Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. ATO reminds Australians about changes this tax season The Australian Tax Office anticipates that many will continue to be impacted by COVID-19, and is offering support to get your taxes right the first time. A summary can be found here. Cash rate expected to rise this week The official… Read more
When it comes to your finances, it’s a good idea to check in on your progress periodically, to see if any adjustments to your budget or changes in your habits are necessary. Even if you’ve set your budget for the year, you may learn a new strategy or have a priority come up suddenly that causes you to shift your thinking. Here are ways to take stock of your finances,… Read more
While many small business owners prefer brainstorming new ideas to pouring over financial reports, getting a handle on financial analysis can be remarkably empowering. Taking the time to regularly review financial statements can help you assess and improve current performance, avoid risk and make scalable plans for future growth. Protect your company’s financial health by learning your way around these three financial reports. Cash flow statement The cash flow statement… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. ASX carries momentum into a new week The local sharemarket started the week at a three-week high, coming off a rally from last week. Tech and payment firms were among the industries leading the charge. Bubs jumps 80% as deal struck to aid US Baby formula manufacturer Bubs Australia… Read more
A series of reforms and changes will commence on 1 July 2022. Here’s what is coming up: For business Superannuation guarantee increase to 10.5% The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate will rise from 10% to 10.5% on 1 July 2022 and will continue to increase by 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025. If you have employees, what this will mean depends on your employment agreements. If… Read more
It’s a great headline, isn’t it? Spend $100 and get a $120 tax deduction. Days after the Federal Budget announcement that businesses would be able to claim a 120% deduction for expenditure on training and technology costs, we started receiving marketing emails encouraging us to spend now to access the deduction. But, there are a few problems. Firstly, the announcement is just that, it is not yet law. And, given… Read more
When you’re in business for long enough, you’ll likely come up with new ideas you want to try. Innovation is important for your company to grow, to diversify its income, and to attract new customers. An important step between having an idea and jumping into it is testing the idea. Here are some important ways to test your idea, so you can launch it with confidence. 1. Talk to people… Read more
There are lots of reasons to keep fit, but very few of them have to do with how we earn our income. As a result, a tax deduction for a gym membership isn’t available to most people. And yes, the Tax Office has heard all the arguments before about how keeping fit reduces sickness and therefore is important to earning an income, and the way I look is important to… Read more
Early retirement may sound like a big dream, but it is achievable if you’re willing to do some planning and stick to your strategy. Here are steps you can take to put yourself in a position to retire early. 1. Figure out how much money you’ll need after you retire This involves figuring out what age you want to retire at–if you want to retire at 55 you’ll need to… Read more
When it comes to an investment strategy, there are an almost endless number of paths you can take. Depending on your overall priorities, needs, and values you can follow any established formula or set your own path. One path that has numerous benefits is long-term investing. In long-term investing you put your money in an investment with the goal of leaving it there for a long time. You’re not buying… Read more
The Government temporarily halved the excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates for petrol, diesel and all other petroleum-based products (except aviation fuels) for 6 months from 30 March 2022 until 28 September 2022. This has caused a reduction in fuel tax credit rates. During this 6 month period, businesses using fuel in heavy vehicles for travelling on public roads won’t be able to claim fuel tax credits for fuel… Read more
Throughout March, the ATO sent letters to directors who are potentially in breach of their obligations to ensure that the company they represent has met its PAYG withholding, superannuation guarantee charge, or GST obligations. These letters are a warning shot and should not be ignored. The director penalty regime ensures that directors are personally liable for certain debts of the company if the debts are not actively managed. The liability applies to… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. More Australians turning away from home ownership A new study suggests that younger Australians are choosing to invest their money in stocks over buying a home. Around 43 percent said they would choose to invest their money instead of spending it, and 38 percent of those saying they would… Read more
Financial security, whether that’s for a business or an individual, requires planning. You need to know where you want to be, where you are now, and how to cross the gap between the two places. Having goals and a plan makes it more likely that you’ll achieve financial security–whatever that means to you. Here are some steps to setting your financial goals. 1. Be specific with what you want It’s… Read more
The ATO has provided some brief updated guidance on the treatment of tax debts that are placed on hold (not pursued). These will not be visible on the balance of the taxpayer’s accounts. However, taxpayers should receive written notification of the decision to place the debt on hold. The ATO guidance also sets out how these debts can be viewed by using online services, for both the taxpayer and registered… Read more
Receipts are vital to successfully running a business. You need receipts to track your purchases and expenses. Your clients need receipts for their tax purposes and to manage their finances. Paper receipts have been around a long time, so many people are used to them and may even be resistant to moving away from them. Thanks to technology, paper receipts are becoming more a thing of the past. There are… Read more
Preparing your End of Financial Year (EOFY) information often feels stressful—there are receipts to sort out and reports to review, and you need to make sure you have all the necessary information about your income and expenses. It can be overwhelming, and it can make the EOFY feel daunting. The end of the financial year isn’t just a time to collect receipts and find invoices, however. It’s also a time… Read more
Ideally, you and your accountant are more than just “adviser” and “client”. With your combined skills, expertise, and shared mission to support a thriving business, you’re more like strategic partners. The key to achieving success in any partnership is, of course, strong communication. At your next meeting, be sure to ask your accountant these four important questions. 1. What’s my best strategy for increasing revenue? Every business owner strives to… Read more
Business owners fall into two categories: those who love business travel and those who hate it. The love/hate dynamic may depend on how much you travel for work, but even if you love business travel there are stressful aspects to being out of town. Although we can’t guarantee that our travel tips will ensure a completely stress-free experience, here are four ways to lessen your hassle. If you’re someone who… Read more
If you’re like most freelancers, knowing how to price your services can be a real struggle. Charging an hourly rate can feel less scary than asking for a higher priced fixed rate package because you know you’ll be compensated for every hour you spend on a project. But there are drawbacks to trading time for money – not the least of which is that it limits your earning potential. Read… Read more