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tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:01 pm
by scottroo
each year i feel i get shafted, what things do people claim? Any ideas are appriciated. Im a glazier if that helps
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:17 pm
by mighty_tiger_79
get a good tax man!!!!!
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:21 pm
by White Line Fever
tools, laundry costs, sunglasses, sunscreen, light & power used if studying, internet, phones, car, boots, safety clothes (jeans lol), any household item that you could argue you needed at work, any upskilling..
but go to an accountant ... not a tax specialist (H&R block)... they could double your return.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:35 pm
by westcoastpanther
Private use of a motor vehicle is the best way to get a good deduction. You only need to be a bit creative and with the 5000km set rate claim no records need to be kept. Just needs to be (or at least sound reasonable). Last year it was a $3,750 deduction which at 30 cents in the dollar is another $1,125 in your wallet.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:59 pm
by Bully
cant claim work clothes that dont have logos on them. this stops anything being bought. to be able to claim on work clothes (not shoes) it requires the logo of your company on it.
i claim for usage for my car for my job. If your getting shafted you should go elsewhere. go to an accountant and you will be fine. Dont do it yourself.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:02 pm
by Sky Pilot
westcoastpanther wrote:Private use of a motor vehicle is the best way to get a good deduction. You only need to be a bit creative and with the 5000km set rate claim no records need to be kept. Just needs to be (or at least sound reasonable). Last year it was a $3,750 deduction which at 30 cents in the dollar is another $1,125 in your wallet.
Yeah I agree get an accountant. Mine costs about $400 but I get untold leverage on laptops (I use two), car 5000km obviously, Austar (yep he can justify that and have for 10 years) home office stuff right down to depreciation on the office curtains, liberal stationery allowance, phone/fax/internet, all travel and accom related to work, blah blah.
I love it!
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:18 pm
by Booney
FBT - I hate it!!

Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:20 pm
by Sky Pilot
Booney wrote:FBT - I hate it!!

Introduced by the socialists so if you voted for them get over it Boonman
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:22 pm
by Booney
Either way, it still sucks.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:50 pm
by The Ash Man
Booney wrote:Either way, it still sucks.
I agree, mine was over $15k this year
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:50 pm
by Pseudo
White Line Fever wrote:but go to an accountant ... not a tax specialist (H&R block)... they could double your return.
x2.
I used to go to one of those generic tax places (ITR? don't remember). The last time I went there, the joker was actively discouraging me from making claims. He talked me out of claiming for maintenance costs on an investment unit.
The next year I went to a local accountant who advertised a tax-return service. This guy's knowledge of the tax laws and creativity in matching my circumstances to them are second to none. I do not regret making the switch.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:28 pm
by OnSong
Pseudo wrote:White Line Fever wrote:but go to an accountant ... not a tax specialist (H&R block)... they could double your return.
x2.
I used to go to one of those generic tax places (ITR? don't remember). The last time I went there, the joker was actively discouraging me from making claims. He talked me out of claiming for maintenance costs on an investment unit.
The next year I went to a local accountant who advertised a tax-return service. This guy's knowledge of the tax laws and creativity in matching my circumstances to them are second to none. I do not regret making the switch.
x3 Got a mate who has just got his CA accreditation and he did a phenomenal job last year. Switched firms since but is sensational and his follow up work was sensational. PM me if you want me to pass on details etc.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:40 pm
by Bold Strategy
anything that u dont need to show reciepts for! I know for cars u can go up to a certain amount before you need a log book and for tools likewise (with reciepts)! but it problary never safe to deductuct the full amount before showing reciepts!! i know of people that have got emails from the ATO saying they keeping an eye on them this year
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:55 pm
by fisho mcspaz
I can recommend our accountant, he charges about $70 for tax returns and he did something amazing with Mr McSpaz's. I had to go in there for him last year and the guy was asking questions like this: 'Did Simon ever use your car to drive to work?' Me: 'Yeah, once.' Accountant: 'OK, that's $500 in petrol and repairs.' Me: 'It was because his own car got hit by a garbage truck. Knocked the tail light off.' Accountant: 'That's another $500 in repairs.' We thought he owed a s***load in tax but he ended up getting about $3000 back!

Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:11 pm
by Sky Pilot
Bold Strategy wrote:anything that u dont need to show reciepts for! I know for cars u can go up to a certain amount before you need a log book and for tools likewise (with reciepts)! but it problary never safe to deductuct the full amount before showing reciepts!! i know of people that have got emails from the ATO saying they keeping an eye on them this year
I'd be very suspicious of any emails from the ATO and just fwd them to my accountant.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:15 pm
by scottroo
i just did mine on etax ( havnt lodged) and got a return of about $2600, which is huge for me, probly because i had 10 weeks off non paid last year, with the whole car thing, i occasionally use my car for work when all the utes are being used, but this would only probly total 500km a year or so, can i claim this.
so far i claimed
internet
phone
new laptop
work clothing and protective equipment
Re: tax return

Posted:
Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:14 pm
by Psyber
Booney wrote:FBT - I hate it!!

I've never had to pay a cent in FBT.
I disliked the idea on principle and just made sure my structures excluded it - one of the advantages of being self-employed..
I also fought back when Paul Keating made log books for car deductions necessary.
I went from claiming 90% of one car to 100% of one and 30% of a second in the first year of that.
I figured if they made me do the extra paper work I'd do it well and make it pay...
Re: tax return

Posted:
Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:29 pm
by Dutchy
Cause I can log into my work stuff via home internet and do work from home Im claiming a portion in my IP costs this year, probably could claim the SIM in my ipad also as I log into email on that also.
Re: tax return

Posted:
Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:04 pm
by Squawk
I didn't realise just how many Greeks there are on SA Footy

Re: tax return

Posted:
Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:00 pm
by Barto
Hooray for the FBT to sort out those capitalists.