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Tax & Employment Compliance Workshop 2024 Session 1

Recorded 29 April 2024. Employee v contractor, PAYG withholding & foreign employment

Compliance review framework for workers and employers
Recent Fair Work changes
Preventing penalties from arising

Recorded 29 April 2024

Over the last few years we have seen a significant spotlight on worker rights and entitlements with random ATO audits on the rise.

Businesses that engage employees or contractors are subject to a wide range of obligations under the tax and super systems. Failing to satisfy these obligations can lead to adverse outcomes and significant penalties, not just for the business entity, but sometimes for the individuals who control that entity.

The Tax & Employment Compliance Workshop steps through a review framework for addressing the key compliance interactions between workers and employers. We explore the gamut of issues faced by employers from the classification of allowances to payroll tax to director responsibilities. It’s a comprehensive overview of the obligations, problem areas and opportunities within the tax system, and the emerging areas of concern.

In some areas, like payroll tax, accountants can only go so far in the advice they provide but are still expected to know all of the answers by their clients. This is why it is so important to understand the key risk areas and latest developments so that accountants and their clients know when it is time to seek legal advice.

Optimising outcomes for clients and importantly, protecting against some very significant risks, is essential from both a commercial and compliance perspective. 

Total 1.75 CPD Hours

What we cover

Session 1

We explore the gamut of issues faced by employers from the classification of allowances, to payroll tax, to director responsibilities. It’s a comprehensive overview of the obligations, problem areas and opportunities within the tax system.

An interactive case study will be used to build on the concepts explored throughout the online workshops.

with Rae Ni Corraidh & Karen Vella

Employee v contractor - understanding the differences

High Court decisions over the last 24 months and the significant impact they have on
classifying workers
When are genuine contractors considered employees for PAYG withholding and SG?
The key factors that determine whether an employment or contract arrangement exists
New guidance from the ATO
Steps that need to be taken to reduce the risk of ATO review
Can a business contract out of its SG obligations?
The implications of getting it wrong
- Wage theft allegations/ cases
- SGC components
- How far back can the ATO go to recover SG liabilities?
- Can businesses with SG problems just shut down and start fresh with a clean slate?

PAYG withholding

Which payments are subject to withholding?
When a failure to report or withhold affects deductibility of wages
- Fixing the issue to restore deductibility
- What penalties may still apply?
Single touch payroll – including discussion of some problem areas
Employee commencement – what steps to take

Foreign employment

Australian employers with overseas staff
PAYG, SG and FBT implications
Employees of foreign businesses working in Australia
Potential treaty exemptions for short term assignments

Karen Vella

Tax Training Team Leader, TaxBanter

Karen has over 25 years experience in the tax profession, first as a practitioner and more recently as an educator. She trained with the Big Four and initiated her own successful small practice before moving to Hayes Knight as a Partner.

Prior to joining TaxBanter, she spent many years as a trainer and technical writer for Webb Martin Training, and then most recently TaxBytes. She is also a regular presenter and consultant for Knowledge Shop.

Karen loves to talk tax. She has provided tax training to clients ranging from the Australian Taxation Office to accounting firms, both large and small. Her specialty is translating complex content into something meaningful, engaging and practical for her clients, no matter their level of experience.

Rae Ni Corraidh

Tax Adviser, Knowledge Shop

Rae is an experienced tax advisor and trainer focused on helping practitioners apply complex tax rules to real life scenarios. She has a genuine passion for helping practitioners find a solution to the tax problems that their clients face (and sometimes unwittingly cause).

She understands the challenges faced by practitioners and brings a wealth of practical experience to Knowledge Shop workshops and webinars to ensure participants walk away with the knowledge and tools they need to help their clients navigate the technical issues they are facing.

Rae holds a Masters in Commerce specialising in tax and has over 20 years tax experience in professional services firms, ten in Big 4 firms both in Australia and internationally and has held management positions in mid-tier firms.