Tax and business stuff is too complicated for a young kid like me.

You need an ABN even to be a sole trader - but you don't need to collect GST if under the threshold ($75k is correct).

Obviously there are enough people going under the radar here though. Imagine your market folk and the like setting up stalls every week selling jam or whatever - unlikely they have registered business or declare that income. Doesn't make it right - just pointing out the obvious flaws in trying to police the system.

You should read this excellent document 3dee: http://www.ato.gov.au/content/downloads/bus76494nat3029.pdf

This bit is poignant:

If you are not registered for GST
If your business is not required to be registered for GST and
you have chosen not to register, you:
■ don’t collect GST on your sales or claim GST credits on your
purchases. Your business issues normal invoices – it must
not issue tax invoices. Normal invoices don’t include the
words ‘tax invoice’ or indicate that the invoiced amount
includes GST
■ can claim the full cost of your business purchases (including
any GST) as a tax deduction on your income tax return.
If you receive an invoice for goods or services you have
purchased from someone who is not registered or required to
be registered for GST, it is not a tax invoice and you can’t claim
a GST credit for the GST included in the price of those goods
or services.

More info: business.gov.au

There are a few extra questions, like the personal services income etc.

If you can't be f***ed going to a tax agent and can't work out the business section, you could put it in "Other Income" (right at the end) and feign ignorance if you ever get audited. At the end of the day you have claimed the money and paid tax on it.

But you should really go through the business section, it should explain all the questions, you will probably be a personal services business, and that just means you are limited to what type of deductions you can claim (but internet costs etc are fine),. Etax is pretty great - but i haven't used the business section of it.

Cheers Pinky. I guess you could say I went and got an ABN and GST "because Apple required it" haha so as far as knowing the ins and outs of having an extra bit of income via an ABN, I'm completely clueless.

I'll check that PDF out. I might have got the booklet anyway, just never read it (looked boring :P).

And if you income from things you do on the side, even if you give an invoice and use an ABN, doesnt have to be declared if it can be clasified as a hobby.

Its on the ato website somewhere, but I think from memory its has to be a under a few g a year income and have expenses that basically wipe out the income.

Thats it viper, the most ive made on a whole would be about 1500 bucks for doing some graphic/web design and some iPhone app sales and a few other things.

Fade thanks for that, makes it a bit clearer now. Looks like I got a bit of work to do. Living here now on a permanent contract .

Residency is a very grey area. It's all a matter of interpretation. From an advice point of view you should take steps to establish a permanent base overseas. There's nothing stopping you from cutting all ties to Australia, but you should take steps to demonstrate an intention to stay overseas.

Humm.... wouldn't that still be classified as your "normal" travel to and from work site? I know it's different from us nerds in the office but still, that's just _you_ getting from home to work i.e. your primary work site and primary occupation requirement.

It's not like it's a special requirement part of your job. Unless you're a contractor (i.e. not on wages) and you normally work at a primary work site i.e. in an office somewhere but get call out to do a quote/work on client's site.

I could be wrong but...

i just meant that i get sent to a certain job site at say, caboolture, then get sent to a site at say, 8mile plains, oxley, etc

all the time bro :)

Are naturopath expenses allowable under thprivate medical exenses rebate?

The ATO's website is unclear.

existence looks right according to this dude:

You can claim the cost of trips between home and work where:

•You use your car because you have to carry bulky tools or equipment that you use for work – for example, an extension ladder or cello and there is no secure place for you to leave them at work
•Your home is a base of employment – you start your work at home and travel to a workplace to continue the work, or
•You have shifting places of employment – you regularly work at more than one site each day before returning home.

Are naturopath expenses allowable under thprivate medical exenses rebate?

The ATO's website is unclear.

Not sure myself actually, but I know certain "pseduo-medical" professions can only be claimed if you have a referral from a GP. Pretty sure Chiropractic services is one of them - no idea on naturopath

quick google:

(naturopathic consultation and herbal supplements prescribed by a Naturopath may be counted as part of your tax-deductible medical expenses for each year. You need to get a referral to the Naturopath from a doctor before you attend fertility consultation. For more information phone ATO: 13 28 61.

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/therapist/1223

Maybe call the ATO to make sure, get their name and s*** also.

last edited by Fireblood at 12:16:50 04/Jul/09

You can claim the cost of trips between home and work where:

•You use your car because you have to carry bulky tools or equipment that you use for work – for example, an extension ladder or cello and there is no secure place for you to leave them at work
•Your home is a base of employment – you start your work at home and travel to a workplace to continue the work, or
•You have shifting places of employment – you regularly work at more than one site each day before returning home.

i win at tax

09

Oh man I wish I didn't read Fireblood's post. Now I'm all pissed off on a Sunday morning.

Why because you can't claim pot as a medical expense?

Thanks Fade, the second link you gave earlier sheds more on that. It does seem gray for me and I believe I have taken steps where I could demonstrate I am a non-resident of australia anymore. With the financial year over in australia I have found out my HECS debt is still growing (obviously). If I am no longer a resident should I still be taking steps to reduce the debt? I guess it would be a good idea to do something about it in case I ever return? I never put a big dent into it back in Aus as I just did the end of financial year contributions to it.

last edited by Infidel at 08:25:39 06/Jul/09