2012 Tax Return Items to Consider

To maximise your deductions and ensure that your tax return is complete, please review the following suggestions and advise us if any apply to you.

Individual Tax Return Checklist (207 KB)

• Work Related Motor Vehicle Expenses (Log Book may be required)
• Work Related Travel Expenses (Travel Log required)
• Work Related Clothing & Laundry Expenses
• Work Related Self-Education Expenses
• Other Work Related Expenses
• Dividend & Interest Deductions
• Gifts & Donations
• Undeducted Purchase Price-Pension / Annuity
• Tax Related Expenses (eg. travel to tax appointment)

• Income Protection Insurance
• Union Fees
• Home Office Expenses
• Seminars
• Overtime Meals
• Briefcase
• Tools & Equipment
• Depreciation
• Calculator
• Electronic Organiser
• Computer Costs
• Software
• Memberships & Subscriptions
• Telephone & Mobile Phone
• Bank Fees
• Interest Expenses
• Sun Protection Deductions

• Employment Income
• Centrelink / Pension Income
• Employment Termination Payment (ETP)
• Interest & TFN Credits
• Dividends, Imputation & TFN Credits
• Partnership & Trust Distributions
• Capital Gains
• Rental Property Income
• Foreign Income
• Business Income

• HELP (Higher Education Loan Program)
• HECS
• Child Support Agency Liability
• 20% Net Medical Expenses Offset
• Health Insurance
• PAYG Instalment Credits
• Education Tax Refund
• Entrepreneurs Tax Offset
• Other Offsets & Tax Credits
• Reportable Fringe Benefits amount

The following list is not exhaustive, but it should give you some indication of what documentation we'll require to prepare your Tax Return:

Income

• Trading income
• Other income (e.g. rent, interest, royalties)
• Stock on hand (and basis of valuation) - note any obsolete stock
• Work in progress
• Primary producer subsidies (if assessable)
• Capital gains from CGT assets sold (e.g. real estate) [Documentation should include dates and costs associated with acquisition and disposal]
• Dividends [Details of any franking credits will be required]
• Income from foreign sources [Details of foreign tax paid will be required]

Deductions

• Losses can no longer be transferred between group companies
• Repairs and maintenance (not capital)
• Salaries, including fringe benefits
• Fringe benefits tax paid
• Rates, land taxes and insurance premiums
• Advertising expenses
• Interest on borrowed monies
• Deductions relating to foreign-source income are only deductible against foreign income of a similar class
• Prepayments are no longer immediately deductible, unless under $1,000 or required to be prepaid by law
• Retirement payments and golden handshakes
• Bad debts actually written off during the year
• Donations of $2 and over, depending on the recipient
• Commissions
• Legal expenses (not capital)
• Lease expenses for motor vehicles, premises and equipment
• Losses from previous years
• Superannuation contributions
• Subscriptions
• Car expenses [Remember to include petrol, repairs and parking and maintain a log book where necessary]
• Tax agent's fees and other accounting and tax audit fees
• Royalties paid [Only deductible where withholding tax has been paid]
• Travel expenses [Details of the purpose and destination of any interstate or overseas trip should be provided. Expenses must be fully documented where travel involves at least one night away from home. Travel diaries should be included where travel exceeds five nights]
• Eligible research and development expenditure by registered R&D company
• Bank fees (where the credit or deposit represents assessable income)
• Borrowing costs from previous years
• Blackhole expenditure which may be deductible over five years
• Investment Allowance Tax Break deduction on eligible NEW Plant & Equipment (inc MVs)

Liabilities

• New loans taken out during the year and their purpose, including any new lease or hire purchase agreements
• Statements from the lending authority detailing the opening and closing balances of existing loans during the financial year
• Provisions for long service leave and annual leave
• Creditors on hand at the end of the financial year
• Details of loan accounts to directors, shareholders, beneficiaries and partners
• Accrued expenses (e.g. audit fees, interest payments and bonuses) and unearned revenue
• Commercial debts forgiven

Assets

• Details of depreciable assets acquired and/or disposed of during this income year, including:
  • type of asset
  • date of acquisition/ disposal
  • consideration received/paid
• Details of CGT assets acquired, including the purchase price and other related costs
• Lease commitments
• Debtors on hand at the end of the financial year
• Commercial debts forgiven
• Division 7A interest and repayments made on any prior year loans to shareholders and associates

Other Information Required

• Franking account details/movements
• Overseas transactions with related parties
• Exchange gains/losses
• Private companies - remuneration or loans to directors, shareholders and their relatives
• Changes to the capital of the company
• Whether family trust elections have been made in relation to trusts
• Consider if a group of companies should consolidate for tax purposes