Practitioner
tax notes.
Real updates from the practice — not generic ATO press-release recaps. Lodgement-week observations, BAS pitfalls, and the things clients actually ask about.
Loss carry-back is back for companies — refund prior-year tax against this year's loss
Budget 2026-27 revives loss carry-back for companies with turnover under $1B from 1 July 2026. Carry a current-year loss back up to 2 years to refund tax already paid. Treasury estimates 85,000 small businesses benefit. Plus a separate start-up loss-refundability scheme from 1 July 2028.
The new $250 Working Australians Tax Offset — who gets it and when
Budget 2026-27 introduces a permanent $250 tax offset for workers from the 2027-28 income year. Treasury estimates 13M Australians qualify and 97% receive the full $250 — but the offset interacts with LITO and the marginal-rate structure in ways the headline doesn't capture.
Three-year window to restructure out of a discretionary trust — no CGT, no income-tax cost
From 1 July 2027, a 3-year rollover-relief window opens for restructuring discretionary trusts into companies or fixed trusts without CGT or income-tax consequences. The companion piece to the 30% minimum trust tax starting 1 July 2028.
$20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent — small-business planning beyond 30 June
Budget 2026-27 made the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent for small businesses (turnover ≤ $10M). Cash-flow impact ~$890M over five years per Treasury. What changes, what doesn't, and how to time asset purchases now that the year-by-year extension dance is over.
The new $1,000 instant work-related deduction — when to claim it and when itemising still wins
Budget 2026-27 introduces a $1,000 instant deduction for work-related expenses with no receipts required from 2026-27. Treasury estimates 6.2 million workers benefit an average of $205. When the cap saves you time; when itemising still wins.
STP Phase 2 — what employers actually need to report (and the bits that catch people)
Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 for Australian employers — disaggregated wages, tax treatment codes, allowance categories, cessation reasons, finalisation deadline.
Discretionary trusts get a 30% minimum tax from 1 July 2028. There is no grandfathering
From 1 July 2028, trust income is taxed at the trustee level at a minimum 30%. Beneficiaries get a non-refundable credit. Beneficiaries above 30% pay top-up; below 30% may lose excess credits. Existing trusts captured.
Teacher tax deductions — what classroom teachers, casuals and educators can actually claim
Tax deductions for Australian teachers — primary, secondary, early childhood, CRTs, TAFE, university. Registration, classroom supplies, PD. From a registered tax agent.
Healthcare worker tax — what nurses, doctors and aged-care workers can actually claim
Tax deductions for Australian healthcare workers — nurses, doctors, aged-care, allied health. AHPRA, uniforms, equipment, CPD, travel between hospitals. From a registered tax agent.
Negative gearing is being limited to new builds from 1 July 2027 — here is exactly what changes
Property held before 7:30pm 12 May 2026 is grandfathered. Established property bought after that night keeps losses against property income but loses them against wages. New builds keep the full deduction and the 50% CGT discount.
FIFO tax — what mining workers can claim, what gets caught at audit
FIFO mining-worker tax in Australia — deductions that work (PPE, site-to-site travel, training), the traps that don't (home-to-airport, employer camp), and zone offsets. From a registered tax agent.
Rideshare driver tax — what Uber, DiDi and Ola drivers actually need to lodge
Tax for Australian rideshare drivers (Uber, DiDi, Ola, Bolt) — mandatory GST from $1, vehicle methods, platform fees, ATO data-matching. From a registered tax agent.
The 50% CGT discount is going. What replaces it, and what to do before 1 July 2027
From 1 July 2027 the 50% capital gains tax discount is replaced with an inflation-based discount and a minimum 30% tax on gains. What it means for individual, trust and property investors — and the planning window between now and then.
Your 2026 tax return checklist — what to bring (and what we pull from the ATO)
Tax return 2026 checklist — what Australian individuals bring (income statements, receipts, rental schedules) and what we pull from the ATO. From a registered tax agent.
FY27 cheat sheet — what changes 1 July 2026, and what stays the same
What changes for Australian individuals and small businesses on 1 July 2026 — and what stays exactly the same. Tax brackets, super guarantee, WFH rate, concessional cap, Payday Super, indexation watchpoints. From a registered Australian tax agent.
Payday Super starts 1 July 2026 — what every Australian employer must change
Payday Super starts 1 July 2026 — Australian employers move from quarterly super to paying within 7 days of each pay run. What's changing, what's staying, the tighter SGC penalty regime, the SBSCH closure, and a preparation checklist from a registered Australian tax agent.
EOFY 2026 — the checklist your accountant wishes you'd read by 30 June
EOFY 2026 actions to take before 30 June — for Australian individuals and small businesses. Concessional super, WFH, IAWO, prepaid expenses, stocktake, donations.
BAS due dates 2026: FY2026-27 quarterly schedule
BAS due dates 2026 — all four quarterly deadlines for FY2026-27 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) for self-lodgers (paper + online) and businesses lodging through a registered tax or BAS agent. Plus monthly BAS, FTL penalties and FAQs. Source: ATO.
What's actually new in FY26 for the average individual return
Stage 3 brackets are the headline, but the bracket cut is not where most refunds change. Here's what's moved this year on a typical wage earner's return.
BAS quarter Q2 FY26 — three mistakes I see every cycle
GST coding errors, the PAYG instalment trap, and one motor-vehicle classification I keep correcting. Quick fixes before the 28 February lodgement.
Switching tax agents: how the ethical-clearance handover actually works
Most clients think changing agents means awkward calls and lost paperwork. The professional process is quieter than that — here's what happens behind the scenes.