Each year, the ATO highlights its areas of focus. Taking a few minutes now to review these can help you avoid issues when lodging your return.

Work-related deductions under scrutiny

This year, the ATO is focusing on work-related deductions and income that’s not declared on tax returns.

If you are claiming work-related expenses, ensure they meet the ATO’s three golden rules:ⁱ

1. The expense must be directly related to earning your income

2. You must not have been reimbursed

3. You must have records to support your claim, such as receipts or a logbook

For working from home expenses, you can use either the actual cost method or the fixed rate method.

Instant asset write-off

The instant asset write-off remains an important tax concession for Australian small businesses in the 2025–2026 financial year. Eligible businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million can immediately deduct the business portion of eligible assets costing less than $20,000, instead of depreciating them over several years. The asset must be first used or installed ready for use between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.ⁱⁱ

This measure helps improve cash flow and encourages investment by allowing businesses to reduce taxable income sooner. However, businesses should keep accurate records and seek professional tax advice to meet ATO requirements.

Don’t overlook income

The ATO is also paying close attention to undeclared income. This includes:ⁱⁱⁱ

• Cash payments

• Interest income

• Rental income

• Earnings from crypto assets

For those with a side hustle, check whether it may be considered a business. All business income, regardless of amount, is assessable and must be declared.^iv

If you intend to claim deductions for business expenses related to your side hustle, ensure they are directly connected to earning that income and are supported by receipts.

Time for a portfolio review

Recent market volatility makes this a good time to review your investment strategy.

Checking your capital gains or losses before 30 June allows you to take action where appropriate.

For example, you may consider realising capital losses to offset gains from assets such as shares, property or crypto.

Tax timing strategies

If you have regular deductible expenses, such as investment loan interest or annual costs, it may be useful for some to prepaying them before 30 June to claim a deduction for this financial year.

You may also consider the timing of income expected before 30 June. Deferring income until after the end of the financial year may help reduce your tax liability.

Tax rates are also changing for lower income earners. From 1 July 2026, the rate for income between $18,201 and $45,000 will reduce from 16 per cent to 15 per cent, with a further reduction to 14 per cent the following year.

Super contribution strategies

The end of the financial year is an ideal time to review your super contributions.

If you plan to contribute before 30 June, check when your employer will make their contributions. The introduction of Payday Super means some employers are contributing earlier, which may affect your contribution caps.

Ways you could boost your super before 30 June include:

1.  Salary sacrifice – make concessional (before-tax) contributions using a salary sacrifice arrangement.
 
2.  Personal deductible contributions – You may be eligible to claim a tax deduction for personal contributions, if you have spare cash available.
 
3.  Catch-up contributions – Unused concessional caps from the past five years if eligible.

4.  Non-concessional contributions – Non-concessional contributions, made from your savings or after-tax pay.

5.  Government co-contribution – Low-to-middle income earners making after-tax contributions before 30 June may be eligible to receive up to $500 from the government as a co-contribution.

6.  Spouse contribution tax offset – If your spouse earns less than $40,000, you may be eligible for a tax offset of up to $540 by contributing to their super.

For SMSF members, make sure that:

• All contributions are received by the fund’s bank account by 30 June

• Minimum pension payments are made

• Asset valuations are up to date

• Fund records are current

Be alert for tax time misinformation

The ATO is warning taxpayers to be cautious about the growing wave of tax “tips”, shortcuts and refund claims circulating online.

Content from social media, “finfluencers” and even artificial intelligence tools can sound convincing, but it is not always accurate or relevant to Australian tax law. Acting on this kind of advice can lead to incorrect claims, delays in processing returns and, in some cases, penalties.

The key message is simple: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, says ATO Assistant Commissioner Anita Challen.

“In an environment where misinformation can spread within minutes, it’s important to pause and check your tax information before you act on it,” she says.

Larger refunds, easy deductions or so-called “loopholes” should always be checked against trusted sources.

While AI tools can be useful, they often draw on a mix of outdated or international information, which may not apply to your situation, she says.

Ultimately, you are responsible for the accuracy of everything included in your tax return, regardless of where the advice came from.

Taking a few extra minutes to verify information before you lodge can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your return on the right side of the rules.

Please get in touch if you need any help preparing for the end of the financial year.

Source: https://www.ato.gov.au

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Reform and resilience in uncertain times

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has framed the 2026 Federal Budget as “the most important and ambitious budget in decades”.

“This Budget is about getting us through the global oil shock and taking pressure off Australians while building a stronger economy, better tax system, a more sustainable budget and lifting living standards,” the Treasurer told Parliament.

With an overarching theme of ‘reform and resilience’, the Federal Government is aiming to shore up investor confidence at a time when the global economy teeters thanks to war in the Middle East and the disruption of global oil supplies. Despite the challenges, Treasury says Australia’s economy continues to grow faster than every major advanced economy.

For households and wage earners, the Budget delivers a mix of targeted cost-of-living relief and significant structural reform, particularly in tax and housing.

The big picture

At the headline level, the Budget forecasts an underlying cash deficit of $31.5 billion in 2026–27, an improvement of $2.8 billion on the mid‑year update, despite slower global growth and higher oil prices.

Economic growth is forecast to slow from 2.25 per cent this financial year to 1.75 per cent in 2026–27, reflecting weaker international conditions, before gradually strengthening over the medium term. Inflation is expected to rise temporarily in the June quarter to around 5 per cent driven largely by fuel and transport costs linked to the war‑driven global oil shock. Despite this near-term pressure, the Government continues to project a return to a balanced budget in the mid-2030s followed by modest surpluses.

The Treasurer maintains that budget repair is being driven primarily by savings and spending restraint, rather than broad-based tax increases.

From a policy perspective, the Budget rests on five pillars: managing the global oil shock; easing cost‑of‑living pressures; lifting productivity; reforming the tax system; and strengthening national resilience. Each has direct implications for household finances, superannuation, investment structures and long‑term planning.

The Treasurer has made clear that a major goal is to “rebalance the tax system” so that wage earners are not treated substantially differently from those who earn income through assets and investments.

While some measures will take years to flow through, the direction is to prioritise the national security, energy supply, productivity and care sectors, while accepting political risk, to strengthen the economy over the medium to long term.

Cost-of-living

The Government has been careful to structure cost-of-living measures so that they don’t meaningfully add to inflation. The most prominent initiative is the Working Australians Tax Offset, providing a $250 offset for more than 13 million employees from the 2027–28 income year.

In addition, workers will be able to claim a $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses from 2026–27, without the need to keep receipts.

Income tax thresholds will also be adjusted. From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate, applying to income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent before falling further to 14 per cent from 1 July 2027.

The government will increase Medicare Levy low-income thresholds by 2.9 per cent from the 2025–26 income year, a change expected to benefit more than one million lower-income Australians who will remain exempt from the Levy or pay a reduced rate.

Productivity

Productivity comes in for renewed focus, reflecting concern that long-term improvements in living standards can’t be sustained without structural change. The Budget allocates funding aimed at reducing red tape by an estimated $10.2 billion per year, including faster environmental approvals and streamlined foreign investment processes.

Housing construction remains a central productivity priority. New funding for local infrastructure is designed to support up to 65,000 extra homes, alongside measures to fast‑track skilled migrant trades and improve construction capacity.

Investment in transport infrastructure also features prominently, with $8.6 billion committed to nationally significant road and rail projects, improving freight efficiency and workforce mobility particularly across the regions.

Taken together, these measures represent a shift toward capability building. For business owners and investors, the emphasis is on reducing friction, improving labour supply and supporting capital investment that lifts output over time rather than fuelling higher prices.

Tax reform

The most debated element of the Budget is the tax reform package directed at property investors and discretionary trusts.

From 1 July 2027, negative gearing will be limited to new housing, with existing arrangements grandfathered. At the same time, the 50 per cent capital gains tax (CGT) discount will be replaced with cost-base indexation, alongside a new minimum effective tax rate of 30 per cent on capital gains.

The CGT settings for super and self-managed super funds will remain unchanged, which means investors will continue to receive a CGT discount of 33.33 per cent for relevant assets held for over 12 months in super.

The Government argues these changes are essential to address intergenerational inequity and housing affordability, while continuing to support investors who add to new housing supply. Treasury modelling suggests a modest impact on rents over time, with savings redirected toward care services and tax relief for wage earners.

Trusts have also been brought into the Government’s tax reform agenda, with a new minimum 30 per cent tax rate to apply to discretionary trust distributions from 1 July 2028. The measure is aimed at improving integrity and reducing income‑splitting arrangements that allow some taxpayers to pay significantly less tax than wage earners on comparable incomes.

Housing affordability

The Treasurer aims to address housing shortages and affordability, by increasing total investment to $47 billion and supporting an estimated 75,000 additional Australians to achieve home ownership over the next decade through the tax reform package.

The Government claims around 65,000 additional homes will be delivered over 10 years through its support for new developments. A new $2 billion fund has been established to help local governments and state utilities build the infrastructure needed to support new housing.

To free up additional supply, the Government is extending the ban on foreign buyers purchasing established homes until mid-2029.

Aged care and health

Health and aged care receive significant additional funding as demand continues to rise. The Budget commits $25 billion in additional hospital funding over the medium term, alongside incentives to expand bulk billing and reduce strain on emergency departments.

The Government has confirmed further reductions in the cost of medicines, building on earlier PBS reforms, with cheaper scripts and faster access to newly listed drugs funded through additional PBS investment.

Aged care reform focuses on both supply and workforce sustainability. The Government will fund incentives to support construction of an additional 5,000 residential aged care beds per year by 2029.

The NDIS also features prominently, with continued efforts to rein in unsustainable cost growth and strengthen integrity. Measures include tightening eligibility, reducing rorting and redirecting funding towards participants with the highest needs.

Future proofing

The focus on national resilience is a defining characteristic of the Budget. Fuel security is front and centre following the global oil shock, with measures to secure domestic fuel reserves, reserve 20 per cent of gas exports for Australian use and provide concessional finance to logistics and manufacturing firms most exposed to price volatility.

Defence spending also rises sharply, with a record additional $53 billion committed over the coming decade. The focus is on readiness, supply chains and regional security, reflecting growing geopolitical risk in the Indo‑Pacific and beyond.

Looking ahead

The outlook remains uncertain. Treasury acknowledges the risk of further inflation spikes if global energy markets deteriorate, with worst-case scenarios still modelling inflation above 7 per cent and higher unemployment. But the central forecast avoids recession and assumes gradual improvement from late 2027 onward.

If you have any questions about how the 2026 Federal Budget may affect your personal finances, please contact us to discuss.

Information in this article has been sourced from the Budget Speech 2026-27 and Federal Budget Support documents.  

It is important to note that the policies outlined in this article are yet to be passed as legislation and therefore may be subject to change. 

The post Federal Budget 2026-27 Analysis appeared first on MS Group.

Topping the list is preparing for the introduction of and the Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions on 1 July 2026.

Payday Super is a change to when you make your employees’ Superannuation Guarantee (SG) payment. From 1 July 2026, the SG must be paid to an employee’s super fund on payday and be received by the fund within seven business days. If you are taking on new employees or paying to a new super fund, these funds must be received within 20 business days.ⁱ

Employers are considered to have made a contribution when the fund receives it, not when they pay it, so SMSFs need to have the necessary systems set up and in place from 1 July.

Who’s affected?

The ATO has warned SMSF trustees that Payday Super should not be ignored.

If you are a business owner and pay contributions for yourself or your employees into an SMSF, the fund will be receiving more contributions and there will be increased administration requirements to deal with payment timing and record keeping.

ATO deputy commissioner Emma Rosenzweig says SMSFs need to be prepared to receive contribution payments and data more frequently and faster than they currently do.ⁱⁱ

“This reform will almost certainly drive significant change for funds in the way contributions are received and the biggest mistake you can make is to think that Payday Super is just an employer problem,” she says.

The strict timing rules also come with tougher penalties and any delay may incur a Super Guarantee Charge, which is not tax deductible.

New clearing house partners

SMSFs also need to be prepared for closure of the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) from 1 July 2026.ⁱⁱⁱ

Employers currently using the SBSCH should take immediate action to find an alternative. You could check your accounting software and payroll packages, which may already include super functions, or look at the options offered by commercial clearing houses or other software providers.

Failing to prepare for the SBSCH closure means you may risk a fine.

SuperStream updates

Payday Super’s 1 July start date will also usher in changes to contributions messaging within the SuperStream system, the electronic standardised format employers must use to make super contributions.^iv

Changes include clearer error messaging and are designed to reduce employee contributions being rejected by the receiving super fund.

SMSF trustees need to ensure their internal systems are updated and ready to cope with the SuperStream changes, as timely and correct contribution payments are a key goal of the new rules.

According to Rosenzweig, one of the most common SMSF errors in this area is where the Electronic Service Address (ESA) was never activated with the provider or is no longer active.

This error means the employer receives a SuperStream error message but does not receive the matching refunded super contribution.

“SMSFs should ensure they have an active ESA that will receive SuperStream contribution data to continue receiving contributions from employers.”

Prepare for earlier contributions

The ATO is encouraging employers not to wait until 1 July to start making Payday Super contributions to help improve the transition.

SMSFs should also ensure they are able to receive contributions via the New Payments Platform (NPP), as employers who currently use direct debit are being encouraged to move to faster payment methods such as EFT and NPP.

With contributions flowing in more regularly – rather than quarterly – it may also be timely to reassess your SMSF’s investment strategy and portfolio allocation to ensure it remains suitable for the shift in contribution flows.

High balance tax changes

Another thing to be mindful of is from 1 July 2026, SMSFs will need to be prepared for the commencement of the government’s much delayed Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions.^v

These new rules are intended to reduce tax concessions for individuals with a Total Super Balance (TSB) above $3 million.

Under the new rules, people with higher super account balances will face a higher 30 per cent concessional tax rate on the proportion of earnings corresponding to their TSB between $3 million and $10 million.

A second tax threshold is being introduced for account balances above $10 million. The total concessional tax rate applying to the proportion of earnings corresponding to TSBs over $10 million will be 40 per cent.^vi

Both the $3 million and $10 million super balance thresholds will be indexed to maintain relativity with the Transfer Balance Cap (TBC). The earnings tax will only apply to ‘realised’ gains on assets, such as when interest is earned or a property is sold.^vii

SMSFs will be responsible for working out the member’s earnings, with the ATO requesting the necessary information after identifying someone subject to the tax.

With a higher TBC in place for 2025-26, SMSFs should consider the implications of the new tax regime prior to making any pre-30 June contributions and potentially breaching the indexed thresholds in future financial years.

If you need help preparing your SMSF for the upcoming changes, contact our office today.

i Spotlight on… Payday Super | Australian Taxation Office

ii SMSF Association National Conference address | Australian Taxation Office

iii The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is closing | Australian Taxation Office

iv SuperStream for employers | Australian Taxation Office

v Better targeted superannuation concessions | Australian Taxation Office

vi Reforms to support low-income workers and build a stronger super system | Treasury.gov.au

vii Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions | ATO

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Manage your cash flow

If you’re self-employed you’re in good company. More than 62% of businesses in Australia are sole traders, with no employees. However, sole traders also have lower survival rates than larger businesses. Since 2019/20, more than half of new sole traders did not survive beyond three years. So planning for longevity means planning your money stuff.

Cash flow means the money coming in and going out of your business. Many self-employed people earn a good living but the flow of money is not always regular. Sometimes you’ll have more going out than coming in, and invoices might not get paid on time.

To help with your cash flow, have a business plan and a budget to help you look ahead and prepare for the unexpected. Keep a close eye on your income and expenses, and make tweaks along the way. For example, consider only making larger purchases once you’ve paid yourself and covered regular bills.

Keep some money aside for the unexpected, as being self-employed means you won’t have the benefit of paid holidays or sick leave. Regularly saving a little extra will help you manage during quiet periods, as well as funding a well-deserved break.

Separate your wages and business money

Make a clear division between ‘your money’ and what belongs to the business. Pay yourself a wage, and keep separate bank accounts so that business spending doesn’t get mixed up with your own.

This makes it clear what the business has earned and paid out. It’s also easier to see the financial state (the ‘profit and loss’) of the business at any time.

Nathan stays on top of a variable income

Nathan runs his own business as a landscaper.

Nathan’s income and expenses go up and down through the year. At first, he found this hard to manage. So he added up his monthly expenses to work out an amount to pay himself each month.

Next, he worked out his monthly cash flow by looking at what he earned across the whole year, then dividing it by 12 to get a monthly average. This tells him whether he’s earned extra or not.

When Nathan earns more than usual, he now puts the extra into savings to get him through the leaner months. This means he has funds to cover unexpected business costs, such as an urgent repair.

Think about tax early

It’s important to think about tax throughout the year, not only at tax time. Get advice from an accountant and plan for what’s coming.

Income tax

If you’re self-employed, you need to pay your own income tax.

Put money aside as you earn it, rather than waiting to receive a big tax bill. Open a savings account and transfer a percentage each time you get paid. Make this account for tax payments only, and off limits for other spending.

If your business grows, the Australian Taxation Office may require you to pay income tax in quarterly instalments. This is known as pay as you go (PAYG). Get an idea of how much you might have to pay with their PAYG instalment calculator.

Goods and services tax (GST)

Businesses that earn over $75,000 per year must register for GST. Once you’ve registered, you must lodge a regular Business Activity Statement (BAS) to report how much GST your business has collected and is claiming. This may be quarterly or annually.

You can use our GST calculator to calculate the amount of GST you have to charge your customers or pay your suppliers.

Use the GST calculator

Tax deductions

You may be able to claim some of your business costs against your income, meaning you pay less tax. Speak to your accountant and keep all your receipts in case you need them.

Make your super count

Superannuation may not be at the top of your list when you’re starting out by yourself. But getting on top of it early can help you save for the future. Super is a tax-efficient way of saving money to live on when you stop working.

Since you won’t get regular super contributions from an employer, it’s up to you to make them yourself. As well as investing for your future, you can generally claim your super contributions as a tax deduction.

Protect your income — and your business

Without sick leave, getting sick or injured can mean financial difficulties. Income protection insurance can help you pay your bills if you can’t work.

If you have a super fund, find out whether they offer income protection insurance as part of the package.

If you’re moving from employee to self-employed, check if this affects the insurance cover through your super. Insurance terms and conditions vary from fund to fund.

Consider other types of insurance that can protect you and your business. Like public liability insurance and workers compensation insurance.

Know the legal stuff

Setting yourself up properly – legally and financially – is key when you start a small business.

If you own and run your business as a director under a company structure, you will need to apply for a director ID.

Many small businesses form part of the value chain of larger businesses, who have reporting obligations to the Australian government related to climate change. If you deal with larger businesses, keep in mind that at times you may be asked for information about your business to help them fulfil their obligations.  

Get help if you need it

Help from a financial professional

If you need help with your business finances, consider seeking out a licensed financial professional.

• We can help with your BAS (business activity statement) and PAYG (Pay as you go) instalments.

• A bookkeeper can help keep track of day-to-day financial transactions.

• We can help you with tax and preparing your BAS.

Source:
Reproduced with the permission of ASIC’s MoneySmart Team. This article was originally published at https://moneysmart.gov.au/work-and-tax/self-employment
Important note: This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account.  It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, we do not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person.  Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns.
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While the proposal is yet to be legislated, several key changes have been introduced.

What’s changing?

The revised proposal excludes unrealised capital gains, meaning only realised gains including profits from the sale of assets like shares or property will be subject to this additional tax.

Another change is the introduction of a two-tiered system rather than a single flat tax rate:

• The total concessional tax rate applied to earnings on balances between $3 million and $10 million will increase from 15% to 30%.
• The total concessional tax rate applied to earnings on balances over $10 million will increase from 15% to 40%.

Importantly, under the revised proposal, both the $3 million and $10 million thresholds will be indexed over time. This means the thresholds will gradually rise, recognising that $3 million today won’t go as far in 10 or 20 years.

Finally, the government has delayed the proposed start date by one year until 1 July 2026.

How will it work?

Treasury have published a fact sheet about the proposed changes, which they’ve called Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions (BTSC), including detail about how the policy will work.

It includes two examples, which show how the changes would work in practice:

Example 1: Megan – both APRA-regulated fund and SMSF interests

Megan is 58 and she is both a member of an APRA-regulated fund and a member of an SMSF and has a total super balance of $4.5 million, of which $2.3 million is in an APRA fund and the remaining $2.2 million is in an SMSF.

In the 2026-27 financial year, Megan had $100,000 in realised earnings from her APRA fund and $200,000 in realised earnings from her SMSF (a total of $300,000).

The proportion of her $4.5 million balance above the $3 million threshold is 33.33%. The proportion above $10 million is nil.

Megan’s BTSC tax liability is therefore $15,000 (0.15 x 0.3333 x $300,000).

Example 2: Emma – SMSF member with over $10 million

Emma is 55 and a member of an SMSF and has a total super balance of $12.9 million at the end of the 2026-27 income year. That year she was attributed $840,000 of the fund’s realised earnings for the purposes of this tax.

The proportion of her balance above the $3 million threshold is 76.74% and the proportion of her balance above the $10 million threshold is 22.48%.

Emma’s BTSC tax liability is therefore $115,581 (0.15 x 0.7674 x $840,000 + 0.10 x 0.2248 x $840,000). Note the combined BTSC tax rate on earnings over $10 million is 25%.

Why these changes matter

It’s important to note that this legislation will need to pass Parliament before it can come into effect.

The government has also indicated it will undertake further consultation with the superannuation industry and other relevant stakeholders.

If implemented, these changes could have a significant impact on individuals with large superannuation balances and the way they plan for retirement.

If your super balance is approaching or exceeds these thresholds, it may be worth reviewing your situation and seeking financial advice.

How the LISTO is changing

At the same time, the government has announced a boost to the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) to support lower-income earners.

From 1 July 2027, the LISTO income threshold will increase from $37,000 to $45,000, while the maximum payment will rise from $500 to $810.

The government says that changes could see the total number of Australians eligible for LISTO increasing to 3.1 million.

For more information about the LISTO, visit the ATO website.

Source: Vanguard October 2025 This article has been reprinted with the permission of Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. Copyright Smart Investing™

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Many small business owners are feeling the pinch after the tough years of COVID and high inflation, but receiving a business grant could be the helping hand you need.

If you know where to look, some extra dollars from the federal or your state/territory government could make all the difference between merely getting by and a flourishing business.

What grants are available?

Grants for small businesses are offered in a variety of areas and range from a few hundred dollars to around $10,000. Some also provide support with securing loans, business introductions, or mentoring services.

National grants tend to be in areas such as international trade, commercialisation of new products, or help for start-ups with significant potential. Examples include reimbursement for export promotions in international markets and upskilling rural medical practitioners.

State-level grants usually provide funding to businesses meeting the particular government’s development agenda and key industries, such as mining or agriculture. Some state governments provide funding for SME start-ups and hiring new employees.

Where do I look?

The best place to start searching for a business grant is GrantConnect, a free database listing all Australian Government grant opportunities currently open to applicants.

This online tool allows you to search for new grant opportunities, find out who has been awarded grants and check for upcoming grant programs.

Another important resource is the business.gov.au Grants and Programs Finder tool, which can help you find grants, funding and support from Australian Government agencies. Available grants and programs can be filtered by industry, type of support, and business structure and stage to make the process quick and easy.

Listings include free mental health coaching for small business owners, loans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned small businesses, and financial incentives for hiring new staff.

The government’s Australian Small Business Advisory Services program delivers tailored advice on adopting digital tools to save time and money, and to help expand your business. Businesses with fewer than 20 full-time (or equivalent) employees, as well as sole traders are eligible.

Tech companies can check out the government’s Landing Pads program. This helps tech businesses expand into new markets by providing valuable market insights, expansion strategies, network introductions and venture capital contacts.

Each state and territory offers a range of grants to encourage local businesses. Grants vary between states, so check the online database listing the programs for your state/territory to see if any are suitable for your business.

The NSW Government for example, has a searchable Grants and Funding database highlighting financial incentives for businesses, such as payroll tax rebates for employing apprentices and trainees and the $1,000 SafeWork rebate.

In WA, the Grants Assistance and Programs Register includes both national and local grants, including the New Industries Fund: Innovation Booster Grant and regional Local Capability Fund.

For Victorian-based small businesses, check out the government’s Grants and Programs online database.

If you haven’t found a suitable grant or program, another potential source of information is Grants Hub. Although you need to register for access, you can try it out for 14 days for free.

Read the fine print

When ‘free’ money is up for grabs there is always fierce competition, so it’s important to put in a strong application.

The process will be different for each grant, making it essential to read all the information provided before getting started. Also, check that you meet the criteria, as applications will only be considered from businesses meeting the eligibility requirements.

It’s important to tailor your application to meet the grant requirements and check you prepare all the required documentation. This needs to be in the specified format.

Applying for a grant can be time-consuming, so start early and don’t leave it until the last minute to get your documentation together.

Where to start

There are private operators who offer to find business grants for a fee, but details of government grants are freely available on GrantConnect and Business.gov.au, or your state government’s website.

Small business and industry associations sometimes offer grants, so it may also be worth checking the relevant one for your business.

An easy way to find additional funding opportunities can also be to talk to us, as we can help you with government tax programs, such as the small business tax write‑off.

If the grant application process seems too time-consuming, consider hiring someone to help. While a consultant can write your application, grants are awarded on merit and using one will not give you any special access or consideration.

If you need help with finding or applying for a business grant, call our office today.

Are business grants worthwhile?

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Welcome to our June newsletter and, as the winter sets in and the end of the financial year approaches, it’s a good chance to spend some time tidying up and reviewing your finances.

Concerns that the Reserve Bank may lift interest rates this month, along with the drama over the US debt ceiling and the worry that the US Treasury may run out of cash, have affected local markets and the Australian dollar.

The dollar is at its lowest level in six months, at just under US65 cents, while the ASX200 ended the month nearly 3% down thanks also to weaker commodity prices. Energy and mining stocks led the falls. Brent Crude was down 7.5% for the month while iron ore prices hit a six-month low.

Inflation rose 6.8% in the 12 months to April, up from 6.3% in March and the number of housing approvals nosedived in April, down 8.1% after a 1.0% fall in March.

The rising prices have continued to dent consumer confidence. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence survey has now spent 13 straight weeks at its lowest mark since the 1990-1991 recession. The survey reveals that only 7% of Australians expect good times ahead for the Australian economy in the next 12 months. With less money to go around, retail trade has plateaued over the past six months.

The latest unemployment figures show a slight increase to 3.7% in April and a slight decrease in the participation rate.

 

 

Get your SMSF shipshape for EOFY

If you have an SMSF, it’s essential to get your fund is in good shape and ready for June 30 and the annual audit.

It’s particularly important this year, because the ATO is focussed on fixing a number of issues when it comes to SMSFs. These include high rates of non-lodgment and problematic related party loans by SMSF members operating small businesses.

Check your paperwork is up-to-date

Review all the administrative responsibilities of your SMSF to identify any incomplete ones. These include updating the fund’s minutes to record all decisions and actions taken during the year, lodging any required Transfer Balance Account Reports (TBARs), and documenting decisions about benefit payments and withdrawals.

Although it’s easy to forget, SMSFs are required to keep all contact details, banking details and electronic service address up-to-date with the ATO.

Make contributions and payments early

If you want a super contribution counted in the 2022–23 financial year, ensure the fund’s bank account receives payment by 30 June.

Minimum pension payments to members also need to be made by 30 June to meet the annual payment rules and ensure the income stream doesn’t cease for income tax purposes.

Ensure contribution administration is ready

If your SMSF receives tax-effective super contributions for salary sacrifice arrangements, ensure the fund has all the necessary paperwork before the arrangements commences.

Check you have appropriate evidence (and trust deed authority) to verify any downsizer contributions. From 1 January 2023, SMSF members aged 55 and over are eligible to make a downsizer contribution of up to $300,000 ($600,000 for a couple).

Lodge your annual return on time

Non-lodgment of the annual return is a major red flag for the ATO, particularly for new SMSFs.

Ensure your annual return is prepared and lodged on time to avoid coming under the tax man’s microscope for potential illegal early access or non-compliance.

Consider implications of new tax rules

The planned new tax on member balances over $3 million could create significant issues for some SMSF members, so trustees should review the potential implications ahead of EOFY.

Funds with large, lumpy assets such as business real property should consider the implications and liquidity issues of members implementing strategies designed to limit the impact of the new tax.

Value the fund’s assets

SMSF rules require all fund assets to be valued at market value at year-end, including investments in unlisted companies or trusts, cryptocurrency, and collectible assets. The ATO is monitoring this area, so trustees should organise appropriate valuations as soon as possible.

Ensure valuations can be substantiated if there are audit queries and the process is undertaken in line with valuation guidelines.

Reassess your investment strategy

Review the fund’s investment strategy to ensure it covers all relevant areas, including whether investment asset ranges remain relevant to your investment objectives. Deviations from strategic asset ranges must be documented, together with intended actions to address them.

Review your NALE

Non-arm’s length expenses (NALE) and income are key interest areas for the ATO, so check the fund complies with the rules.

Pay particular attention to all SMSF transactions involving related parties and ensure their arm’s length nature can be fully substantiated.

Get your auditor onboard

Trustees are required to appoint their auditor at least 45 days before lodgment due date, so ensure you have this organised.

Prepare for earlier TBAR reporting

From 1 July 2023, SMSFs will be required to report TBARs more frequently. All TBAR events will need to be submitted 28 days after the quarter in which the event occurred, so ensure you have systems in place to meet the new requirement.

All TBAR events occurring in 2022-23 will need to be reported by 28 October 2023.

Ensure trustees have a director ID

SMSF with a corporate structure must ensure all trustees have a director ID number. Although this was a requirement from 1 November 2022, many SMSF trustees are yet to apply.

Holding a director ID is an essential part of the SMSF registration process and directors must apply via the Australian Business Registry Services website.

If you would like to discuss EOFY tasks for your SMSF or your personal super contributions, call our office today.

Tax Alert June 2023

Budget incentives and crackdowns on unpaid tax debts and rental deductions

Although this year’s Federal Budget was short on big changes when it came to tax, there still have still been some important developments in this area. Here are some of the latest developments in the world of tax.

Small business tax incentives and write-offs

The budget ushered in some valuable new tax incentives for small businesses, including halving the increase in quarterly tax instalments from 12 per cent to 6 per cent for both GST and income tax during 2023-24.

The government also introduced a bonus 20 per cent deduction for businesses with turnovers under $50 million when they spend on energy saving upgrades. Up to $100,000 of total expenditure will be eligible, with the maximum bonus tax deduction being $20,000 per business.

Although smaller than the previous year, the instant asset write-off continues in 2023-24 with up to $20,000 available for immediate deduction on eligible assets.

The planned third tranche of personal income tax cuts due to start next financial year also remained in place, while >the low and middle income tax offset was not extended.

Super changes for employers

Another significant tax change announced in the budget will affect employers. From 1 July 2026 employers will be required to pay their Super Guarantee (SG) obligations at the same time they pay employee salary and wages.

The ATO has received additional resources to help it detect unpaid super payments earlier.

Employers also need to remember the SG amount for employee super rises to 11 per cent from 1 July 2023.

Tax debt warnings sent out

The ATO is continuing to write to directors of companies with tax debts warning if the company hasn’t paid the amount owing or contacted it to make other arrangements, a director penalty notice  (DPN) may be issued.

DPNs are issued to current directors and anyone who was a director at the time the company failed to pay. They make directors personally liable for failure to meet pay-as-you-go withholding (PAYGW), GST and Super Guarantee Charge obligations.

Directors receiving these letters need to arrange payment of the overdue amount or enter into a payment plan.

Data-matching adds investment properties

Residential investment property loans (RIPL) are the latest target of the ATO’s increasingly wide-ranging data-matching program.

Data will be obtained from financial institutions including all the major banks, regional banks and building societies.

The information is being collected following the ATO’s identification of a tax gap of $1 billion for individuals in the 2020-21 financial year due to incorrect reporting of rental property expenses.

Self-education expenses under spotlight

The ATO is currently developing a new draft taxation ruling covering the deductibility of self-education expenses incurred by an employee or an individual carrying on a business.

The draft ruling will reflect the current rules in this area following repeal of several sections of the Income Tax Assessment Act and some new legal decisions. The new ruling is expected to be completed in late June.

Taxpayers claiming self-education expenses recently had the existing requirement to exclude the first $250 of deductions removed.

GST fraud enforcement continues

The clampdown on the biggest GST fraud in Australia’s history is continuing, with a raft of enforcement activity undertaken by the ATO-led Serious Financial Crime Taskforce in recent months.

Search warrants were executed in three states against individuals suspected of promoting the fraud. This follows previous compliance action against more than 53,000 people, with two individuals sentenced to jail time for their GST fraud activities.

Cyber safety checklist released

The ATO is again emphasising the importance of business cyber safety by releasing a new checklist for small businesses.

The tips include simple ideas for keeping business and client data safe from cybercriminals, such as turning on automatic updates and using multi-factor authentication when possible.

Resources for training staff on preventing, recognising, and reporting cyber incidents are available from the government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre.

The importance of getting enough ZZZZ’s

Who says we can’t achieve more if we sleep less? Science, that’s who!

To be fair, there are many successful people who credit their success to managing or indeed thriving, on a few hours’ sleep so they can get more done. Martha Stewart, the American media personality, sleeps around four hours a night, stating: “Sleep is not the most important thing.” While Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light, kept the lights on – rejecting the idea of sleeping at night for napping for 15 minutes every four hours.

The science of sleep

The idea that successful people don’t sleep is an odd one, when you consider the science.

Scientists have long theorised about why we need to sleep. The most respected theories see sleep consisting of restorative processes that occur when normal brain function is partially suspended, and brain activity suggests information is being “replayed” during certain stages of sleep to consolidate memory.

A good night’s sleep

Given that sleep is as critical to our survival as food and oxygen – how much sleep is enough?

While there may be some individuals who function ok on just a few hours’ sleep, it’s thought that most adults need between 6- and 9-hour’s sleep for optimal health and wellbeing. On average, we manage less than six.ⁱ

It looks like those successful people who “humble boast” about how little sleep they get, might be in fact jeopardising their success by missing the benefits of a good night’s sleep.ⁱⁱ

The impact of sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation has a powerful impact on your thought processes so it’s quite ironic that there are those who credit their success in part to sleeping less than the recommended amount.

Sleep duration and quality impacts more than just the obvious things like your mood and clarity of thought. Inadequate sleep can compromise decision-making processes, impact creative thought and the retention of information.

Sleep is also critically important to our physical wellbeing. Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and obesity.

How do I get a better night sleep?

If you are one of those ‘too busy to sleep’ people, it might be time to prioritise restful sleep. And if you are tossing and turning at night there is a lot you can do to get a better night’s sleep.

To sleep well, the most important thing you can do is set the scene to easily drift off to sleep and then stay asleep. That means making sure your sleeping environment is comfortable, quiet, and dark. Exposure to light, particularly light from screens like your phone or computer at night-time can mess up the body’s production of a hormone called melatonin that helps us to fall asleep, and sleeping in a room that is not very dark is not conducive to quality sleep – so close those blinds and turn off those devices.

Setting yourself up for a good night sleep can also involve a combination of deep breathing, relaxation, and creative visualisation techniques. This infamous sleep ‘hack’ is used by the US military to help soldiers in the field get to sleep involving these practices is considered amazingly effective, if practiced regularly.ⁱⁱⁱ

Going to bed at the same time every night can also help establish good sleep habits and not eating too late at night, and avoiding stimulants like alcohol and caffeine late in the day will also improve your sleep quality.

Getting a good night’s sleep is one way to help you on your path to success. By making some easy tweaks to your routine you’ll be sleeping like a baby and feeling more alert and productive as a result. Goodnight and sleep well!

i https://pilot.com.au/co-pilot/6-hours-sleep
ii https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6281147/
iii https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/military-sleep-method-asleep-anywhere_uk

This advice may not be suitable to you because contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal financial advice prior to acting on this information.

The post Winter 2023 appeared first on MS Group.

A surplus for now but stormy seas ahead

Treasurer Jim Chalmers bills his 2023 Federal Budget as an economic strategy to help ease cost-of-living pressures.

To that end, he has delivered a modest but welcome package of cuts to healthcare, housing and energy costs as well as boosts to welfare payments for single parents and the unemployed.

Banking an unexpected bonus in increased tax revenue and rising commodity prices, the Albanese government has aimed to help the most disadvantaged while also looking ahead with new plans for renewable energy, defence and the arts.

But it has kept its spending under control to deliver a forecast $4.2 billion budget surplus – the first in 15 years.

The Treasurer sums up his second budget as “a plan for security, for prosperity, for growth”.

The big picture

While the first budget surplus in a decade and a half is to be celebrated, the joy will be short-lived. By next year’s budget, it’s expected there will be a return to small deficits for the next few years.

That’s because the global economy is slowing thanks to persistent inflation and higher interest rates. Aside from the pandemic and the 2007 Global Financial Crisis, the next two years are expected to be the weakest for global growth in more than two decades.

As a result, the government expects Australia’s economic growth to slow from 3.25 per cent in 2022-23 to just 1.5 per cent the following year, before recovering a little to 2.25 per cent.

In this environment, the treasurer continues to mark inflation as the government’s primary economic challenge. He says that is why the budget is “calibrated to alleviate inflationary pressures, not add to them”.

The good news is that the Reserve Bank says inflation is falling slightly faster than it had first forecast and has now passed its peak.ⁱ It is expected to be around 4.5 per cent by the end of the year, a long way from last year’s CPI rate of 7.8 per cent.ⁱⁱ

Easing the cost of living

The government’s $14.6 billion package of cost cuts aimed at helping some of those most affected by rising costs covers energy bills, health and medical services, and welfare payments.

There will be energy bill relief to around five million households and one million small businesses. From July 2023, eligible households will receive up to $500 and eligible small businesses up to $650.

The government will also introduce a number of energy saving programs for households including low-interest loans and funds for upgrades to social housing. And there will be access to better information on reducing energy bills.

Health and medical

Countering a major expense for many, the government is pouring in billions of dollars to ease health and medical costs and access to services.

It will spend an extra $3.5 billion to provide incentives to doctors to bulk bill Concession Card holders and children under 16. It’s expected that the increased bulk billing incentive will help around 11.6 million people.

The cost of medicines is also likely to change for many who suffer chronic health conditions. From 1 September 2023, some patients will be eligible to be prescribed two months’ worth of medicine at a time, instead of one month’s worth. It’s expected this change will cut the number of visits to GPs and pharmacies, and the government estimates at least six million people will see their bills for medicines reduced by half.

The government is also providing $2.2 billion over five years for new and amended listings to the PBS, including treatment for cystic fibrosis.

Meanwhile, to improve access to care and reduce the strain on hospitals, a further $358.5 million will be spent to open a further eight Urgent Care Clinics. The clinics will bulk bill and remain open for longer hours.

Welfare boost

Income support payments including JobSeeker, Austudy and Youth Allowance will rise by $40 a fortnight following a concerted campaign by lobby groups in the months leading up to the budget.

And, recognising the extra challenges faced by older people looking for work, those aged 55 and over and out of work for at least nine continuous months, will now receive the higher rate JobSeeker payment currently paid to those over 60. Around 52,000 people will receive the increase of $92.10 a fortnight.

There will be more support for eligible single parents from September 2023. They will receive the Parenting Payment until their youngest child turns 14 (currently up to eight years old). Those receiving the payment will also benefit from more generous earning arrangements compared to JobSeeker. Eligible single parents with one child will be able to earn an extra $569.10 per fortnight, plus an extra $24.60 per additional child, before their payment stops.

Housing assistance

While rents continue to climb sharply around the country, the government has provided only limited assistance to renters. Those receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance will see a 15 per cent increase in their payments from 20 September 2023.

Eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme will be expanded beyond first home buyers to include any 2 eligible borrowers beyond married and de facto couples, and non-first home buyers who have not owned a property in Australia in the preceding 10 years.

The government’s other housing initiatives are medium to long term solutions to the housing crisis.

There are new tax incentives to encourage the construction of more build-to-rent developments. The government claims an extra 150,000 rental properties could be delivered as a result in ten years.

The government is also focusing on providing more affordable housing by supporting more lending to community housing providers for social and affordable housing projects.

Pay rise for aged care workers

Severe staff shortages in the aged care sector, largely been driven by low wages, may abate a little with the government’s commitment to fund a pay rise.

More than $11 billion has been allocated to support an interim 15 per cent increase in award wages.

Support for families

Childcare will be cheaper from July 10, when the government subsidy will increase to 90 per cent for families on a combined income of $80,000 or less.

For families earning over $80,000, the subsidy rate will taper down by 1 percentage point for every additional $5,000 of family income until the subsidy reaches 0 per cent for families earning $530,000.

A more flexible and generous Paid Parental Leave scheme will also be introduced in July. A new family income test of $350,000 per annum will see nearly 3,000 additional parents become eligible for the entitlement each year.

Superannuation

Superannuation is in the government’s sights and employers and individuals with larger balances will be affected.

The concessional tax for those with balances exceeding $3 million will increase from 1 July 2025 to 30 per cent. Earnings on balances below $3 million will continue to be taxed at the concessional rate of 15 per cent.

Meanwhile from 1 July 2026, employers will have to pay their employees’ super at the same time they pay their wages. The government says that in 2019-20, employers failed to pay $3.4 billion of super owing to their employees.

Looking ahead

The stormy global economic outlook will keep Australia on its toes for the next two years or so but the government has attempted both to support those who are particularly vulnerable now and keep an eye to the future with some bigger thinking.

Moving forward, the government wants to position Australia a “renewable energy superpower” with a new Net Zero Authority to help attract new clean energy industries and help workers in coal regions to find new jobs.ⁱⁱⁱ

The arts received a boost with almost $1 billion going to art galleries, museums, arts organisations and the film sector to help address “a decade of chronic underfunding”.^iv,v

And there is the much debated investment in defence – more than $30 billion over the next ten years. Treasurer Chalmers says that while we may have a lot “coming at us – we have a lot going for us too”.

Information in this article has been sourced from the Budget Speech 2023-24 and Federal Budget Support documents.

i RBA says inflation has passed its peak
ii https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/smp/2023/feb/economic-outlook.html
iii https://www.pm.gov.au/media/national-net-zero-authority
iv https://www.arts.gov.au/news/2023-24-federal-budget-revitalise-arts-sector
v https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/burke/media-release/budget-2023-24-albanese-government-revives-australias-arts-and-culture

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