Fed: Howard government tax backflips

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2001
Fed: Howard government tax backflips

The Howard government's tax policy backflips:



February, Business Activity Statement - The government eliminated quarterly reports,
introducing an annual information statement required with annual income tax return.



February, Trusts - The government sacrificed $1 billion in revenue by postponing taxing
trusts as companies until after the federal election.



March, Petrol - The government cut petrol excise by 1.5 cents and abolished future
excise increases just two weeks before the Ryan by-election in Queensland.



March, Small Retailers - The government introduced a simplified accounting method for
small food retailers who sell a mixture of GST-free and taxable goods.



April, Beer - The government cut beer excise after being forced in the Senate to meet
its 1998 pledge that beer prices would not increase by more than 1.9 per cent due to the
GST.



July, Contractors Taxation - Five days before the Aston by-election in Victoria, Treasurer
Peter Costello announced contractors could determine their own work status for tax purposes
instead of applying to the Australian Taxation Office for a determination.



August, Caravan Parks - The Australian Tax Office has simplified the accounting procedures
to encourage park owners to use the input tax method and not charge the GST rather than
the more popular method of charging a reduced 5.5 per cent GST on long term residents.



AAP RTV eg/jtbt

KEYWORD: TAX BACKFLIPS (FACTBOX)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.