We’re often asked the best way to sell a business. There are two key components at play in the sale of a business; structuring the
transaction and positioning the business to the market. Both elements are important and can significantly impact your result.
Reminder Victorian Government's Sole Trader Support Fund - closes 30 December 2020
Applications for the Victorian Government’s Sole Trader Support Fund closes 30 December 2020. Non-employing sole traders that operate from a premises that is not their residence can apply for a grant of $3,000.
ATO extends JobKeeper deadlines ahead of Christmas, New Year
The Tax Office has announced that the completion of the December business monthly declaration, for employers to be reimbursed for JobKeeper
payments between 23 November 2020 to 3 January 2021, has been extended from the usual lodgement date of the 14 January 2021 to 28 January
2021.
The 2020/21 State Budget was released on the 24 November 2020. The Government states that this is the Budget to repair, recover, and make us
stronger than before. It delivers an infrastructure investment to drive the State’s recovery, with its centerpiece an ambitious Jobs Plan
aimed at creating 400,000 jobs by 2025.
5 things that will make or break your business’s Christmas
The countdown to Christmas is now on and we're in the midst of the headlong rush to get everything done and capitalise on any
remaining opportunity before the Christmas lull. Busy period or not, Christmas causes a period of dislocation and volatility for most
businesses. This dislocation and volatility mean that it is not 'business as usual' and for many businesses, it is the change that
causes the problem.
Now, more than ever, business operators should have a plan in place to manage during uncertain times. Even if your business is not
directly impacted, it’s likely your customers, your supply chain, and your workforce will be to some extent.
So, how do you plan for uncertainty when every assumption is subject to change?
The 2020-21 personal income tax cuts announced in the Federal Budget are now law. Employers need to ensure that the tax withheld from
employee salaries is correct.
We’ve had quite a few questions about the JobMaker hiring credit announced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget. The legislation enabling the
JobMaker scheme has not passed Parliament as yet and until this occurs, the JobMaker rules are not certain and may change.
Stimulating investment is high on the Government’s agenda. To encourage spending, the 2020-21 Budget introduced a measure that allows businesses with turnover under $5bn to immediately deduct the cost of new depreciable assets and the cost of improvements to existing assets
in the first year of use.
The first tranche of JobKeeper ended on 27 September 2020. We look at the issues for those seeking to qualify for the second tranche of
JobKeeper and for those no longer eligible.
Round 3 of Victorian Government Business Grants & Initiatives
This week, the Victorian Government announced a third round of support packages – ensuring businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)
restrictions continue to receive the support they need to make it through restricted trading.
Facebook have announced a USD 100m grants programme to support businesses that may be experiencing disruptions resulting from the global
outbreak of COVID-19.
The first tranche of JobKeeper ends on 27 September 2020. Those needing further support willneed to
reassess their eligibility and prove an actual decline in turnover.
Over the past few months, Fair Work have been continually updating the resources on their website to keep up with the ever changing
landscape of Coronavirus changes to work places.
An essential update on the current state of play of COVID-19 stimulus and support measures across Federal and State/Territory initiatives
for business and individuals.
From 28 September 2020, the second tranche of the JobKeeper scheme changes the eligibility tests for employers and employees, and the method
and amount paid to eligible employees.
Temporary Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020
In this state of emergency and pandemic situation, timely notification of potential workplace transmission of COVID‑19 is critical for
efficient and effective management of related health and safety risks, and the prompt investigation of potential breaches of employer
duties.
We always knew that a Government scheme swiftly distributing cash during a crisis was going to come with equally swift compliance and review
measures, particularly when eligibility was self-assessed. Two major Australian Taxation Office (ATO) initiatives are searching out fraud
and schemes designed to take advantage of the Government’s Coronavirus Economic Response Package.
$5,000 grants to support business through the renewed restrictions
With the reinstated Stage 3 'Stay at Home' restrictions in place across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, the Government have
introduced an initiative to support affected Businesses with a one-off $5,000 grant.
Applications for the program close on 19 August 2020.
The program is in addition to the first round of the Business Support Fund, which closed on 1 June 2020.
Important information for Employees regarding JobKeeper Payments and WorkCover Premiums
On 5 May 2020, the Victorian Government confirmed that any eligible Commonwealth Government JobKeeper Payments to meet the $1,500 threshold
will not affect the calculation of the WorkCover premium.
These changes are to support Victorian employers during the uncertainty of the
coronavirus pandemic.
The company tax rate will reduce to 26% for small and medium businesses from 1 July 2020.
The July change is part of a larger progressive plan to reduce the company tax rate to 25% from 1 July 2021.
Almost Time to Finalise Single Touch Payroll for 2020!
Another End Of Financial Year is upon us! This means that once you have run your last pay run for the 2020 financial year, it is time to
finalise payroll. Now that you are reporting under the Single Touch Payroll (STP) system, you need to complete the STP finalisation process
in your software, rather than preparing year end payment summaries (group certificates).
How to allocate the COVID-19 stimulus package amounts in your bookkeeping
One of the most common questions we are receiving in the last few weeks, is how to allocate the new income amounts received under the
Governments COVID-19 stimulus packages, in your accounting software. Regardless of which software you use, the treatment will be the same:
The JobKeeper subsidy has progressed beyond the rush for eligibility and entered its second phase: compliance. Late last month, the
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released guidance highlighting where the regulator will focus its compliance resources.
Monthly declarations of your current and projected GST turnover are due within fourteen days of the end of each relevant month.
It’s important to ensure that you have paid eligible JobKeeper staff at least $1,500 during each JobKeeper fortnight.
A simple snapshot for employers on the JobKeeper package
The JobKeeper payment is a subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee paid in arrears to the employer by the ATO. It’s for
businesses that have suffered a detrimental decline in business because of COVID 19 to help keep their staff employed.
Here’s a summary of what you need to do to claim JobKeeper payments for April. If these conditions are not met, you might still qualify for
JobKeeper payments later in the year.
Guide to the COVID-19 stimulus and support measures
Following the passage of legislation through Parliament, we have produced a comprehensive guide to the COVID-19 Stimulus & Support
Measures for our clients.
The $1,500 JobKeeper Package - what you need to know
A subsidy of $1,500 per fortnight per employee, administered by the ATO, will be paid to businesses that have experienced a downturn of more
than 30% (50% for businesses over $1bn).
The Victorian Government has announced new measures to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). They come into force at midnight
tonight 25 March 2020.
They have already ordered the closure of hotels, pubs and clubs (excluding bottle shops within those venues), casinos, cinema, nightclub,
entertainment venues, gyms and indoor sporting centres.
There are now further closures of non-essential businesses, limitations on certain activities, and closure of a range of venues, attractions
and facilities where large numbers of people would otherwise be in close proximity.
Federal Government Second $66.1bn Stimulus Package & Victorian Economic Survival Package: What You Need To Know
The Government yesterday released a second, far reaching $66.1bn stimulus package that boosts income support payments, introduces targeted
changes to the superannuation rules, provides cash flow support of up to $100,000 for small business employers, and relaxes corporate
insolvency laws.
One of the most common questions we have received from clients this week is “what are employers obligations in regards to the coronavirus
pandemic”.
Thankfully Fairwork have released some guidelines and likely scenarios for employers. It is a fantastic resource and is being updated
constantly, as this is a new area of law that hasn’t previously been written, so please check back on it regularly over this time.
Empty restaurants and retail stores were one of the first signs of the devastating impact the coronavirus on Australian businesses.
Within a few months, the virus, now called COVID-19, has gone from being a largely unknown medical condition to one that threatens to impair
Australian and global economic growth.
We explore the impact on business and the importance of planning for setbacks beyond your control.
More than a third of all Australians have more than one superannuation account. Moving house, changing jobs or just forgetting to update
your details can easily separate you from your superannuation fund.
For a while now, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has been concerned about tax deductions individuals have been claiming for a whole
host of expenses. The latest on their ‘hit list’ are home office expenses. We guide you through what you can and can’t claim if you
work from home.
A new system alerting SMSF trustees of changes made to their SMSF will roll out this month. The ATO will alert trustees by text and/or email
when changes are made to bank details, electronic service address of the fund, the authorised contact and members.
The ATO has requested insurance policy information from 30 insurers for lifestyle assets such as yachts, thoroughbred horses, and fine arts.
The review, expected to impact 350,000 taxpayers, reaches from the 2015-16 to 2019-20 financial years, revealing assets that previously may
not have been disclosed or underreporting of income.
What can you do to reduce your tax and the tax paid by your business? The answer is quite a bit but it takes planning pre 30 June. Here are
our top tips
Some banks are advising customers with business accounts to transfer excess cash to pay down the business owner's home loan. While it might
sound like common sense to use the excess cash in your business, there are significant potential problems for business owners who do this.
Contact Us Today.
Whatever your requirements, we can help you find the solution.