Howards brave new Australia
Nov 29th 2006, 9:47 am
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 78
Re: Howards brave new Australia
"I've been told that contractors in Aus also have ways of reducing their tax commitments."
Please tell me about these ways!!!
Yours highly taxed contractor
MJJ
Please tell me about these ways!!!
Yours highly taxed contractor
MJJ
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
That's true for individuals especially if they avoid IR35. However contractors are not typical tax payers and I think the OECD works at a general overall level. I've been told that contractors in Aus also have ways of reducing their tax commitments.
Nov 29th 2006, 9:51 am
#32
Where traffic lights rule
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Brighton QLD
Posts: 2,460
Re: Howards brave new Australia
That has a lot to do with it, but then again look who won in the USA 
Plus having different sides in state and federal politics means they can all point the finger at each other then when things go wrong, health is a prime example of this.
Plus having different sides in state and federal politics means they can all point the finger at each other then when things go wrong, health is a prime example of this.
Originally Posted by spalen
There are many answers to this, but I believe the primary answer is Beazley is an unelectable buffoon.
Nov 29th 2006, 2:46 pm
#33
G'Day Mate
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: London Now, Australia Next.
Posts: 67
Re: Howards brave new Australia
In relation to Comm Bank, i received this via email:
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, do you agree with Sharan Burrow that it’s obscene for the Commonwealth Bank, which has made a $4 billion profit, to now be stripping away workers’ entitlements back to the minimum five conditions under your workplace relations legislation or is that fair game under the new IR laws?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I am told that that allegation’s wrong. I’m told that workplace agreements of this nature have been in existence since 1997. I’m told that the AWA example used in the media this morning has a significant increase in the base rate of pay of 13 per cent, with the potential to earn up to 10 per cent in performance bonuses in 12 months. The AWA I’m told does buyout several award conditions but on…in circumstances that I’ve described – and this has occurred since AWAs were introduced by the Commonwealth Bank in 1997 – in other words Sharan Burrow is once again engaging in a beat up. There is one new element in the AWA that I’m aware of, and it makes changes to the hours of work provisions to increase the ability to provide customer needs – including opening branches on the weekends – and I’m sure there are customers of the Commonwealth Bank all around Australia who will applaud the greater flexibility that these things provide. What I’m saying in reply to the unions is that on the information available to me, this does not represent stripping back to minimum conditions. Indeed there is provision for increases in the base rate of pay and in that sense the buying out of conditions mirrors what has occurred since 1997. So I suggest that Sharan Burrow may be leading the Australian public a merry dance once again.
JOURNALIST:
What do you say to those workers though who may not want to work weekends because they see it as an intrusion on their family life?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I’m also told…I thought you might ask that, that new and existing staff can choose to remain on the collective agreement, and the award, if they choose not to sign an AWA. We need flexibility and this will provide flexibility and freedom. They are good words and they’re good concepts and this is what the new industrial relations system provides and we have to worry about the customers and the customers are entitled to a greater range of services and this is what the bank is wanting to provide. Now somebody else is asking me a question, Mr Parry?
Prime Minister, do you agree with Sharan Burrow that it’s obscene for the Commonwealth Bank, which has made a $4 billion profit, to now be stripping away workers’ entitlements back to the minimum five conditions under your workplace relations legislation or is that fair game under the new IR laws?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I am told that that allegation’s wrong. I’m told that workplace agreements of this nature have been in existence since 1997. I’m told that the AWA example used in the media this morning has a significant increase in the base rate of pay of 13 per cent, with the potential to earn up to 10 per cent in performance bonuses in 12 months. The AWA I’m told does buyout several award conditions but on…in circumstances that I’ve described – and this has occurred since AWAs were introduced by the Commonwealth Bank in 1997 – in other words Sharan Burrow is once again engaging in a beat up. There is one new element in the AWA that I’m aware of, and it makes changes to the hours of work provisions to increase the ability to provide customer needs – including opening branches on the weekends – and I’m sure there are customers of the Commonwealth Bank all around Australia who will applaud the greater flexibility that these things provide. What I’m saying in reply to the unions is that on the information available to me, this does not represent stripping back to minimum conditions. Indeed there is provision for increases in the base rate of pay and in that sense the buying out of conditions mirrors what has occurred since 1997. So I suggest that Sharan Burrow may be leading the Australian public a merry dance once again.
JOURNALIST:
What do you say to those workers though who may not want to work weekends because they see it as an intrusion on their family life?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I’m also told…I thought you might ask that, that new and existing staff can choose to remain on the collective agreement, and the award, if they choose not to sign an AWA. We need flexibility and this will provide flexibility and freedom. They are good words and they’re good concepts and this is what the new industrial relations system provides and we have to worry about the customers and the customers are entitled to a greater range of services and this is what the bank is wanting to provide. Now somebody else is asking me a question, Mr Parry?
Nov 29th 2006, 4:33 pm
#34
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Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Hot sunny Cairns !
Posts: 1,012
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Spot on. I was working with loads of contractors when the IR35 rules were brought in. It's funny that they would come to me whinging about it until I commented "so the government is trying to make you pay the same amount of tax as the rest of us - oh they're real b*stards". 
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Nov 29th 2006, 5:26 pm
#35
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 82
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by cadman
Maybe it's the fact that we don't get paid holidays, paid sick days, company pension, etc. etc. etc. not to mention working with no job security on a week to week contract and get the job out of the door when the staffies have gone home ?
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Nov 29th 2006, 6:39 pm
#36
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by cadman
Maybe it's the fact that we don't get paid holidays, paid sick days, company pension, etc. etc. etc. not to mention working with no job security on a week to week contract and get the job out of the door when the staffies have gone home ?
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Your first paragraph basically describes why you should get higher pay - not why you should pay lower taxes.
Thank you for illustrating my point about contractors thinking that have a natural right to pay less tax than other tax payers.
Good luck as a part time w*nker (your words)
Last edited by MartinLuther; Nov 29th 2006 at 6:49 pm.
Nov 29th 2006, 6:45 pm
#37
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by mjj
"I've been told that contractors in Aus also have ways of reducing their tax commitments."
Please tell me about these ways!!!
Yours highly taxed contractor
MJJ
Please tell me about these ways!!!
Yours highly taxed contractor
MJJ
Nov 29th 2006, 9:44 pm
#38
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Your first paragraph basically describes why you should get higher pay - not why you should pay lower taxes.
I remember meeting blokes in the mid - late 90s who had their own IT companies - I was so impressed until I realised they were just contractors shuffling from one job to another....
Nov 29th 2006, 10:40 pm
#39
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by cadman
Maybe it's the fact that we don't get paid holidays, paid sick days, company pension, etc. etc. etc. not to mention working with no job security on a week to week contract and get the job out of the door when the staffies have gone home ?
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Staffies, all jealous part time w*nkers without the b*llocks to go contract.
Incidentally, I'm still outside IR35, and still get 83% of my groos earnings so there !
The IR make the rules, we find ways round them, that's how it is, that's how it's always been.
Cadman
PS - I've got a staff job in Oz ! I'll let you know how that goes
Staffies are losers. Job security is an excuse to pay you less.
I also worked outside IR35 in the UK. It is easy to get around.
Good luck at GHD.
Nov 29th 2006, 10:45 pm
#40
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Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
Spot on!!! Since when was one bloke working on his own in another location on other people's equipment really running his own company. It was nice whilst it lasted but it was a pisstake. And yes, I liked contracting too.
I remember meeting blokes in the mid - late 90s who had their own IT companies - I was so impressed until I realised they were just contractors shuffling from one job to another....
I remember meeting blokes in the mid - late 90s who had their own IT companies - I was so impressed until I realised they were just contractors shuffling from one job to another....
The thing is, in engineering it's based on reality not BS.
I'm riding on it until it runs out of steam, which will not be any time soon.
Choo-choo, all aboard!
Nov 29th 2006, 11:39 pm
#41
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by Amazulu
...
Staffies are losers. Job security is an excuse to pay you less.
...
Staffies are losers. Job security is an excuse to pay you less.
...
I don't look down on staffers or contractors just because they made a different choice to me. I don't mind that people work around the system (as long as it's legal) - good luck to them. I just think it's asinine to complain when the system closes a loophole.
Last edited by MartinLuther; Nov 29th 2006 at 11:43 pm.
Nov 30th 2006, 12:44 am
#42
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Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
I just think it's asinine to complain when the system closes a loophole.
It's the only time accountants are worth the money you pay them.
Nov 30th 2006, 12:57 am
#43
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by Amazulu
And I think it's great to find way & means to get around the closed loophole.
It's the only time accountants are worth the money you pay them.
It's the only time accountants are worth the money you pay them.
I've talked to accountants and many get nervous around IT contractors, others seem to be quite happy. The current rules of the 80/20 are a bit confusing and noone seems to know exactly. I also know people who tell me they pay no tax, and others who have been told by accountants they must pay it. These are all IT contractors.
This thing of paying via a trustee does seem to be the way to go - I know a few people who have used asset protectors to do this.
I'd hate to receive a huge bill some years down the line so always play safe.
I know guys who have been avoiding the taxman for 6 years - and just shrug when I ask them what they will do if they ever get caught. I don't care whether the accountant has played a good trick, if it turns out to be wrong in an audit - well.
Nov 30th 2006, 3:27 am
#44
Senior Stella Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Posts: 394
Re: Howards brave new Australia
I'm not a Union fan, I prefer League myself....
Nov 30th 2006, 4:07 am
#45
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Re: Howards brave new Australia
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
Well, I'd agree there, but it's still a personal choice.
I've talked to accountants and many get nervous around IT contractors.
I've talked to accountants and many get nervous around IT contractors.
Engineering contractors are honest & trustworthy.