Top news stories on Public Accountant in 2019

Tax agents and accountants have had a particularly busy year and, as such, it is interesting to take a look at the stories that attracted their attention the most. 

We bring you the top 10, most-read articles on the Public Accountant.

IPA issues tax time warning: Lodge early at your peril

This year, taxpayers faced an added challenge associated with lodging their taxes early, so when the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) issued their warning, our readers were quick to respond. While the IPA understood that there was a strong incentive to lodge early, it warned of two added complexities at play this year.

ATO warns tax agents over inappropriate use of myGov

Mid-year, the ATO issued a warning to tax professionals over the inappropriate use of myGov. The ATO warned it had identified registered tax agents and unregistered preparers using taxpayer's personal login details to access their ATO online account through myGov to lodge tax returns on behalf of their clients.

TV presenter jailed for GST fraud of $1.7m

GST fraud always attracts a large audience, so it was no surprise that a story intertwining tax, fraud and a TV personality gained a lot of traction quickly. This is a textbook example of what not to do as a taxpayer and a TV celebrity. 

ATO set to double audits of dodgy rental deductions

Everything ATO related is understandably a hot favourite in the accounting profession. Unsurprisingly, all new announcements from the Tax Office draw the appropriate attention from our readers. This time around, the ATO announced it will double the number of audits scrutinising rental deductions.

ATO announces crackdown on dodgy car claims

Another tax related issue, this time around work-related car expenses and the scrutiny ATO will bestow on them come tax time. 

ATO prepares to investigate every tax return

Tax, tax and more tax. Tax time 2018-19 was particularly intriguing for all, given the increase in the low and middle-income tax offset and increased ATO technical competencies.

GST and self-managed superannuation funds

Brooke Hepburn-Rogers dissected the relationship between GST and SMSFs, pointing to gaps in legislation, and drew a big thumbs up from our readers. Ms Hepburn-Rogers thoroughly demonstrated how GST is imposed on SMSFs and outlined the common mistakes that people make due to the complexity of the process.

TPB eyes 2,000 practitioners responsible for $1bn in overclaimed tax deductions

We all love to see dodgy practitioners punished for their crimes and for degrading the tax profession. This was a story about the TPB’s identification of 2,000 tax practitioners, responsible for over $1 billion in overclaimed tax deductions, and what the board planned to do about it.

IPA questions unfairness of Labor’s proposal to remove refundable franking credits

With the election debate heating up as early as February, the IPA questioned the unfairness of Labor’s proposal to remove the ability for individuals and superannuation funds to claim their full entitlement to franking credits.

ATO announces closure of old tax and BAS agent portals

The ATO’s announcement that it is shutting down its old tax and BAS agent portals, compelling one in three tax agents to transition to its new online service, gained a lot of traction. With myGovID set to replace AUSkey in March next year, tax agents were particularly curious to find out what exactly is happening, when and what it entails.