Penalty rates and the impact of change The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has moved to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates. The changes to penalty rates are not yet in force – see When will the changes take effect? Flagged back in 2014, the review into penalty rates was part of the FWC’s four [...]
What employers need to know about FBT 2017 We know that no one likes to pay tax and certainly no more tax than they should. But very few people want to be on the wrong side of an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) audit where fees and penalties are paid for neglecting your obligations. The Fringe [...]
Managing the Debt Drain – the critical issues for small business February and March are traditionally the worst cashflow months for small business – the Christmas rush is over, the Business Activity Statement is due, and payments slow down with a dip in consumer spending. You might be ok but your customers could be under [...]
Pride & Prejudice: Top Four Predictions for 2017 The global economy is picking up and Australia is about to secure the global record for the longest period a country has gone without a recession. But with the focus on the political environment, there is an uneasiness in the market and with uneasiness comes a reticence [...]
Top cyber security tips for business It is important you keep all your business and client information secure. If your data is lost or compromised, it can be very difficult or very costly to recover. The ATO has developed these tips in consultation with the Cyber Security Working Group (CSWG), a group of tax practitioner industry [...]
Christmas Party Fails Christmas….that time of year when the festivities not only bring joy but excessive expenses, potential harassment claims, and other employer headaches. As Phyllis Diller once said, “What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” This month, we explore the top Christmas problem areas: Getting [...]
Parental leave. Where are we up to? How did paid parental leave get to be so contentious? The current debate is not about parental leave in general; the entitlement to 12 months with a potential for 24 months of unpaid leave with your job guaranteed (or an equivalent position) remains. It’s about who pays for [...]
What's involved in selling your business? Selling your business can be a stressful time and unless you’ve done it before, it’s hard to know what to expect or what’s required to get the right result. We’ve put together the top issues for business owners or investors to maximise their results. Understand what you are selling [...]
Crowdfunding - is it worth it? We’ve all seen the success stories of an innovator with a great idea who, supported by crowdfunding, was able to launch a successful and high growth business. But what happens to the money? There are several types of crowdfunding: Donation based - funding a cause without the fundraiser providing [...]
Another Timely Warning Against Identity Theft The ATO is reminding Australians to protect themselves against identify theft this tax time. Assistant Commissioner Graham Whyte said identity theft was more common during tax time because of the large number of people lodging tax returns. “With the amount of personal information being exchanged at tax time, it [...]
