Media

Getting Their Numbers Right

29 June 2012

McKinley Plowman & Associates were honoured to received this year's Business Leadership award as part of the 2012 ECU North West Metro Small Business Awards. Read all about our team's achievement in this article from the Joondalup Weekender.

Getting Their Numbers Right

Courtesy of Joondalup Weekender

Migrants urged to obtain advice about tax concessions

9 January 2012

Expatriates who receive generous tax concessions for living and accommodation costs are encouraged to obtain professional advice about the impact of changes to the Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA).

Proposed budgetary changes, due to come into effect on July 1, 2012, will make it tougher for temporary residents on 457 visas to receive the tax free benefits they currently obtain under the LAFHA.

At present many workers, who come to Australia on 457 visas, are eligible to receive tax concessions – which in some cases can amount to as much as $4,000 per month - under the LAFHA.

The allowance has provided a boost for business owners to attract workers and provide the concessions without the burden of fringe benefits tax (FBT).
Mr Murray McKinley, a prominent accountant who has been advising migrants for over a decade, said from July 1, the LAFHA could only be claimed by people who maintained a home in Australia that was away from their place of work.

Mr McKinley, a director of McKinley Plowman & Associates, said for example if an employee came to Perth and set up and maintained a home there, but then had to work in Kalgoorlie, he or she would be eligible for the allowance.

He said this was markedly different from the current system which enabled a lot of 457 visa holders to claim the allowance on the basis they usually lived overseas and were working in Australia on a temporary basis.

“There is a lot of confusion around about how the changes, which have been introduced as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2011-12 (MYEFO), will affect one’s entitlements,” Mr McKinley said.

“The best course of action for anyone, particularly those who intend to apply for permanent residency, is to obtain professional advice relating to their circumstances.”

Mr McKinley said permanent residents who were currently eligible for the LAFHA would not be affected by the changes.

However, it was advisable for migrants to find out how tax planning could be used to ensure one didn’t receive any “nasty surprises”.

“There are plenty of opportunities to legally minimise tax through salary sacrificing into superannuation or negatively gearing into investments, Mr McKinley said.

“But the best way to take advantage of these is to plan ahead and obtain advice regarding one’s individual situation.”

Throughout 2012 Mr McKinley will co-host information seminars for migrants with migration agent and lawyer Mervyn Rothstein, of M Rothstein & Co Migration Agents and Lawyers.

The seminars will provide insight into a broad range of taxation and legal issues affecting migrants.

For more information or to register for the free seminars contact McKinley Plowman on 93012200.

Going For Gold

20 May 2011

Going for gold...The Sunday Times, April 17, 2011

Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

whatWOMENwant

10 February 2011

McKinley Plowman & Associates have run a series of adverts in our local newspapers focusing on financial advice for women. 

The lovely Ann Smythe from our financial planning team features.  For more information please contact us.

whatWOMENwant

McKinley Plowman makes the News!

4 January 2011

On Monday 3 January 2011 Today Tonight aired an interview with Nigel Plowman, Director on tax effective stategies impacting properties.

Quick turnover key to profits

23 December 2010

Quick turnover key to profits... The Sunday Times, December 12, 2010

Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

Warning on tax debt crackdown

24 November 2010

Warning on tax debt crackdow...The Sunday Times, November 21, 2010.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

Beware bad bills

8 November 2009

Beware bad bills... Sunday Times, Home Magazine, November 8, 2009.pdf


Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

SMEs look for outside help on finances

21 October 2009

SMEs look for outside help on finances...WA Business News, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of WA Business News

Office development

21 October 2009

Office development...Joondalup Community News, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Joondalup Community News

Slowdown starts

13 September 2009

Slowdown starts...Sunday Times, Home, September 13, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

Parents to the rescue

16 August 2009

Parents to the rescue...Sunday Times, Home, August 16 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Sunday Times

We have moved!

15 August 2009
Thanks to you, our loyal clients, giving us your business and support, we at MP+ have outgrown our current office space. We have recently moved into a new state-of-the art purpose-built office which offers facilities for one-to-one consultations, training seminars and group meetings, which will allow us to work more efficiently.

Flexibility a key issue

16 June 2009

Flexibility a key issue...Sunday Times, Home, June 16, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of the Sunday Times  

Business urged to use investment tax break

19 February 2009

Business urged to use investment tax break...WA Business News, February 19, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of WA Business News

To invest, or not to invest

24 January 2009

To invest, or not to invest...West Australian, Real Estate, January 24, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of West Australian

True cost

8 January 2009

True Cost...Sunday Times, Home, 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of the Sunday Times 

Sun, sea and spending sprees

5 January 2009

Sun, sea and spending sprees...Australia & NZ Magazine, Summer 2009.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Australia & New Zealand Magazine  

Creature comforts big driver for staff

30 August 2008

Creature comforts big driver for staff...West Australia, Business, Saturday, August 30, 2008.pdf 

Reproduced with permission of West Australian

Boomtown planner shortage

1 May 2007

Boomtown planner shortage...Financial Planning magazine, May 2007.pdf
Reproduced with permission of Financial Planning magazine