Professionals

For a Will to be valid there is a fundamental requirement that the Will maker is in the right state of mind. This is legally referred to as having ‘testamentary capacity’. Willmakers and their loved ones should understand the issues surrounding capacity to avoid disputes and ensure that assets will be distributed according to a person’s wishes. It is presumed... Read more

Home prices in Sydney have increased by 10.6 per cent over the last 12 months with a median dwelling price now more than $1.1 million (CoreLogic, March 2024). Whilst Shane Oliver argues that property in all cities is currently overvalued on the basis of the average 2.7% rental returns, he also acknowledges that house prices are unlikely to correct in... Read more

From 1 July 2024, all 13.6 million Australian taxpayers will receive a tax cut, as rates have reduced and thresholds changed. The 19 per cent tax rate will reduce to 16 per cent The 32.5 per cent tax rate will reduce to 30 per cent The threshold above which the 37 per cent tax rate applies rises from $120,000 to... Read more

Since 1 July 2022, electric vehicles have been exempt from fringe benefit tax (FBT). A fringe benefit is a payment to an employee not in the form of salary or wages, for example provision of a car that includes for personal use. The fringe benefit tax is paid on the value of this benefit. For a $55,000 car the FBT bill could... Read more

With expectations that the Reserve Bank will continue to increase interest rates given inflationary pressures, now is the time for borrowers to reassess their existing loans. At the time of borrowing, loans are assessed for serviceability based on interest rates well above the rates we’ve experienced over recent years. The RBA suggests that most households are ahead on mortgage repayments,... Read more

Cessation of employment has been removed as a deferred taxing point for Employee Share Schemes from 1 July 2022. Employee Share Schemes (ESS) are often used by employers to attract, retain and motivate staff by issuing interests such as shares, rights (including options) or other financial products to their employees, usually at a discount to their market value. ESS interests... Read more

There are a number of superannuation changes that will take effect from 1 July, 2022. Superannuation Guarantee: Increase in super guarantee percentage – Super Guarantee (SG) increases from 10% to 10.5%. It will continue rising 0.5% each year until it reaches its final rate of 12% on 1 July 2025. Removal of the $450 monthly superannuation guarantee threshold – The... Read more

Sustainable investing has become a major focus for investors globally, with a third of all investable assets predicted to be managed with this approach by 2025. Environmental, Social & Governance Otherwise known as ESG investing, sustainable investing is the practice of considering environmental policies, social implications and corporate governance in addition to the traditional financial and operational metrics, when making... Read more

During the pandemic, businesses, schools and families turned to the internet to communicate and access services required for daily life. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have used this opportunity, with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) receiving over 67,500 cybercrime reports last financial year, a significant increase on the prior year. The increased frequency of crimes was also associated with increased complexity and... Read more

The NSW Government recently announced additional programs to support businesses following the Omicron wave. The following measures have been introduced/expanded. The 2022 Small Business Support Program For businesses with a turnover of $75,000 – $50 million that experienced a minimum 40% decline in turnover due to the impacts of Covid in January 2022 (compared to January 2021 or 2020) and... Read more