If you work for someone, but youβre not an employee, youβre considered an independent contractor. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), youβre a sole trader β meaning youβre essentially running your own business. This distinction can make understanding your tax obligations tough. To help you out, weβve answered some of your most pressing questions.
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Tax as a contractor
Do you need an ABN?
Yes, to work as a contractor within Australia, youβll need anΒ Australian Business NumberΒ (ABN). Youβll need it to invoice your clients, otherwise theyβre obligated to withhold 47% of yourΒ total payment for tax. Your ABN also makes it easy for you to communicate with the government and comply with your tax obligations in your end of year return.
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Do you need to pay income tax?
If you earn more than the tax-free threshold β that is, $18,200 β in the financial year, youβre required to pay income tax. Australiaβs tax system is progressive, so the amount of tax you pay will depend on how much you earn. The more you earn, the higher the rate of tax, so itβs important to know the tax rate that applies to you.
Because youβre not considered an employee, income tax isnβt automatically deducted from your pay. Rather, as a business owner, youβre obligated to keep aside the amount of tax you expect youβll have to pay the ATO at the end of the financial year. To keep things in order, you might consider opening a separate bank account, where you can transfer the correct proportion of tax owed from each invoice you receive.
If youβre working a lot, keeping track or your invoices and tax payable manually throughout the year can be time-consuming. Fortunately, you can simplify the process by investing in accounting software that does the calculations for you. For example,Β QuickBooks Self-EmployedΒ connects straight to your bank account to easily track and categorise business income.
Do you need to pay your own superannuation?
While makingΒ superannuationΒ contributions isnβt a legal requirement when youβre self-employed, it is wise to put money aside for your retirement regardless. This will ensure that you will have enough money to live comfortably on when you reach retirement age.
To incentivise low- or middle-income contractors to make personal super contributions, the Australian government offers aΒ co-contribution scheme. If you meet certain requirements and make a personal, after-tax contribution, the government will make a co-contribution of up to $500 at the end of each financial year. You donβt need to apply for this scheme as it will be automatically processed when you lodge your tax return.
To learn more about your tax obligations as a sole trader, check outΒ these resources.
How QuickBooks Can Help You Save Time
QuickBooks Self-Employed is accounting software that can help you save time by tracking and categorising your business income. It connects directly to your bank account, so you don't have to manually enter your transactions. QuickBooks also calculates your taxes for you, so you don't have to worry about doing it yourself.
Here are some of the ways QuickBooks can save you time:
- Automatic transaction tracking: QuickBooks automatically tracks your income and expenses, so you don't have to manually enter them.
- Tax calculations: QuickBooks calculates your taxes for you, so you don't have to worry about doing it yourself. Track your GST, and snap and save receipts from our mobile app to maximise deductions and stay compliant.
- Invoicing: QuickBooks can create and help you send invoices, so you don't have to do it manually.
- Reporting: QuickBooks can generate reports on your income, expenses, and taxes, so you can easily see how your business is doing.
If you're a sole trader, QuickBooks Self-Employed is a great way to save time and simplify your finances. That's how you business differently.
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