+61 (3) 5911 7000 +61 (3) 5911 7000

Company loan to pay down the mortgage

HomeInsights

Company loan to pay down the mortgage. 


A friend’s accountant suggested that they could reduce interest on non-deductible debt by using company cash to offset their personal mortgage, then transferring the cash back by 30 June. Is this an acceptable strategy? 


This might initially sound like a brilliant strategy but what is really happening is that you are using company funds to derive a personal benefit. Doing this once might not attract attention, but doing this more than once might trigger a deemed unfranked dividend under Division 7A. Section 109R is designed for scenarios like this.


If this occurs, the repayment you made will be ignored, meaning that a deemed dividend could be triggered in relation to the funds initially borrowed from the company unless a complying loan agreement is put in place, in which case minimum loan repayments would need to be made to prevent a deemed dividend from arising.


For example, let's assume you are a shareholder of the company (or an associate of a shareholder) and you borrow money from the company on 1 July 2022. This loan would generally fall within the scope of Division 7A, but a deemed dividend can be avoided if the loan is fully repaid by the earlier of the due date and actual lodgement date of the company's 2023 tax return. 


However, if you repay the loan but it appears that you intend to borrow a similar or larger amount from the company when making the repayment then the repayment can be ignored. The main exception to this is where the repayment is made in a way that is taxable to the individual (e.g., dividends or directors’ fees are set-off against the loan balance).


One of the most common situations where section 109R could apply is where funds are taken from the company bank account and placed into a director's home loan offset account.

Even if the funds are transferred back to the company before the end of the year, there is a significant risk of section 109R applying if the pattern repeats. That is, the money will be treated as a dividend and taxed as assessable income.

Questions?

Give us a call or email if you'd like help to understand what this means for you and your business.


GET IN TOUCH GET IN TOUCH



5 May '23

The best smaller capitals performed markets

New research has found that it has been the smaller cities of Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra that have been the strongest-performing property markets over the past two decades.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

The dangers of buy now pay later for homebuyers

Buy now, pay later services that allow consumers to make purchases and have grown in popularity. However, for homebuyers, there might be risks that they are not aware of.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

Australia's at increasing risk of mortgage stress

Rising interest rates and the surging cost of living are putting more Australians under mortgage stress, according to a new report.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

Regional areas and high end Sydney suburbs lead the bounce back in property prices

Regional areas and high-end Sydney suburbs dominate the list of suburbs bouncing back the fastest, according to CoreLogic.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

Asset Finance for Medical Or Dental Practice

Establishing a medical or dental practice is a big undertaking. The most effective ways to purchase medical equipment is with the help of asset finance.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

Office rents continue to increase across the country

Demand for office space is slowly starting to recover, with a new report showing Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth rents are moving higher.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 May '23

Commercial development on the rise

Over the past 12 months, the value of residential approvals has declined 3.15% while the value of non-residential developments continues to grow, up 3.61%.


READ MORE READ MORE
27 Apr '23

Insurance (Minus The Bull)

ONLINE WEBINAR
27 April 2023 // 12:30pm
Let's face it, insurance is not the most exciting topic. In this webinar we'll offer guidance on how to compare different insurance policies, assess your risk, read beyond the marketing and how to get the most value for your money.


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to edit your chart of accounts


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to reconcile your personal credit card


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to reconcile your personal bank accounts


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to reconcile transfers between your accounts


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to prepare a cash summary report


READ MORE READ MORE
13 Apr '23

Xero Personal Cashbook: How to add a bank account


READ MORE READ MORE
12 Apr '23

Minimise Your Business Tax: The Guide 2024

For the contribution to be counted towards the employee’s 2023 contribution cap, it must be received by the fund by 30 June 2024.


11 Apr '23

Home prices rise for a third consecutive month in march

After higher interest rates weighed on values during the second half of 2022, prices have now rebounded 0.43% since the start of the year.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

Why you need to plan ahead to get a home loan?

A recent survey found that 75 percent of borrowers could find themselves unable to refinance because of life decisions that they were preparing to make.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

3 reasons should consider refinancing your motorcycle loan

Refinancing your motorcycle loan is not always something people think about. But there are several advantages that borrowers can capitalise on.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

How to get finance when you’re self-employed

Lenders typically require a significant amount of documentation and proof of income for self-employed borrowers, and their lack of a steady income can make it difficult.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

The Pros and Cons of buying off-the-plan

Buying properties off-the-plan has become a popular way for home buyers and investors to purchase property.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

The life science sector emerging as an asset class

There is currently a significant shortage of quality life science facilities in Australia and only a small number of investors are seeking exposure in this emerging asset class.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

Increased investor interest in the hotel sector

According to CBRE, Australian hotel sales reached $2.14 billion in 2022, the second-highest transaction volume on record.


READ MORE READ MORE
11 Apr '23

4 questions to ask before renewing your invoice contract

Renewing your invoice finance contract is an important decision that can significantly impact your business's cash flow.


READ MORE READ MORE
6 Apr '23

PCG 2021/4 Professional Firm Profit

The ATO guidance (PCG 2021/4) totally changes the way that professional firm profits can be allocated (or split) among a family group from 1 July 2022 onwards.


READ MORE READ MORE
6 Apr '23

Tax deduction through super

In the lead-up to 30 June 2023, we want you to be aware of opportunities to save tax with super contributions.


READ MORE READ MORE
6 Apr '23

Avoid tax with trust distribution resolution

In the lead-up to 30 June 2023, you can avoid paying an extra tax of up to 47% of Trust profits by completing your Trust Distribution Resolutions before 30 June.


READ MORE READ MORE
5 Apr '23

Tax Planning - What is it and how can it save you money?

When an accountant talks about Tax Planning what do they actually mean? As part of our tax advisory service we always offer strategic tax advisory, but it's important to note there are a lot of things that accountants cannot implement after June 30.


READ MORE READ MORE
30 Mar '23

Gen Z Financial Roadmap

ONLINE WEBINAR
30 March 2023 // 12:30pm

Gen Z, it’s time to level up your financial literacy. This is the stuff that you didn’t learn in school. Get ready to learn the ins and outs of budgeting, saving, and investing in a way that’s relevant to where you’re at right now.


READ MORE READ MORE
24 Mar '23

How will the proposed 30% tax on super above $3m work?

The Government has announced that the concessional tax rate on earnings from superannuation will increase from 15% to 30% for those with total super balances (TSB) of $3m or more from 1 July 2025.


READ MORE READ MORE
14 Mar '23

What will the ATO be asking about your holiday home

The ATO is more than a little concerned that people with holiday homes are claiming more deductions than they should.


READ MORE READ MORE
14 Mar '23

1 July 2023 Super Balance Increase but no Change for Contributions

The amount of money that can potentially hold in a tax-free retirement account, will increase by $200,000 on 1 July 2023.


READ MORE READ MORE
14 Mar '23

The ‘Super’ Wars

A consultation paper released by Treasury has sparked a national debate about the role, purpose and access to superannuation.


READ MORE READ MORE
14 Mar '23

Future earnings for super balances above $3m taxed at 30% from 2025-26

The Government has announced that from 2025‑26, the 15% concessional tax rate applied to future earnings for superannuation.


READ MORE READ MORE
14 Mar '23

The deal with working from home

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has updated its approach to how you claim expenses for working from home.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

Advantages and Disadvantages of a chattel mortgage

A chattel mortgage is a popular way for businesses to purchase large assets such as machinery and vehicles.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

Vacancy rates to put upward pressure on industrial and residential

A new report by CBRE has found that incredibly tight vacancy rates across the residential and industrial property markets are likely to lead to a “rent-a-demic” in 2023.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

A slowdown development to put pressure on rent

The number of new development projects aimed at investors is slowing down, which could lead to more rental market pressures according to new research.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

What to do if you can't pay your car loan

One of the biggest expenses people face outside of their mortgage is the cost of buying and owning a car.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

5 Common Mistakes Investors Make

It’s important to approach property investing with a strategic mindset to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

Why do I need a Lawyer/Conveyancer?

Conveyancing involves the legal transfer of ownership of a property from one person to another.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

Pitfalls and Pluses of pausing mortgage

With rapidly rising interest rates and the escalating cost of living, borrowers are once again looking at a loan deferral as a way to get back on track.


READ MORE READ MORE
9 Mar '23

How often should I review my loans? 

Experts generally recommend checking the health of your home loan each year to make sure it remains the right fit.


READ MORE READ MORE
2 Mar '23

Superannuation Unpacked

With over $13 BILLION dollars in unclaimed super across Australia, it’s evident that many are not even really sure on how super works. Our expert financial advisors want to give you back control over your money.


READ MORE READ MORE
28 Feb '23

Blizzard of Tax Changes Ahead

Accountants have emerged from the pandemic into a blizzard of changes and keeping clients up to date risks a backlash over tighter compliance rules and increased fees.


READ MORE READ MORE
23 Feb '23

Successful Succession Planning For Business

ONLINE WEBINAR
23 February 2023 // 12:30pm
In our upcoming webinar we'll be diving into some common exit strategies for successful succession planning, the pros and cons, and what you need to consider before making a decision.


READ MORE READ MORE
16 Feb '23

5 tax deductions for property investors worth almost $60,000

Property depreciation is a tax deduction that investors can take advantage of to save money on their tax bills over a long period of time.


READ MORE READ MORE
16 Feb '23

Should you pay cash or finance a new car?

When determining whether you should pay all cash or look to finance the car is always going to be based on your personal situation.


READ MORE READ MORE
15 Feb '23

5 Stages of Property Settlement

The process begins when the sale contract is signed and officially concludes on settlement day.


READ MORE READ MORE
15 Feb '23

5 Ways First Home Buyers Can Qualify For A Loan

Rising interest rates and sky-high property prices have made homeownership tougher for first time buyers.


READ MORE READ MORE
15 Feb '23

Things to consider before investing in regional areas.

With strong capital growth and tight vacancy rates driving up rents, more and more investors have been looking to regional areas.


READ MORE READ MORE
15 Feb '23

What can you do with your home equity?

With home prices rising substantially over the past decade, homeowners are often sitting on a large amount of equity that they could use for other things.


READ MORE READ MORE

Related News

30 Jun

Planning Your Super Contributions for the Year Ahead

For many business owners, superannuation is something that gets attention in June — when tax planning comes into focus. But the real opportunity lies in planning your super contributions at the start of the financial year, not the end.


READ MORE READ MORE
30 Jun

July is Lodgement Season: Your STP, WorkCover & Payroll Tax Cheat Sheet

The new financial year has officially clicked over – and with it comes the trio of mid-year obligations every employer needs on the radar: Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation, WorkCover declarations, and Payroll Tax annual reconciliation.


READ MORE READ MORE
2 Jun

Minimum Wage Is Going Up - Here's What Employers Need to Do

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review, and the numbers are in. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage will rise by 5.97%, and modern award minimum rates will increase by 4.75%.


READ MORE READ MORE