Government announces changes to proposed ‘Stage 3’ tax cuts Despite previous assurances, and after much speculation, the Government has announced tweaks to the ‘Stage 3’ tax cuts that will apply from 1 July 2024. More particularly, the Government proposes to: reduce the 19% tax rate to 16%; reduce the 32.5% tax rate to 30% for incomes between $45,000 and a new $135,000 threshold; increase the threshold at which the 37%…  Read more

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy. NAB CEO’s 2024 economic outlook NAB CEO Ross McEwan says Australia is well-placed to recover in 2024 as Australians respond quickly to sharp cost of living increases. Blockchain start-up backed by major banks collapses into liquidation owing $14 million An Australian blockchain start-up lauded as the future of banking…  Read more

ATO’s lodgment penalty amnesty is about to end The ATO is remitting failure to lodge penalties for eligible small businesses.  Businesses which have not yet taken advantage of the ATO’s lodgment penalty amnesty only have until 31 December 2023 to do so. Businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the amnesty:        had an annual turnover under $10 million when the original lodgment…  Read more

Tax issues for businesses that have received a support payment Taxpayers who have received a government support grant or payment recently to help their business recover from COVID-19 or a natural disaster should check if they need to include the payment in their assessable income. Grants are generally treated as assessable income, and taxpayers may be able to claim deductions if they use these payments to:  purchase replacement trading stock…  Read more

Starting a new business is exciting, but it also comes with its fair share of responsibilities. One of the most critical responsibilities is maintaining accurate records of your business transactions. From saving receipts to processing employee payroll, every money-related detail should be documented. It’s not just about keeping things tidy; it’s about understanding the financial health of your business and meeting all your tax obligations. Don’t underestimate the basics Some…  Read more

Running a business comes with a lot of financial responsibilities, and as a business owner, you’ve probably come across terms like BAS (Business Activity Statement) and IAS (Instalment Activity Statement). While they may sound similar, understanding the differences between these two statements is crucial for maintaining compliance and staying on top of your tax obligations. In this article, we’ll break down the nuances of both BAS and IAS and provide…  Read more

Assessing the viability of your new idea is an essential part of market research. While seeking input from friends and family is common, gathering information from the market itself can provide more accurate insights. Here are 4 effective research tactics to collect accurate information about your business idea: Harness the power of the internet Leverage the power of the internet to explore your chosen market. Investigate your main competitors, their…  Read more

As a business owner, the thought of selling your company can be quite daunting. You’ve poured your heart and soul into building it, and it’s crucial the company continues to grow even after your departure. An attractive option is selling your business to your employees, those who know your business inside and out and have a vested interest in its success. The upside of employee acquisition Selling your business to…  Read more

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’) has held that there were no special circumstances in relation to a taxpayer who made excess concessional contributions in a financial year, such that the ATO could allocate some of those contributions to the previous financial year. On Wednesday, 26 June 2019, the taxpayer arranged for contributions totalling just under $25,000 to be made to his superannuation fund, via a direct debit from his bank…  Read more

The downsizer contribution concession was introduced to allow older Australians selling an eligible dwelling to make additional contributions into their superannuation fund. Broadly, the downsizer contribution concession allows eligible individuals to make non-deductible contributions of up to $300,000 (or up to $600,000 per couple) from the sale of an eligible dwelling that was used as their main residence. The downsizer contribution concession is an attractive option for eligible individuals to…  Read more

Taxpayers who are small business owners operating from home, or who use a vehicle for business purposes, need to be aware of some changes when claiming deductions this tax time, including the following. Cents-per-kilometre method – The cents-per-kilometre method for claiming car expenses increased from 72 cents to 78 cents per kilometre in the 2023 income year.  For taxpayers using this method, the 78 cents per kilometre rate covers all…  Read more

Lodging of Taxable payments annual reports The ATO reminds taxpayers that it is now time for them to check if their business needs to lodge a Taxable payments annual report (‘TPAR’) for payments made to contractors providing the following services: (a)     building and construction; (b)     cleaning; (c)     courier and road freight; (d)     information technology; and (e)     security, investigation or surveillance. TPARs are due on 28 August…  Read more

As a small business owner, you know that managing your finances is crucial to the success of your business. But with so many accounting principles and practices out there, it can be challenging to know where to start. That’s where we come in! In this guide, we’ll break down the essential accounting principles that every small business owner should know. We’ll discuss how these principles can help you keep track…  Read more

2023/24 Budget Update On 9 May 2023, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2023/24 Federal Budget. Some of the measures announced by the Government (including some which were actually announced prior to the Budget), include:       from 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages;       providing businesses with annual turnover of less…  Read more

  It is well established that financial literacy is a key component of financial independence. The more you know and understand about finance, the better equipped you are to make important decisions. Historically, women have had lower financial literacy scores than men for many reasons, including social norms, a lack of access to resources, and needing to focus on other issues. That said, women are living longer than men and…  Read more

  You’ve likely heard the phrase “in the black.” Your balance sheet is the tool that shows you whether your business is indeed “in the black.” Your balance sheet includes a section for your assets (things you own or will receive that have value), your liabilities (what you owe to others) and equity (retained earnings and funds from investors) at a specific time. The relationship between these three sections shows…  Read more

Super guarantee contributions for the December 2022 quarter A reminder to employers that their December 2022 superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) contributions were due by 28 January 2023. Do not forget the two changes to SG that commenced on 1 July 2022:  The rate increased from 10% to 10.5%  Employees no longer need to earn $450 per month to be eligible. Employers now need to make super contributions for all eligible employees,…  Read more

ATO warning to SMSFs: “Paying the price for non-compliance” There are various courses of action available to the ATO when trustees of self-managed super funds (‘SMSFs’) have not complied with the super laws, including applying administrative penalties. A number of factors determine the amount of the administrative penalty, including: the type of contravention; when it occurred; and the number of penalty units that apply. For example, if an SMSF contravenes…  Read more

Photo By Shridhar Gupta Depending on the nature of your business, you may have workers who are employees or contractors, or you may have both. Each has their merits, but it’s important to review which are which in order to meet your tax obligations. When you have an employee, you must withhold income tax as well as report on additional benefits. Contractors generally look after their own tax obligations. It’s…  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