You can’t claim trips between your home and place of work except in limited circumstances which include;

1. A) Home is a base of employment and;

• You’re requireed to start your employment duties at home then travel to your regular place of work to complete those particular duties.
• Undertaking the work in 2 locations is necessary due to the nature of your employment duties
• The trip to your regular place of work isn’t part of a normal trip to work

1. B) transporting bulky tools and equipment if;

• The tools or equipment are essential to perform your work
• The tools or equipment are bulky due to their size and weight & can only be transported using a motor vehicle
• There is no secure storage for such items at the workplace
• You don’t transport the tools or equpment as a matter of choice

If you claim a deduction, you will need to keep a record of:

• all work items you carry
• the size and weight of all work items
• evidence that the items you carry are essential to your work
• evidence that your employer did not provide secure storage at the workplace.

You must register for GST:

• when your business or enterprise has a GST turnover (gross income from all businesses minus GST) of $75,000 or more.
• when you start a new business and expect your turnover to reach the GST threshold (or more) in the first year of operation
• if you’re already in business and have reached the GST threshold
• if your non-profit organisation has a GST turnover of $150,000 per year or more
• when you provide taxi or limousine travel for passengers (including ride-sourcing) regardless of your GST turnover – this applies to both owner-drivers and if you lease or rent a taxi
• if you want to claim fuel tax credits for your business or enterprise.

Registering for GST is optional if your business or enterprise doesn’t fit into one of these categories. If you choose to register, generally you must stay registered for at least 12 months.

To claim work related expenses, you must have the following:

• Written evidence (receipt, invoice) detailing the following:
  • Name of the Business or Supplier
  • Amount of the expense
  • Details on the products/services purchased
  • Date of the purchase of the products/services
  • Date the written evidence was prepared
• Records that show how the expense is directly related to earning your income. To show how expenses are related to your income:
  • You need a diary or similar record that shows your private and work-related use
  • How you calculate the amount you claim as a deduction
• There are some record keeping exceptions, in certain circumstances you may not need receipts but will still need to show how your spent the money and how you calculate your claim.
• Specific exceptions are:
  • Total work-related expenses $300 or less
  • Total laundry expenses $150 or less
  • Small expense receipts
  • Hard to get receipts
  • Record keeping exceptions for travel allowance expenses
  • Record keeling exception for overtime meals

Motor Vehicle Expenses:

• If using the Cents per KM method, you don’t need receipts. You will need to show that you own the car and how you work out your work-related kilometres, for example a travel diary.
• If using the logbook method you will need to:
  • Keep a logbook that shows your work-related trips for a continuous period of at least 12 weeks. (This is valid for up to 5 income years, provided your circumstances have not changed e.g. change of jobs)
  • Keep receipts or other records of your car expenses e.g. fuel receipts, insurance, repairs, registration.

Home Office Expenses:

• Fixed Rate Method:
  • Keep a record of the number of actual hours you work from home during the income year e.g. timesheet, diary, roster
  • One record for each of the additional running expenses that the fixed rate includes e.g. electricity bill for a quarter.
• Actual Method:
  • Keep a record showing the number of actual hours worked from home e.g. timesheet or a continuous 4-week period that represents the usual pattern of working from home e.g. a diary
  • Records on additional running expenses incurred when working from home e.g. receipts, bills
  • How you worked out the deduction

Mobile Phone & Internet:

• Records must be kept to support a claim for work related use of mobile phones, internet and other devices:
  • Diary entries, to show how the work related percentage of use was calculated
  • Bills for phone and internet
  • Receipts for the purchase of any devices

No, as we don’t hold a trust account your refund is paid directly to the bank account you provide when completing your tax return.  As a result, we require our fee be paid before lodgement of your tax return.

HELP repayments can be made through compulsory or voluntary repayments.

Compulsory Repayments:

• Are made through your tax return, when your repayment income exceeds the minimum repayment threshold.
• Your repayment income is calculated from the following income reported in your tax return:
  • Taxable Income + Reportable Fringe Benefits + Total Net Investment Loss + Reportable Super Contributions + Exempt Foreign Employment Income.

• The compulsory repayment amount is calculated by multiplying your repayment income by the relevant repayment rate.
• For the 2024/25 financial year the following repayment income thresholds and rates are applicable:

• For example, if your repayment income is the following amounts your compulsory repayment amount would be calculated as:
  • $65,000 x 2% = $1,300
  • $90,000 x 5% = $4,500
  • $120,000 x 7.5% = $9,000
• To cover your compulsory repayment amount, under the PAYG withholding system your employer will withhold an additional amount from your salary and wages income to cover the repayment amount. To notify your employer you can fill in a Tax File Number Declaration Form (when commencing a new job) or a Withholding Declaration Form (if already working for an employer).

Voluntary Repayments:

• Can be made at any time to reduce your HELP balance.
• Are in addition to compulsory repayments, if your repayment income is above the minimum repayment threshold.
• Repayments can be made by BPAY, Credit Card, EFT, Direct Debits, at the Post Office.
• To make a voluntary repayment you will need your payment reference number (PRN) which can be accessed through your MyGov account, or by your registered tax agent.