FRINGE BENEFITS TAX ("FBT") If you or your business have historically been using AUSkey to access Government portal and websites, you will need to make changes before March 2020 as Auskey is being decommissioned. The new replacement service is called myGovID. It will continue to be a secure login that identifies an individual operating on behalf of a business when using Government online services. The ATO is managing the new myGovID credential exclusively on behalf of Government after being chosen as the Commonwealth's identity provider earlier last year.

Welcome to the special Land Tax edition of our client newsletter for 2021 where we hope to keep you informed of the important Land Tax compliance issues affecting owners of land in Australia. You may recall that Land Tax is a State tax and different rules apply in each State. In this newsletter we have summarised the position in NSW. Click here to download a copy of StewartBrown's February 2021 Land Tax edition newsletter. If in any doubt about your particular Land Tax circumstances, please contact your StewartBrown Manager or Partner.

This special edition of our newsletter is to remind you of your 2020 financial year employer obligations and provide you with an update on employment matters:- Single Touch Payroll ("STP") Director's Personal Liability Payroll Obligations - Lodgement Deadlines Taxable Payments Reporting Reportable Employer Superannuation Contributions Superannuation Choice Superstream Superannuation Contributions

WELCOME Welcome to our special edition of the StewartBrown newsletter where we keep you informed and updated with the latest tax and Government assistance package developments as they arise. This newsletter outlines the JobKeeper package from the employee’s perspective. JOBKEEPER OVERVIEW The JobKeeper payment supports businesses significantly affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) by helping with the costs of their employees’ wages, so more Australians can retain their jobs and continue to earn an income. If you are an employee your employer will notify you if they intend to claim the JobKeeper fortnightly payment of $1,500 on your behalf. You will not be paid the JobKeeper payment by the ATO. The payment comes from your employer who is later reimbursed by the ATO. Tax will be withheld from the payment so you may receive less than $1,500 in your bank account.

WELCOME Welcome to our special edition of the StewartBrown newsletter where we keep you informed and updated with the latest tax and Government assistance package developments as they arise. This newsletter outlines the JobKeeper package from the employer’s perspective. A separate newsletter will follow detailing how these payments are viewed from an employee’s perspective. JOBKEEPER OVERVIEW JobKeeper is a $130 billion initiative of the Federal Government designed to support businesses significantly affected by the coronavirus. Its objective is to subsidise the employer’s wages cost to enable them to retain their employees. The scheme runs for the six month period 30 March 2020 - 27 September 2020.

The Federal Government recently announced its third raft of measures aimed at stimulating the economy and providing support to businesses, individuals and families. The States and Territories have also announced strategies for each of their various jurisdictions. Click here to download a copy of our newsletter which contains a summary of the economic measures announced as of 30th March 2020. If you have a specific question about any of these points please contact your StewartBrown Manager or Partner to discuss.

The FBT year ends on 31 March 2020 and each employer is required to calculate their liability for FBT. Where a liability for FBT exists, an annual return is required to be lodged and any tax paid by 21 May 2020. However, if the return is lodged electronically by a Tax Agent the due date of lodgement is 25 June 2020 while the payment due date is 28 May 2020. 2019 FBT YEAR – RATES AND THRESHOLDS 2020 rates 2019 rates FBT rate 47% 47% Gross up rates-Type 1 2.0802 2.0802 Gross up rates--Type 2 1.8868 1.8868 Interest rate on loan fringe benefits 5.37% 5.20% Car parking benefit threshold $8.95/day $8.83/day 2020 Living Away from Home Allowances: ATO guidelines (excerpt) for reasonable food and drink-within Australia $Per week One adult 269 Two adults 404 Three adults 539 One adult and one child 337 Two adults and one child 472 VEHICLES We remind you that where motor vehicles are provided to employees or their associates for their private use, odometer readings must be recorded as at 31 March 2020 for each motor vehicle. Guidelines for exempt vehicle benefits (i.e. commercial vehicles) The ATO have recently issued further guidance to employers who provide work vehicles to employees and those vehicles are typically considered commercial in nature (e.g. panel vans, utility or other commercial vehicles not designed principally to carry passengers). Many employers incorrectly believe that because these vehicles are “commercial” in nature there is no FBT liability to consider. This is not the case. Even if a vehicle is on the ATO list of approved commercial vehicles, an FBT liability may still arise. The guidelines state that private use of these vehicles must be restricted to travel between home and work (and back) and that any diversion in travel must add no more than 2km’s to the journey (e.g. picking up kids from school etc). In addition, the vehicle must not travel more than 1,000kms per year (previously 750km) in private usage (e.g. holidays) and no single journey for private purposes can exceed 200km’s. If the vehicles private usage exceeds these guidelines an FBT liability may arise. If you have provided commercial vehicles to employees we strongly encourage you to speak with us concerning your potential FBT liability for these vehicles. If you have any queries in respect of your potential FBT liability or would like StewartBrown to perform a FBT ‘health check’ on your business, please contact one of the StewartBrown Managers or Partners to discuss.

Welcome to our special update edition of the StewartBrown newsletter where we keep you updated with the latest tax and Government assistance packages being made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ASSISTANCE TO COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) Federal Government stimulus package-overview An additional $66b in COVID-19 economic support has now been pledged by the Federal Government in addition to the previous $17.6b stimulus package. Importantly, Not-for-Profit entities (“NFP’s”), including charities, with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers will now also be eligible. Previously they were not included in the measures. This will support employment activities at a time where NFP’s are facing increasing demand for services.

Welcome to our special edition of the StewartBrown newsletter where we will keep you informed and updated with the latest tax and Government assistance package developments as they arise. ASSISTANCE TO COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PACKAGE The Australian Federal Government has just released a $17.6 billion economic stimulus package. The package has been marketed as a measure to protect the economy by maintaining confidence, supporting investment and keeping people in their jobs.

Welcome to our March 2020 edition of the StewartBrown newsletter. We hope to keep you informed of the important tax developments and issues affecting taxpayers and businesses in Australia today. LIMITING TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR VACANT LAND In the 2018–19 Federal Budget the Government announced that it would limit deductions for expenses associated with holding vacant land. Provisions to give effect to these changes are contained in Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Tax Integrity and Other Measures No.1) Act 2019 which received royal assent on 28 October 2019. The changes apply to limit the tax deductions that can be claimed for holding vacant land incurred on or after 1 July 2019, even if the land was held before that date.

Welcome to our February 2020 edition of the StewartBrown newsletter. We hope to keep you informed of the important tax developments and issues affecting taxpayers and businesses in Australia today. END OF AUSKEY- MARCH 2020 If you or your business have historically been using AUSkey to access Government portal and websites, you will need to make changes before March 2020 as Auskey is being decommissioned. The new replacement service is called myGovID. It will continue to be a secure login that identifies an individual operating on behalf of a business when using Government online services. The ATO is managing the new myGovID credential exclusively on behalf of Government after being chosen as the Commonwealth's identity provider earlier last year.

WELCOME Welcome to the special Land Tax edition of our client newsletter for 2020 where we hope to keep you informed of the important land tax compliance issues affecting owners of land in Australia. Remember that Land Tax is a State tax and different rules apply in each State. In this newsletter we have summarised the position in NSW. If in any doubt about your particular land tax circumstances, please contact your StewartBrown Partner or Manager. NSW LAND TAX REMINDER – ACTION REQUIRED BY 31 MARCH 2020 Land Tax 2020 – Registration Form