I love how people are so quick to bitch about tax here in Australia. Even better when it's people from overseas bitching about our system. Did you ever stop to think about what tax is actually used for? I love how you come here and enjoy all the benefits and lifestyle living in Australia but will do absolutely anything to avoid contributing anything (tax) to the community..
I just have to say this thread is filling up with some of the worst advice I've ever seen. It's being driven by people who are hell bent on avoiding tax. There are some very effective ways of reducing your taxable income but you won't be able to do any of this if you aren't doing everything above board (ie. as a business). So declare your Adsense income and also declare your expenses (to reduce your taxable income). Simple as that. And don't bullsh*t that it's a hobby. If you didn't have commercial interests you wouldn't be in these forums..
I have to disagree whole-heartedly. There's a difference between tax evasion and tax minimisation. If you can claim it then only a paranoid *** wouldn't do so. If the govt lets you do so, then why wouldn't you? Eg. If you're allowed to claim $2 per km for travel to and from client sites, would you only claim $1 instead because you know your car was more fuel efficient? In reality, though, you're better off declaring it so you can claim more tax deductions like internet access, depreciation on your PC, electricity, a portion of your rent, depreciation on your furniture (eg. study table, & chair), etc. Best advice is to tell your accountant exactly what you are doing and let him work out what is best for your situation. Lastly, if the ATO can't tell you when you ring them up and your accountant tells you it's tax exempt, I can't see why you wouldn't go with what your accountant says
i was wondering if you recieve a google check does it stat your bank account so you would be limited in banking it in, in the particular account or does the check just states ur name so you can basically bank it in any bank as long it's under your name? thanks
I don't understand what part you disagreed with because you've just wrote a whole post that agreed with my main point in the previous post - "So declare your Adsense income and also declare your expenses (to reduce your taxable income)."..??
my sites and affiliates only make me around $4000/year and im a student last time I checked I didnt have to pay tax if I was mking over $6000+ /year..
Come on.. where is the good advice in this thread - apart from the few people who say declare your income - which definitely is good advice.. The majority of advice here is going to get a lot of people in trouble and confuse them (eg. Col's post saying "I have received advice from my tax accountant that payments received from Google is considered as an export of services. Therefore, it is tax exempt.".. thankfully Rod corrected that misinformation). And it certainly is bullsh*t that people here are just doing it as a hobby. Case in point where daras says - "I have been wondering the same thing myself for a few months, since my Adsense income overtook my 'real job'." I mean, WTF!? Either her real job is as a busker or the wrong questions are being asked!!