How to reduce your business tax bill before 30/06/2019?
For many small business owners, the end of each financial quarter signals added stress and a hefty tax bill.
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple and legitimate ways you can cut down on your small business tax bill while meeting all your tax obligations.
Here’s a list of what you can start doing now and what you can begin to plan for before the end of financial year.
1. Claim asset depreciation.
If your gross annual turnover is under $10 million, you’re eligible to claim an instant asset write-off on any assets up to the value of $20,000. In other words, you can invest in an asset of up to $20,000 until 30 June and claim back the full amount on your tax return, which means your taxable income will be reduced by the cost of the asset.
2. Make concessional superannuation contributions.
Concessional super contributions are taxed at a rate of 15%, which is likely to be lower than your income tax rate and you can claim a deduction on contributions. The general concessional super contributions cap is $25,000 for all individuals regardless of age, so it’s a good idea to make feasible contributions up to that limit before 30 June.
3. Keep a business vehicle logbook.
Maintain a logbook of your business vehicle use for at least 12 weeks during the year so you can accurately claim back vehicle expenses at tax time. Legitimate business use of a vehicle is tax deductible, so you should also keep all receipts and invoices related to vehicle expenses such as petrol and maintenance.
4. Defer income and bring forward expenses.
You can cut down on your tax bill by deferring taxable income to the next financial year. For example, if you delay invoicing until 1 July, the invoice amount won’t count towards your taxable income for the previous financial year.
5. Claim deductions for expenses not paid by EOFY.
You can still claim deductions for some expenses even if they haven’t yet been paid by the end of the financial year. These expenses include:
• Staff salary and wages – claim the number of days that employees have worked up to 30 June but have not been paid until the new financial year
• Staff bonuses – claim a tax deduction for staff bonuses and commissions that are owed and unpaid at 30 June if you are committed to paying the expense.
• Repairs and maintenance – claim repairs carried out and billed by 30 June but not paid until next year.
6. Write off bad debts.
You can claim a tax deduction on bad debts if you can show that the debt has been written off by 30 June, and if the debt was originally shown as income. Put your decision in writing (such as in meeting minutes), which you can use as evidence that the debt was written off before EOFY.
7. Claim a small business tax offset.
If you operate as a sole trader, you could be eligible to claim a small business tax offset on your tax return, which can reduce the amount of tax you pay by up to $1000 a year. When you lodge your tax return, the ATO will calculate your offset based on the information you provide.
While these tips from Elite Tax Advisory can help you cut down on your tax bill, remember that there's no one solution that fits everyone, and it’s a good idea to seek professional advice to make sure you’re operating as tax efficiently as possible and meeting all obligations.
We’re dedicated to providing timely and proactive solutions for all your small business tax return needs.
We can help you navigate the accounting and tax responsibilities that come with running a business, and lighten your workload and enjoy our competitive and agreed upfront pricing.
Contact John from Elite Tax Advisory today about your business needs.
Phone: 0456 799 959
Email: info@elitetaxadvisory.com.au
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple and legitimate ways you can cut down on your small business tax bill while meeting all your tax obligations.
Here’s a list of what you can start doing now and what you can begin to plan for before the end of financial year.
1. Claim asset depreciation.
If your gross annual turnover is under $10 million, you’re eligible to claim an instant asset write-off on any assets up to the value of $20,000. In other words, you can invest in an asset of up to $20,000 until 30 June and claim back the full amount on your tax return, which means your taxable income will be reduced by the cost of the asset.
2. Make concessional superannuation contributions.
Concessional super contributions are taxed at a rate of 15%, which is likely to be lower than your income tax rate and you can claim a deduction on contributions. The general concessional super contributions cap is $25,000 for all individuals regardless of age, so it’s a good idea to make feasible contributions up to that limit before 30 June.
3. Keep a business vehicle logbook.
Maintain a logbook of your business vehicle use for at least 12 weeks during the year so you can accurately claim back vehicle expenses at tax time. Legitimate business use of a vehicle is tax deductible, so you should also keep all receipts and invoices related to vehicle expenses such as petrol and maintenance.
4. Defer income and bring forward expenses.
You can cut down on your tax bill by deferring taxable income to the next financial year. For example, if you delay invoicing until 1 July, the invoice amount won’t count towards your taxable income for the previous financial year.
5. Claim deductions for expenses not paid by EOFY.
You can still claim deductions for some expenses even if they haven’t yet been paid by the end of the financial year. These expenses include:
• Staff salary and wages – claim the number of days that employees have worked up to 30 June but have not been paid until the new financial year
• Staff bonuses – claim a tax deduction for staff bonuses and commissions that are owed and unpaid at 30 June if you are committed to paying the expense.
• Repairs and maintenance – claim repairs carried out and billed by 30 June but not paid until next year.
6. Write off bad debts.
You can claim a tax deduction on bad debts if you can show that the debt has been written off by 30 June, and if the debt was originally shown as income. Put your decision in writing (such as in meeting minutes), which you can use as evidence that the debt was written off before EOFY.
7. Claim a small business tax offset.
If you operate as a sole trader, you could be eligible to claim a small business tax offset on your tax return, which can reduce the amount of tax you pay by up to $1000 a year. When you lodge your tax return, the ATO will calculate your offset based on the information you provide.
While these tips from Elite Tax Advisory can help you cut down on your tax bill, remember that there's no one solution that fits everyone, and it’s a good idea to seek professional advice to make sure you’re operating as tax efficiently as possible and meeting all obligations.
We’re dedicated to providing timely and proactive solutions for all your small business tax return needs.
We can help you navigate the accounting and tax responsibilities that come with running a business, and lighten your workload and enjoy our competitive and agreed upfront pricing.
Contact John from Elite Tax Advisory today about your business needs.
Phone: 0456 799 959
Email: info@elitetaxadvisory.com.au