Services

What we do, in plain English.

A quick explanation of each service: what it is, what we help with, and what to have ready. Not sure which one you need? Just ask!

Tax returns BAS SMSF Payroll tax Financial statements R&D Tax Incentive Tax planning

Tax returns

Preparing and lodging income tax returns for individuals and for businesses of every structure.

A tax return reports your income and deductions for the financial year to the Australian Taxation Office. Getting it right means claiming what you are entitled to, declaring what you need to, and having the records to back it up. We prepare the return, explain the result before it is lodged, and deal with the ATO on your behalf.

Who it is for: Individuals on temporary visas, residents, permanent residents and citizens, as well as businesses of any size. Your visa status and your residency for tax purposes are not always the same thing, and we can help you work out which rules apply to you.

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What we can help with

Individual returns, including salary and wages, investments, rental properties and capital gains
Sole trader, partnership, trust and company returns
Residency for tax purposes and income from overseas
Prior year and overdue returns
Amendments, ATO queries and payment arrangements

Helpful to have ready

Income statements or payment summaries
Bank interest, dividend and investment records
Receipts for work-related expenses and donations
Rental property income and expenses
Private health insurance statement

Common questions

When is my tax return due?

The Australian financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June. If you lodge your own return it is due by 31 October. Lodging through a registered tax agent can give you a later date, as long as you are on our books before 31 October.

I am on a temporary visa. Do I need to lodge?

If you earned income in Australia, you will usually need to lodge. How you are taxed depends on whether you are a resident for tax purposes, which is a separate test from your visa. We will work that out with you first.

Can you help with returns from earlier years?

Yes. We can prepare and lodge overdue returns and deal with the ATO for you. It is nearly always better to catch up sooner than later.

Business Activity Statements (BAS)

Regular reporting of GST and other tax obligations to the ATO.

If your business is registered for GST, you report to the ATO on a BAS, usually every quarter or every month. The statement covers the GST you have collected and paid, and can also include PAYG withholding from wages, PAYG instalments and other taxes. We prepare and lodge each statement and check the figures against your books, so small errors do not turn into large ones.

Who it is for: Any business registered for GST, from a sole trader lodging once a quarter to a larger business reporting monthly.

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What we can help with

GST registration and advice on whether you need to register
Preparation and lodgement of monthly, quarterly or annual statements
PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments
Reconciling your BAS to your accounting records
Corrections to earlier statements

Helpful to have ready

Access to your accounting software, or your sales and purchase records
Bank and credit card statements for the period
Wages and super paid, if you have staff
Details of any large or unusual purchases

Common questions

How often do I need to lodge a BAS?

Most small businesses lodge every quarter. Larger businesses lodge monthly, and some small businesses that registered voluntarily can report once a year. The ATO tells you which cycle you are on.

Do I have to register for GST?

You must register once your turnover reaches the GST registration threshold, and a few types of business have to register whatever they earn. Below the threshold it is optional. We can help you decide and handle the registration.

What if a past BAS was wrong?

Many mistakes can be fixed on your next BAS, and others need the original statement revised. We will tell you which applies and make the correction.

Self-managed super funds (SMSF)

The annual accounting and compliance work every self-managed super fund needs.

Running your own super fund comes with obligations every year. The fund needs financial statements, an annual return lodged with the ATO, and an audit by an independent approved SMSF auditor. We prepare the accounts and the return, arrange the audit, and let you know what is due and when.

Who it is for: Trustees of new and established self-managed super funds. We look after the accounting and tax side of your fund. We do not give financial product or investment advice.

Enquire about SMSF

What we can help with

Annual financial statements and member statements
SMSF annual return preparation and lodgement
Coordinating the independent audit
Contribution and pension record keeping
Keeping track of lodgement dates and trustee obligations

Helpful to have ready

The fund's trust deed and investment strategy
Bank statements for the full year
Investment, property and loan statements
Contribution and pension payment records
Last year's financial statements and annual return

Common questions

Our fund had a quiet year. Do we still lodge?

Yes. Every fund must lodge each year, including years with no contributions and no pension payments.

Does my fund need an audit every year?

Yes. An approved SMSF auditor, independent of the fund and of us, must audit the fund before the annual return is lodged. We arrange this for you.

We have fallen behind on lodgements. What now?

Penalties can apply, and the ATO can change how your fund is listed on Super Fund Lookup, which may stop rollovers and employer contributions from being paid in. If you are behind, get in touch and we will help you catch up.

Payroll tax

A state and territory tax on wages, with different rules in each jurisdiction.

Payroll tax applies once the wages an employer pays go above a threshold, and each state and territory sets its own threshold and rate. Businesses with staff in more than one state, related companies that may be grouped together, or regular contractors often find the rules harder than they expected. We work out whether you are liable, register you where needed, and prepare your returns.

Who it is for: Employers whose wages are near or above the threshold, particularly growing businesses and those with staff in several states.

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What we can help with

Reviewing whether and where you need to register
Monthly returns and the annual reconciliation
Wages paid across more than one state or territory
Grouping of related businesses
Contractor payments, allowances and benefits

Helpful to have ready

Payroll reports showing gross wages for each state
Super contributions and fringe benefits
Payments made to contractors
Details of any related companies or businesses

Common questions

Is payroll tax the same as PAYG withholding?

No. PAYG withholding is tax taken out of your employees' pay and sent to the ATO. Payroll tax is a separate state or territory tax that the employer pays on total wages.

We have staff in more than one state. What then?

You may need to register in each state where you pay wages, and your tax-free threshold is usually shared between them based on your total Australian wages. We work out your position in each place.

Do payments to contractors count?

Some do. Each state has rules that treat certain contractor payments as wages, with exemptions. We review your contractor arrangements so you are not caught out.

Financial statements

A clear and reliable picture of how your business is performing.

Financial statements bring a year, or any other period, of activity together into a profit and loss statement, a balance sheet and supporting notes. They are used for your tax return, and are often requested by banks, investors, directors and regulators. We prepare statements that are accurate and that you can read and understand.

Who it is for: Small, medium and larger businesses that need dependable figures for tax, for finance, or simply to make better decisions.

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What we can help with

Year-end financial statements for companies, trusts and partnerships
Management accounts during the year
Statements prepared for lenders, investors or a sale
Reconciliations and year-end adjustments
Walking you through what the numbers mean

Helpful to have ready

Access to your accounting software or bookkeeping records
Bank, loan and credit card statements
Details of assets bought or sold in the year
Stock and debtor figures at year end

Common questions

Does a small business need financial statements?

If you run a company or a trust, statements are generally prepared each year to support the tax return. Banks and other lenders will also ask for them when you apply for finance.

What is the difference between management accounts and year-end statements?

Year-end statements look back over the full financial year. Management accounts are prepared during the year, often monthly or quarterly, so you can see how the business is tracking and make decisions sooner.

Will you explain them to us?

Yes. We go through the figures with you in plain terms, including what has changed since last year and why.

R&D Tax Incentive applications

Support for companies claiming the Research and Development Tax Incentive.

The R&D Tax Incentive is an Australian Government program that offers a tax offset to companies carrying out eligible research and development. Before you can claim, your activities need to be registered, and the offset is then claimed through the company tax return. The program has detailed rules on which activities and costs qualify, and good records matter. We help you assess your eligibility and put the application and claim together.

Who it is for: Companies developing new products, processes, software or knowledge, where the outcome could not be known in advance.

Enquire about R&D Tax Incentive

What we can help with

Assessing whether your activities are likely to be eligible
Preparing the registration of your R&D activities
Identifying and calculating eligible expenditure
The R&D schedule in your company tax return
Advice on the records to keep as the work is done

Helpful to have ready

A description of the project and what you were trying to find out
Records kept while the work was being done
Time spent by staff on the R&D work
Costs of contractors, materials and other inputs

Common questions

Who can claim the R&D Tax Incentive?

The incentive is generally for companies that are liable for Australian income tax. Sole traders, partnerships and most trusts are not eligible.

When do we need to register?

Activities are registered after the end of the income year in which they took place, and the deadline is ten months after that year ends. Leaving time before the deadline makes for a stronger application.

What counts as R&D?

Broadly, experimental work carried out to create new knowledge, where the outcome could not be known in advance, along with the activities that directly support it. Routine development and business as usual improvements generally do not qualify.

Tax planning

Looking ahead, so decisions are made before the financial year ends.

Most of what affects your tax bill is settled by 30 June. Tax planning means reviewing your position before then, estimating what you are likely to owe, and looking at the legitimate options available to you while there is still time to act. It also means knowing what is coming, so you can set money aside and avoid a surprise.

Who it is for: Individuals with investments or changing income, and business owners who want to plan ahead.

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What we can help with

An estimate of your tax position before year end
Timing of income, expenses and asset purchases
Reviewing whether your business structure still suits you
Managing PAYG instalments and cash flow for tax
A written summary of the steps to take and when

Helpful to have ready

Year to date income and profit figures
Last year's tax return
Any large purchases, sales or changes you are expecting
Your current PAYG instalment notices

Common questions

When should we start?

Well before 30 June. The last few months of the financial year work best, because the figures are meaningful and there is still time to act.

Is tax planning only for businesses?

No. It is just as useful for individuals with investments, rental properties, a capital gain or income that changes from year to year.

How is this different from tax avoidance?

Tax planning means arranging your affairs sensibly within the law, using the options the tax system provides. We do not recommend aggressive arrangements.

Get in touch

Not sure which service you need?

That is very common. Tell us a little about your situation and we will work out the rest with you.

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