putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide soon SE QLD
Posts: 78
putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
all
just thought id share this 'gotcha' that is still following us several years after our move over here.
we moved on a skills visa but were 5 points short of the requirement hence we elected to deposit $100K into a government bond to gain those 5 precious points from the sale of our house in the uk knowing we wouldnt want to use it for a year. I was the primary applicant so when the money was deposited it was in my name only.
a years interest on that was $4200 for us
im now facing a tax bill on the entire amount (nearly $2000) when the original investment was effectively a joint one.
bottom line: get both of your names on the bond when you lodge in order to split your tax liability later on (this works for us as claire is home looking after the kids)
just thought id share this 'gotcha' that is still following us several years after our move over here.
we moved on a skills visa but were 5 points short of the requirement hence we elected to deposit $100K into a government bond to gain those 5 precious points from the sale of our house in the uk knowing we wouldnt want to use it for a year. I was the primary applicant so when the money was deposited it was in my name only.
a years interest on that was $4200 for us
im now facing a tax bill on the entire amount (nearly $2000) when the original investment was effectively a joint one.
bottom line: get both of your names on the bond when you lodge in order to split your tax liability later on (this works for us as claire is home looking after the kids)
#2
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
Originally Posted by marknclaire
all
just thought id share this 'gotcha' that is still following us several years after our move over here.
we moved on a skills visa but were 5 points short of the requirement hence we elected to deposit $100K into a government bond to gain those 5 precious points from the sale of our house in the uk knowing we wouldnt want to use it for a year. I was the primary applicant so when the money was deposited it was in my name only.
a years interest on that was $4200 for us
im now facing a tax bill on the entire amount (nearly $2000) when the original investment was effectively a joint one.
bottom line: get both of your names on the bond when you lodge in order to split your tax liability later on (this works for us as claire is home looking after the kids)
just thought id share this 'gotcha' that is still following us several years after our move over here.
we moved on a skills visa but were 5 points short of the requirement hence we elected to deposit $100K into a government bond to gain those 5 precious points from the sale of our house in the uk knowing we wouldnt want to use it for a year. I was the primary applicant so when the money was deposited it was in my name only.
a years interest on that was $4200 for us
im now facing a tax bill on the entire amount (nearly $2000) when the original investment was effectively a joint one.
bottom line: get both of your names on the bond when you lodge in order to split your tax liability later on (this works for us as claire is home looking after the kids)
- I thought that for tax purposes all your assets jump up to their value at time you enter the country
- That means you should only pay capital gains tax on the gain from the time of arriving - so the interest on the 100k is the only taxable thing.
- Did you provide tax file number to the bond people? I think they deduct tax automatically if you dont.
- So how did tax on 4200k equate to 2000 ?
Im asking because of course there are lots ofus in same situation ;-)
#3
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Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide soon SE QLD
Posts: 78
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
we entered the country and had a savings account-the bond- with an annual interest rate of 4.2%. they had a tax file number so no interest was removed. half of the interest was paid in one tax year the next in the next.
at the end of the first tax year i declared 50% (circa $1050) of the interest earned on my tax return. the ATO came back to me with "you earned $2100"
im currently telling them that the original $100K was from our house sale, they now require proof that the house was jointly owned....now the bad bit-i bought the house before we got married and we never put it in joint names..bummer..so we're trying to find were we put the money in the interim...oh joy.
if you can tell me the ATO are wrong then please do!
at the end of the first tax year i declared 50% (circa $1050) of the interest earned on my tax return. the ATO came back to me with "you earned $2100"
im currently telling them that the original $100K was from our house sale, they now require proof that the house was jointly owned....now the bad bit-i bought the house before we got married and we never put it in joint names..bummer..so we're trying to find were we put the money in the interim...oh joy.
if you can tell me the ATO are wrong then please do!
#4
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
Originally Posted by marknclaire
we entered the country and had a savings account-the bond- with an annual interest rate of 4.2%. they had a tax file number so no interest was removed. half of the interest was paid in one tax year the next in the next.
at the end of the first tax year i declared 50% (circa $1050) of the interest earned on my tax return. the ATO came back to me with "you earned $2100"
im currently telling them that the original $100K was from our house sale, they now require proof that the house was jointly owned....now the bad bit-i bought the house before we got married and we never put it in joint names..bummer..so we're trying to find were we put the money in the interim...oh joy.
if you can tell me the ATO are wrong then please do!
at the end of the first tax year i declared 50% (circa $1050) of the interest earned on my tax return. the ATO came back to me with "you earned $2100"
im currently telling them that the original $100K was from our house sale, they now require proof that the house was jointly owned....now the bad bit-i bought the house before we got married and we never put it in joint names..bummer..so we're trying to find were we put the money in the interim...oh joy.
if you can tell me the ATO are wrong then please do!
I think you should phone ATO or speak to an accountant, there are 100's of people on here who pay bonds and this is the 1st time I ever heard of this
#5
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Joined: May 2002
Location: Offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Geelong (Australia), and Southampton (UK)
Posts: 6,459
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
In response to the last poster, I think the OP is referring to the interest on the $100k deposit ... which is wholly assessable as income.
Best regards.
Best regards.
#6
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
Originally Posted by Alan Collett
In response to the last poster, I think the OP is referring to the interest on the $100k deposit ... which is wholly assessable as income.
Best regards.
Best regards.
#7
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Joined: May 2002
Location: Offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Geelong (Australia), and Southampton (UK)
Posts: 6,459
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
If it was paid to you after you became a tax resident of Australia ... probably yes ...
Best regards.
Best regards.
#8
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
Originally Posted by Alan Collett
If it was paid to you after you became a tax resident of Australia ... probably yes ...
Best regards.
Best regards.
#9
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Adelaide soon SE QLD
Posts: 78
Re: putting money into a bond - tax gotcha
Originally Posted by spalen
damn.. there goes that plausible deniability ......the internet is full of bad things
hence the "make sure its in the bond under both your names" or ideally under the name of person who will earn the least