Tax Facts - Activity Statement
Businesses use activity statements to report and pay a number of tax obligations, including GST, pay as you go (PAYG) instalments, PAYG withholding and fringe benefits tax. Non-business individuals who need to pay quarterly PAYG instalments also use activity statements.
Activity statements are personalised to each business or individual to support reporting against identified obligations.
Activity statements for businesses may be due either quarterly or monthly. Generally, businesses can lodge and pay quarterly if annual turnover is less than $20 million, and total annual PAYG withholding is $25,000 or less. Businesses that exceed one or both of those thresholds will have at least some monthly obligations. Non-business individuals are generally required to lodge and pay quarterly.
Businesses or individuals with small obligations may be able to lodge and pay annually. Some taxpayers may receive an instalment notice for GST and/or PAYG instalments, instead of an activity statement.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) web site provides instructions on lodging and paying activity statements. Detailed instructions are provided for each of the different tax obligations:
Tax Facts - General Value Shifting
The General Value Shifting Regime (GVSR) applies to arrangements that shift value between assets, causing discrepancies between the market values and tax values of the assets. Most value shifts happen when parties don't deal at the market value, causing one asset to decrease while the other increases.
Three scenarios are targeted under the GVSR. Exclusions apply to small values in each of the scenarios, as follows:
-
Indirect value shifting (exclusion applies if total value shifts under a scheme are less than $150,000)
-
Direct value shifts on interests (exclusion applies if total value shifted is equal to or less than $50,000)
-
Direct value shifts by creating rights (exclusion applies if the market value of the right granted exceeds the proceeds for the grant by $50,000 or less).
Generally, the GVSR does not apply to normal commercial dealings conducted at market value, or dealings within consolidated groups. There are several other exclusions and safe harbours in the rules.
Tax Facts - Capital Gains Tax
Capital gains tax (CGT) generally applies to CGT events that happen to CGT assets acquired after 19 September 1985. CGT is not a separate tax, it forms part of income tax.
CGT events
The most common CGT event is the disposal of an asset by selling it or giving it away. A full list of CGT events is available here.
CGT assets
A CGT asset is any kind of property, or a legal or equitable right that is not property. CGT assets include:
-
Part of, or an interest in, a CGT asset
-
Goodwill, or an interest In it
-
An interest in a partnership asset
-
An interest in a partnership, that is not an interest in a partnership asset
-
Land and buildings
-
Shares in a company
-
Units in a unit trust
-
Options
-
Debts owed to a taxpayer
-
A right to enforce a contractual obligation
-
Foreign currency.
Where a taxpayer owns an interest in a CGT asset and then acquires a further interest, the interests remain separate CGT assets. Buildings, structures and other capital improvements to land may be treated as separate CGT assets to the land. A car is a CGT asset, but any capital gain made from it is exempt from CGT (the gain may be taxable under other provisions).
Special rules apply to some kinds of CGT assets, including collectables, personal use assets, certain investments, leases and options.
Working out a capital gain or loss
For most CGT events, a capital gain arises if the capital proceeds from the CGT event exceed the cost base of the CGT asset. Conversely, a capital loss arises if the reduced cost base of the CGT asset exceeds the capital proceeds from the CGT event.
The amount of a capital gain is reduced by the CGT discount if the taxpayer is an individual, trust or complying superannuation entity, and the taxpayer acquired the CGT asset at least 12 months before the CGT event. The discount percentage is as follows:
-
50% for Australian resident individuals
-
33 1/3% for complying superannuation entities and eligible life insurance companies
-
Special rules apply to foreign resident individuals.
Taxpayers can choose the indexation method, rather than the CGT discount, if that results in a lower capital gain. Companies are generally not eligible for the CGT discount, but can use the indexation method. Discount capital gains made by trusts can generally be passed through to presently entitled beneficiaries, who can claim the discount percentage as above. Where the trustee is taxed on a capital gain, the availability of the discount depends on the particular circumstances of the trust.
Capital losses can only be offset against capital gains, they cannot be offset against other income. Care should be taken when applying capital losses to ensure the optimum reduction of capital gains for the CGT discount and small business CGT concessions. A net capital loss in an income year is carried forward to be offset against capital gains in later income years.
Exemptions, rollovers and concessions
A wide range of exemptions and rollovers apply. In addition to the generally available exemptions and rollovers, small business entities are eligible for the small business CGT concessions.
International issues
On or after 12 December 2006, a foreign resident makes capital gains only on the disposal of taxable Australian property. Temporary residents are subject to the same CGT rules as foreign residents, however some specific rules apply. Special rules apply on becoming a resident or ceasing to be an Australian resident.