Year-end tax checklists for Individuals and Businesses We have recently prepared two Year End Checklists which help explain some common strategies that may be considered for Individual and Businesses taxpayers. Year End Checklist for Individuals – click here Year End Checklist for Businesses – click here

A strategy often used to reduce taxable income (and, in turn, tax payable) in an income year is to bring forward any expected or planned deductible expenditure from a later income year. However, any individuals with potentially reduced income for the 2024 tax season may want to instead consider deferring any deductible expenditure (if possible).

Many business clients like to review their tax position before the end of the income year and evaluate any strategies that may be available to legitimately reduce their tax. Traditionally, year-end tax planning for profitable small businesses is based around accelerating deductions and deferring income. The Year End Checklist in the link below explains some common strategies that may be considered for all business taxpayers.

SUMMARY AND FULL COMMENTARY UPDATES 

How to claim working from home expenses Taxpayers who have been working from home this financial year, and who consequently incurred work-related expenses, have two ways to calculate their work from home deduction: the actual cost method; or the fixed rate method. Using the fixed rate method, taxpayers can claim a rate of 67 cents per hour worked at home. This amount covers additional running expenses, including electricity and gas, phone and internet usage, stationery, and computer consumables. A deduction for these costs cannot be claimed elsewhere in their tax return, although taxpayers can separately claim any depreciating assets, such as office furniture or technology. Taxpayers need to have the right records, and the record-keeping requirements differ for the fixed rate method and the actual cost method. We released a Tax Alert on this topic when the revised fixed method rate was introduced, to see full details click here .