Auspro Accounting

ATO issues new guidance on penalties for non-compliance with Single Touch Payroll (STP)

New guidance on penalties for non‑compliance with reporting We’re updating our guidelines on non-compliance with reporting obligations for STP and superannuation member accounts.

New guidance on AUSTRAC’s examination powers

Section 172A examination powers | AUSTRAC Learn more about our compulsory examination and information gathering powers. This guidance explains what happens when you receive a section 172A notice from AUSTRAC.

ATO app – information for tax professionals

ATO app – information for tax professionals ATO app security information and fact sheets to support client interactions.

$20,000 instant asset write-off for 2025–26

$20,000 instant asset write-off for 2025–26 Find out if your business is eligible for the $20,000 instant asset write-off for the 2025–26 income year.

New resources for a super new year

New resources for a super new year DC, Emma Rosenzweig shares what’s new for Payday Super and how we're supporting you.

ASIC acts against 28 SMSF auditors, flags increased scrutiny on in-house audit breaches

ASIC Home | ASIC Fair, strong and efficient financial system for all Australians.

ASIC unveils key issues outlook for 2026

ASIC Home | ASIC Fair, strong and efficient financial system for all Australians.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has initiated an intense compliance crackdown on Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for the 2025–2026 period, specifically targeting employer-provided vehicles, including utes and dual cabs. Using advanced data-matching, the ATO is auditing private use, invalid logbooks, and incorrect exemptions to close a nearly $2 billion compliance gap.

Holiday-home owners to act for imminent tax changes.

The ATO issued a new draft ruling on 12/11/2025 to replace the long-standing IT 2167. The successive DRAFT taxation ruling, TR2025/D1, will tighten the ability for holiday-home owners to make deduction claims through redefining certain holiday homes as “leisure facilities”.

Expenses for ‘leisure facilities’ are non-deductible.

From 1 July 2026, this new ruling is proposed to declare holiday homes that are “mainly” used for personal purposes as “leisure facilities”, making expenses related to ownership and the personal use of the holiday home, such as mortgage interest rates, insurance, council rates, maintenance, and other holding costs, non-deductible.

To be eligible for deduction claims, holiday-home owners must prove that their property is “mainly” used for income generation purposes.

E.g holiday homes in popular seasonal areas, such as ski lodges or beach houses, which are unavailable for rent throughout peak seasons, will likely trigger ATO attention and may result in the denial of deductions.

For holiday-home owners who make limited attempts to rent out their holiday properties, make parts of their holiday properties inaccessible for use by guests, price their property well above the market rental rate to drive interest away, and rent the property to family or friends well below the market rate may have their property classified as a “leisure facility”.

Therefore, holiday-home owners must make their holiday homes are “genuinely available for rent” especially in peak seasons such as Christmas, New Year, Easter, public holiday long weekends and school holidays, set a fair market rent, and avoid restrictions that turn away guests like ‘no children’, ‘no pets’ or requiring references for short stays to ensure they can continue making deduction claims.

Feedback on the new draft tax ruling and PCGs is due by 30/01/2026.

Understanding ATO General Interest Charge (GIC) remission process.

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/your-tax-return/if-you-disagree-with-an-ato-decision/dispute-interest-or-penalties/remission-of-interest-charges/examples-of-gic-remission-requestsainf nd

Examples of GIC remission requests Examples where we may be likely to accept or more likely to decline general interest charge (GIC) remission requests.