As expected, this year’s second Federal Budget had a strong focus on families, education, health and aged care, energy and affordable housing. From a superannuation perspective it has been a relatively quiet Budget but there were some welcome announcements that will benefit SMSF members funding their retirement. Please remember the following budget announcement are not yet law. Reducing the eligibility age for downsizer contributions The eligibility age to make downsizer…  Read more

On 25 October 2022, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down an updated 2022/23 Federal Budget, the first for the Albanese Labor Government. 1.  Providing certainty for unlegislated taxation and superannuation measures The Government has announced it will not proceed with certain legacy tax and super measures that were announced but not legislated by the previous Government, including the following: The 2018/19 Budget measure that proposed changing the annual audit requirement for…  Read more

Photo By Scott Graham There’s a very important deadline coming up on 30th November. The ATO is urging those who haven’t yet applied for their director identification number (Director ID) to do so ASAP. The consequences for neglecting this task are severe. What is a director ID? The director ID is a mandatory 15-digit identification number given to a director who has verified their identity with the ATO. Once you…  Read more

Photo By Adeolu Eletu Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. A budget that is “resilient” but not “fancy” The Albanese government released its first budget this week, with promises that it will be well-funded, but not excessive. It’s expected that this budget will lay the groundwork for bigger changes next year. $21bn in government spending…  Read more

Photo By Annie Spratt Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Rental market still under considerable stress At the beginning of 2020, a mass exodus of people from Australia as borders closed led many to believe that the pressure on our housing market would be alleviated. However, the opposite has happened, with rents still sky high…  Read more

Photo By Aron Visuals In a world with endless distractions, it’s no wonder that we find it difficult to complete tasks. Focus is hard to come by these days. This is especially true when you’re working from home. Household tasks that would otherwise be out of sight and out of mind are suddenly in your workspace. With that said, there are some proven methods to help you get things done.…  Read more

Photo By Cova Software When starting a small business, business owners often think about things like the storefront, branding, and displays. They think of smiling employees and happy customers. It’s not usually the image of the shelves and cupboards in the back stockroom that fill their heads. But inventory is a critical component of your business. Sales are made and lost because of inventory control so it can’t be overlooked…  Read more

Photo By Priscilla Du Preez Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Albanese not backing down on tax cuts On Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed that he would not be changing his mind and would go ahead with the contentious Stage 3 tax cuts by the May 2023 budget. The tax cuts are largely beneficial for…  Read more

Photo By Scott Graham Banking business income to a private account The ATO has stated that it has “no concerns” with business owners banking their business takings or other sales in private accounts, but that this may become an issue when this income isn’t reported. Therefore, the ATO notes that a good way to avoid this problem is to establish a separate business bank account and only deposit sales and…  Read more

Photo By John Schnobrich Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Renewed hope for small business sector New data from Xero and the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests that small businesses are doing better than before, but economists warn there may be more beneath the promising numbers. We have more millionaires than ever before According to…  Read more

You may have heard about the new rules which require directors of Australian companies to obtain a Director Identification Number (director ID). The new requirement to obtain a director ID  applies not only to directors running a business but also to individuals who have an SMSF with a corporate trustee, which is why we wanted to bring this new requirement to your attention. All directors will need to apply for…  Read more

Photo By Glenn Carstens Peters When you start a small business, it’s usually only you behind the whole operation. You wear many hats, from CEO to clean-up crew. As you pour your heart and soul into your business and it begins to grow, the amount of work involved grows with it. Because a small business is so focused on survival, you pay a lot of attention to the bottom line.…  Read more

  To avoid additional costs (including the superannuation guarantee charge (SGC), you must pay the right amount of super for all your eligible employees by the quarterly due date. Whether you’re paying super weekly, monthly, or quarterly it’s important to check that the super guarantee (SG) you pay takes into account changes that started on 1 July 2022. These were: the increase in the SG rate from 10% to 10.5%. the removal…  Read more

business update Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Permit and dining fees set to return to Melbourne To ease the burden of the pandemic, the city allowed alfresco dining options at restaurants without having to pay a fee. Now that business is bouncing back, Melbourne is seeking to reestablish the permits traditionally required after waiving…  Read more

business update Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Unprecedented rental demand could affect interest rates As the RBA raises the cash rate to ease inflation, the astounding rise in rent prices will begin to factor into the inflation data – leading to higher interest rates. Air New Zealand flies nonstop from Auckland to New York…  Read more

As prices continue to rise, you’ve likely noticed that your cost of doing business has increased as well. With that in mind, you may be considering raising your prices – as you should. After all, the main point of any business is to make money, and you can’t do that if you’re no longer breaking even. Read on to discover some tips on how to raise your prices, and how…  Read more

When it comes to hiring seasonal employees, business owners tend to fall into two groups. Some look forward to hiring temporary workers, knowing that the need for seasonal workers reflects a business season. Some feel that it’s a necessary evil to get through times where the workload is heavy and the permanent workforce is lean. Unfortunately, the attitude is that seasonal employees are temporary, and are therefore not as skilled…  Read more

There are a few different methods that employers use to pay their employees, and while they may have similarities, they each also have their own implications for your business and its employees. On top of that, there may be a blended model at play, in which you offer two types of compensation at once, such as a wage and bonuses. How you pay your employees will impact your finances and…  Read more

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. All big four banks now aligned with Reserve Bank’s rate rise After last week’s decision by the Reserve Bank to raise the official cash rate to 2.35 per cent, Westpac is the last of the big four banks to raise its interest rate to align. Public holiday may hurt…  Read more

There are many types of insurance for individuals, and choosing the right ones for you can be overwhelming. These policies are distinct, yet they often overlap. It’s smart to review your personal insurance policies any time you have a significant life event. This ensures that you and your loved ones are cared for should you find yourself unable to work. Read on for a brief explanation of the different types…  Read more

Photo By Carlos Muza Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Property values experience biggest drop in nearly 40 years In August, Australian property values suffered their biggest monthly drop since 1983 as the market’s downturn accelerated. Every capital city apart from Darwin is now in a housing downturn. Large percentage of ParentsNext facilitators filing false…  Read more