4 popular tax time topics
Below are the four topics we get asked the most about at tax time by clients who are trying to increase their wealth and save on tax.
It is very important to get advice on the following before deciding they are right for you. In some cases they may not be suitable to your circumstances and may even leave you worse off if not approached with the proper level of understanding.
Private health insurance
Private Health Insurance is an insurance cover which assists in paying for costs relating to an individual’s treatment as a private patient in an Australian hospital.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a Federal Government initiative designed to encourage individuals to take out private hospital cover, and where possible, to use the private hospital system to reduce the demand on the public system.
The MLS is levied on Australian taxpayers who do not have private hospital cover and who earn above a certain income. Holding Private health cover may reduce your Medicare surcharge levy amount.
If you are considering Private Health cover or already hold some make sure you talk to your Power2 Tax Consultant about the potential tax savings.
Income protection
The main purpose of this type of insurance is to make sure you and your family are not financially disadvantaged due to your wage ceasing when you are injured or ill.
In most cases income protection pays a monthly benefit to help replace your lost income for a set period or until you return to work. The cost of cover varies depending on factors such as age, occupation, smoking status and existing medical conditions. Options relating to waiting periods and benefit periods can also alter the cost of premiums.
In most cases, the cost of your income protection premiums are tax deductions, while any insurance claim payments are treated as assessable income in your tax return for that year.
A Power2 Financial Planner can help you to understand what insurance is right for you as well as the costs and benefits.
Negative gearing
Gearing simply means borrowing money to invest in an asset such as Property or Shares. Negative gearing is when the expenses you pay out ( loan interest, rates etc) are more than the income (rent, dividends) you receive. Basically, you lost money.
Here is a simple example:
| Purchase an investment property with a $400,000 Loan | |
|---|---|
| Total income for the year (Rent) | $22,360 |
| Less Expenses | |
| Loan Interest | $28,000 |
| Other Rental Expenses | $5,000 |
| Total Expenses | $33,000 |
| Total Loss on your Rental property for the year | $10,640 |
Depending on your other income the $10,640 loss you took will result in a refund somewhere between $0 and $5,000.
So even after a tax refund negative gearing still means your investment lost money for the year. The strategy behind Negative Gearing is that the above rental property will increase in value over time and that will make up for all the years of losses along the way.
If you would like to know if negative gearing is something that suits your financial situation speak with a Power 2 Financial Planner.
Superannuation
Superannuation is a way to save for your retirement. The money comes from contributions made into your super fund by your employer and, ideally, topped up by your own money. Sometimes the government will also add to it through co-contributions and the low income super contribution.
For most people, super will be taxed at a lower rate than a similar investment outside super and making contributions can significantly reduce the amount of tax you pay.
Of all the different ways to increase your assets and reduce your tax burden we believe superannuation provides the most efficient vehicle.
In some cases you can also hold death, disability or income protection insurance through your super account at a cheaper price and more tax effectively than if you bought it outside of super.
There are many different strategies available related to superannuation that can significantly increase your assets and reduce your tax. Talk to a Power2 Financial Planner about the ones that suit you.
Calculators
Mortgages / Debt
- Reverse Mortgage
- Basic Loan Repayments
- Extra Repayments
- Lump Sum Repayments
- How Long to Repay?
- P&I / Interest Only
- Split Loan
- Complete Loan Comparison
- How Much Can I Borrow?
- What Can I Afford to Borrow?
- Remaining Balance
- Bi Monthly Calculator
Other
- Millionaire Calculator
- Income Tax Calculator
- GST Calculator
- Car Lease
- Savings
- Achieve My Savings Target
Life Events That Require Financial Planning
Even positive experiences might necessitate some professional help.
Sometimes, even the best events in life – a birth, new job or dream relocation – require a financial plan. They might necessitate the need for more insurance coverage, a new budget or guidance from a financial advisor.
Here are 6 positive events that should inspire you to do some financial planning:
1. You retire.
Retirement is considered the pivotal financial moment in a person’s life. If you haven’t already worked with a financial planner to figure out your plans and budget, then now is the time. In fact, at Power2 we urge even clients in their 20s and 30s to start planning for this major life transition, to make sure they’re saving enough along the way, during their peak earning years. It’s also a good time to reflect on what you want out of the final third of life.
2. The opportunity to buy a Holiday Home / Rental Property.
Beach houses and holiday homes are a great annual escape from everyday life. Then, the landlord offers a sweet insider price you can’t refuse. Likewise a rental property can seem like a great idea, tax deductions and an investment you can visit and touch. While they can be a great investment for some, rentals and holiday houses, especially ones that require rental income to finance – can be a complicated long-term commitment. A Power2 financial planner, not a real estate agent, is the adviser to help you objectively consider this decision.
3. You got a pay rise.
Pay raises are typically small and incremental if they come at all, so getting a big raise is cause for celebration. They also mean it’s time to do some planning to determine how much you should be saving for the future. It might be time to consider bumping up your retirement savings through strategies such as Salary Sacrifice.
4. You just got an inheritance.
Baby boomers stand to inherit significant wealth in the coming years, and receiving lump sums also carries with it financial responsibility. It can raise questions about spending habits, charitable contributions, tax payments and a slew of other concerns. You might want to get help from a Power2 Financial professional as you figure out how to handle the money.
5. Wedding bells are ringing.
Marriage is often the start of a long journey with many major shared life events like children, travel, loans, business and eventually retirement. A good financial planner will take that journey with you, scouting ahead to be sure you take advantage of every opportunity and avoid life’s traps.
6. You’re expecting a new arrival in the family.
When the baby arrives, life inevitably gets more complicated. It could be worth it to fit in some financial planning alongside baby naming or stroller shopping. You might want to start planning around future debts such as housing, cars and schooling as well as take out additional life insurance policies.
Accounting Software
At Power2 we’ve been offering accounting services to businesses in Mackay over many years. Our expert team of accountants work with clients across a diverse range of industries and organisations using many offline and online accounting software packages and systems. The main software packages we use include:
Xero
For many businesses we recommend using Xero.
Designed from the ground up with business owners in mind, Xero is an easy to use online accounting system that gives you access to your financial information anytime and anywhere, whether it be at your desk, on your tablet, or on your phone.
As a Xero Silver Partner and Certified Advisor we can introduce you to Xero. Our in-house Xero Certified Trainers can have you up and running in no time.
Click here for more on Xero including videos and examples.
BankLink
When you’re running your own business, it’s important to keep your mind on 
the job. You don’t want to waste time crunching the numbers and completing your bookwork when you could be spending that time on your business.
BankLink automates and simplifies your accounting by virtually eliminating manual data entry and the collection of receipts and bank statements. You’ll no longer have to spend hours doing your books with software that is often complex and expensive to use.
BankLink makes it easy for you (and us) to stay up to date with your financial information so you can make well-informed business decisions.
Click here to find out more about Banklink software.
MYOB
Power2 is a supporter of MYOB software. We have MYOB trained staff
members who are happy to explain the benefits of MYOB and examine if it is the right software for you.
MYOB is a tried, trusted and well known name both to business owners and accountants alike, in fact they have over 1.2 Million businesses using their software right now.
It provides a real time view of your finances which helps you boost profitability and make better decisions.
MYOB takes care of much of the book keeping for you, letting you focus on what is important to you.
It helps you stay up to date with your ATO compliance obligations and enables you to work with us online.
Click here to find out more about MYOB software and which MYOB is right for you.
Reckon (QuickBooks)
Power2 has many clients using the ever popular QuickBooks software, and our 
experienced staff are happy to work with you to be sure this software is fulfilling all your business needs.
Reckon is a leading provider of software solutions, providing business solutions for accountants and bookkeepers; and accounting solutions for small to medium businesses.
We know that every business is different, and Reckon agrees. They attempt to provide clients with a choice of software solutions to meet individual needs. Whether it is mobility, reporting, simplicity or integration that drives your decision, no matter how big or small your business is, Reckon has a solution to meet your business goals.
Please click here to find out more about Reckon accounting software.
Investing
Benjamin Franklin was right on the money when he said: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”.
At Power2, we have the knowledge needed to invest your money responsibly. You can retain complete control, using us as your ongoing sounding board for investment ideas, or ask us to manage your investments for you.
So, whether you want to purchase a rental property, buy some shares, or just find out what investment options would be best for your circumstances, talk to Power2 about an investment strategy that’s right for you today and for the long term.
Four Retirement Tips
Can I afford to retire? At what age can I retire? How much do I need to retire
Now I’m retired how long will my money last?
Pondering the above questions are enough to make many of us feel anxious and unprepared. Retirement is a large change and like all significant milestones it requires planning and preparation for it to be a success.
Remember that after retirement Australians will spend on average around another 30 years living on the funds they have saved during their working life.
At Power2 we will help you to manage your finances and expectations on your way to retirement and, just as importantly, out the other side into your new life.
There are some common, yet avoidable mistakes that prevent many people from retiring ‘on time’. But with our help, you can steer clear of the mistakes that could derail your retirement.
Retirement planning tip one: Get Advice
Salary sacrifice – Contribution caps – Transition to retirement income streams – Centrelink Aged Pension – concessional contributions – Self managed super funds – Property – Shares…. The list goes on and on.
None of us have all the answers. We take our car to a mechanic and visit a Doctor if we are unwell. When it comes to planning for retirement we all need a professional who will look at our individual situation and then find the path to retirement that is best for us.
Retirement planning tip two: Understand what you can afford
How much income do you need to maintain your current lifestyle in retirement?’
This is a question most of us get wrong. If we guess too high it seems as though retirement is not an option. If we estimate too little (and this is more likely the case) things could get tough later on; forcing us to make drastic, unwanted decisions when we are less equipped to deal with them.
Keep in mind that, early on retirees spend more on travel, entertainment and eating out. In their later years, health care cost can escalate.
Retirement Planning tip three: Start Saving Now
Albert Einstein said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it”.
For example:
To have $1 million at age 65, a 25-year-old needs to save $345 per month for 20 years then never save another cent, assuming the investments earn 8% per year over those 40 years. A 45-year-old would need to save $1,698 per month for the next 20 years to reach the same goal.
While other factors may effect the above outcome it is still very clear that the sooner you start saving the better your chance of reaching your retirement goals.
There are many ways to save for retirement. Your Power2 Financial Planner can help you save far more efficiently and tax effectively, helping you reach you goal sooner.
Retirement Planning tip four: Keep your eye on the ball
One certainty in life is change.
Jobs change, children are born or leave home, housing and share markets rise and fall. Even when things are relatively stable in the physical world your own personal expectations and goals may change over time.
It is important that your retirement savings plan is continually updated so that it matches not just your current needs and objectives but also your future goals.
By meeting regularly with a Power2 Financial Planner you can be comforted with the knowledge that you are still on track and working towards a happy and successful retirement.
What Is Superannuation
Superannuation is a way to save for your retirement. The money comes from contributions made into your super fund by
your employer and, ideally, topped up by your own money. Sometimes the government will add to it through co-contributions and the low income super contribution.
Your employer must pay 9.5% of your salary into a super fund. This is called the Super Guarantee and it’s the law. The Super Guarantee will gradually increase to 12% in coming years.
Over the course of your working life, these contributions from your employer add up, or ‘accumulate’. Your super money is also invested by your super fund so it grows over time.
When you retire, you will have money to live off – a nest egg. Super is a lifetime investment that has many benefits.
How can Power2 help?
Just like you go to a mechanic to get your car tuned up, Power2 can do the same with your Super. It is important to check how your Super is doing every now and then to make sure you are on track to achieve your retirement goals.
Power2’s up to date knowledge in this area can also help you to make the most of any possible tax savings, government bonuses and cheaper personal insurance that may be on offer.
Save for your retirement
Start saving for your retirement early. The longer you have to save, the more
chance your savings have to grow. Power2 can help you to determine what you will need in order to retire with an income to suit your lifestyle. You can read more about Retirement Planning here.
Understanding how super works can bring great benefits whether you are just starting out, are close to retirement or have already retired.
For more information contact Power2 or request an appointment for your Super Tune Up here.
Why get Insured?
Protection for your financial plan!
A financial plan is a powerful thing, but it’s most potent when supported by a solid insurance strategy.
What is the point of personal insurance? Put simply, it can help to smooth out some of the unexpected turbulence that life sometimes encounters, just as motor vehicle insurance can help take the financial shock out of events that can occur on the road.
If you have a financial plan, whether it’s a short or long term one, then your financial journey along life’s road is already mapped out. Serious threats still exist though, particularly in the form of death, illness or injury.
Helping to guard against such threats are three main types of personal insurance – income protection, life insurance and total and permanent disability. But what is the difference between the three? And how can they help to support major life and retirement goals?
Income Protection
If illness or injury leaves you unable to work for a short or long period, the result on current finances and future plans can be serious. An income protection policy can be put in place to help soften the blow, usually offering up to 75% of your current income to be paid to you in place of your regular income.
The replacement income is usually paid monthly,
taking away some of the typical financial stresses during recovery and helping to protect future
financial plans.
Income protection policies cab be highly personalised, including lower premiums for longer waiting periods (replacement income does not kick in until six weeks after disablement, for instance), longer or shorter benefit periods, and either a pre-agreed payout value or a value that is assessed at the time of the illness/injury. Premiums for income protection may also be tax deductible.
Potential financial benefits:
• provides ongoing income to cover living expenses
• helps to cover medical costs
• investment strategy can potentially continue uninterrupted throughout recovery period.
Life Insurance
Putting aside the obvious emotional consequences for your family, if you died tomorrow then who would be affected financially, and how? Could the mortgage be paid? How might future school fees be financed? What would happen to the lifestyle of those closest to you?
In the event of the death (and sometimes the diagnosis of a terminal illness) of the insured, a life insurance policy pays a lump sum. The s
ize of this lump sum will depend on the amount agreed with your insurance company.
Such insurance is not necessarily only for the main breadwinner, but for
anybody whose death may affect the family’s ability to earn an income. The payment of the lump sum helps to soften the blow of the loss of income, meaning survivors have a better chance of continuing in the lifestyle to which they have been accustomed, and of protecting their financial future.
Potential financial benefits:
• pays debts
• lump sum can be invested for future
• pays funeral costs
• covers living expenses for family.
Total & Permanent Disability (TPD)
An injury or illness that results in your being permanently disabled is also very likely to damage your income earning capabilities. But debts and medical bills must still be paid and the future financial health of your loved ones must be managed.
TPD pays a lump sum if you are ‘totally and permanently disabled’ and unable 
to work. Various TPD products carry differing definitions of ‘totally and permanently disabled’, so ensure this is clarified by your financial planner.
As with life insurance, the TPD payout amount is agreed before the policy is put in place, to ensure it will do the job of helping to pay medical bills and protect your loved ones financially.
Potential financial benefits:
• pays debts
• helps to cover medical costs
• covers living expenses for family
• funds lifestyle and property changes resulting from disability.
Power 2 Tax return fee from refund
But now, pay later! Dont pay your fee until your refund arives!
Date: 09-07-2019