From 1 July 2026, the value of a Commonwealth penalty unit rose from $330 to $364 — a change that directly increases the cost of many ATO penalties and compliance failures. Because penalty units underpin a wide range of fines under Commonwealth law, this seemingly small adjustment affects breaches occurring on or after that date.

The ATO has released updated reasonable travel and overtime meal allowance rates for 2026–27, but these figures aren't an automatic deduction — employees can only claim what they actually spend on genuine work-related expenses. Good record-keeping remains essential, and this article outlines what qualifies as a genuine allowance, what records to keep, and practical steps to avoid ATO scrutiny.

If you're thinking about purchasing or leasing a vehicle for your business in the new financial year, it's worth understanding the updated car thresholds that apply from 1 July 2026.

The sharing economy has created new opportunities for Australians to earn additional income. However, one aspect that can sometimes come as a surprise at tax time is that this income generally needs to be declared in your tax return.

The High Court has recently handed down an important decision that will impact many private business groups using discretionary trusts and corporate beneficiaries.

The Tax Ombudsman has reported a dramatic 127% increase in complaints about the ATO this financial year with nearly 3,000 complaints received in the first ten months. Debt collection, penalties, and tax debt interest charges have dominated the issues raised.

The ATO is sharpening its focus on how taxpayers generating income from personal services deal with that income for tax purposes. In a recent Spotlight bulletin, Small Business Assistant Commissioner Tony Poulakis highlighted the release of Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2025/5.

The 2026–27 Federal Budget has received more attention than most budgets in recent years. With proposed changes to negative gearing, the CGT discount and the taxation of trusts, this is a budget that has the potential to materially impact on property investors, business owners and families using discretionary trusts.

As tax time approaches, so does the annual spike in scam calls pretending to be from the ATO. These calls are becoming increasingly convincing — and increasingly costly for those who get caught by them.

With global fuel supply chains still under strain from conflict in the Middle East, many Australian businesses are feeling the impact through higher operating costs, delayed deliveries and pressure on cash flow.

The ATO has announced a significant update that will affect anyone using electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for work or fleet purposes and where the vehicle is charged at the relevant individual’s home.

The ATO is turning up the heat on employers who provide work vehicles for private use. Sophisticated data-matching means assumptions and shortcuts can quickly lead to audits, penalties, interest charges—and even reputational damage.