The funding for the arts; Arts and Cultural Recovery Package includes a range of measures to strengthen the sector’s foundations for the future, drive new creative work, employ artists and arts workers, retain our skilled and talented creatives, and importantly, ensure the activation of our venues. $11.3m to assist in offsetting revenue losses and stabilise businesses […]

The government has announced $2 billion – to be augmented by another $500 million from the states – for a skills package to boost training and job creation. The JobTrainer skills package will  guarantee support for thousands of apprentices in jobs across the country by subsidising their wages to keep them employed and their training […]

On Tuesday the 21st July,  the government announced proposed changes to JobKeeper which will come into effect in September 2020. Rather than winding up the stimulus in September, it will now continue to be available to eligible businesses through to 28 March 2021, however it will be at a reduced payment rate. Eligibility: To continue […]

With both state and Federal governments announcing a range of stimulus packages over the last 4 months, businesses and individuals have been receiving a number of different income streams, which has led to a number of queries as to how these are treated from a tax perspective. COVID-19 Cash Flow Boost The Cash Flow Boost […]

Ben Horowitz, a leading venture capitalist and combines lessons both from history and from modern organizational practice with practical and often surprising advice to help business leaders build cultures that can weather both good and bad times. What I have taken away from this book is that culture is how a company makes decisions. It […]

A huge congratulations to Lou McGregor for the launch of Finding Yellow Co! Finding Yellow Co is a refined approach to the creative agency model and brings all of your brand, public relations and creative solutions in the one trusted, centralised space. Few industries have changed more in the past ten years than the creative […]

The ATO is on a warpath against COVID-19 fraud. They’re using the tip line, tax returns, and single touch payroll to identify “inappropriate behaviour.” 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 […]

Jobkeeper is scheduled to end on the 30th September With government support programs due to end on the 30th September, business owners (and individuals) have 10 weeks to prepare themselves to survive without government financial assistance. Some industries have been hit harder; and will take longer to recover than others. No one truly knows what […]

You want to invest in property with your Superannuation Fund? As with any significant purchase, it’s likely you will have to borrow funds to purchase your property. SMSF borrowing involves obtaining a loan from a bank or a related party, and together with the SMSF’s existing funds purchasing a property, either commercial or residential. It’s […]

$10k Small Business Grant – Get Your Application Ready for lodgement on 1st July We anticipate the demand for the second round of the Business Adaption Grant will be very high.  With the next round of funds being split evenly between regional & SEQ, we believe the time you will have to lodge your application […]

Supported by Sunsuper,  the Dream for a Better World Grant is offering funds to businesses that tie in with one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. If you are in these ‘doing good’ categories they may be interested? To qualify, your dream (an innovative solution, project, or initiative) must aim to tackle a local or […]

They say necessity if the mother of invention; when the COVID-19 crisis brought about the development and launch of this of this new product for Croft Group, we couldn’t help but pay attention and take the time to celebrate their success! handjob. & hj. Australian Made. WHO Formulation. Sustainable by Design. Hand Sanitiser. Husband and […]

A number of Gold Coasters are amongst the Australians given Queen’s Birthday Honours today. A total of 933 Australians have been recognised, with 710 receiving awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 28 in the Military Division and 128 meritorious awards. We would like to acknowledge one awardee in particular – Perry […]

The Government has announced grants of $25,000 to encourage people to build a new home or substantially renovate their existing home. The HomeBuilder scheme targets the residential construction market by providing tax-free grants of $25,000 to eligible owner-occupiers, including first home buyers, to build a new home or substantially renovate their existing home. The grants […]

We are very excited to share Walsh Accountants have been named a finalist in AccountantsDaily Australian Accounting Awards Boutique Firm of the Year, and Tom Walsh has been named as a finalist in the Partner of the Year and Thought Leader of the year categories. We are so proud of the whole team at Walsh […]

This grant will assist QLD small businesses who have been forced into hibernation, or who had to significantly change business operations as a result of the pandemic. The program aims to help small business prepare for safe resumption of trading and recovery and access new opportunities to relaunch their business. The grant amount is a […]

As restrictions start to ease, it is time to plan your pathway out of hibernation and help unleash your potential in the post COVID-19 business world. Refresh, Reload, Relaunch planning Designed to allow you to think critically about your business, the direction you need to take out of hibernation, and the action steps that need to be […]

Deep strategy work is time-consuming because the marketplace is constantly changing. If you’re looking to effectively relaunch your business right now – time is of the essence so speed trumps precision. Review and define your strategy using these tools, worksheets, and asking yourself key strategic questions. Identifying your Strengths, Weaknesses and Trends will help get […]

It has been said that your people are the most valuable resource as every element of your business circles back to your people. By understanding and nurturing the human element to your organisation, you’ll be more profitable, lead more effectively, create brand loyalty, close more deals, and produce better work. However, you need to ensure […]

Act Now – you don’t want to look back with regrets to what you didn’t do, or what you didn’t take advantage of We need to adapt to the changes that are happening around us and accept that this will mean mistakes will be made. We need to be willing to fail fast, learn from […]

In order to have the ability to protect and support your company, your employees, and your customers – you need to stay alive. Cash; or access to it, will be the lifeblood you need to do this. For any business to survive, cash flow is undeniably the single most important factor determining its propensity for […]

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Business owners need to be proactive during uncertain times to avoid business catastrophe and unnecessary sleepless nights. The following 8 steps are for business owners to consider to survive then thrive. Step 1: Assess future sales revenue for the next three months –what do you need to keep […]

COVID-19 and the subsequent economic shut down has led to a substantial drop in the take home earnings of large segments of the Australian population. This is putting extreme pressure on the everyday Australians. The state government is asking property owner to work together with their tenants so all get to the other side of […]

The impact coronavirus’ has had on Australian small to medium businesses has been severe. Social distancing and reducing non-essential travel has resulted in little to no patronage and reduced revenue for many businesses. Businesses are experiencing reduced cash flow and is impacting their ability to remain viable and pay fixed costs; such as rent. Commercial […]

The JobKeeper stimulus has been welcomed as an initiative to help businesses and their staff get through COVID-19 pandemic.  As our previous articles outline, to qualify a business must have shown reduced turnover of at least 30% when compared to a particular test period More information refer to JobKeeper – What Business Owners Need to Know […]

The JobKeeper stimulus has been welcomed as an initiative to help businesses and their staff get through COVID-19 pandemic.  As our previous articles outline, to qualify a business must have shown reduced turnover of at least 30% when compared to a particular test period More information refer to JobKeeper – What Business Owners Need to […]

The JobKeeper Payment is an initiative by the Australia Government to help businesses and their staff through the Coronavirus pandemic. The Government has released a series of Alternative Tests for JobKeeper Payment which means more businesses and individuals may now qualify for the subsidy. Businesses can claim $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee provided they […]

The Australian Government has introduced the JobKeeper subsidy to enable coronavirus effected businesses to bounce back after the crisis. From 30 March 2020, eligible sole traders and self-employed people that operate via a partnership, trust or company, can claim $1,500 per fortnight for 6 months ending 27 September 2020, with the first payments being made […]

The Australian Government has introduced the JobKeeper payment to enable coronavirus effected businesses to retain staff and help them keep their businesses open; and bounce back after the crisis. From 30 March 2020, eligible employers can claim $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee for 6 months ending 27 September 2020, with the first payments being […]

RACGP Foundation and HCF Research Foundation  are offering a Research Grant to General Practitioners for Impact of COVID-19 on General Practice. Purpose: Research to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general practice. (e.g.  the use of telehealth and telehealth item numbers and evaluation of COVID-19 clinics) Funding provided by RACGP Foundation and HCF […]

As allied health care providers you are working in close quarters; and close physical contact with your patients is unavoidable. You are likely to have seen a drop in income as the restrictions have been enforced, certain services have been ceased, and you may already have made significant changes to your business model and everyday […]

The Coronavirus crisis has triggered a historical stock market plunge, lowering of interest rates and downward pressure on rent. This translates into massive financial pressure on self-funded retirees during a critical health crisis. The Government’s recent announcements to SMSF minimum drawdown and deeming rules are supporting retirees by potentially putting more money in their pocket […]

As a part of the safety net stimulus packages, the government announced that individuals that are adversely effected by coronavirus (COVID-19) can look to an early release of their Superannuation and  may be able to access up to $10,000 of their super before 30 June 2020 and another $10,000 from 1 July 2020 until 24 […]

As we all feel the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, we are very fortunate that the Australian government has provided numerous stimulus packages aimed at helping businesses weather this storm. Along with other measures, loan holidays and rental reductions negotiated with banks and landlords will help and provide much needed cash flow. This includes rent […]

Walsh Accountants can help you apply for the Boosting Female Founders Initiative which provides female founders of startup businesses with government funding to launch and scale their businesses into domestic and global markets. It will help female entrepreneurs overcome the disadvantages they face in getting access to finance and support, to grow their startups. Targeted […]

In this time of economic uncertainty, your bank/financial providers may be an ally for you with many of the major banks offering their customers support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst support offered may differ between providers, many are offering deferred payments on existing loans whether that be for home loans, business loans, or equipment finance […]

We have had many sole traders contact us and ask “what the government has done for us in the stimulus package”. It may seem like most support is being given to employers, but we wanted to compile some information for you to consider for your sole trader business. Although the majority of this article is […]

The Australian government has announced changes to assist Australian businesses. If you’re in business, Walsh Accountants can help you navigate through all the stimulus and support packages that may apply to you. We have remotely mobilised much of our team and are deploying systems to enable us to be there for anyone as seamlessly as […]

UPDATE: QLD Government COVID-19 Job Support Loan About the scheme To assist SME businesses get through this extremely challenging time, the QLD Government has announced that it will provide support on procuring loans for SME businesses. Under the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, the QLD Government will provide a guarantee of 50% to SME lenders for […]

Update – Partner Income Threshold Increased Monday, 30th March For those who have applied for, or are seeking to apply for the Federal Government job seeker payment; partner income threshold has increased to $79,762pa.   Update – Fact sheet on income support for individuals. The Government is providing support for individuals to assist them during the […]

Update – Standing down Employees Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders agreed on Sunday night (22nd March) to a staged process starting with a shutdown of “principal places of social gathering”. The initial types of venues to be closed include registered and licensed clubs, entertainment venues, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor sports venues […]

With Coronavirus impacting businesses across all industries, it may be time to consider if your team can work from home. If this is an option for you, it is essential that you implement procedures and policies that keep your team accountably and ensure continuity of your business. We would like to provide some practical tips […]

Update – PM announces $130 billion job keeper plan to keep businesses alive Monday, 30th March – Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a $130 billion stimulus package to partially pay the salaries of workers around the nation for the next six months. The JobKeeper Coronavirus Supplement will see the Government pay Australian employers $1,500 […]

With the share market decimated, the banning of public events with more than 500 people and recommendations of self-isolation, it is inevitable that small businesses will be affected by the impact of COVID-19. So how is the coronavirus affecting businesses and what can you do to prepare for the impact? Employees As a hugely important […]

The Government has announced a $17.6 billion investment package to support the economy as we brace for the impact of the coronavirus. The yet to be legislated four part package focuses on business investment, sustaining employers and driving cash into the economy.   For business Business investment Increase and extension of the instant asset write-off […]

Business owners are constantly faced with the challenge of gaining competitive advantage over their competition. Developing their unique advantage may mean survival for some or a way to stay on top of competition for others.

You have identified that your business activities are eligible for the Research and Development (R&D) Tax incentive and you have registered the activity with Innovation Australia. So it’s straight forward to make a claim now, right? Unfortunately not. With the ATO focusing on R&D with increased compliance and audit focus, there are important rules that […]

The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive registration deadline for those companies with a 30 June 2019 year end is rapidly approaching with the statutory deadline for lodging an application for the year ended 30 June 2019 being 30 April 2020. Eligibility Criteria for R&D Tax Incentive You can only benefit from the program if your initiatives […]

Low interest rates, government instability, flat bank stocks and threatened changes to franking credits have led to SMSF’s starting to look at chasing the higher returns of crypto-currency. So, is cryptocurrency a bubble waiting to burst or is it the future? Is Crypto a currency? The ATO has released several papers on crypto-currency and has […]

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LOOKED AT YOUR WORKPLACE POLICIES? If you’re concerned about your business’ policies, would you be interested in a free fair work health check? Last year, Fair Work issued penalties for over $4.4 million and conducted over 1,000 proactive investigations into Australian businesses. Don’t suffer the penalties, fines or pay-back […]

This is an article that shouldn’t have to be written but with another incidence of devastating domestic violence on the news, it highlights the importance of having the money & resources to escape an abusive relationship. Let us start by reiterating; your safety is number one priority and no amount of saving is worth staying […]

Don’t miss out on claiming the R&D Tax Incentive! If you are an eligible company with a 30 June income year, the deadline to lodge with AusIndustry is 30th April 2020 If you are planning to claim the Incentive and have not yet commenced the claim process, please contact Gavin Austin of our office on […]

We would like to wish one of our Accountants Lorraine Montgomery a Happy Anniversary! On the 10th February, Lorraine celebrated being with our firm for 31 years. Lorraine joined the Walsh & Walsh Chartered Accountants team in February 1983 and been part of the firms growth from 7 staff to a team of 30. As […]

The ongoing devastating bushfires that has ravaged south eastern Australia will leave an everlasting scar on the Australian landscape.  Below is a brief summary of initiatives that could help address some of the tax issues that the fires have caused. Australian Bushfires – Kangaroo hopping in front of flames in NSW. Photo credit: news.com.au Tax […]

This program provides targeted assistance for small and medium business that demonstrate high-growth and employment aspirations. The fund will enable successful applicants to purchase and implement specialized equipment to help them seize growth opportunities. Funding of up to $50,000 (excluding GST) is available for eligible businesses to purchase and implement highly specialized equipment. These purchases […]

What opportunities will this present to your business? In 2019, I attended the annual Family Business Australia conference in Melbourne. I was fortunate to hear a presentation by Vaughan Scott, Professor in practice (MBA Programs) at University of Louisville College of Business. Vaughan highlighted some interesting statistical trends that as a business owner; peaked my […]

As we begin the New Year, many people set themselves to the task of making New Year’s resolutions for themselves.   If you are a business owner and you want to continue to grow your business, then perhaps you should consider making resolutions and setting some goals for your business?  By setting goals for your […]

A quick google of ‘Productivity’ will lead you to an overwhelming avalanche of tips, tricks, hacks, and methods. But what really works? What methods are tried and tested? What small details, the 1 percenters that you could implement to improve your day to save out some extra time? To answer this I have looked to […]

There are two main reasons why you should have a special purpose corporate trustee for your self-managed superannuation fund. Number 1: The 3 Ds – Death, Divorce and Dementia The future is uncertain but one thing that is certain is the avoidable impact of death, divorce and dementia or loss of capacity on a SMSF. […]

Protection from Superannuation Guarantee Charge for high income earners with multiple employees The government has introduced legislation which will prevent high income taxpayers with multiple employers from overpaying their superannuation contributions which results in an Excess Contributions Charge each year.  This will be especially welcome for medical practitioners who often fall victim of this system. […]

ALERT – TRUSTS HOLDING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN NSW MAY NEED TO CHANGE TRUST DEEDS BEFORE 31 DECEMBER OR PAY FOREIGN SURCHARGES ON STAMP DUTY AND LAND TAX For Stamp Duty and Land Tax purposes, any residential land owned by a foreign resident in NSW will be subject to higher rates.  An additional 8% for Stamp […]

We are very proud to announce that Walsh Accountants have been named on the Australian Financial Review Top 100 Accounting Firms for 2019 The second year since making our debut in 2018. Thanks to the Team at Walsh Accountants To say we are proud to be included on the Australian Financial Review Top 100 Accounting […]

The Gold Coast Women in Business awards was held on Friday 18th October at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre A powerful platform for Women in Business The Awards is a very powerful platform that celebrates the achievements of women and female leaders across the Gold Coast region. Being an award category sponsor for the past four years, […]

In 2014, the ATO offered a penalty amnesty on undisclosed foreign income. Five years on, the ATO has again flagged that underreporting of foreign income is an issue but this time there is no amnesty – the gloves are off. How and what you are taxed depends on your residency status. The residency tests don’t […]

What are your options with purchasing a property with your SMSF? With the legislative restrictions and lack of competitive lenders, a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) may not be the answer to all SMSF client prayers when looking to purchase larger assets in their SMSF. If you’re an SMSF Trustee, this may leave you wondering […]

The most common way of building your superannuation is through employer mandated contributions or superannuation guarantee charge (SGC). Therefore it is not uncommon for couples to have large disparity in their superannuation balances where one partner has continuously worked and the other has taken time from the workforce to care for children; or has worked […]

Do you have an Insurance Policy in your Superannuation Fund? Approximately 50% of Australians have multiple superannuation funds and therefore have duplicate insurances policies, informally know as zombie insurances. These double ups add up to an over payment of $1.9 billion! New legislation passed to protect your Superannuation The government has passed new legislation to […]

Are you, or anyone you know, in Manufacturing? Could you/they benefit from The $50 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund Earlier this month, our Principal Consultant Gavin Austin attended an AusIndustry briefing on a new “Manufacturing Modernisation Fund”.  The fund will potentially benefit any SME manufacturing business Applications for this grant close at 4.00 pm Thursday 31 October, […]

As the dust settles and the Walsh Accountants Entrepreneur’s Cup wraps up for another year, our team are so proud that we managed to organise and host another very successful event. It was a day full of fun and laughter with family and friends all whilst networking with the amazing business people of the Gold […]

The recent income tax cuts do not mean you will personally receive a $1080 tax refund when you lodge your tax return. Why? Let us help to clear up the confusion. This “payment” is a Low to Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO). The first thing to remember is; being a tax offset; you need to […]

As a Self-Managed Superannuation Fund trustee, it’s difficult to know and understand all the rules around investing with your fund. The area of property investment can be very complex and many trustees are left wondering if they can renovate their property which is owned by their Super? Many self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) trustees like and […]

Whether it is for diversification, investment preferences, or the fear of the next global stock market and housing meltdown, a common client question is “can my Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) invest in gold? If so, what are the rules?” Why would you want to invest in Gold? Your SMSF is usually your largest wealth creation […]

A consistent theme this tax time is over-claiming and under reporting. With the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) getting more and more sophisticated in its approach to data matching, taxpayers can expect greater scrutiny where their claims are more than what is expected. For you Work related deductions Last financial year, over 8.8 million taxpayers claimed […]

A consistent theme this tax time is over-claiming and under reporting. With the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) getting more and more sophisticated in its approach to data matching, taxpayers can expect greater scrutiny where their claims are more than what is expected. Your BUSINESS There are around 3.8 million small businesses, including 1.6 million sole […]

A consistent theme this tax time is over-claiming and under reporting. With the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) getting more and more sophisticated in its approach to data matching, taxpayers can expect greater scrutiny where their claims are more than what is expected. Your TRUST  Timing of resolutions Trustees (or directors of a trustee company) need […]

A consistent theme this tax time is over-claiming and under reporting. With the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) getting more and more sophisticated in its approach to data matching, taxpayers can expect greater scrutiny where their claims are more than what is expected. Your SUPERANNUATION Not making your full superannuation contribution? Now you can catch up […]

STP works by sending tax and super information from your payroll or accounting software to the ATO as you run your payroll. When you start reporting: You will run your payroll, pay your employees as normal, and give them a payslip Your pay cycle does not need to change (you can continue to pay your […]

If your employer reports through STP, they will send us your tax and super information each time they pay you. Don’t worry; you’ll still be paid the same way. However, there will be some changes for you. We have produced the following summary factsheet as a handy resource: Single Touch Payroll for employees factsheet (PDF) Single […]

The ATO are cracking down on exempt car and residual benefits. This catches any ute, dual cab ute or van provided to employees (including business owners) for use in a business. They have now issued clear rules that taxpayers should follow to ensure they will not be targeted for audit, especially if claiming 100% business […]

This is a Budget not only designed to showcase the return to surplus (and by default the Government’s economic credentials) but engage voters with initiatives to make them feel like they are more prosperous. A massive infrastructure spend adds to this sentiment. The Government has also stated that it will keep taxes as a share of […]

Single Touch Payroll (STP) was introduced on 1st July 2018 for all businesses with 20 or more staff (substantial employers). The Bill to extend the Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting requirements so they apply to all employers has now passed the Senate and will be Law. This means STP is set to be rolled out to […]

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is utilising data provided by the Australian Investments and Security Commission (ASIC) to data match share trades. The ATO is accessing more than 500 million records detailing price, quantity and time of individual trades dating back to 2014. The information complements information that the ATO already holds from brokers, share […]

The Taxable Payments Reporting system was introduced to stem the flow of cash payments to contractors and rampant under reporting of income. Since the building and construction industry was  first targeted in 2012, the reporting system has expanded to include cleaning and courier services. Now, a broader set of industries have been targeted. If you have […]

New laws passed by parliament last month directly target the behaviour of taxpayers that don’t meet their obligations. Tax deductions denied If taxpayers do not meet their PAYG withholding tax obligations, from 1 July 2019 they will not be able to claim a tax deduction for payments: of salary, wages, commissions, bonuses or allowances to […]

From 1 July 2017, new rules came into effect that prevent taxpayers claiming a deduction for expenses they incur travelling to and from their residential investment property. The Government restricted travel deductions to curb “widespread abuse around excessive travel expense claims relating to residential investment properties….This will stop residential property investors from using the tax […]

Small business is still a vote winner with the Government and Opposition teaming up to accelerate tax cuts for the sector by 5 years impacting on an estimated 3.3 million businesses. Parliament recently passed legislation to accelerate the corporate tax rate reduction for corporate tax entities that are base rate entities (BREs). Under the new […]

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. Last financial year, 6.7 million taxpayers claimed […]

We are very honoured to announce that Walsh Accountants has won the 2018 Tax and Compliance firm of the Year for the SMSF & Accounting Awards. Shape We humbly accept this award and would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our clients for the nomination.  We really appreciate your recognition of our work and […]

How the ATO identifies audit targets The ATO is very upfront when it comes to their compliance activity. Every year they publish small business benchmarks that outline what a typical business ‘looks like’ in different industries. If your business falls outside of those benchmarks, the ATO is likely to take a closer look at why that […]

A recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Tax Deductions created some fairly sensational headlines about what and how deductions are being claimed – $22 billion worth to be exact.  In Australia, tax deductions are available for expenses incurred in producing assessable income. These are generally work-related deductions or investment related deductions. And, unlike some other countries, these expenses can […]