Tax office eyes bogus incentive trips
In what is looming as bad news for the incentive travel sector, the Australian Tax Office is preparing to target work-related travel expenses, especially those that relate to working trips that include more fun than work.
The Australian Financial Review says the ATO has identified a growing market for promoters of “self-study†holidays that may lead taxpayers to makes inflated claims for overseas travel and related costs.
The ATO told the AFR it had identified about 20 promoters marketing packages offering seminars or study options as part of much longer holiday-type packages.
The ATO said promoters were marketing to high-income professionals such as doctors, lawyers, dentists and engineers.
“Our concern is that they are just holidays that people are dressing up with a bit of fabricated material to make it appear as if they are engaged in income producing activity,†said an ATO assistant commissioner.
Examples include cruise ship trips, whereby a professional attends a seminar for a few hours in a cruise that lasts for days.
Taxpayers then claim a deduction for food, travel and accommodation costs.
Ian Jarrett
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