spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer



CPA LOGO
spacer
Latest News
Hot Issues
ATO hit list 2025 – Key Areas Under Review
Why Succession Planning Matters for Privately Owned and Wealth Groups in Australia
Benefits of a business plan
Roles and Responsibilities in a Business Partnership
Mixing business and pleasure? Be vigilant this tax season
30 June 2025 - Tax Checklist - Small (and Micro) Business
3 more GST fraudsters sentenced under ATO’s Operation Protego
Evolution of Boeing - 1916 - 2025
ATO - Targeted Areas of Focus 2024-25
6 ways to improve your business plan
Benchmarks for small business
Beware the early lodgment tax trap, CPA Australia warns
Tax lawyer flags compliance traps with family trusts
Superannuation on paid parental leave from 1 July 2025
Tax Time Checklists Individuals; Company; Trust; Partnership; and Super Funds
Comparison of various Animal Weights
2025 Tax Planning Guide Part 2
From 1 July 2025 ATO Interest is no longer tax deductible
SME confidence and conditions see uptick over Q1 2025, survey reveals
Depreciation expert urges property investors to leverage tax depreciation
Buy a business
Upskilling and self-education costs
How secure is your super account?
Freshwater Resources by Country 2025
Why Might a Lease Dispute Occur?
$20,000 instant asset write-off
2025 Tax Planning Guide Part 1
New Bunnings scam warning
The Largest Empires in the World's History
Articles archive
Quarter 1 January - March 2025
Quarter 4 October - December 2024
Quarter 3 July - September 2024
Quarter 2 April - June 2024
Quarter 1 January - March 2024
Quarter 4 October - December 2023
Quarter 3 July - September 2023
Quarter 2 April - June 2023
Quarter 1 January - March 2023
Quarter 4 October - December 2022
Quarter 3 July - September 2022
Quarter 2 April - June 2022
Quarter 1 January - March 2022
Quarter 4 October - December 2021
Quarter 3 July - September 2021
Quarter 2 April - June 2021
Quarter 1 January - March 2021
Quarter 4 October - December 2020
Quarter 3 July - September 2020
Quarter 2 April - June 2020
Quarter 1 January - March 2020
Quarter 4 October - December 2019
Quarter 3 July - September 2019
Quarter 2 April - June 2019
Quarter 1 January - March 2019
Quarter 4 October - December 2018
Quarter 3 July - September 2018
Quarter 2 April - June 2018
Quarter 1 January - March 2018
Quarter 4 October - December 2017
Quarter 3 July - September 2017
Quarter 2 April - June 2017
Quarter 1 January - March 2017
Quarter 4 October - December 2016
Quarter 3 July - September 2016
Quarter 2 April - June 2016
Quarter 1 January - March 2016
Quarter 4 October - December 2015
Quarter 3 July - September 2015
Quarter 2 April - June 2015
Quarter 1 January - March 2015
Quarter 4 October - December 2014
ATO issues warning to first-time investors

 

A surge in first-time investors trading shares and exchange-traded funds (ETF) has prompted the ATO to issue a warning on share tax treatment and the behaviour that raises red flags.

 



 


The ATO on Monday warned young investors trading ETFs that any attempts to offset capital losses against tax paid on their income – or avoid paying it altogether if the share price of their ETF drops, but they still own the share – will be caught.


The ATO’s warning comes off the back of a wave of new EFT investors who have been afforded entry into the market off the back of the rise of micro-investment platforms popularised by the pandemic.


ASX data shows the Australian ETF sector swelled by some $20 billion in the first half of this year, 20 years after the first ETF product hit the ASX.


The product’s rise has been marked by two components. First, its simplicity: an investor can purchase one ETF, or a “basket”, which contains various shares in hundreds and sometimes even thousands of listed companies.


The second component that has driven their popularity is the emergence of micro-investing platforms that allow investors to buy in with small cash amounts. However, with a lowered barrier of entry has come a wave of tax misunderstanding among new investors.


The Tax Office reminded young investors that capital losses, or “paper losses”, only occur at the sale of a share, and can’t be claimed on shares that only see price dip. They also said that capital losses can only be offset against capital gains, and not other types of income.


ATO assistant commissioner Tim Loh said paper loss missteps have become a recurring trend among enthusiastic young investors but warned that his office’s data-matching capabilities will catch them out.


“Each year we see some enterprising entrepreneurs trying to offset their capital losses against income tax applied to other income such as salary or wages,” Mr Loh said. “Others attempt to offset a ‘paper loss’ against actual income.


“Our sophisticated data analytics are able to spot this and we may apply penalties for investors that have intentionally done the wrong thing.”


The Tax Office also offered clarity on the tax treatment of dividends and distribution reinvestment. The ATO said taxpayers should be mindful of declaring all distributions, even if they don’t withdraw cash from the account, and their shares are redistributed or reinvested.


Mr Loh said dividends and distribution have become an area of ETF tax treatment commonly and increasingly misunderstood by new or young investors.


“Most people recognise that they must pay tax on any money earned from selling shares,” Mr Loh said. “But many don’t realise that tax also applies to dividends and distributions, even if they are automatically reinvested into a reinvestment plan.”


Anything received through a dividend or distribution reinvestment plan is considered income for tax purposes, according to the ATO, and is treated in the same way as receiving cash would be.


Mr Loh said his office is keenly aware of the growth of the market and that these platforms have helped a “record” number of new investors into the market. But, he said, most of them aren’t aware of their tax obligations.


“Unfortunately, first-time investors often don’t understand their taxation obligations, don’t keep appropriate records and are more likely to make mistakes when lodging tax returns,” Mr Loh said.


He said that, while the ATO has access to data from ASIC, brokers, exchanges, and a whole host of other entities, it’s still important that investors double-check their declarations.


“While this data makes tax time much simpler, it is still important for investors to check that all their relevant data has been included,” he said.


Mr Loh said that keeping good records plays a crucial role in getting it right come tax time.


“Taxes on share and ETF investments can be complex, and poor record-keeping doesn’t make it any easier,” Mr Loh said.


“Keeping good records, including dates, prices, commissions, and details of taxable events such as share splits, share consolidations, mergers, and demergers is essential to avoiding trouble at tax time.


“We want to make tax as easy as possible and using data from share trading platforms and SDS from ETFs is a vital way that we help taxpayers avoid simple mistakes.”


 


 


John Buckley 
07 September 2021
accountantsdaily.com.au


 




22nd-September-2021
spacer
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer