Newsletter
April 2013 Newsletter
LAFHA reasonable amounts for food and drink 2013
With the changes to the living-away-from-home rules (effective from 1 October 2012) affecting employees who are required by their employers to live away from home for work, greater care needs to be taken in assessing the fringe benefits tax (FBT) implications of living-away-from-home allowances (LAFHAs). With a narrower scope for eligibility for concessional treatment and increased substantiation requirements, the level of risk is greater.
The Commissioner has recently determined the amounts that he considers reasonable for food and drink expenses incurred by employees receiving a LAFHA fringe benefit for the FBT year commencing on 1 April 2013. Broadly, if an employee’s food or drink expenses exceed the amount the Commissioner considers reasonable, the employee will have to substantiate all the expenses incurred, or the employer will be liable to FBT on the amount of LAFHA paid to the employee that is in excess of the reasonable amount.
TIP: The new rules will require careful consideration when planning for and preparing the 2013 FBT return – this may include identifying whether the transitional rules apply, obtaining evidence if substantiation is required, and checking contracts to see if food and drink is clearly identified. Where food and drink is greater than the ATO reasonable amounts, future restructuring should be contemplated. Please contact our office for further information.