QLD Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) - Tax Deduction?

Australia's #1 for Law
Join 150,000 Australians every month. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today!
FREE - Join Now

Carlincognito

Member
21 August 2015
1
0
1
I have recently been sent interstate to work for 4 months at another site on secondment. Flights to and from the site are provided as well as a furnished apartment, and a rental car for the duration. The company agreed to pay me the meals portion of my Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) ($236 a week). They then deducted that amount from my salary each week (seen as a deduction on my payslip, thus reducing my taxable income) and then pay it back to me tax free.

My accountant has told me that the Living Away From Home Allowance is just that, an allowance, not a tax deduction, that should be paid on top of your normal salary should your work agree to pay it to you. I also consulted the ATO and although no one would provide any real advice due to legal reasons, they also said to me that receiving the allowance should not result in any deduction in my usual salary.

Are my employer's doing the wrong thing by paying the Living Away From Home Allowance to me this way and deducting the amount from my usual salary?

When I queried them on it, they said they do it that way because the Living Away From Home Allowance is tax exempt. But the Living Away From Home Allowance being exempt from tax doesn't mean that it reduces my taxable income in this instance does it?
 

Michael T

Well-Known Member
9 April 2014
151
23
454
Have you got your accountant to send something in writing so that you can escalate the issue for further consideration/investigation? That might get you a bit more clarity. Also, while the ATO didn't give you advice, it seems that they gave you their view, which contradicts your employer's view.

Also might be worth having a chat to the Fair Work Ombudsman to see if they can pitch in with their view (Help resolving workplace issues - How we help you - Fair Work Ombudsman