ronburgundy

Siiiiiiiiiiiddle! #returntheurn I didn't see a lot of it but even though at 4/75 you might argue we are probably square at best, compared to where we were expected to be (most experts saying we will lose the back to back series 10-nil) I would say we actually slightly have the upper hand. We bat pretty deep as well so I reckon we're a chance to take a first innings lead. MASSIVE first hour tomorrow, if we can make it to drinks without losing another wicket it will really set the tone for the series I think

Er... except China, right?! How so? I know of many businesses that only keep their doors open until their lease runs out. Leases can be expensive to break, regardless of who your landlord is

Some other sign of the zodiac perhaps? Aries... no, Gemini! Hmm on second thoughts...

Comments section of The Age going haywire with people DEMANDING that subsidies be repaid to the government. Showing an astonishing lack of knowledge of basic economic principles, and a very short memory ($900 Rudd Money anyone??!!)

Yeah figured... I initially read it as they were closing the doors straight away. Realistically values probably going to go the other way :(

Does this mean our FGII XR6Ts just went up in value??!! Sorry, silver lining

Completely off topic of course - but you do understand the concept of marriage don't you??!! I mean, it is 2 people wanting to SHARE their lives forever and everything that entails, so why should the fact you owned something before you were married be relevant? Anyway I have seen child support from both sides (I do not pay it as I don't have a former marriage/kids, but I am a stepfather to 3 kids and was raised by a single mother) both personally and professionally. There are an equal number of examples of fathers and wives/kids getting shafted by the system, trust me. /end tangent

On that - child support is paid based on your Adjusted Taxable Income which includes Reportable Fringe Benefits. If you make an Employee Contribution (basically pay the FBT) you can reduce the Reportable amount to nil. Same applies when calculating your income for Centre link purposes plus Medicare rebates and private health surcharge etc Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

+1 Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

The FBT rates are moving up progressively but these are only for existing contracts (leases) that were in place prior to budget night 2011. Any new lease entered into since then, or if you make a change (change balloon, refinance etc) to a pre-budget night lease, is at the flat 20% rate. Employers also like an allowance because it takes all the admin away from them and all the risk; when you are on an allowance you get the freedom to choose your own car but then the risk in terms of proving it is tax deductible, maintaining log book etc falls on the employee. As pointed out above there can be a significant admin burden in administering novated leases and in fact some companies do charge their staff an admin fee Nick - yes it increases your taxable income but at the risk of stating the obvious, that's because you've pocketed the difference. Despite what most people tend to think, you only pay tax on money you earn (less deductions of course), so it isn't as if you're being 'penalised' by having to go into a higher tax bracket. You have received an allowance which you haven't fully expended so naturally you should pay tax on that amount

Wrong on all counts guys. An allowance is paid to you by your employer in acknowledgement that you need a car to do your job. You are ultimately free to spend that money however you please. You can spend more or less than the allowance on your car; say the allowance is 10k you could get a wonderful offering from Chery and pocket the difference. Or you could get a 5 series and make up the difference out of your own pocket. This is why employers like them as the choice becomes yours. YOU PAY TAX ON THE ALLOWANCE. It is included in your taxable income and you pay tax on it depending on your tax rate. Of course you then may be able to claim tax deductions for your vehicle expenses. There are a few methods such as a log book or cents per kilometre. Provided you keep appropriate records you can use the method which gives you the highest deduction. This then comes off your taxable income. Again this deduction can be more or less than the allowance itself. Make sense? Ron Burgundy Friendly resident accountant Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Good luck with that dude! In Vic you can very successfully appeal a first time offence (speaking from experience, not hearsay) but I wouldnt think so for exceeding by double figures

Wasn't he the lead singer of Stillwater in Almost Famous??!!

His is a little too 'mainstream' for me!

I first partook back in 2005, and also did it in 2006 - after that the missus put the foot down and threatened me with "Fan-uary" if I didn't cease and desist. I can't imagine why she didn't like me doing it, can you? (And no, that's not her)

Let's not make this a pi$$ing contest as to "My accountant got me a refund of $XXX" (which by the way is not really a measure of how good an accountant is, but that's a whole other discussion"

Hahaha how did I know that was coming! On the other hand I managed to convince the Minister for Love, Warn & Finance that getting back into a T was the right financial choice by the family. I kid you not. There is a much longer story that goes behind it of course. Not likely to be a long term proposition though... realistically it is a bit of a hit n run as I bought at Ford employee price, will probably hold it for the requisite 11 months and then buy a CX9. XRs seem to have better resale than the G-spec and even though you do without a few goodies (memory seats/mirrors, auto-dim rear view, and ahem... sunglass holder!) this is a financial decision. So unfortunately you won't be able to give me back the bowls hat I handed in 19 months ago... (PS. Anyone actually buy any of the above??!!)

Greetings folks Technically I never really went away (OK I've got a subscription to the random fap picture thread and not too much more) but I am finally returning to the fold. And even better... I've chosen this time to ditch the G-Spec! Might have to update my sig... I plonked down a deposit on a new XR6T auto lux pack on the weekend. Black, naturally. Growing family means I need a genuine 5 seater (actually I'll need a 7 seater but that is a whole other conversation) and the Jetta just doesn't cut it in that regard. Just gotta wait for the focker to get built, looking forward to seeing what the difference between FG and FGII is (no I didn't even drive one! Didn't have time and already knew what I wanted) Glad to be back

I managed to put a hole in a tyre and crack a rim in my wife's Passat - $900ish to replace a single rim + tyre but definitely claimed it on insurance, alignment too

I suspect if you read your PDS it will say if they deem damage to be minor (and no doubt there is NOT a definition of minor!) they have the discretion to repair rather than replace. Sad face

1. Link re GM's profits 2. If you think ANY car company in the world is currently run by any sort of 'purist' you are kidding yourself I have a client who has just set up the first few Australian branches of a franchise chain that is MASSIVE in Asia and his first comments are that "employees in Australia get paid way too effing much and have so many rights". Quite simply we are (a combination of all these things) too far away from everyone else (notwithstanding relative proximity to Asia compared to the US), too expensive to pay to do stuff and made up of far too few consumers to be relevant on a global scale

Pretty sure Uncle Sam kicked in A FECKLOAD more than $250m to GMC a couple of years ago too. In fact isn't he the majority owner now?

If you read the follow up articles re pricing Ford is saying that the new prices don't actually represent a price cut, but rather a "alignment of MRP and street price". The BIG winners I see out of this are those that can buy at a fixed percentage discount off MRP (assuming said percentage doesn't change of course)

Fear Factory - Demanufacture