News / Small Business Accounting News
As the financial year draws to a close, business owners can still take advantage of any benefits that could be available and ensure the business is in good shape for closing one financial year and entering another. Here are some specific matters to be considered in time for 30th June 2019.
On 2 April 2019, the Treasurer of Australia, Josh Frydenberg, announced the 2019-2020 Federal Budget. Highlights include personal tax reductions for low- and middle-income earners, the extension of the instant assets write-off to more businesses, superannuation and social security measures to assist older Australians, and a strengthening of the ABN rules.
Effective from the 2017–18 income year, some companies are eligible for the lower corporate tax rate of 27.5% if certain conditions are met. Find out if your company qualifies for this reduced rate in the financial year 2017-2018 and more reductions in years to follow.
The instant asset write-off scheme for small business has been extended and the threshold increased from $20,000 between 1 July 2018 and 28 January 2019; to $25,000 between 28 January 2019 and 2 April 2019; and up to $30,000 between 2 April 2019 and 30 June 2020. Are you one of the 47% of business owners who don’t seem to know about this potential benefit?
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Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting for employers with 19 or fewer employees will come into effect from 1st July 2019. Is your business ready?
Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting for employers with 20 or more employees (as deemed to be a ‘substantial employer’) came into effect on 1st July 2018 in accordance with new Australian government legislation. From 1st July 2019, this reporting requirement will also most probably come into effect for employers with 19 or fewer employees.
So, what is Single Touch Payroll? How do you prepare for STP? What changes do you need to make? The following simplified explanation could help you better understand Single Touch Payroll reporting and how to get ready for the transition.
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The 2018-2019 Federal Budget, handed down on 8 May 2018, focused on personal taxation, business taxation, superannuation, and measures to assist older Australians. Here, highlights are explained with tables to help calculate savings or changes to previous circumstances as the Budget 2018-2019 measures are brought into effect.
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For many businesses, Xero doesn’t need an introduction. But if you’re not familiar with Xero, it’s cloud accounting software that allows access to your business finances anytime from anywhere via your internet-connected device. Xero lets you collaborate with your accountant, bookkeeper, and staff in real-time. Billings + Ellis is proud to be a Xero partner and even prouder to have recently achieved Xero Gold Partner status. So how does an accounting firm become a Xero Gold partner and what are the benefits?
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Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting affects employers with 20 or more employees (known as a substantial employer) and commences 1st July 2018 in accordance with new Australian government legislation. So, what is Single Touch Payroll? How do you prepare for STP? What changes do you have to make? The following should help you better understand Single Touch Payroll reporting and how to get ready for the transition.
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The Federal Budget announced on 9 May 2017 delivered no sweeping changes to the small business landscape, and increased compliance is something that most business owners have become used to. However, there was some good news for business owners wanting to continue investing in assets to improve business productivity, profitability, and capacity for innovation.
Here we explain Budget highlights as relevant to small business owners:
Belonging to The Qantas Club or Virgin Australia Lounge can provide business travellers with somewhere comfortable and convenient to relax, revitalise, or work productively whilst remaining inside the airport terminal. Exclusive amenities like deluxe armchair seating, hot showers with complimentary towels and toiletries, ‘free’ food and beverages, WiFi, workstations, and priority passenger services don’t come too cheaply, however. Any airport lounge club membership will cost hundreds of dollars per year for each traveller.
Many frequent flyers regard membership of an airport lounge club as vital for relieving some of the stress and work-disruption associated with business travel, and at Billings and Ellis we’re often asked the question: “Are airport lounge club membership fees tax deductible?”
The good news is that airport lounge club memberships can be wholly deductible for businesses with travelling employees. Even sole traders and employees may claim a deduction for their own membership fees in whole or part, subject to general rules summarised below.
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