Do The Books

25/06/2026

Dear Small Business Owners,

The following phrases are causing bookkeepers to twitch this month:

❌ "I'll find that receipt."
❌ "It's somewhere in the ute."
❌ "I paid cash but can't remember what for."
❌ "Can we just estimate it?"

Please remember: your bookkeeper loves you, but we are not licensed psychics.

24/06/2026

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN... TO PAYDAY SUPER!

If that song is now stuck in your head, you're welcome. 😎

From 1 July, one of the biggest changes to super in decades arrives, and if you're an employer, now is the time to make sure you're ready.

Don't panic. Don't hide under your desk. And definitely don't assume Future You will deal with it.

Here are the 3 things every small business should be doing right now:

1. Make Sure Your Systems Are Ready
Payday Super means super will generally need to be paid every payday instead of quarterly.

Now is the perfect time to:
* Check your payroll software is ready
* Make sure your STP reporting is accurate
* Review employee records
* Confirm year-to-date figures before 30 June

Still using the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House?
* Time's up! The SBSCH closes permanently on 1 July 2026, so you'll need to transition to another provider.

2. Fix Problems Before They Become Expensive Problems
Under Payday Super, payments need to reach employees' super funds within 7 business days of payday.

That means:
* Wrong member numbers
* Incorrect employee details
* Rejected payments..can quickly become a much bigger headache.

The ATO won't be accepting "the payroll gremlins got me" as an excuse.

Run test payments, check employee details and sort out any issues now while your blood pressure is still reasonable.

3. Plan for a Busy July

July is going to be a bit of a financial juggling act.
You'll potentially have:
* Payday Super payments due each pay cycle
* The final quarterly super payment due by 28 July

Now is a great time to review your cash flow and make sure there are no nasty surprises waiting around the corner.

The Good News?
Nobody expects perfection on Day One.

The ATO understands there may be a few bumps in the road as businesses adjust. What matters is that you're taking steps now to prepare.

Think of it like assembling flat-pack furniture:
The earlier you start, the less likely you are to be crying on the floor at midnight surrounded by leftover screws.

Need help getting ready for Payday Super?

📞 Give your friendly bookkeeper a call. We'd much rather help you prepare now than help untangle a mess later.

23/06/2026

THINKING OF BUYING A FLASH NEW BUSINESS VEHICLE? READ THIS FIRST!

It's that magical time of year when business owners start eyeing off shiny new utes, SUVs and work vehicles and suddenly become amateur tax experts.

Unfortunately, "the bloke at the pub said I can write the whole thing off" is still not recognised by the ATO as professional tax advice.

Here are the new vehicle thresholds from 1 July 2026:

🚘 Car Depreciation Limit
$69,883
This is the maximum value you can use when calculating depreciation on a vehicle first used or leased during the 2026-27 financial year.

Translation:
If your new work vehicle costs more than this amount, the ATO doesn't keep increasing the depreciation deduction just because your taste in cars got fancier.

🧾 Maximum GST Credit
$6,353
Even if your vehicle costs more than the car limit, there's generally a cap on the GST credit you can claim.

So before you start mentally spending your GST refund, it pays to know the rules.

✨ Luxury Car Tax Thresholds
If your work vehicle comes with heated seats, massaging seats, refrigerated cup holders and a steering wheel that practically drives itself, you may need to pay attention to Luxury Car Tax.

For 2026-27:
⚡ Fuel-efficient vehicles: $91,661
🚙 Other vehicles: $80,809

🚨 Friendly Bookkeeper Reminder 🚨
Just because the vehicle has your business logo on the side doesn't automatically make every kilometre business-related.

If you're using the vehicle for both business and personal use, you can only claim the business portion. That means keeping records and being able to back up your claim if asked.

The ATO loves records almost as much as Australians love arguing about Ford vs Toyota.

Thinking about upgrading your vehicle this year?

Have a chat with your bookkeeper or accountant before signing on the dotted line. A five-minute conversation now can save a whole lot of disappointment later.

Because "but I thought I could claim all of it" is a phrase we hear far more often than we'd like.

22/06/2026

18/06/2026

SIDE HUSTLERS, CONTENT CREATORS & APP ENTREPRENEURS... THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!

If you've been making money online and your tax plan is simply:
"Surely the ATO won't notice..."..we need to have a chat.

Whether you're:
* Driving for Uber
* Delivering food
* Renting out a room on Airbnb
* Creating content online
* Streaming, gaming or entertaining
* Freelancing through apps and websites
* Hiring out equipment, trailers or other assets

That income generally needs to be declared in your tax return.

Here's the important bit:
* The income doesn't automatically appear in your tax return.
* The ATO still receives information from many digital platforms about what you've earned.

So while your tax return might not know about your side hustle, the ATO probably does.

Think of it like your mum asking if you've cleaned your room when she can already see the mess from the hallway.

* If you don't have an ABN, you'll generally report the income under "Other Income."

* If you're operating as a sole trader with an ABN, it will usually be reported as business income.

The moral of the story?

Don't let a forgotten side hustle turn into an unexpected tax headache.

Before lodging your return, take a few minutes to review all the money you've earned online — even if it was just a little extra cash on the side.

And if you're not sure what needs to be declared, that's exactly what your friendly bookkeeper is here for.

We can help make tax time far less scary than opening a letter that starts with "Dear Taxpayer..."

16/06/2026

PAYDAY SUPER MYTH BUSTERS

There seems to be more myths floating around about Payday Super than there are half-finished coffees on a business owner's desk.

With Payday Super kicking off from 1 July, let's separate fact from fiction before Sharon from Accounts starts a rumour that your payroll software is about to self-destruct.

MYTH #1: "I have to pay MORE super."
FACT: Nope.

The percentage stays the same. You're still paying 12% super.

The only thing changing is WHEN you pay it.

Think of it like moving from paying your Netflix monthly to paying it weekly. Same amount overall, different timing.

MYTH #2: "As long as I send it to the clearing house, I'm sweet."
FACT: Also nope.

Super isn't considered paid until it lands safely in the employee's super fund.

Sending it to the clearing house is a bit like telling your mate you've posted his birthday present. It only counts when he actually gets it.

Moral of the story? Leave yourself enough processing time.

MYTH #3: "I can always fix late payments later."
FACT: Not anymore.

The Late Payment Offset is heading the way of VHS tapes, fax machines and Blockbuster.

Once Payday Super starts, the ATO is tightening the rules around late payments, so getting it right the first time becomes even more important.

MYTH #4: "Qualifying Earnings is just a fancy new name for OTE."
FACT: Not quite.

The new Qualifying Earnings rules pull more payments into the super calculation than before, including some things that may not have previously attracted super.

Translation:
* Your payroll setup may need checking.
* Your software may need updating.
* Your bookkeeper deserves a coffee.

The Bottom Line
If your current Payday Super plan is:

Future Me will deal with it...
Future You would like a word.

Now is the perfect time to review your payroll systems, check your software settings and make sure you're ready before 1 July arrives and starts asking awkward questions.

Need help making sense of it all? Contact us today!

That's what we're here for.