• I've just started up my own business as a sole trader: what do I need to know about tax?

    Starting up as a sole trader changes the way you report income and pay your taxes. We can make sure that you're ready for the transition, no matter which industry you're from.

    Book a consultation
  • Need accounting software advice and support?

    Our extensive expertise in all aspects of accounting software means you can concentrate on what you do best – running your business. We are accredited Xero specialists and have been MYOB, Intuit and Reckon Partners for many years.

    Learn more about Our Services
  • We want to start our own business: how do we set up the company?

    At PBA Financial Group we specialise in the setting up of start-up and new businesses. We'll set up a solid foundation for your new business so that you can hit the ground running!

    Learn more about Our Services
  • I've always done my own tax returns without the help of an accountant

    More often than not, people who do their own tax returns will miss out on valuable deductions simply because they didn't know what they were entitled to claim, or they incorrectly claim expenses.

    Are you sure your tax return is as accurate as it could be?

    Book an appointment

Latest News

FBT – Christmas Parties and Taxi Fares

 

Some employers, who are commendably anxious to protect their employees and clients from the drink/driving laws, also pay for taxis to and from the place of entertainment.

 

 

For FBT purposes there may be different consequences for payment of the taxi fare.  For clients, the taxi fare is considered to be part of the entertainment expense and no deduction is allowable.  For employees, if the fare is for travel from home to the place of entertainment (not being their place of employment) and return home again, the benefit is considered to be for the facilitation of entertainment and is not a separate benefit from the entertainment itself.

The result is that the employer would then have to rely on the total entertainment package being under $300 for the minor benefit rule to apply.

However, if the Christmas function is held on the employer’s premises, the taxi trip is FBT exempt if it is a single trip beginning or ending at the employer’s premises. For example, the exemption would apply if the employee went from the work place to home, or any other place. 

However, the exemption would not apply if the trip was broken and continued at some other time.  For example, the employee gets a taxi from the workplace and goes to a nightclub; that trip is deductible and exempt from FBT.  If the employee later gets another cab to home, that leg of the trip would be deductible to the employer but FBT would be payable.

Note however, that if the employer is using the 50/50 split method of calculating FBT and deductions, the taxi travel would always be included in the cost of entertainment, and there would be no exempt journey for travel from the workplace to home.

The Australian Taxation Office are aware this distinction is illogical, so the rule may change for 2019.   Uber and other ride sharing services are now also included for FBT exemption as taxi services, after recent changes to the FBT Act.

 

 

AcctWeb