There is a proverb that says that it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission. Generally speaking, the idea behind this saying is that if you ask for permission and you do not receive it, then the punishment will be a lot harsher than if you do the thing that you asked…
Retirement might seem like a far off dream for many in the workforce, but it’s never too early to start thinking about how much money you might require to live comfortably in your golden years. Your super balance will most likely fund your retirement, so knowing how well it is performing at your current age…
A family trust is a great structure. It provides tax flexibility whilst giving you asset separation in two directions. But what does asset separation in two directions mean? And why might we suggest it to you as a recommendation? First of all, why do you want asset separation? If there are multiple assets, you want…
There were a few changes to superannuation that were passed by the Senate recently. You can now use the bring-forward rule to make three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions (where you don’t claim a tax deduction) up until the age of 67. Last year the rules had changed to permit a person…
Many years ago Julia Gillard’s government announced increases in the Superannuation Guarantee rate from 9% at the time, up to 12%. The impact of the Global Financial Crisis has led subsequent governments to continually postpone these increases. So far, Australia has only received two increases, back in 2013 and 2014, when the superannuation rate went…
The ATO’s Tax, Super + You competition is a fun and engaging way for Australian high school students to learn about tax and super, unleash their creativity and potentially win some great prizes. Working as a part of a team or individually, students are invited to write, make or film an entry for their topic:…
Each year we are entitled to a tax deduction for a certain amount of superannuation contributions. The tax deduction is available to your employer if they contribute on your behalf but it can also be available to you personally when you make extra contributions to super. The amount that you can claim as a tax…
If you are aged 65 years or older, you are currently able to make downsizer contributions of up to $300,000 into your superannuation fund from the sale of your main residence (as of 1 July 2018). The Federal Budget recently announced that the age limit for downsizer contribution payments will be reduced from 65 to…
