During the course of our work with clients, we occasionally come across situations where tax issues are not well understood, and where a proactive approach to managing the tax risk can have a real positive outcome for the client. Owning a rental property overseas is one of those areas where a seemingly simple issue can lead to tax obligations that go far beyond what most people would expect. As well… Read more
If you need a car to operate your business, you may wonder whether it makes more sense to purchase or lease. On the one hand, if your business owns the car you’ll have a long-term asset and may qualify for more tax deductions. On the other hand, buying a car is a huge expense and monthly lease payments tend to be lower than car loan payments; they will also be… Read more
New legislation enacted in February substantially simplifies obligations under the provisional tax regime. Most taxpayers pay their provisional tax at three times through the course of their financial year, being the 28th day of the 5th, 9th and 13th months after their balance date. The ‘standard uplift’ method determines a person’s liability based on a prior year’s tax payable (105% for last year, or 110% for previous). The problem is… Read more
It’s that time of year again when it pays to review the entertainment rules over the Christmas season. Let’s look at the tax treatment of saying thanks to customers and staff typically with gifts, wining and dining. 50% deductible entertainment expenses Inland Revenue’s IR268 guide gives the following examples of where entertainment expenses are 50% deductible: Taking customers, suppliers and business associates out for dinner or putting on a function for… Read more
So you’re setting up a new business or thinking about changing the way your existing business is structured… do you go for the added protection that a limited liability company provides, or do you keep things simple and operate as a sole trader or partnership with fewer tax compliance obligations? Tax expert John Shewan, formerly of Price Waterhouse Cooper, gives advice on structuring your business to minimise tax and meet… Read more
Risk and Reward Mixed Use Assets – taking note If you own a holiday home and rent this out commercially, there are new rules around how tax deductions are calculated. In order to accurately work out what these will be, there are some crucial points that we will require from you. You will still need to keep your normal records for income and expenses, but as well as that you… Read more
Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner already, which will leave many of you thinking about how best to reward staff. It may also have crossed your mind to consider how much of the expenditure that you will make will be tax deductible. Generally, if you provide entertainment for your team, clients or any other business contact, some of your business entertainment expenses are tax deductible. Below… Read more
A common question that we get asked, is “what portion of my home expenses am I able to claim for tax purposes?” Where a self-employed taxpayer uses his or her home partly in furtherance of the conduct of a business, he or she is entitled to a partial deduction for the outgoings which relate to the use of the home for the work related activities. These include: – Heating –… Read more
The IRD standard mileage rate for motor vehicles is now 77 cents per km. This rate applies to the 2012 income year. The standard mileage rate may not be acceptable where an employee’s business travel exceeds 5,000km. The reimbursement should be based on actual expenditure or a reasonable estimate of the expenditure likely to be incurred by the employee. One way to claim in Xero is to enter the mileage… Read more