If you travel for work - read this
Aug 25th 2008, 9:38 am
#61
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
very good information though,superb
Aug 25th 2008, 10:41 am
#62
ah-beng
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
I have already put my tax return in around 1 month ago so am i to late now as already had my refund? bit of a shame if im to late as had a good few nights in hotels travelling to/from work and courses,arrrr...if so ill just need mind on next year!
very good information though,superb
very good information though,superb
Aug 25th 2008, 11:08 am
#63
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
I have already put my tax return in around 1 month ago so am i to late now as already had my refund? bit of a shame if im to late as had a good few nights in hotels travelling to/from work and courses,arrrr...if so ill just need mind on next year!
very good information though,superb
very good information though,superb
Also if you are a shareholder in companies then travel and hotel expenses to attend AGMs are a deduction also.
Aug 27th 2008, 9:15 am
#64
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
This is the link to the 2007/2008 Travel Expenses deduction paper
http://law.ato.gov.au/pdf/td2007-021.pdf
Hope this helps, could mean a lot of money back for me if I follow this through and it pans out.
Al
http://law.ato.gov.au/pdf/td2007-021.pdf
Hope this helps, could mean a lot of money back for me if I follow this through and it pans out.
Al
Sep 29th 2008, 4:41 am
#65
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
This is a huge tax rebate for people who stay overnight either in australia or outside australia for business travel.
When you first read it it seems unbelievable but its true. My accountant didnt know and a guy at work tipped me off, so was able to get the rebate after educating my accountant
http://law.ato.gov.au/pdf/td2006-043.pdf
For example - you can deduct about 150$ a night for each night in a Aussie city. 200-300$ / night for a stay in an International city. That means - you get a rebate at marginal tax rate for about 50$ in an aussie city and about 100-150$ in a int'l one - Per night!.
If you claim the Per Diem + Incidentals at less than the limit [ or on the limit ] then no evidence is required. For hotels its harder so dont worry about those.
Oh and even better is you can claim back over the last 4 years.
When you first read it it seems unbelievable but its true. My accountant didnt know and a guy at work tipped me off, so was able to get the rebate after educating my accountant
http://law.ato.gov.au/pdf/td2006-043.pdf
For example - you can deduct about 150$ a night for each night in a Aussie city. 200-300$ / night for a stay in an International city. That means - you get a rebate at marginal tax rate for about 50$ in an aussie city and about 100-150$ in a int'l one - Per night!.
If you claim the Per Diem + Incidentals at less than the limit [ or on the limit ] then no evidence is required. For hotels its harder so dont worry about those.
Oh and even better is you can claim back over the last 4 years.
Oct 3rd 2008, 6:50 am
#66
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
OK-must do the tax return this weekend before time runs out !!
But I am still a little confused and so wondered if any wise people or accountants that read this can advise ?!
For example, my company generally pays $250/night for a hotel so looking at the figures in the ATO website I would not be able to claim any difference as the company pays more than the ATO allowance ? Is that right ?
As a general rule my company pays $65 / day for meals. So can I claim this difference ?
Have I got the gist of this ??!
But I am still a little confused and so wondered if any wise people or accountants that read this can advise ?!
For example, my company generally pays $250/night for a hotel so looking at the figures in the ATO website I would not be able to claim any difference as the company pays more than the ATO allowance ? Is that right ?
As a general rule my company pays $65 / day for meals. So can I claim this difference ?
Have I got the gist of this ??!
Oct 3rd 2008, 9:04 am
#67
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Posts: 3,014
Re: If you travel for work - read this
OK-must do the tax return this weekend before time runs out !!
But I am still a little confused and so wondered if any wise people or accountants that read this can advise ?!
For example, my company generally pays $250/night for a hotel so looking at the figures in the ATO website I would not be able to claim any difference as the company pays more than the ATO allowance ? Is that right ?
As a general rule my company pays $65 / day for meals. So can I claim this difference ?
Have I got the gist of this ??!
But I am still a little confused and so wondered if any wise people or accountants that read this can advise ?!
For example, my company generally pays $250/night for a hotel so looking at the figures in the ATO website I would not be able to claim any difference as the company pays more than the ATO allowance ? Is that right ?
As a general rule my company pays $65 / day for meals. So can I claim this difference ?
Have I got the gist of this ??!
$65 a day (work for same place as me?
take the area in which you work away from home, eg Brisbane at $92 per day food and about $22 incidentals total 114 - 65 = 49 you can claim as a tax deduction. You need to check your correct income level for which you earn to get the correct rates. Aslo check each city including overseas as they have different rates.
For reference keep a work diary of night away and easier still photocopy expense claims for the relevant nights.
Happy Tax refunding
Spalen - I will buy you a beer if my travels ever get you in drink distance.
Oct 7th 2008, 6:11 am
#69
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
Thanks Sandra.
So if people are claiming hotels-your companies can't be very generous ?!
So if people are claiming hotels-your companies can't be very generous ?!
Agree forget hotels work on the food and incidental portion.
$65 a day (work for same place as me?
take the area in which you work away from home, eg Brisbane at $92 per day food and about $22 incidentals total 114 - 65 = 49 you can claim as a tax deduction. You need to check your correct income level for which you earn to get the correct rates. Aslo check each city including overseas as they have different rates.
For reference keep a work diary of night away and easier still photocopy expense claims for the relevant nights.
Happy Tax refunding
Spalen - I will buy you a beer if my travels ever get you in drink distance.
$65 a day (work for same place as me?
take the area in which you work away from home, eg Brisbane at $92 per day food and about $22 incidentals total 114 - 65 = 49 you can claim as a tax deduction. You need to check your correct income level for which you earn to get the correct rates. Aslo check each city including overseas as they have different rates.
For reference keep a work diary of night away and easier still photocopy expense claims for the relevant nights.
Happy Tax refunding
Spalen - I will buy you a beer if my travels ever get you in drink distance.
Oct 12th 2008, 4:07 am
#70
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
For those that have made claims have you had this kinda situation:
overseas travel,
total allowance per ATO is $205
allowance from the employer is $160, BUT adjusted downwards because lunch was included (eg provided by course provider), to $100 and thus this is the amount paid to employee
The ATO just have one lump sum for meals for overseas travel, so do I claim a short fall of $105 or $45 or something else?
has anyone seen any ATO guidance on this matter? links?
overseas travel,
total allowance per ATO is $205
allowance from the employer is $160, BUT adjusted downwards because lunch was included (eg provided by course provider), to $100 and thus this is the amount paid to employee
The ATO just have one lump sum for meals for overseas travel, so do I claim a short fall of $105 or $45 or something else?
has anyone seen any ATO guidance on this matter? links?
Oct 12th 2008, 4:13 am
#71
ah-beng
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
For those that have made claims have you had this kinda situation:
overseas travel,
total allowance per ATO is $205
allowance from the employer is $160, BUT adjusted downwards because lunch was included (eg provided by course provider), to $100 and thus this is the amount paid to employee
The ATO just have one lump sum for meals for overseas travel, so do I claim a short fall of $105 or $45 or something else?
has anyone seen any ATO guidance on this matter? links?
overseas travel,
total allowance per ATO is $205
allowance from the employer is $160, BUT adjusted downwards because lunch was included (eg provided by course provider), to $100 and thus this is the amount paid to employee
The ATO just have one lump sum for meals for overseas travel, so do I claim a short fall of $105 or $45 or something else?
has anyone seen any ATO guidance on this matter? links?
When they paid you the full allowance of 160$ its 205-160 = 45$
Basically deduct whatever you are given back by your employer from the maximum allowed under the ATO rules and you have that as a deduction
It doesnt matter if you actually ate a 100$ lunch, the point is so long as you are claiming within the 205$ maximum then you dont have to provide evidence
Oct 12th 2008, 4:39 am
#72
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
In my case for instance the government (my employer) will only pay up to this level, anything over that therefore is claimable by me.
I would hazard a guess that the government set a reasonably low rate as they know we can claim the rest from the ATO. In some cities at certain times of year its nigh on impossible to get a good room/meal at the Govt quoted rate, so to be able to claim back what you have to spend is great
.
Last edited by Pollyana; Oct 12th 2008 at 4:46 am.
Oct 12th 2008, 4:44 am
#73
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
thanks spalen for the quick reply - would you do the same when it happens for domestic travel?
(At the moment, I have adjusted where meals have been provided, like if travel had started after or finished before a meal time)
(At the moment, I have adjusted where meals have been provided, like if travel had started after or finished before a meal time)
Oct 13th 2008, 1:36 pm
#74
ah-beng
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
You do the same for domestic travel - that is to say, you are allowed the full allowance for that day, you deduct what your employer pays you, and that leaves you with the amount you are allowed to claim as a tax credit. [ even though domestically you'd have to pay for your own lunhc etc it doesnt matter - you are travelling so you have an allowance ]
As for times - I'd count all nights away from home as a full day, its too complicated otherwise but depends what records you keep. I do 80+ nights/year so its imposs to keep track with different time zones etc.
Oct 13th 2008, 11:10 pm
#75
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Re: If you travel for work - read this
just cause it took you longer than 6 minutes to reply, you don't need to be so silly apologising 
The timing I was refering to was for domestic travel, which the ATO specifically states to adjust food/drink allowances to travel times eg arrive back mid arvo then dinner for that night can not be claimed.
A bit more to claim than I thought, which is always good. Although there are a few things I am not confident of claiming, as before changes part way through the year I don't think it could be classed as 'allowances' (reimbursements of reasonable expenses)- win some, lose some.
anyway thanks for you comments, making me see it as a travel allowance, rather trying to seperate it all out
The timing I was refering to was for domestic travel, which the ATO specifically states to adjust food/drink allowances to travel times eg arrive back mid arvo then dinner for that night can not be claimed.
A bit more to claim than I thought, which is always good. Although there are a few things I am not confident of claiming, as before changes part way through the year I don't think it could be classed as 'allowances' (reimbursements of reasonable expenses)- win some, lose some.
anyway thanks for you comments, making me see it as a travel allowance, rather trying to seperate it all out