Archive for the 'News' Category
The Federal Court has held that a student taxpayer who received Youth Allowance was entitled to a deduction for the expenses she incurred in pursuing a teaching degree, as she incurred them in the gaining or producing of her assessable income (being the Youth Allowance).
Court rules you can claim tax deductions against Youth Allowance
The Court basically held that, in order for the taxpayer to receive the Youth Allowance, she had to satisfy the requirements set out in the Social Security Act 1991 (i.e., generally to undertake full-time study throughout the relevant period), which required her to spend money (on such things as student administration fees and text books), so those outgoings were incurred in gaining or producing her assessable income.
The latest edition of our quarterly general business newsletter, Business Matters, is now available for download from this website.
In this issue:
- New Year’s resolutions for 2009
- IR Law Changes: Fair Work Bill
- Building A Brand
- Dangers of liquidation to avoid tax
- The ATO’s latest hit list;
- Timetable of Tax Office deadlines.
In troubling times, the last thing your business needs is a GST audit and a visit from the Tax Office.
Are your records up to date? Are there any gaps, holes or incorrect entries? Are you certain everything has been recorded correctly?
Arthur McInnes worked at the Australian Tax Office for 19 years. He spent 8 years there as a GST auditor. Arthur knows and understands the system — and now that he’s joined Prouse Family Accountants, he’s available to help you!
GST CHECKUP FOR JUST $374
For just $374 Arthur will come to you and spend some time at your business premises reviewing your paper and electronic records and reports.
He will look for errors, gaps and incorrect information; explain how the ATO may view your business records; and provide suggestions for how you can improve your records and reduce your audit risk.
Just like the ATO, we are going to be taking a break over Christmas and New Year.
Both of our offices will be closed from Thursday 18 December 2008 until Monday 5 January 2009.
We’d like to wish all of our clients a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous start to the New Year.
Peace be with you.
Media release 2008/59
The Tax Office will shutdown all IT and communication systems and applications over the Christmas and New Year period to complete essential maintenance at our data centres.
This means all systems and services will be unavailable from 4pm EDST Wednesday 24 December 2008 until 9am EDST Monday 5 January 2009.
There may also be some disruption to our systems and services after those dates.
If you think you will need to contact the Tax Office over this period please consider contacting us before 24 December.
The systems and services affected include the tax agent portal, business portal, electronic lodgment service, e-tax lodgment service, call centres, telephone services, the Tax Office website and internal business systems.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
At the end of this month, the ATO will shutdown its e-Tax system for another year. If you have not lodged your 2008 income tax return, there is no need to panic.
It’s not too late… we can help you
Like all Registered Tax Agents, Prouse Family Accountants has access to an extended lodgment program and can prepare and electronically lodge 2008 income tax returns all year round.
Every year we prepare thousands of income tax returns for everyone of our clients. We call ourselves “family accountants” because we specialise in families: tax, business, investment, superannuation.
We’re efficient, relaxed, straight forward and convenient.
After months of planning and weeks of construction work, our new Joondalup is finally open for business. This office is located at Unit 5 / 140 Grand Boulevard in Joondalup (directly behind St George Bank, right next to RAMS Home Loans). The best place to park is behind the Old Bailey (McLarty Avenue & Boas Avenue).
Carel van der Merwe will be relocating to this office permanently and Matthew Prouse will be joining him there 1-2 days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Individual tax returns prepared in our new office start from $110. If you’d like to make an appointment to see Matthew Prouse or Carel van der Merwe then please call our Marmion office on 9246 9055.
All of the details (and a map) are available below.
Call us on 9246 9055 to make an appointment
This year, we have expanded and our new name, Prouse Family Accountants, is a way of recognising our expanded services and capabilities. We’re “family accountants” because we specialise in families: tax, business, investment, superannuation. We’re efficient, relaxed, straight forward and convenient.
In 2008, we are expanding north and have opened a new office in Joondalup. You can find us at 5/140 Grand Boulevard, just behind St George Bank, right next to RAMS Home Loans. Carel will be relocating to the office permanently and Matthew will be joining him there 1-2 days a week. If you’d like to see us in Joondalup, please call us on 9246 9055 to make your appointment.
In 2008, we are expanding south and have employed another very experienced mobile tax accountant, Arthur McInnes to assist our thousands of clients south of the river. We can now offer mobile tax returns as far south as Mandurah and Rockingham and as far east as Armadale and Forrestfield. Visit our website to see the complete list of suburbs we regularly visit.
In 2008, we are expanding our client services. We have a new website – www.prouse.com.au – with additional information about tax planning, investing, budgeting and business management. Through our partners we can provide you and your family with financial advice; tax effective investments in property and shares; self managed superannuation; general insurance and home loans. Please register online to receive a free tax return checklist, discount vouchers, special offers, more information about all of our services, and our quarterly newsletter, Business Matters.
With rising petrol prices and higher interest rates, you probably need your tax refund – FAST!
To do that, make an appointment; come to one of our offices; pay your fees up front; and have the ATO deposit your refund directly into your bank account. We are happy to answer client questions via phone, appointment or email throughout the year. However, as of 1 July 2008 we will be charging frequent callers for our services.
Call us on 9246 9055 when you’re ready to make your appointment. Bye for now!
Rob Prouse
Principal
