February Due Dates

March Due Dates

When buying things for an investment property, I always abide by this guiding principle: "A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow" … so deduct items as quickly as....

In December 2011, the ATO sent default assessment warning letters to taxpayers who have overdue income tax returns where there was evidence they received taxable income in the relevant financial years.

These letters were titled...

The ATO is under pressure to recover lost ground after relaxing its position during the global financial crisis. One of the areas it intends to improve revenue is by targeting contractors. 

The ATO has warned that it plans to use information from labour hire firms and increased auditing in attempt to improve compliance for contactors through

Health insurance premiums will rise if the abolition of the rebate for private health insurance makes it through Parliament.

The intention is to increase the Medicare Levy Surcharge to a maximum of 1.5% and reduce the rebate so it cuts out absolutely once income reaches $124,000 for a single or $248,000 for a family.

Think about a family who earns

As we move into the new year  with all its hope and uncertainty, remember that there is much more to taking care of your finances than merely watching the markets.  A good metaphor is an injured leg due to a sporting mishap - naturally you would pay particular attention to that leg, but you would be

It has certainly been a challenging year, with the Australian Stock Market down 13% and the property market in most areas in the doldrums.

Naturally investors are wondering what 2012 will hold but unfortunately, as I don't have a crystal ball, I am unable to provide an accurate answer.

The recent falls in share markets have highlighted the importance of saving for retirement. One option is to stay at work longer but the greatest resource of all is a partner who is prepared to return to the workforce.

Here is a common scenario. The house is almost paid off, the kids have left school and the hitherto stay at home mum

Recently a reader told me she had received a brochure for a funeral plan, which seemed almost to good to be true. "You paid a premium of $87 a month, which would provide a cash sum of $10,000 for your funeral, or any other expenses, when you died.

Applicants could not be over 70 years

One of the best ways to create wealth is to buy your own home and pay it off.

However, the way you pay the house off can make a huge difference to your finances when you come to retirement.

When I was young the conventional wisdom was to focus on getting rid of the home loan before starting an investment program