taxation

Superannuation

Classification and allocation of superannuation contributions

Peter Burgess takes a look at steps which need to be taken to ensure superannuation contributions are correctly allocated and classified for tax purposes....

Superannuation

SMSF options in pension phase

SMSFs may offer some additional flexibility in pension phase during volatile times....

Financial planning

Annuities drive strong Challenger result

A 56 per cent rise in annuities sales drives strong Challenger result....

Policy & Regulation

Higher SG more important than carbon tax

Mercer expert David Knox says the Government should lift the superannuation guarantee because it is more important than a carbon tax....

Policy & Regulation

Foreign investment tax to be aligned with OS markets

Australia's taxation of foreign managed funds will soon be aligned with countries including the US, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, as the Federal Government rolls out i...

Life/Risk

Insurance offering on excess contributions

An insurance company has come up with an offering designed to fund challenges to ATO excess contributions assessments....

Policy & Regulation

FOFA doubts and criticisms continue to mount

The admission by Federal Treasury that no international comparison modelling has been done on the Government's proposed FOFA reforms has added to concerns surrounding the...

Financial planning

Counting the business costs of incorrect contractor classifications

Clients who run businesses should be extremely careful in classifying those they engage as contractors, as the wrong decision can result in many unfavourable outcomes, wr...

Policy & Regulation

Share market losses could be tax deductible

If a person can demonstrate they are a 'share trader' rather than a 'share investor', they will be allowed to claim a tax deduction for losses on the share market, accord...

Editorial

Separately managed account benefits weighed up

Lin Ngin looks at how separately managed accounts (SMAs) operate and explores some of the features and benefits on offer as well as some of the current limitations....

Editorial

SMSF eligibility rules and your responsibilities

Too much attention on the details can mean forgetting about the fundamentals. David Court traces the intricate eligibility rules applying to SMSFs and the consequences of...

Policy & Regulation

One million lodge tax return online in only five weeks

More than one million people have already lodged their tax return online using e-tax, the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO's) free tax preparation and lodgement service....

Editorial

Where the next BRIC economies will be

Brazil, Russia, India and China formed a block of countries that returned well to their investors over the past decade. Tom Stevenson tries to predict which countries cou...

Financial planning

Broaden skills to get the job - Lloyd Morgan

Accountants and auditing professionals will need to broaden their skills to secure a job, according to the latest Clarius Skills Index from Lloyd Morgan Accounting Talent...

Superannuation

Making every cent count in retirement

The writing is on the wall that more responsibility will fall on individuals to fund their own retirement. The need for better post-retirement solutions to deal with long...