Finfluencers: bad tax advice could cost you

They’re advising from your insta and TikTok feeds, they’ve got huge followings, they speak with conviction – financial influencers or ‘finfluencers’.  Please heed our caution, taking advice from unqualified sources can have serious consequences. We’re seeing examples of misleading claims, exaggerated deductions and outright misinformation. Relying on this advice could not only leave you out of pocket but also expose you to ATO penalties, fines or in the worst case scenario – prosecution.

What’s the problem?

Many finfluencers make money by promoting financial products on behalf of companies, which means that they don’t necessarily have your best interests in mind when sharing information or insights. Finfluencers aren’t always qualified to provide advice on tax or financial products. You just can’t expect to receive solid, reliable or tailored guidance. Unfortunately, we’re seeing some influences share tax hacks that are either completely false or apply only in extremely limited situations.

The ATO and some of the accounting professional bodies have sounded the alarm on some recent false claims, including:

• Claiming your pet as a work related guard dog
• Writing off luxury handbags as laptop bags
• Deducting fuel costs without any documentation
• Trying to claim swimwear as a work uniform

These kinds of suggestions might sound plausible but following them could get you into serious trouble. The ATO uses sophisticated data matching tools to detect suspicious or inflated claims. If your deductions don’t meet the legal criteria, this could trigger an audit and if mistakes are found, the consequences can include:

• An increased tax liability
• Interest charges
• Fines
• A criminal record and in the most serious cases, imprisonment

Here’s how to stay safe and tax smart:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Dodgy deduction tips on social media are best ignored, at least until they can be verified.
• Stick to trusted sources. For official tax guidance, visit ato.gov.au.
• Don’t risk your business or personal reputation for a quick deduction.

If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a tax claim or want professional, compliant advice, contact Paris Financial today. We’re here to protect you from finfluencer tax risks and ensure you’re meeting your obligations with the ATO.

Note: The material and contents provided in this publication are informative in nature only. It is not intended to be advice and you should not act specifically on the basis of this information alone.  If expert assistance is required, professional advice should be obtained.