G&A Editorial Team

Opening your Notice of Assessment expecting a solid refund and getting a number well below what you calculated - is one of the most common frustrations Australian taxpayers face each year. If your 2026 refund came in lower than you anticipated, you're not alone, and in most cases, there's a clear explanation. Here's what's actually driving smaller refunds this year, and what you can do about it. Tax Refund Lower Than Expected? These Common Reasons First, What Determines Your Refund Amount?...

If you own a holiday home in Australia - a beach house, a country cabin, or a city apartment listed on Airbnb or Stayz - the ATO has finalised new rules that could wipe out your deductions entirely. Holiday home tax deductions are changing What changed The ATO finalised Taxation Ruling TR 2026/1 along with Practical Compliance Guidelines PCG 2026/2 and PCG 2026/3 in May 2026. Together they clarify how holiday homes are taxed, with heightened compliance focus from 1 July 2026. You can read the...

If your business pays contractors, the Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) might be a compliance obligation you haven't thought about since last August and the ATO is counting on that. This year there's an added twist: for the first time, TPAR data flows directly into contractors' individual tax returns, so getting it right matters more than ever. What Is The TPAR? The TPAR is an annual report that tells the ATO how much your business paid contractors during the financial year, including...