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As a parent, you may worry about how to ensure your child can receive a post-secondary education. Costs are constantly rising, and you may face high tuition fees as well as cost of living expenses if your child has to live away from home. Here are some steps you can take to save for your child’s education. Be clear about what you can and cannot afford to pay Being clear…  Read more

We spoke with bookkeeper and business owner Tash Black about her thoughts on running a small business. What made you want to be a business owner? It was something that I had always wanted to do, I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted the challenge of making something mine and experiencing the rewards of reaching my goals and being successful. What impact did owning your own business have…  Read more

Lodge your FBT to REDUCE ATO AUDIT PERIOD. Many small businesses manage their business to avoid fringe benefits tax using methods such as director contributions to ensure no tax is payable – this method is low cost and pragmatic however leaves an unlimited timeframe open for ATO. We recommend our clients to complete and lodge an FBT return, even if it is a nil result so as to draw a…  Read more

In April and May 2022, we assist clients with Tax Planning to provide specific actions to reduce your tax and manage your business and personal profits. REDUCING YOUR TAX and PLANNING FOR YOUR TAX PAYMENTS We have annual tax planning guides that will help you succeed: FY22 Tax planning tips and ideas for business FY22 Tax and wealth management tips and ideas for individuals When is a tax plan essential?…  Read more

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has released the 2022 Federal Budget ahead of a Federal election in a few months. This article has a summary of the “Winners and Losers” of the Budget and we’ve compiled a recap of the key points below. Get in touch with us if you have any questions. The Budget read as a pre-election sugar hit. Some small changes like cuts to fuel excise may impact your…  Read more

On 23 February 2022 the ATO targeted the tax benefits of family trust distributions with a focus on distributions to the adult children of trust controllers. It’s one of the most significant developments for the taxation of trusts in over two decades. The ATO’s attack on the potential tax benefits of trusts is comprehensive: • Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2022/D1 Income tax: section 100A reimbursement agreements • Draft Practical Compliance…  Read more

The technical drafting and operation of a trust deed is becoming increasingly important. A trust deed is a legal document. Each has been drafted by a lawyer at a particular point in time on the basis of an understanding of key issues in the law. There is no standard template. As accountants we work with a simple rule of thumb: Read the Deed A well drafted deed is easy to…  Read more

On 9 February 2022 the High Court released two decisions that changed our understanding of employee vs contractors. At the bottom of this article are the summaries provided by the High Court. For many years Australian Courts have increasingly followed a doctrine of substance over form. That is, look at the substance and reality of a transaction or relationship rather than the initial intent as documented in the legal drafting…  Read more

A Bookkeeping service can benefit businesses of any size. It gives you access to expertise for better management of finances, invoicing and bills and a seamless transiting from bookkeeper to accountant at EOFY. Perhaps even more important for you is the time freed up for you to focus on your business. To see bookkeeping packages click here. Expertise A bookkeeper is an expert at managing, sorting and recording your business’s…  Read more

Buying a property is a big investment. It’s often one of the most important investments people make in their lives. When it comes to getting a mortgage, many buyers focus solely on the immediate steps they have to take and fail to consider the right protections. What insurances can protect your home loan? It pays to understand the insurance options you have available for your mortgage in order to protect…  Read more

Risk management should be central to life and business. At Porters CA we see two simple key imperatives – (A) achieve your goals; (B) plan and manage the risk of not achieving your goals. With the WA borders set to reopen on 3 March it is time to start contingency planning. Absent a major surprise we are looking at a high and rapid incidence of Covid with: interruptions to business…  Read more

Are you looking for an opportunity to build your skills as a Bookkeeper in a professional and supportive environment? Porters CA offers you an opportunity to grow, assisted by strong systems and procedures in a supportive and friendly workplace. Training and career development is offered so you can become your best for a bright future. We are a boutique firm, mixing excellence in tax compliance and bookkeeping with a personal…  Read more

Australian company directors have the next year in which they will need to apply for a Director Identification Number through the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS). The ABRS will roll out progressively between 2021 and 2024, with the first step being that all company directors will be required to obtain a Director Identification Number(DIN). For most directors, the due date will be 30 November 2022 however a new appointment as…  Read more

The Australian government announced the implementation of the Modernising Business Registers program as part of the 2020 Budget Digital Business Plan. The program will establish an Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) to enhance how businesses register and manage their information with the government. The ABRS will roll out progressively between 2021 and 2024, with the first change being that business directors must obtain a Director Identification Number (DIN). For most…  Read more

As a business owner, have you ever considered what would happen to the business if you had to take a break due to serious illness or injury? Would the business survive? How would the bills get paid? And while you may not like to think about it, in the case of death, how can you ensure your family is given a fair deal in the case of a business partnership?…  Read more

Solid cash flow management is vital to ensuring your business survives and thrives but not everyone understands what cash flow is or how to manage it. That’s likely what makes it a leading cause of stress for small business owners. Cash flow refers to the movement of money into and out of your business. It is based on the amount of money you bring in minus the amount you spend.…  Read more

Every business needs a financial plan. Your financial plan gives you a way to monitor and review your cash flow, make adjustments to your spending and anticipate potential financial issues. A financial plan can also help when requesting funding or finding investors to bring more money into your business. Although many business owners are aware that financial planning is important, it is often overlooked or put off for another day.…  Read more

With cryptocurrencies gaining popularity, many people are unclear on how or when they can be taxed. Despite widespread belief to the contrary, you can be taxed on gains made as a result of obtaining or using cryptocurrency. If you’ve made a profit from trading cryptocurrency, for example, you need to declare it at tax time. Very few people really understand cryptocurrencies, what they are, how they exist and what drives…  Read more

Your 30s are an exciting time. You’re typically making more money than you were in your 20s and you’re looking to the future to determine the type of life you want to live. Your 30s are also a great time to take control of your finances, so you have more security and flexibility in the coming years. Here are 5 financial tips to follow in your 30s, to help you…  Read more

The introduction of Single Touch Payroll (STP) requires more effort than usual on year end payroll finalisation. Under STP employers must report pay, taxes and superannuation information directly to the ATO every payday through STP. Employers using STP will not give employees a payment summary as they usually would at this time of year. Instead, employees will get an end-of-year income statement in ATO online services through myGov. Employers have…  Read more