01/06/2026
Income Splitting is becoming a bigger focus area for the ATO.
In simple terms, income splitting is when income earned by one person is allocated to another family member who may be on a lower tax rate.
The ATO generally looks at two broad types of income:
• Income generated from assets such as property, shares and investments
• Income generated from a person's skills, expertise and work
Common arrangements can include:
• Trust distributions
• Payments to family members through a business
• Profit allocation between related parties
The key question is whether the arrangement reflects the actual work performed and who ultimately benefits from the income.
With increased ATO attention in this area, it is important for business owners, contractors and professionals to understand how their structure operates.
If you'd like to understand how these rules may apply to your situation, reach out to TidyTax.