheme will be expanded to include a dedicated payment ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for New Data Matching to Recover Millions in Welfare $$$’s
By July 14, 2011

A new data matching initiative between Centrelink and the ATO is expected to claw back millions of dollars from welfare recipients who have debts with the Australian Government. Beginning on July 1 this year, Centrelink and the ATO will automatically match data on a daily basis as a way of ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Family Tax Benefit Supplements 2011
By July 10, 2011

We’re already receiving a few FTB supplement questions this year so it looks like time to update you on the current rates. FTB Part A and FTB Part B both include a supplement payment. This gets paid after you (and your partner, if you have one) have lodged your tax returns for ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Don’t Miss Out on the Co-Contribution
By June 18, 2011

Did you know that only one in five taxpayers who meet the eligibility criteria for the super co-contribution actually make a personal contribution in order to receive the additional government payment. The super co-contribution is a Government initiative to help low to middle income earners save for their retirement. You ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Tax Amendments for Austudy & Abstudy Recipients
By June 10, 2011

A lot of our clients have received an unexpected additional tax refund as a result of the ATO amending tax returns of eligible Youth Allowance recipients to include a deduction for study expenses. This came about thanks to the High Court decision in  Commissioner of Taxation v. Anstis. In the same way that ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Government Clarifies RESC Definitions
By May 27, 2011

Australians receiving government financial assistance will no longer need to worry that additional superannuation contributions, prescribed by law or the rules of their super fund, will be considered when determining their eligibility to receive that financial assistance. The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, today ...

Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Anstis Case follow-up
By May 14, 2011

I was met with a mix of both scepticism and delight this week as I contact taxpayers who have received an unexpected, addition tax refund as a result of the Anstis case. (Let’s face it, it’s not often I call people to say “Hey, the Tax Office have sent us money for ...

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries