One of the more confusing elements of our tax system is the PAYG instalment system. In this blog we set out to answer our most commonly asked questions in relation to the system.

I don’t think I have ever met anyone who loves getting things ready for tax time. Even I don’t like getting my own things in order! I find getting a system in place and staying organised is the best way to tackle tax time. It also has the added bonus of being able to use the data you have to gather for tax to more effectively make decisions in your business, so it is a win win. Here are my tips for getting up to date and staying up to date:

Adrienne owns a small architecture firm and spent the 2018-19 Christmas break reading Mike Michalowicz’s book, Profit First. She was so excited by the read and wanted to implement it in her business straight away. I was a little sceptical as being an accountant I know that being in business is about cashflow first. Curious, I decided to have a read. I wasn’t long into the book before I realised it’s about a methodology to manage cashflow. I settled in and enjoyed the read.

2020 is a year like no other. We’ve witnessed change at a rate and on a scale never seen before, making it challenging for businesses to keep up. When it comes to making decisions in business, it’s important to use only up to date advice, as the regulatory environment and personal circumstances can change to such an extent that initial advice can be considered bad advice. I want to share with you a case study to show why it is vital to keep up to date:

You know the saying prior planning prevents poor performance? This applies to getting ready for tax time…and there is no time like the present. While we are in the thick of the tax season, you have a little breathing room to get organised and prepared for when your trusty accountant prepares your business or personal income tax returns. Here are five things you can do to make it easier for yourself and for your accountant:

Working with an accountant isn’t only a necessary business investment but can also be an easy one when the right systems are in place. Here’s the 5th installment in this series where we’ll talk about: how to make your accountant up to date with the latest technology, the what and why on secure client portals, the benefits of electronic signatures and how these work.

Getting accounting software isn’t always a priority for most business owners. Because at first look it may seem like an expense. But believe it or not, it can actually save you money in the long run. In this 4th of a series of 5 videos to help you reduce accounting costs, I’ll cover: how you can say goodbye to paper and hello to real-time accounting, how to reduce the back-and-forth with your accountant, my recommended accounting software and how one of them works especially on saving you time, and what you’ve been waiting for – tips to use it efficiently and how it can save you loads of money.

Cutting accounting fees is a concern of most business owners. It’s necessary to work with an accountant that you trust but it’s also important to keep expenses at a minimal and reasonable amount. That’s why in this video series, I help you tackle this natural worry in the head using simple and effective steps you can apply today. In this 3rd video, we’ll talk about: how to reduce accounting fees if you don’t prefer using an accounting software, what needs to be included in the summarised information you need to give your accountant, and the do’s and don’ts when making a summarised information to be ready in case of an audit.

This is the 2nd in a video series on how you can cut back on accounting fees in a simple and efficient way. These tips will also help you build a long-term relationship with your accountant without burning them out in the process. In this 2nd installment, I’ll walk you through some steps on: how to get your paper work and other financial info organised, how to help your accountant get all the details he needs and work straight away, what systems you can set up, and my suggested filing process for all your documents.

Reducing accounting fees may sound counter-intuitive coming from an accountant, but it actually is a win-win situation, both for you, as a business owner, and your accountant. That’s why I created this video series to give you 5 effortless tips to minimise accounting costs while building a good and ongoing relationship with your accountant. In this first video, you’ll learn: the most important step you need to have in place for all the rest of the tips to work, why this first tip will help save you money in the long run, and what you can do when you haven’t given all information and your accountant is asking for more details.

I am yet to meet anyone, other than an accountant, who gets excited about tax time. With a fear of a tax bill, a loathing of paperwork and complex web of tax law to navigate it is no wonder most people find it a bit overwhelming, but with our savvy tips tax time will be a breeze!