National Awareness Campaign - Taxpayers Beware

Are you a taxpayer?

The Tax Office has commenced a national awareness program that is aimed at assisting taxpayers protect themselves against promoters who market 'dodgy tax schemes'.Under the program the Tax Office aims to inform taxpayers about investigating the tax planning and avoidance schemes and how to recognise and report these types of schemes.

 According to the Tax Office, taxpayers should do the following before committing themselves to an investment or tax scheme:

a. Check the promoters' license details at http://www.fido.gov.au;

b. Contact ASIC if they haven't received a product disclosure statement or prospectus;

c. Get independent financial advice from a recognised professional;

d. Check Tax Office rulings on the ATO website, and;

e. Contact the Tax Office about dodgy tax schemes.

 Details regarding the awareness program can be found online and consist of two brochures:

a. For "Tax Planning - investigate before investing" click here,

b. For "Recognising and reporting tax avoidance schemes" click here.

 For more information you can visit the Tax Office website at http://www.ato.gov.au

Remember: - You should seek professional advice prior to investing in tax schemes.

Tax Bonus Eligibility Extended for Disaster Victims

Are you a taxpayer affected by the disasters?

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced that victims of the recent bushfires and floods who have failed to lodge their tax returns on time will still be eligible for the stimulus package.

You must be aware of the tax Bonus & contact us if you require any clarification or advice.

The Commissioner of Taxation has confirmed that those affected by the recent Victorian bushfires and Queensland floods will not miss out on the Federal Government's stimulus package even if they fail to lodge their 2007/08 tax return on time.

The tax bonus is a one off cash bonus of up to $900 for eligible taxpayers earning less than $100,000 per year.

Taxpayers must lodge their 2007/08 income tax return by June 30, 2009 to be eligible for the tax bonus [click here for more information].

The ATO has announced that those who have been affected by the recent disasters will be granted an additional 12 months to lodge their 2007/08 income tax return without losing their eligibility for the tax bonus. 

The Tax Office will commence making the tax bonus payments to eligible taxpayers from April 6, 2009.

For more information on other natural disaster relief measures that have recently been announced, visit the ATO website at http://www.ato.gov.au.

Remember - Ensure you are aware of the assistance available if you have been affected by the recent bushfires and floods disasters.

Personal Services Income Data Matching Program

Are you a taxpayer who has received contract payments?

The Tax Office has recently announced that it has commenced a personal services income [PSI] data matching project. You must be aware of the ATO's data matching projects & contact us if you require any clarification or advice.

The Tax Office has announced it has commenced a personal services income data matching project in which records of approximately 30,000 individuals and entities will be reviewed.

 

Under the project, the records of entities and individuals who have received contract payments will be matched against information collected from labour hire firms, placement agencies and computer consultancy firms. Some of the firms include:

 

-      Adecco Holdings Pty Ltd                         - Aker Kvaerner Advantage Pty Ltd

-      Brunel Technical Services Pty Ltd               - Chandler Macleod Group Pty Ltd

-      Collective Resources I.T Recruitment Pty Ltd    - Clarius Group Pty Ltd

-      Dare Holdings Pty Ltd                           - Drake Australia Pty Ltd

-      Entity Solutions Services Pty Ltd               - Greythorn Pty Ltd

-      Hays Specialist Recruitment (Aust) Pty Ltd      - HR Connect Pty Ltd

-      Hudson Global Resources (Aust) Pty Ltd          - Infosys Technologies Australia Pty Ltd

-      Labourforce Solutions Pty Ltd                   - Link Recruitment Pty Ltd

-      LOGICACMG Pty Ltd                               - Manpower Services (Aust) Pty Ltd

-      Michael Page International (Aust) Pty Ltd       - Netstar Australia Pty Ltd

-      Paxus Australia Pty Ltd                         - PeopleBank Australia Ltd

-      Randstad Pty Ltd                                - Robert Walters Pty Ltd

-      Ross Human Directions Ltd                       - SAP Australia Pty Ltd

-      Service Stream Communications Pty Ltd           - Service Stream Solutions Pty Ltd

-      Technical Resources Pty Ltd                     - The Trustee for ADAPS Unit Trust

-      The Trustee for Swan Drafting Unit Trust        - Unisys Australia Pty Ltd

-      Unisys West Pty Ltd                             - UXC Ltd

 

The project will enable the Tax Office to identify non-compliance with lodgement and debt payment as well as improve the strategic approach towards its business activities.

For more information on the ATO's data matching initiatives visit http://www.ato.gov.au and remember you must ensure you are aware of the ATO's data matching program on personal services income.

Mining Industry Data Matching Program

Are you a taxpayer contracting to the mining industry?

Recently the Tax Office has announced a data matching program for contractors who provide personal services specifically to the mining industry.

You must be aware of the ATO's data matching projects & contact us if you require any clarification or advice.

The Tax Office is currently undertaking a data matching program which is aimed at contractors who provide their personal services to the mining industry.

 

Under the project, the Tax Office will seek to obtain information from several sources including:

a. Mining companies;

b. Contracting companies in the mining industry; and

c. Labour hire firms that specialise in labour for the mining industry.

 

The Tax Office will only look at payments made to entities such as companies, partnerships and trusts that comprise a reward for personal efforts or skills.nThe Tax Office aims to match the data from various sources against its taxpayer records to identify and address non-compliance with the personal services income rules.

Click here for more information on the ATO's data matching initiatives on Personal Services Income or visit http://www.ato.gov.au.

Remember you must ensure you are aware of the ATO's data matching program on personal services within the mining industry.