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Blog: Industry News

Articles in the Industry News category.

Dodgy Invoice Checks: Spot Fakes Every Time (2025)

A dodgy invoice can be identified reliably by applying a consistent Australian compliance test: verify the supplier’s identity (ABN and GST status), confirm ...

18/12/202518 min read

High Earners: Tailored Insurance in Australia (2025)

Professional high earners in Australia need tailored insurance because their income complexity, liability exposure, and cashflow dependency are materially hi...

18/12/202517 min read

Section 100A Traps 2025: Accountant Alert Guide

Accountants must be alert to section 100A agreement traps because the ATO is actively applying s 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) to tr...

18/12/202519 min read

Christmas Day Workaholics: Surprising Insights (2025)

Christmas Day workaholics are not just “high performers”; in Australian accounting practices they are disproportionately driven by compliance risk, client de...

17/12/202516 min read

10 Steps to a Successful Business Sale (Australia 2025)

A successful business sale in Australia is achieved by following 10 disciplined steps: clarify the sale objective, prepare credible financials, normalise ear...

17/12/202518 min read

BBlood and 100A: What Changes for Trusts (2025)

The BBlood decision materially undermines key assumptions underpinning the ATO’s draft guidance on section 100A by reinforcing that **ordinary family and com...

17/12/202516 min read

Residency Test Reform 2025: Home or Away?

Australia’s individual tax residency framework must be reformed because the current “home or away” analysis is legally complex, fact-heavy, and increasingly ...

17/12/202516 min read

Post-Budget 2025: Key Tax & Super Insights

Post-Budget insights and analysis for Australian accounting practices requires translating Budget announcements into (1) what is already law, (2) what is ann...

17/12/202516 min read

Insight: Peter Langham (Australia) – What It Means in 2025

“Insight: Peter Langham” most commonly refers to professional commentary, speaking, or authored analysis by Peter Langham circulated through accounting and t...

17/12/202515 min read

100A, Exam Cheats & Director IDs: 2025 Wrap

Australian accounting practices experienced an unusually broad compliance year because the ATO simultaneously escalated trust distribution integrity under se...

17/12/202517 min read

Div 7A 2025: Why It Changes Companies & Trusts

Division 7A changes the game for Australian companies and trusts because it can treat common “private group” cash movements—loans, payments, debt forgiveness...

17/12/202518 min read

Why Accounting Adds Up for Women in Australia (2025)

Accounting adds up for women because it offers a rare combination of stable demand, portable and flexible career pathways, transparent progression through re...

17/12/202518 min read

True Value of Intangibles: Why It Pays (Australia 2025)

Seeking out the true value of intangibles pays because, in Australian practice, intangible assets often drive the majority of enterprise value yet are routin...

17/12/202518 min read

Budget Detail 2025: Why the Devil Lurks

The “devil” lurks in budget detail because the profitability, tax position, GST/BAS outcomes, cash flow, and ATO compliance risk of an Australian business ar...

17/12/202518 min read

Make Investments for Art’s Sake (Australia 2025)

Making investments for art’s sake is tax-effective in Australia only when the acquisition, holding and disposal are structured to match your real purpose (pe...

17/12/202518 min read

Post‑Budget 2025: Key Tax & Super Insights (AU)

Australian accounting practices should treat post‑Budget analysis as an immediate compliance and advisory exercise: the key tax and superannuation measures a...

17/12/202517 min read

Excessive ATO Assessment: Rights to Object (2025)

An excessive ATO assessment can be challenged, and Australian taxpayers have a clear legal right to object—provided the objection is lodged within the strict...

17/12/202518 min read

ATO on AI 2025: ChatGPT & Automated Advice

The ATO’s stance on AI tools (including ChatGPT and other generative AI) is that they may be used to assist with tax and accounting work, but they do not rep...

17/12/202516 min read

ATO Digital Push 2025: E-invoicing & STP Phase 2

Australia’s ATO digital push—centred on e-invoicing and Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2—means SMEs must treat bookkeeping and payroll data as near-real-ti...

17/12/202518 min read

ATO “Listening” Initiative: 2025 Practice Guide

The ATO’s “listening” initiative is the Tax Office’s structured program of practitioner consultation—using stewardship groups, professional association chann...

17/12/202516 min read

TPB 2026 Focus: Key Compliance Areas to Watch

TPB’s 2026 compliance focus for Australian tax practitioners will centre on stronger enforcement of the Code of Professional Conduct (especially competence, ...

17/12/202518 min read

ATO 2026 Compliance Crackdown: What to Prepare For

ATO’s 2026 compliance crackdown will primarily target small businesses that cannot substantiate deductions, have poor reporting discipline (GST, PAYG withhol...

17/12/202518 min read

Fringe Tax Advice: Why Clients Need a Warning (2025)

Clients need a clear warning over “fringe” tax advice because Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) is a high-penalty, evidence-driven regime where seemingly small “tips...

17/12/202518 min read

Cash vs Accrual Accounting: Tax & BAS Impact (2025)

Cash vs accrual accounting directly changes when income and expenses are recognised for Australian tax and BAS reporting, which in turn affects GST timing, P...

16/12/202517 min read

Home Office Expenses (Australia) 2025 Guide

Home office expenses are deductible for Australian business owners only to the extent the costs are **incurred in earning assessable income**, are **not priv...

16/12/202518 min read

Tax leftovers Labor must digest: 2025 accountant view

Labor’s “tax leftovers” are the unfinished, politically difficult, and technically complex parts of Australia’s tax system that remain unresolved after recen...

16/12/202517 min read

Real-Time Financial Dashboards 2025 Guide

Real-time financial dashboards, when powered by AI accounting software in Australia, are now one of the most effective ways for accounting practices to keep ...

16/12/202517 min read

Going Digital in Accounting: Keep It Simple (2025)

Going digital in an Australian accounting practice succeeds when it is deliberately kept simple: standardise the workflow, automate the repetitive steps (esp...

16/12/202515 min read

Digital Nomads & Australian Tax: 2025 Compliance Tips

Australian digital nomads remain subject to Australian tax and reporting obligations where they are Australian tax residents (or have Australian-sourced inco...

16/12/202518 min read

Turn Your Firm into a Hybrid Vehicle (2025)

Turning your Australian accounting firm into a “hybrid vehicle” means deliberately combining high-trust advisory work (human judgment, partner oversight, cli...

16/12/202514 min read

Excessive Trustee Discretion: Key Risks (2025)

Excessive discretion can imperil a trustee when decisions are made without a defensible link to the trust deed, proper purpose, and documented reasoning—beca...

16/12/202516 min read

SME Tax Deadlines: Essential Compliance Calendar 2025

Navigating tax deadlines for Australian SMEs requires a disciplined compliance calendar that aligns GST/BAS (monthly or quarterly), PAYG withholding, PAYG in...

16/12/202517 min read

Will AI Replace Bookkeepers? 2025 Reality Check

AI will not “replace bookkeepers” in Australia in 2025, but it will replace a large portion of traditional bookkeeping tasks—especially manual data entry, ba...

16/12/202517 min read

What Accountants Do AI Still Can’t (Australia 2025)

Accountants still do critical work that AI cannot reliably replicate in Australian practice because the profession is anchored in ethics, legal accountabilit...

16/12/202516 min read

Human-Led, AI-Enhanced Accounting (Australia) 2025

Human-led, AI-enhanced is the better model for small business accounting in Australia because it combines the statutory accountability of a qualified practit...

16/12/202517 min read

AI Is Not a Tax Agent: ATO Line in 2025

AI is not a “tax agent” under Australian law, and the ATO draws the line at whether a person (or business) is providing a “tax agent service” for a fee or ot...

16/12/202519 min read

When AI Makes Mistakes: Human Oversight in 2025

AI makes mistakes in accounting because it cannot reliably apply Australian tax law, evidence standards, and professional judgement to messy real-world facts...

16/12/202516 min read

AI in Financial Reviews: Judgment Still Wins (2025)

AI enhances rather than replaces professional judgment in financial reviews because it automates high-volume, rule-based and pattern-based work (data ingesti...

16/12/202517 min read

EI vs AI in Client Advisory (Australia) 2025

Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not substitutes in Australian client advisory; they are complementary capabilities where AI ...

16/12/202516 min read

Can AI Understand Tax Law? (Australia, 2025)

AI can partially “understand” Australian tax law in the limited sense that it can summarise ATO guidance, retrieve relevant provisions, and pattern-match com...

16/12/202516 min read

The Future Accountant 2025: Tech, Strategy, AI

The future accountant in Australia is a tech-savvy, strategic, AI-augmented adviser who uses automation to eliminate low-value compliance labour (data entry,...

16/12/202517 min read

AI and Accountants 2025: Redefined, Not Replaced

AI won’t replace accountants in Australia because the work that creates professional value—judgement under uncertainty, statutory responsibility, client advo...

16/12/202517 min read

Next-Gen Accounting Software: Top 5 Features for 2025

Next-gen accounting software in 2025 must do more than “track income and expenses”—it must automate compliance, reduce reconciliation to minutes, and produce...

16/12/202517 min read

AI in GST & PAYG Compliance: What Automates in 2025?

AI in GST and PAYG compliance can reliably automate high-volume, rules-based tasks (data capture, transaction classification, GST coding checks, reconciliati...

16/12/202518 min read

AI Cash Flow Forecasting: How Fedix Helps (2025)

AI cash flow forecasting is the most practical way for Australian small businesses to avoid BAS/GST cash shocks, manage PAYG and super obligations, and plan ...

16/12/202518 min read

Smart Invoicing with AI 2025: Scan to Ledger

Smart invoicing with AI is the end-to-end automation of accounts payable and receivable processing—capturing invoice data from PDFs/images/emails, validating...

16/12/202516 min read

AI Cash Basis Accounting for Small Business (2025)

AI transforms cash basis accounting for small businesses in Australia by automating transaction capture, GST/BAS coding, bank reconciliation, and exception h...

16/12/202517 min read

AI vs Human Judgment: Why Accountants Matter (2025)

AI is transforming Australian accounting in 2025, but it is established that **human professional judgment remains essential** because tax outcomes depend on...

16/12/202517 min read

Real-Time AI Reconciliation 2025: End Spreadsheet Errors

Real-time reconciliation with AI is the most effective way for Australian accounting practices to eliminate spreadsheet-driven coding errors, missed GST trea...

16/12/202516 min read

AI and BAS Reporting 2025: Fedix Compliance Guide

AI and BAS reporting can materially simplify Australian small business compliance when it is applied to the two root causes of BAS errors—mis-coded transacti...

16/12/202516 min read

AI Tax Assistants 2025: Are Accountants Still Needed?

AI-powered tax assistants are rising rapidly in Australia, but accountants are still needed because Australian tax outcomes depend on legal characterisation,...

16/12/202516 min read

AI in Accounting Australia 2025: Time Savings End-to-End

AI saves the most time for Australian accountants where work is repetitive, rules-based, and evidence-driven—specifically in transaction coding, automated ba...

16/12/202517 min read

AI Accounting Workflows 2025: Australia Guide

AI is automating accounting workflows in 2025 by shifting routine, high-volume compliance tasks (bank reconciliation, GST/BAS checks, working papers, and dat...

16/12/202518 min read

Assistant Minister for Mental Health: Accounting Guide 2025

The “Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and …” is a political portfolio description used in some Australian Government periods to den...

16/12/202516 min read

Tax Lodgment Alerts 2025: Peace of Mind for Practices

Tax compliance peace of mind in an Australian accounting practice is achieved by ensuring every BAS, IAS, ITR, FBT and other obligation is identified early, ...

16/12/202519 min read

Digital Annual Reports Australia 2025: Why Now

Digital annual reports are now the most defensible, efficient, and audit-ready way for Australian accounting practices to produce (and evidence) year-end com...

16/12/202516 min read

GST reform debate 2025: impact on small business

GST reform in Australia is being debated primarily around raising the GST rate, broadening the base (removing exemptions), altering state distribution, and s...

15/12/202518 min read

Embracing Change: AI Automation for Firms (2025)

Progressive Australian accounting firms thrive with automation and AI by converting repetitive compliance work (bank reconciliation, BAS/GST checks, working ...

15/12/202518 min read

Finance Broker + Accountant: Advisory Boost (2025)

A finance broker can materially boost an Australian accounting practice’s advisory offering by converting tax and compliance insights into funded, implementa...

15/12/202518 min read

AI Accounting Tools 2025: Data Entry to Insight

AI tools are eliminating manual accounting tasks in Australian practices by automating the highest-volume workflows (bank coding, reconciliation, document ca...

15/12/202517 min read

ATO Lodgment & Payment Options: 2025 Practice Guide

Navigating the ATO’s lodgment and payment options in Australia is done most effectively by selecting the correct lodgment channel (Online services for agents...

15/12/202519 min read

Taxable vs Non‑Taxable Income (Australia) 2025 Guide

Taxable vs non-taxable income for Australian sole traders and SMEs is determined by whether an amount is assessable income under the Income Tax Assessment Ac...

15/12/202519 min read

COVID Cash in a Wind-Up: What Happens in 2025?

When an Australian company winds up, “COVID cash” (such as JobKeeper, Cash Flow Boost, COVID-19 disaster payments, business support grants, and other pandemi...

15/12/202520 min read

Work-from-home tax tips 2025: AU deductions & duties

Work-from-home tax tips for Australia in 2025 centre on two non-negotiables: (1) employees and contractors may only claim remote work deductions to the exten...

15/12/202518 min read

Trust vs Company vs Sole Trader: Tax 2025 Guide

Choosing between a trust, company or sole trader for tax efficiency in Australia depends on (1) your expected taxable profit, (2) whether you need flexible i...

15/12/202520 min read

ATO Compliance Letters: Tech Response Guide (2025)

ATO compliance letters should be responded to quickly and accurately by using ATO-integrated accounting technology that pulls source data (bank transactions,...

15/12/202518 min read

Trust Vesting Case vs ATO Ruling: 2025 Guide

A recent trust vesting case has materially increased risk around relying on the ATO’s administrative views where a trust approaches (or has passed) its vesti...

15/12/202518 min read

Business vs Personal Expenses: AU Tax Law 2025

Business vs personal expenses is governed in Australia by a strict “nexus” test: an expense is only deductible to the extent it is incurred in gaining or pro...

15/12/202517 min read

Eight New Year Resolutions Every Accountant Should Adopt (2025)

Eight New Year resolutions every accountant should adopt in 2025 are: (1) lock in ATO-ready compliance habits, (2) automate bank reconciliation end-to-end, (...

15/12/202518 min read

Four Essential Functions for an Ambitious Finance Team (Australia, 2025)

An ambitious finance team in Australia must excel at four essential functions: (1) fast, accurate close and reconciliation, (2) statutory compliance and gove...

15/12/202517 min read

BAS Automation 2025: Shorten the BAS Cycle Fast

BAS in a flash is achieved by automating the highest-friction steps in BAS preparation—bank reconciliation, GST classification, exception handling, and BAS/I...

15/12/202515 min read

Prevent Academics Raiding Small Business R&D Funds (2025)

Preventing academics from “raiding” small business R&D funds in Australia requires tight governance over R&D contracting, clear ownership of IP and deliverab...

15/12/202517 min read

ATO Digital Push 2025: What SMEs Must Do Now

ATO’s digital push is a compliance and efficiency shift that materially changes how Australian SMEs capture sales data (e-invoicing), report payroll and tax ...

15/12/202517 min read

Super Compliance 2025: Avoiding SG Penalties

Superannuation compliance for employee super contributions is primarily about paying the correct Superannuation Guarantee (SG) amount to the correct complyin...

15/12/202518 min read

TPD Claims Through Super: Avoid Traps (2025)

Avoiding the common traps in TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) claims through super in Australia requires early proof planning, correct policy interpretat...

15/12/202516 min read

HR Problems Accountants Can’t Ignore (Australia, 2025)

Australian accounting practices cannot ignore HR problems because they now directly drive compliance risk (PAYG withholding, super, FBT, STP), profitability ...

15/12/202515 min read

Reducing Admin Burden With AI for Accountants (2025)

Reducing admin burden in an Australian accounting practice is now primarily achieved by using AI accounting software to eliminate manual data entry at the so...

14/12/202517 min read

Valuations 2025: Make Sure the Price Is Right

In Australian tax and accounting, “make sure the price is right” means ensuring every valuation used for tax, financial reporting, and transactions is **supp...

14/12/202517 min read

Visual Data Delivery for Insights: 2025 Guide

Visual data delivery is essential for key insights in an Australian accounting practice because it converts high-volume, compliance-critical data (bank trans...

14/12/202516 min read

Client Communication 2025 for Accountants (Australia)

Client communication in 2025 is best managed through a deliberate “channel mix” of chatbots for high-volume triage, video calls for complex advice and relati...

14/12/202519 min read

Automation vs Outsourcing for Practices (2025)

Automation is generally the most efficient long-term path for an Australian accounting practice because it reduces recurring labour dependency, improves cons...

14/12/202518 min read

Skills and Technology Boosts: What Business Must Know (2025)

Australian businesses need to know that the “skills and technology boosts” were targeted, temporary tax incentives that allowed an additional tax deduction f...

14/12/202519 min read

AI in Tax Law 2025: Can ML Keep Up in Australia?

Machine learning can keep up with constant Australian tax compliance changes only when it is engineered as a governed, continuously updated compliance system...

14/12/202517 min read

Fintech in Tax 2025: How Startups Change Compliance

Fintech in tax is reshaping Australian compliance by shifting work from manual, after-the-fact preparation to near-real-time reporting, automated reconciliat...

14/12/202518 min read

Continuous Tax Reporting in Australia (2025)

Continuous tax reporting is effectively already underway in Australia for several tax types (PAYG withholding via STP Phase 2, GST/BAS via SBR-enabled digita...

14/12/202517 min read

Top 2025 Tax Changes Australia: Stay Compliant

Australian accountants staying compliant in 2025 must prioritise (1) Stage 3 personal income tax rate changes effective from 1 July 2024 (impacting the 2024–...

14/12/202516 min read

Debtor Monitoring: Why It’s Vital (Australia 2025)

Keeping tabs on debtors is vital because unpaid invoices directly undermine cash flow, profitability, GST/BAS accuracy, and tax outcomes—often long before th...

14/12/202518 min read

8 Ways to Optimise SMSF Accounting (Australia, 2025)

Optimising SMSF accounting in Australia requires a disciplined, compliance-first workflow that reduces manual processing while strengthening audit evidence, ...

14/12/202518 min read

ATO Fully Digital: Preparing Your Firm (2025)

Australian accounting firms should assume the ATO will continue moving toward an effectively “fully digital” administration model—where most compliance inter...

14/12/202517 min read

TPB 2026 Focus: Key Compliance Areas to Watch

TPB’s 2026 compliance focus for Australian tax practitioners is expected to intensify around practitioner integrity, correct lodgments (including BAS/GST and...

14/12/202518 min read

ATO 2026 Crackdown: Small Business Checklist

Small businesses should prepare for the ATO’s 2026 compliance crackdown by tightening record-keeping, reconciling GST and income tax positions to source data...

14/12/202517 min read

Insights for Sale 2021: How Accountants Add Value

Australian accountants provided greater client value in 2021 by productising “insights” (forward-looking advice) from compliance data—using more frequent rep...

14/12/202517 min read

Maximising Depreciation 2025: IAWO vs TFE

Maximising depreciation in Australia is achieved by correctly applying the instant asset write-off (IAWO) and (where applicable to prior income years) tempor...

14/12/202516 min read

Cybersecurity for Accounting Firms 2025 Guide

Cybersecurity for accounting firms in an AI-driven world is the disciplined application of governance, controls, and secure technology to protect highly sens...

14/12/202517 min read

Digital Client Onboarding for Accountants (2025)

Digital client onboarding streamlines engagements in Australian accounting practices by moving identity checks, engagement letters, authorities, data capture...

14/12/202517 min read

3 Ways to Build a Finance Offering (Australia, 2025)

Australian accounting practices can expand revenue and client retention by building a finance offering in three proven ways: (1) a compliance-led cashflow an...

14/12/202520 min read

Growth Pains in Accounting: How to Reduce the Sting (2025)

Taking the sting out of growth pains in an Australian accounting practice is achieved by standardising delivery, automating high-volume compliance work (espe...

14/12/202517 min read

Seven Accounting Trends Reshaping Australia (2025)

Seven converging trends are changing the shape of accounting in Australia: AI-driven automation, real-time ATO-aligned compliance, practice-wide “continuous ...

14/12/202516 min read

AI Regulations & Ethics for Accountants (Australia) 2025

Australian accountants must treat AI in finance as a regulated, risk-managed professional tool: your obligations under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA)...

14/12/202515 min read

Comfort & Trust in Selling Accounting Services (2025)

Comfort and trust are the decisive factors in selling professional accounting services in Australia because clients are buying risk reduction and certainty—n...

14/12/202518 min read

ATO Tax Debt Options for Businesses (2025)

Dealing with tax debt in Australia is primarily a cashflow and compliance management exercise: a business that owes the ATO should immediately quantify the d...

14/12/202517 min read

Loan Guarantees Gone Wrong: Australia 2025 Guide

A loan guarantee goes wrong when the guarantor becomes legally liable for the borrower’s default and the “rescue payment” triggers unexpected tax outcomes (o...

14/12/202518 min read

10 Overlooked Business Deductions (Australia) 2025

Small businesses in Australia commonly overpay tax because legitimate deductions are missed or poorly documented—particularly where expenses are partly priva...

13/12/202518 min read

Are You the ‘Average Accountant’? Census Secrets 2025

You are unlikely to be the “average accountant” in practice, even if you match the Census median on one or two traits, because Australian accounting work is ...

13/12/202517 min read

Accounts Payable Cyber Crime: Raise Your Game (2025)

Australian accounts payable (AP) teams must raise their cyber crime controls now because invoice fraud and business email compromise (BEC) are actively explo...

13/12/202518 min read

Director IDs A–Z: Australian 2025 Guide

Director IDs are a permanent, unique identifier that eligible directors must obtain under Australia’s director identification number regime to help prevent u...

13/12/202518 min read

Australia–Croatia Tax Treaty 2025: Business Impact

The Australia–Croatia tax treaty (a Double Tax Agreement, or DTA) is designed to reduce double taxation and provide clearer tax outcomes for Australian busin...

13/12/202516 min read

Will the US Lead the Next Accounting Frontier? (2025)

The US will influence the next accounting frontier, but it will not “lead” it in a way Australian practices can simply adopt wholesale; Australia’s next fron...

13/12/202516 min read

Gig Economy Tax Australia 2025: Multi-Income Clients

Australian gig economy clients who earn from multiple sources (ABN contracting, platform income, wages, investments and side businesses) must be advised unde...

13/12/202518 min read

Client Expectations 2025: Faster, Smarter Accounting

Australian clients in 2025 expect accounting services to be delivered faster, with higher certainty, and with proactive advice that prevents ATO problems bef...

13/12/202516 min read

Payroll Tax Simplification for SMEs (2025)

Payroll tax simplification could materially ease the compliance burden on Australian SMEs by reducing inconsistent state-by-state rules, narrowing ambiguity ...

13/12/202516 min read

ABN, TFN & GST for Startups (Australia) 2025 Guide

ABN, TFN and GST are the three core tax registrations most Australian startups must get right from day one because they determine how the business identifies...

13/12/202516 min read

Expanding CDR 2025: How It Empowers Consumers

Expanding Australia’s Consumer Data Right (CDR) will empower consumers by giving them secure, consent-based control over a broader range of their financial a...

13/12/202517 min read

The Power of Insight: Accounting in Australia (2025)

The power of insight in an Australian accounting practice is the ability to convert raw financial, payroll, and ATO-linked data into defensible decisions—fas...

13/12/202516 min read

Eliminating Shoebox Bookkeeping (2025): AI Tools

Eliminating shoebox bookkeeping in an Australian accounting practice is achieved by using AI accounting software Australia-wide that automatically captures, ...

13/12/202519 min read

“A Day to Remember” in Australian Accounting (2025)

“A day to remember” in an Australian accounting practice is the specific date that triggers a tax, compliance, or evidentiary consequence—typically a lodgmen...

13/12/202517 min read

ROI of Automation: AI Accounting Tools (2025)

AI accounting automation delivers measurable ROI for Australian accounting practices by converting high-volume, low-margin compliance work (bank reconciliati...

13/12/202517 min read

Crypto CGT Tripwires: Australian Guide 2025

Crypto assets can trigger CGT tripwires in Australia whenever there is a CGT event under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997), most commonly when a...

13/12/202517 min read

Succession Planning and Tax (Australia) 2025 Guide

Succession planning and tax is the structured process of preparing an Australian business for sale or handover in a way that legally minimises tax, preserves...

13/12/202519 min read

Adapting to AI: Upskilling for Accountants (2025)

Adapting to AI is now a core capability for modern Australian accountants because AI is rapidly automating high-volume compliance tasks (data extraction, cod...

13/12/202517 min read

DPN Strategy 2025: How to Respond Fast and Safely

Taking a strategic approach to dealing with Director Penalty Notices (DPNs) means acting immediately to identify whether the DPN is “non-lockdown” or “lockdo...

13/12/202517 min read

Unpacking the Federal Budget: 2025 Guide

Unpacking the federal budget means translating Budget-night announcements into actionable tax, superannuation, compliance, payroll, and cashflow decisions fo...

13/12/202516 min read

Every Child Should Aspire to Be an Auditor (2025)

“Forget astronaut, every child should aspire to be an auditor” is a defensible statement in the Australian accounting practice context because audit and assu...

13/12/202516 min read

BBlood Enterprises & s100A: What It Means (2025)

BBlood Enterprises materially strengthens the ATO’s and courts’ focus on the *substance* of trust distributions for section 100A purposes: if a beneficiary i...

13/12/202517 min read

AI OCR in Australia: The End of Paperwork (2025)

AI OCR tools are effectively ending manual paperwork in Australian accounting practices by converting receipts and supplier invoices into structured, complia...

13/12/202516 min read

Data Security in Cloud Accounting (AI Tools) 2025

Data security in cloud accounting is achieved by combining strong governance (legal, ATO and privacy obligations), hardened cloud controls (encryption, acces...

12/12/202517 min read

s100A: Last Chance to Tell the ATO (2025)

Australian accounting practices have a final opportunity to influence how the ATO administers and applies section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 ...

12/12/202517 min read

Crypto Tax Compliance Australia 2025 Guide

Cryptocurrency tax compliance in Australia is achieved by correctly classifying each crypto activity (investment, trading business, personal use, DeFi, NFTs,...

12/12/202519 min read

Internal Auditing: 7 Things You Don’t Know (2025)

Internal auditing is not “mini external audit” or a compliance formality; in Australian accounting practice it is a structured, independent assurance and adv...

12/12/202517 min read

Remote Work Taxation: OECD Updates 2025 (Australia)

Remote work taxation has shifted from an “HR policy issue” to a material tax risk because OECD guidance and BEPS-era principles increasingly treat cross-bord...

12/12/202515 min read

AI in Accounting: Myths vs Reality (Australia) 2025

AI in accounting is already practical in Australian firms, but it is not a “set-and-forget robot accountant”; the reality is that AI is best deployed to auto...

12/12/202516 min read

BAS Lodgment: Why Timing Protects Cash Flow (2025)

Timely BAS lodgment is critical to cash flow because it determines when a business either receives GST refunds and credits or becomes exposed to ATO interest...

12/12/202516 min read

Too Many Finance Teams? Australian Guide 2025

One organisation can absolutely have “too many finance departments” when finance is duplicated across business units without clear ownership, standardised co...

12/12/202517 min read

TPB 2026 Focus: Compliance Areas to Watch

TPB’s 2026 focus for Australian tax practitioners is expected to intensify around **agent integrity, evidence-based advice, correct ATO interactions, and str...

12/12/202517 min read

BAS vs IAS: Demystifying Statements (2025)

BAS vs IAS is fundamentally about what you are reporting and paying to the ATO: a **Business Activity Statement (BAS)** is used to report **GST and other act...

12/12/202519 min read

EOFY Parties 2025: Plan, Stash Phone, Join In

“Have a plan, stash the phone and join the party people!” is best interpreted (from an Australian accounting practice perspective) as a practical EOFY entert...

12/12/202516 min read

Minerva Case: What It Means for Trust Distributions (2025)

The Minerva case is significant for trust distributions because it reinforces that **valid trust distributions depend on strict compliance with the trust dee...

12/12/202516 min read

Client Adoption of Accounting Software Tools (2025)

Bringing clients up to speed on new accounting software tools is best achieved by linking adoption to mandatory Australian compliance outcomes (GST/BAS, PAYG...

12/12/202516 min read

Unpredictable Year: Why So Much Stayed Undone (2025)

An unpredictable year leaves a lot undone in Australian accounting practices because volatility (cashflow swings, staff churn, ATO timetable pressure, and sh...

12/12/202517 min read

ATO 2026 Compliance Crackdown: Small Business Prep

Australian small businesses should prepare for the ATO’s 2026 compliance crackdown by tightening record-keeping, substantiating deductions, aligning GST and ...

12/12/202518 min read

Can Accountants Break 9-to-5? (Australia 2025)

Australian accountants can break the 9-to-5 office habit, but only if they redesign workflows around compliance risk, ATO-linked deadlines, data security, an...

12/12/202517 min read

Cyber Crime: 5 Lessons for Accountants (2025)

The increase in cyber crime has established five critical lessons for Australian accounting practices: treat identity and bank-details changes as high-risk e...

12/12/202516 min read

Common GST Mistakes SMEs Make (2025 Guide)

Common GST mistakes in Australian SMEs almost always come from the same root causes: misclassifying supplies (taxable vs GST‑free vs input taxed), claiming G...

12/12/202518 min read

Integrating Accounting Software: Seamless Workflow 2025

Integrating accounting software to build a seamless workflow from receipt to tax return means designing an end-to-end, audit-ready data pipeline where source...

12/12/202518 min read

Global Tax Trends 2025: Lessons for Australian Accountants

Global tax trends matter to Australian accountants because Australia’s tax system is increasingly shaped by international transparency rules, OECD anti-avoid...

11/12/202517 min read

AI Tax Preparation for SMEs in Australia (2025)

AI in tax preparation saves time for Australian SMEs by automating the highest-volume, most repetitive parts of compliance—data capture, transaction coding, ...

11/12/202517 min read

Capital Gains Tax Basics for Small Business (2025)

Capital gains tax (CGT) is not a separate tax in Australia; it is the part of income tax that applies when a small business sells or otherwise disposes of a ...

11/12/202520 min read

Off‑Market Share Buybacks: Time’s Up in 2025

Time is effectively up for “mischief” in off‑market share buybacks because the ATO has made it clear—through long‑running public guidance, sustained complian...

11/12/202517 min read

Tax Reform Outlook 2025: Lower Income Tax or Higher GST?

Australia’s most likely medium-term tax reform direction is a **rebalancing away from personal income tax (at least at the margin) and toward broader consump...

11/12/202518 min read

Transfer Pricing Turning Point? Australia 2025 View

Transfer pricing is at a turning point for Australian taxpayers in 2025 because the ATO has moved from “documentation as a compliance artefact” to “evidence-...

11/12/202516 min read

Beyond Compliance: Accountants as Advisors (2025)

Australian accountants are becoming strategic advisors because compliance work is being progressively standardised, digitised and automated, while clients in...

11/12/202517 min read

Record-Keeping Essentials: ATO-Ready Books (2025)

Keeping your books ATO-ready in Australia requires **complete, contemporaneous, and verifiable records** that support every amount reported in your BAS, IAS ...

11/12/202516 min read

Precision in Tax Filing 2025: How AI Cuts Errors

Precision in tax filing improves materially when AI is embedded into an Australian accounting practice’s data capture, reconciliation, and compliance workflo...

11/12/202519 min read

Visa Reform 2025: Fixing Australia’s Talent Knots

Australia must loosen its visa “knots” to lure (and retain) high-quality professional talent because the current system is too slow, complex, and risk-laden ...

11/12/202516 min read

BAS Lodgment Nightmares: Avoid Pitfalls (2025)

BAS lodgment nightmares in Australian practices almost always arise from preventable reconciliation failures: GST coding errors, timing mismatches, incomplet...

11/12/202514 min read

Automating ATO Compliance With AI (2025)

Automating compliance with AI keeps Australian small businesses on track with ATO deadlines by continuously capturing transaction and ATO data, reconciling G...

11/12/202515 min read

Lockdown DPNs: Why Accountants Face Jeopardy (2025)

Lockdown Director Penalty Notices (lockdown DPNs) put accountants in jeopardy because they arise when a company fails to lodge certain ATO returns on time (m...

11/12/202519 min read

Starting a Business: Tax Obligations New Founders Miss (2025)

Starting a business in Australia triggers multiple ATO obligations from day one, and new entrepreneurs most commonly miss (or delay) the “set-up” decisions t...

11/12/202519 min read

Lean Efficiency for Accountants: Tech Integration 2025

Boosting practice efficiency with lean principles and tech integration in an Australian accounting firm means systematically removing non-value work (rework,...

11/12/202517 min read

Automated Finance Teams: Why They Pay Dividends (2025)

An automated finance team pays dividends because it converts compliance-heavy, manual accounting work (bank reconciliation, GST/BAS prep, working papers, and...

11/12/202516 min read

BAS on Autopilot with AI (Australia) 2025

BAS processing on autopilot means using AI accounting software in Australia to automate the end-to-end BAS cycle—data capture, GST coding, exception handling...

10/12/202517 min read

ChatGPT and Accountants: Tax Advice Risks (2025)

Australian accountants can use ChatGPT productively, but it is established that **AI-generated tax advice creates material risks** in Australia because it ma...

10/12/202517 min read

ATO Audits 2025: Keep Your Small Business Audit-Ready

Staying audit-ready for an ATO review is primarily a records, systems, and governance exercise: if your GST/BAS, PAYG withholding, income tax positions, and ...

10/12/202517 min read

Keeping Up With Tax Changes: 2025 Guide for Accountants

Keeping up with Australian tax changes requires a documented, repeatable system that prioritises authoritative sources (ATO law administration guidance, Trea...

10/12/202517 min read

Life Insurance Tax Strategy Australia (2025 Guide)

The right tax strategy for life insurance in Australia is determined first by who owns the policy (individual, super fund, or business), why it is held (pers...

10/12/202517 min read

ATO Overlooked in Audit Reports: Reality (2025)

The frustrating reality is that an audit report can be technically “clean” while still missing ATO-critical risk areas, and the ATO will not treat the audito...

10/12/202518 min read

Robo-Accountant 2025: Time to Make Way?

Yes—**it is time for Australian accounting practices to make way for the robo-accountant**, but not as a replacement for professional judgement. In 2025, AI ...

10/12/202517 min read

STP Update 2025: Stay Compliant in Australia

Single Touch Payroll (STP) compliance in Australia is maintained by reporting salary and wages, PAYG withholding and superannuation information to the ATO ea...

10/12/202516 min read

Future of BAS 2025: Is AI Every Accountant’s Assistant?

AI is becoming the default assistant for BAS preparation in Australian accounting practices because it can automate bank-to-BAS reconciliation, GST coding, e...

10/12/202516 min read

Handling ATO Notices: Small Business Guide 2025

Handling an ATO notice correctly means identifying the notice type, checking the due date and legal basis, verifying the ATO’s figures against your own recor...

10/12/202517 min read

Fringe Benefits for SMEs: Worth It in 2025?

Fringe benefits for Australian SMEs are worth the compliance effort only when they are deliberately structured to achieve a clear commercial objective (reten...

10/12/202517 min read

GST 101: Beginner’s Guide for Australian Small Business (2025)

GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a 10% value-added tax that Australian small businesses must register for (in most cases) once GST turnover reaches $75,000, t...

10/12/202518 min read

Beyond Spreadsheets: Cloud & AI Bookkeeping (2025)

Moving beyond spreadsheets is now a necessity for modern bookkeeping in Australia because ATO compliance expectations (accurate record-keeping, timely BAS/IA...

10/12/202518 min read

Business Revenue Spotlight: ATO Focus 2025

Australian accounting practices should treat the current “spotlight turns to business revenue” theme as a clear compliance signal: **the ATO is intensifying ...

10/12/202517 min read

Collaborative Accounting Portals: Trust in 2025

Collaborative accounting improves transparency and trust by placing the client and the accountant in the same controlled workflow—sharing source documents, t...

10/12/202517 min read

Foreign Worker Tax in Australia: What to Tell Them (2025)

A foreign worker in Australia should be told, upfront and in writing, that their Australian tax outcome depends on (1) whether they are an Australian tax res...

10/12/202519 min read

Small Business Tax Basics (Australia) 2025 Guide

Small business tax basics in Australia come down to getting five foundations right from day one: choosing the correct business structure, registering properl...

10/12/202521 min read

Avoid Personal Liability for DPNs (2025 Guide)

Avoiding personal liability when dealing with a Director Penalty Notice (DPN) requires immediate action to confirm whether the DPN is “lockdown” or “non-lock...

09/12/202516 min read

Mobile Accounting for BAS & Tax in Australia (2025)

Mobile accounting is now a practical, compliant way for Australian accounting practices to manage GST, BAS and core tax workflows on the go—provided the clou...

09/12/202517 min read

Remove 5 IT Roadblocks to Success (2025)

Removing the 5 IT roadblocks to success in an Australian accounting practice means eliminating the recurring technology constraints that create rework, compl...

09/12/202517 min read

Family Farms NSW: When Duty Applies (2025)

NSW decides “when duty calls” for family farms primarily under the Duties Act 1997 (NSW) by testing whether a transaction is a dutiable transaction (e.g., tr...

09/12/202518 min read

When to Call the Accountant: Signs You Need Tax Help

You should call an accountant as soon as your Australian tax situation involves complexity, uncertainty, higher-than-normal ATO scrutiny risk, or material mo...

09/12/202519 min read

Fintech Risks vs Cloud Upside: Australian Guide 2025

Australian accounting practices can “look through the fog of fintech risks to a silver-lined cloud” by treating fintech and cloud accounting as a governance ...

09/12/202518 min read

Taxpayers’ Charter Review 2025: Modernise Now

A timely review of the ATO Taxpayers’ Charter is a genuine opportunity to modernise Australia’s tax administration because it can convert broad “service comm...

09/12/202517 min read

Section 100A 2025: Why the ATO “Zoned Out” Trusts

Section 100A has “zoned out” many Australian trust distribution strategies because the ATO now treats a wide range of adult-beneficiary and corporate-benefic...

09/12/202519 min read

GST Distribution Debate: Productivity Commission Insights (2025)

The GST distribution debate in Australia centres on how the GST pool should be allocated among the states and territories to equalise their capacity to deliv...

09/12/202516 min read

Risky Business: Australian Firms in 2025

Australian accounting practices are now objectively “risky businesses” because the risk profile of compliance work has shifted faster than most firm operatin...

09/12/202516 min read

Cyber Threat in Australia 2025: Has It Hit Home?

Yes—**the cyber threat has definitively “hit home” for Australian accounting practices**, because accounting firms now sit on the highest-value identity and ...

09/12/202516 min read

Tailoring Life Insurance: 5 Tips (Australia 2025)

Tailoring life insurance to fit in Australia requires aligning the policy structure (inside or outside super), ownership, beneficiaries, and benefit definiti...

09/12/202515 min read

Digital Payments: Post‑Pandemic Economy 2025

Digital payments will fuel the post‑pandemic economy because they reduce friction in commerce, accelerate cashflow, improve tax and compliance visibility, an...

09/12/202516 min read

Four tips to avoid EOFY burnout (Australia, 2025)

Avoiding EOFY burnout in an Australian accounting practice comes down to four controllable levers: (1) lock your workflow to ATO due dates and risk, (2) auto...

09/12/202516 min read

Finance Accountability 2025: The Buck Stops Here

Real, accountable “feel-good” outcomes in Australian organisations are only credible when finance owns the measurement, controls, and reporting trail end-to-...

09/12/202515 min read

ATO “Listening” Initiative 2025: Practitioner Pain Points

The ATO’s “listening” initiative is a structured program of consultation, co-design and feedback loops designed to reduce the administrative burden on Austra...

09/12/202517 min read

Price Allocation in Agribusiness Sales (Australia) 2025

Price allocation in agribusiness sales is the disciplined process of splitting a single sale price across multiple assets and rights commonly sold together (...

09/12/202518 min read

Crypto & Regulation: Protect Reputation (2025 AU)

Crypto must get ahead of regulation or it will continue to lose trust with consumers, banks, and the ATO-facing compliance ecosystem—because reputational dam...

09/12/202517 min read

PSI Rules Update 2025: ATO New Guidelines Explained

Personal services income (PSI) remains a high‑audit focus for the ATO, and the ATO’s newer guidance clarifies—more strictly than many taxpayers expect—when i...

09/12/202518 min read

Human-AI Team in Accounting: Better Outcomes (2025)

Australian accounting practices achieve better outcomes with a human-AI team when AI is used to automate high-volume, rules-based work (bank coding, reconcil...

09/12/202517 min read

Are TPAR Rules Different Under Cash Method? A Comprehensive Guide

The Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) rules in Australia require businesses in certain industries to report payments made to contractors for services. Th...

09/12/202510 min read

2025 Updates on Small Business GST Compliance

In 2025, significant updates to small business GST compliance in Australia are primarily focused on enhancing digital reporting, streamlined filing processes...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Election Notification: Do You Need One?

In Australia, the choice between cash basis and accrual basis accounting can significantly impact a business's tax obligations and financial reporting. A cas...

09/12/202510 min read

What to Do If ATO Questions Your GST Method

If the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) questions your GST method, it is crucial to respond promptly and accurately to avoid potential penalties. First, revi...

09/12/202510 min read

Recent ATO Rulings on Small Business Accounting Methods

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently issued rulings that impact small business accounting methods, focusing on simplification and compliance wit...

09/12/20259 min read

ATO Lifestyle Data-Matching and Undeclared Income: A Comprehensive Guide

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) employs lifestyle data-matching to identify undeclared income by examining discrepancies between reported income and per...

09/12/202510 min read

AI Tools and Their Impact on Cash Basis Audit Detection

The advent of AI tools has significantly enhanced the detection of cash basis audit discrepancies by automating data analysis, identifying anomalies, and pro...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Simplified BAS Scheme for Cash Basis Users

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offers the Simplified Business Activity Statement (BAS) scheme to help small businesses manage their GST reporting oblig...

09/12/202510 min read

Changes in ATO Small Business Rules 2025: Key Updates

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) introduced several important changes to small business rules this year, impacting compliance, tax obligations, and eligi...

09/12/20259 min read

ATO Cash Basis Guidance for 2024–25: Comprehensive Overview

Understanding the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) cash basis guidance for the 2024–25 tax year is crucial for accounting professionals managing GST report...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Recordkeeping Demo for Beginners

Cash basis recordkeeping is a straightforward accounting method suitable for small businesses and beginners in Australia. This method recognizes income and e...

09/12/202510 min read

Explaining Cash Basis to Your Accountant: A Comprehensive Guide

Cash basis accounting is a straightforward method where income and expenses are recorded when cash is actually received or paid, rather than when they are in...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash vs Accrual Accounting: Which is Right for Your Practice?

The choice between cash and accrual accounting methods is crucial for Australian accounting practices, directly impacting financial reporting, tax obligation...

09/12/202510 min read

GST Claim Timing in Cash Method: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the timing of GST claims under the cash method can be crucial for Australian businesses using this accounting approach. The cash method allows ...

09/12/202510 min read

End-of-Year Checklist for Cash Basis Tax Reporting: A Comprehensive Guide

Conducting an end-of-year checklist for cash basis tax reporting is crucial for Australian accounting practices to ensure compliance with the Australian Taxa...

09/12/20259 min read

Sample Chart of Accounts for Cash Basis Businesses

Understanding a sample chart of accounts for cash basis businesses is crucial for Australian accounting practices. A chart of accounts (COA) serves as a robu...

09/12/202511 min read

Invoicing Strategies Under the Cash Method: A Comprehensive Guide

Invoicing strategies under the cash method involve recognizing income when cash is received and expenses when they are paid. This approach, favored by many s...

09/12/202510 min read

Daily Workflow for Cash-Basis Bookkeeping in Australia

Efficient cash-basis bookkeeping forms the backbone of any effective accounting practice, especially in the context of Australian businesses. This method rec...

09/12/202510 min read

Managing Cash Flow with Cash-Based Reporting: A Guide for Australian Practices

Managing cash flow effectively is crucial for any business, and cash-based reporting offers a streamlined approach to achieve this. In the context of Austral...

09/12/202510 min read

Using Cash Basis in a Sole Trader Business: A Comprehensive Case Study

In Australia, the cash basis of accounting is a straightforward accounting method particularly suitable for sole traders. It records income when received and...

09/12/202510 min read

Quarterly vs Annual Planning Using Cash Method

Quarterly and annual planning using the cash method each have unique benefits and practical applications for Australian accounting practices. The cash method...

09/12/202511 min read

When Should You Stop Using Cash Basis Accounting?

In Australia, the decision to stop using cash basis accounting and switch to accrual basis is typically driven by growth in business size, complexity of tran...

09/12/20259 min read

Avoiding Penalties from BAS Misstatements: A 2025 Guide

Ensuring accuracy in your Business Activity Statement (BAS) lodgements is crucial to avoid penalties imposed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). To avoi...

09/12/202510 min read

Avoiding Double-Counting When Switching Methods: A Comprehensive Guide

Switching accounting methods can lead to the risk of double-counting, a significant issue that can distort financial reports and lead to compliance problems ...

09/12/20259 min read

Fixing Cash vs Accrual Mismatches in Reporting: A Comprehensive Guide

In the realm of Australian accounting, fixing cash vs accrual mismatches in reporting is crucial for ensuring accurate financial statements and compliance wi...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Red Flags: What the ATO Looks For

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is vigilant about ensuring that businesses applying the cash basis of accounting comply with tax laws and regulations. T...

09/12/202511 min read

Common ATO Audit Triggers for Cash-Basis Businesses

Cash-basis businesses in Australia, which recognize income and expenses when cash is actually received or paid, are often scrutinized by the Australian Taxat...

09/12/202510 min read

Structuring Payments to Optimize Deductions: 2025 Guide

Structuring payments effectively can significantly optimize deductions for Australian businesses and individuals. By aligning payment strategies with ATO gui...

09/12/202510 min read

Prepaying Expenses to Lower This Year’s Tax: A Guide for Australian Accountants

In Australia, prepaying expenses can be a strategic move to lower taxable income for the current tax year. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO),...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Legally Defer Income Under Cash Accounting

Deferring income under cash accounting in Australia involves timing the receipt of cash payments to strategically shift taxable income to a later period. Thi...

09/12/202510 min read

TPAR Rules Under Cash Method: What You Need to Know

The Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) rules in Australia apply to certain industries and are used to report payments made to contractors. The TPAR report...

09/12/202510 min read

2025 Updates on Small Business GST Compliance

In 2025, Australian small businesses must navigate significant updates in GST compliance, as outlined by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). These changes ...

09/12/20259 min read

Cash Basis Election Notification: Do You Need One?

Understanding whether a cash basis election notification is necessary is crucial for Australian businesses that wish to adopt the cash basis of accounting fo...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Questions Your GST Method: What Steps to Take

When the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) questions your GST method, it is crucial to respond promptly and accurately. Start by reviewing your GST records an...

09/12/202510 min read

Recent ATO Rulings on Small Business Accounting Methods

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently issued rulings that significantly impact how small businesses approach accounting methods. These rulings pr...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Lifestyle Data-Matching and Undeclared Income: A Comprehensive Guide

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) utilizes lifestyle data-matching techniques to identify individuals who may be underreporting their income. By cross-ref...

09/12/202510 min read

The Impact of AI Tools on Cash Basis Audit Detection

In the rapidly evolving landscape of accounting, AI tools have revolutionized cash basis audit detection by enhancing accuracy, efficiency, and compliance wi...

09/12/202511 min read

ATO Simplified BAS Scheme for Cash Basis Users: 2025 Insights

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offers a simplified Business Activity Statement (BAS) scheme specifically tailored for cash basis users, streamlining re...

09/12/202511 min read

Changes in ATO Small Business Rules 2025

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has introduced several significant changes in small business rules for the 2025 tax year. These updates primarily affect...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Cash Basis Guidance for 2024–25: What You Need to Know

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides specific guidance on adopting a cash basis for accounting, which can significantly impact how Australian busine...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Reporting for Small Online Retailers in Australia

Cash basis reporting is a method of accounting where income and expenses are recorded when cash is actually received or paid. This approach is especially rel...

09/12/20259 min read

Pros and Cons of Cash Method for Real Estate Agents

The cash method of accounting, commonly used by real estate agents in Australia, offers simplicity and ease of implementation, allowing income and expenses t...

09/12/202511 min read

Cash Method Suitability for Hospitality Businesses in Australia

The cash method of accounting, where income and expenses are recorded when cash transactions occur, is often ideal for hospitality businesses due to its simp...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Tax Tips for Allied Health Professionals: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the cash basis of accounting for tax purposes can significantly benefit allied health professionals in Australia. This accounting method focuses o...

09/12/202510 min read

Should Consultants Use Cash Basis for Accounting?

In Australia, consultants often face the decision of whether to use the cash basis or accrual basis for accounting. The cash basis accounting method records ...

09/12/202511 min read

Tax Reporting for Service Businesses Using Cash Basis: Comprehensive Guide

Tax reporting for service businesses using the cash basis method involves recognizing income and expenses when cash is actually received or paid. This method...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Accounting for Tradies and Contractors

Cash accounting is a straightforward accounting method that is particularly beneficial for tradies and contractors in Australia. It allows businesses to reco...

09/12/20259 min read

Is Cash Basis Suitable for E-commerce Businesses?

Determining the suitability of cash basis accounting for e-commerce businesses in Australia involves understanding the nature of cash basis accounting and ev...

09/12/202510 min read

How Sole Traders Benefit from Cash Accounting in Australia

Sole traders in Australia can significantly benefit from using the cash accounting method due to its simplicity, real-time cash flow management, and alignmen...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Build a Simple Cash-Basis Spreadsheet

Creating a simple cash-basis spreadsheet involves organizing financial transactions to reflect the cash inflows and outflows of a business. This method align...

09/12/20259 min read

Common Data Entry Mistakes Using Cash Method

In Australian accounting practices, using the cash method for tax and financial reporting introduces several common data entry mistakes. These mistakes inclu...

09/12/202510 min read

Petty Cash Handling Under Cash Accounting: An Australian Guide

Petty cash handling under cash accounting involves managing small cash transactions for minor expenses within a business. In Australia, this process requires...

09/12/202511 min read

Handling Mixed Cash and Credit Payments: Best Practices for Australian Accounting

Handling mixed cash and credit payments effectively is crucial for maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring compliance with Australian tax regulat...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Bookkeeping Checklist: A Guide for Australian Practices

The cash basis of accounting is a method where income and expenses are recorded only when cash is actually received or paid, making it a straightforward appr...

09/12/20259 min read

Do You Still Need an Accounts Payable Ledger on Cash Basis?

In an Australian accounting context, maintaining an accounts payable ledger on a cash basis remains crucial for accurate financial management and compliance....

09/12/202510 min read

Tracking Accounts Receivable on Cash Basis: A Comprehensive Guide

Tracking accounts receivable on a cash basis in Australia involves recognizing revenue when cash is actually received, rather than when an invoice is issued....

09/12/202510 min read

How to Reconcile Bank Accounts for Cash Accounting

Reconciling bank accounts for cash accounting involves matching your financial records with your bank statements to ensure accuracy in cash transactions. Thi...

09/12/202510 min read

Automating BAS on a Cash Basis: A Comprehensive Guide

Automating BAS (Business Activity Statement) on a cash basis involves leveraging technology to streamline the process of calculating and lodging GST, PAYG, a...

09/12/20259 min read

Best Accounting Software for Cash Basis Reporting 2025

When it comes to finding the best accounting software for cash basis reporting in Australia, MyLedger stands out due to its robust capabilities tailored for ...

09/12/202510 min read

Best Accounting Software for Cash Basis Reporting: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the best accounting software for cash basis reporting is crucial for Australian businesses wanting to optimize their financial management processes....

09/12/202512 min read

Should Consultants Use Cash Basis?

Consultants in Australia often face the decision of choosing between cash basis and accrual basis accounting. The cash basis of accounting is typically simpl...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Accounting for Tradies and Contractors: Essential Guide

Cash accounting is a straightforward accounting method that is particularly beneficial for tradies and contractors in Australia. This approach records income...

09/12/20259 min read

Automating BAS on a Cash Basis: A Comprehensive Guide

Automating Business Activity Statements (BAS) on a cash basis involves using advanced accounting software to streamline the collection, categorization, and r...

09/12/202510 min read

Best Accounting Software for Cash Basis Reporting in Australia

In the realm of Australian accounting, selecting the best software for cash basis reporting is crucial for accuracy and efficiency. Among the choices availab...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Crypto Letter: What Australian Accountants Do Next (2025)

If your client has received an ATO letter about crypto trading, it should be treated as a targeted compliance prompt, not a generic “FYI”. In Australian prac...

09/12/202517 min read

Crypto wash sales Australia: are you on a wash cycle?

You may be “on a wash cycle” if you sell crypto at (or near) a loss and then quickly buy back the same coin/token (or an effectively identical exposure) so t...

09/12/202518 min read

Careful With That Banking App! (Australia 2025)

“Careful with that banking app!” in an Australian accounting practice context means treating banking apps, open banking feeds, receipt-capture apps and payme...

09/12/202516 min read

Income Tax Planning for Cash Basis Businesses in Australia

Income tax planning for cash basis businesses involves strategically managing income and expenses to optimize tax liabilities. For Australian businesses that...

09/12/202510 min read

Prepaid Expenses and Cash Basis Tax Deductions in Australia

In the context of Australian accounting, prepaid expenses and cash basis tax deductions present unique challenges and opportunities for businesses operating ...

09/12/202510 min read

Tax Deferral Tips Using Cash Basis Method

In Australia, the cash basis method for accounting allows businesses to defer tax liabilities by recognizing income and expenses when cash is actually receiv...

09/12/202510 min read

Handling Tax Prepayments Under Cash Accounting in Australia

Tax prepayments under cash accounting can be complex for Australian businesses, especially when considering the nuances of cash versus accrual accounting met...

09/12/202510 min read

PAYG Cash vs Accrual: What’s the ATO Expecting?

Understanding the expectations of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regarding Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments under cash and accrual accounting methods i...

09/12/20259 min read

Timing of Deductions vs Payments: Cash Method Explained

Understanding the timing of deductions versus payments is crucial for Australian businesses and accountants utilizing the cash method. Under this method, ded...

09/12/202510 min read

How Cash Basis Affects Your Business Tax Return

Understanding how the cash basis affects your business tax return is crucial for Australian businesses. The cash basis of accounting records income and expen...

09/12/202510 min read

End-of-Year Tax Return Process for Cash Basis Businesses

Completing the end-of-year tax return for cash basis businesses in Australia involves a detailed understanding of income recognition, expense deductions, and...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Calculate Instalment Income Using Cash Basis

Calculating instalment income using the cash basis method is a critical task for Australian accounting professionals, particularly when managing clients' tax...

09/12/202510 min read

PAYG Instalments Under Cash Basis Reporting: 2025 Guide

Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments under cash basis reporting are a method used by Australian businesses to pay income tax in installments throughout the year,...

09/12/202510 min read

Switching GST Methods from Accrual to Cash: Complete Guide

Switching GST methods from accrual to cash can significantly impact your accounting practices in Australia. This transition involves changing how GST is acco...

09/12/20259 min read

BAS Due Dates and Best Practices on Cash Method

Understanding the Business Activity Statement (BAS) due dates and implementing best practices under the cash method is crucial for Australian businesses to m...

09/12/202510 min read

GST Reconciliation for Cash Basis Businesses in Australia

GST reconciliation for cash basis businesses involves matching the GST collected and paid on your sales and purchases to the amounts reported to the Australi...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Track GST Received and Paid in Real Time

Tracking GST (Goods and Services Tax) received and paid in real time is crucial for Australian accounting practices to maintain compliance with ATO requireme...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis GST vs Non-Cash Basis Explained

Understanding the differences between cash basis and non-cash basis GST is crucial for Australian businesses as it impacts how and when GST is reported and p...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Lodge BAS if Using Cash Basis

When lodging a Business Activity Statement (BAS) on a cash basis in Australia, you account for income and expenses only when the cash is actually received or...

09/12/20259 min read

GST Payable Timing under Cash vs Accrual: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the timing of GST payable under cash versus accrual accounting methods is crucial for Australian businesses. The choice between these two metho...

09/12/202510 min read

Common GST Reporting Errors on Cash Basis

Goods and Services Tax (GST) reporting on a cash basis is prevalent among Australian businesses, particularly smaller entities. However, cash basis reporting...

09/12/202510 min read

When to Claim GST Credits on Cash Basis

Claiming GST credits on a cash basis in Australia is contingent upon the actual payment of invoices. Under the cash accounting method, you are eligible to cl...

09/12/202511 min read

Reporting GST Using the Cash Method: A Comprehensive Guide

Reporting GST using the cash method is a process that allows Australian businesses to account for GST on sales and purchases when payment is received or made...

09/12/202511 min read

Deductible Expenses Under the Cash Method: A Comprehensive Guide

In Australian accounting practices, deductible expenses under the cash method are those costs incurred by a business or individual that are eligible for dedu...

09/12/202510 min read

Taxable Income Rules Under Cash Basis Reporting: An Australian Accounting Guide

Understanding the rules for taxable income under cash basis reporting is crucial for Australian accounting practices. Under the cash basis method, income is ...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Definition of "Earned" vs "Received" Income: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the distinction between "earned" and "received" income is crucial for Australian accounting practices, as it influences tax obligations, report...

09/12/202510 min read

How to Switch from Accrual to Cash Basis Accounting

Switching from accrual to cash basis accounting in Australia involves a strategic approach that aligns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) requirements...

09/12/202510 min read

Cash Basis Accounting Explained for Beginners

Cash basis accounting is a straightforward accounting method where income and expenses are recorded only when cash is actually received or paid. This approac...

09/12/202510 min read

Should Your Business Use Cash or Accrual Basis?

Choosing between cash and accrual accounting can significantly impact how your business reports income and expenses. In Australia, the choice largely depends...

09/12/202510 min read

ATO Turnover Threshold for Cash Basis Reporting: 2025 Guide

The ATO turnover threshold for cash basis reporting is an important consideration for Australian businesses when determining their GST accounting method. As ...

09/12/202511 min read

Who Can Use Cash Basis Accounting Under ATO Rules?

Under the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) guidelines, cash basis accounting is primarily available to small businesses that meet specific criteria. This met...

09/12/202510 min read

Differences Between Cash Basis and Accrual Accounting

Understanding the differences between cash basis and accrual accounting is crucial for Australian accounting professionals. Cash basis accounting recognizes ...

09/12/20259 min read

Cash Basis Accounting for Small Businesses in Australia

Cash basis accounting is a method utilised by small businesses in Australia that records revenues and expenses at the time cash is actually received or paid,...

09/12/202511 min read

Payroll Compliance Australia 2025: Why Risk Millions?

Getting payroll wrong in Australia can realistically cost an employer (and, in some cases, directors and advisers) millions because payroll touches multiple ...

09/12/202518 min read

AI vs Human Error in Tax Returns (Australia) 2025

AI vs human error is not a contest of “machine replaces accountant”; it is a control question: in Australian tax returns, automation reduces mistakes by syst...

09/12/202519 min read

EOFY Tax Time Checklist for SMEs (Australia) 2025

Preparing your SME for EOFY tax time in Australia requires a controlled, evidence-based checklist that finalises bookkeeping, substantiates deductions, recon...

09/12/202519 min read

Crypto in an SMSF: Does It Belong? (2025)

Crypto can belong in an SMSF under Australian law, but only where trustees can demonstrably meet the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act)...

09/12/202518 min read

FBT Season 101: Avoid Common Mistakes (2025)

FBT season is won or lost on discipline: getting the fringe benefit classification right, keeping compliant records for employee contributions and business u...

08/12/202517 min read

Training Your Team for Tech: 2025 Practice Guide

Training your team for tech in a traditional Australian accounting practice is achieved by treating software implementation as a controlled change program—bu...

08/12/202518 min read

Crypto & Bankruptcy Trustees: Can of Worms (2025)

Crypto is “a can of worms” for bankruptcy trustees in Australia because digital assets are easy to hide, hard to trace across wallets and exchanges, and lega...

08/12/202516 min read

Tax Professional 2030: Skills You’ll Need (Australia)

Tax professionals in 2030 will be valued less for data entry and basic compliance, and more for AI-enabled assurance, ATO-facing risk management, advisory ju...

08/12/202517 min read

Profit Motive & Crypto: Revenue Account (ATO 2025)

A profit motive can put crypto trades on revenue account in Australia because, where a taxpayer is carrying on a business of trading or otherwise entering tr...

08/12/202516 min read

Gilt-Edged Backups vs Cyber Crime (Australia) 2025

A gilt-edged backup regime is the single most effective defence an Australian accounting practice can implement against cyber crime because it is the only co...

08/12/202516 min read

Creditor Duty Decision: Why Accountants Must Act (2025)

Accountants must heed the creditor duty decision because Australian courts have confirmed that, as insolvency risk emerges, directors’ duties increasingly pr...

08/12/202518 min read

Avoid Payroll Errors Australia: 2025 Practice Guide

Payroll errors are avoided in Australia by designing payroll as a controlled compliance process (not an admin task): correct worker classification, award int...

08/12/202517 min read

Transforming Tax Season 2025: Tech for Accountants

Technology is materially transforming tax season in Australian accounting practices by shifting the busy season from manual processing (data entry, reconcili...

08/12/202517 min read

TPB 2026 Focus: Key Compliance Areas to Watch

TPB’s 2026 compliance focus for Australian tax practitioners is expected to tighten around verifiable client identity and authority, higher-quality tax agent...

08/12/202514 min read

ATO 2026 Compliance Crackdown: What to Prepare For

Small businesses should prepare for the ATO’s 2026 compliance crackdown by tightening record-keeping, reconciling GST and PAYG with bank data, validating ded...

08/12/202517 min read

ATO on AI 2025: ChatGPT & Automated Tax Advice

The ATO’s current stance is that AI tools such as ChatGPT can be used to support tax administration and professional work, but they do not replace a taxpayer...

08/12/202517 min read

Sustainability and Tax: ESG in Compliance (Australia) 2025

Sustainability and tax are now inseparable in Australian tax compliance because ESG claims, disclosures, and governance controls increasingly determine wheth...

08/12/202518 min read

Federal Budget 2026: SME Tax Changes Preview

Australian SMEs should plan now for the Federal Budget 2026 because the most likely “on the horizon” tax changes are not new headline rates, but tighter comp...

08/12/202517 min read

Payroll Tax Across States: 2025 Guide for SMEs

Navigating payroll tax across Australian states is primarily an exercise in managing different thresholds, rates, grouping rules, and “where wages are taxabl...

08/12/202518 min read

Trust Disclaimers After Carter (2025 Guide)

Trust disclaimers are not “finished” in Australia post Carter, but they are materially riskier and less reliable as a tax-planning and dispute-management too...

08/12/202515 min read

6 Steps to a Successful Accounting Business (Australia 2025)

A successful accounting or bookkeeping business in Australia is built by (1) choosing a compliant, profitable niche, (2) systemising service delivery, (3) ru...

08/12/202518 min read

Five Low-Cost Cyber Protection Tips (Australia) 2025

Australian accounting practices can materially improve cyber protection with five low-cost controls: enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere, ha...

08/12/202515 min read

Paperless Accounting 2025: OCR & Digital Workpapers

Going paperless with OCR and digital workpapers is one of the highest-impact productivity upgrades an Australian accounting practice can make in 2025 because...

08/12/202517 min read

Paperless BAS 2025: Is AI Finally Here?

Yes—**for Australian accounting practices, the “paperless BAS” is now practically achievable in 2025**, provided you adopt AI accounting software Australia h...

08/12/202516 min read

Advisory Services in Australia: Monetise Beyond Compliance (2025)

Australian accounting practices monetise expertise beyond tax compliance by packaging recurring, decision-oriented advisory services (cash flow, profitabilit...

08/12/202518 min read

Loan vs Dividend: Tax Implications (Australia 2025)

Withdrawing money from an Australian company is almost never “just a transfer” for tax purposes: it is typically treated as either a **loan** (often caught b...

07/12/202518 min read

Lessons from 2025: Tax Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

The clearest lesson from 2025 for Australian accounting practices is that most 2026 tax compliance failures will not arise from “complex tax law” but from pr...

07/12/202520 min read

Modern Accounting Practice 2025: From Compliance to Advisor

Building a modern accounting practice in Australia means deliberately shifting your operating model from labour-heavy compliance production (BAS, IAS, ITR, f...

07/12/202519 min read

Year‑Round Tax Planning for SMEs (Australia) 2025

Year-round tax planning is the most reliable way for an Australian SME to smooth its tax burden because it converts “end-of-year tax surprises” into predicta...

07/12/202517 min read

5 Accounting Tasks to Automate in 2025

Automating five core compliance and production tasks in 2025—bank reconciliation, BAS/GST reconciliation, working papers (including Division 7A), depreciatio...

07/12/202518 min read

Why MyLedger is Better for Australian Accounting Practices

MyLedger outshines its competitors by offering a comprehensive, AI-powered accounting solution tailored specifically for Australian accounting practices.

28/11/20256 min read