Team building exercises

While hiring a group of people that work well in a team isn’t always easy, when you do, it can result in a more effective, productive and overall more successful workforce. To create a strong team of workers, some businesses turn to setting aside a day to undertake team building exercises to rally everyone together…

Preparing for the super changes

Tighter superannuation rules will apply from 1 July 2017 as part of the super reforms announced in last year’s Federal Budget. The new rules include the introduction of a $1.6 million super balance cap for after-tax contributions; a maximum of up to $25,000 for concessional contributions; and the removal of the current “bring-forward” rule allowing…

ATO issues bad debt ruling

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a ruling that clarifies the circumstances in which a deduction for bad debts is allowable. To obtain a bad debt deduction under section 63 of the Act, a debt must exist before it can be written off as bad. A debt exists for the purposes of section 63…

Benefits of a socially conscious business

Socially responsible business is becoming highly sought after by customers, staff and communities alike. Building a socially responsible business helps to set your business apart from competitors, improves your reputation and, ultimately, ensures your business is acting in an ethical and moral manner. Here are three key benefits of running a socially conscious business: Attract…

FBT and business vehicles

Business owners who make a car (leased or owned) available for employees to use for private travel may be subject to fringe benefits tax (FBT). If a car is garaged at or near your employee’s home, even if only for security reasons, it is considered by the ATO to be available for their private use…

Improving productivity

Staying productive in the workplace can be challenging – whether it’s interruptions from colleagues, unnecessary meetings or simply distractions such as social media, it is hard to stay focused on the task at hand. Here are three ways to be more productive in your work day: Take more breaks Although taking more breaks sounds counterintuitive…

SuperStream checklist

All businesses should now be SuperStream compliant. SuperStream is a standard for processing superannuation data and payments electronically. Employers must pay employee super contributions electronically (EFT or BPAY) and send the associated data electronically under SuperStream. SuperStream ensures the data is in a standard format so it can be transmitted consistently across the super system…

ATO targeting online selling and ride-sourcing

The Australian Tax Office is collecting data from financial institutions and online selling sites as part of their data matching programs for credit and debit cards, online selling and ride-sourcing. The data will include: the total amount of credit and debit card payments businesses received online sellers who have sold at least $12,000 worth of…

2017 Business Resolutions

The start of the New Year is generally a time to reflect on the previous year’s achievements and challenges and work towards setting new goals. The New Year can offer business owners a powerful motivation for business growth. Whether you want to expand your business or increase your network; goal-setting plays a critical role in…