Is your business avoiding its debts?

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As a consumer, you may or may not know someone that has been affected by a dodgy business that has shut down to avoid paying its debts.

We have seen this happen quite a bit over the last few years.

The business may seem to just disappear off the face of the earth, overnight, only to pop up under a different company name.

This as we know is called ‘phoenixing’ and it’s ILLEGAL.

It’s been around for many years and illegal phoenix activity happens in many different industries. The worst is many subcontractors and / or supplies are left unpaid and businesses may be forced to shut down.

Did you know the ATO has a taskforce called ‘Phoenix Taskforce’ whereby they work with other federal, state and territories to detect, deter and disrupt illegal phoenix businesses?

There are a few red flags to watch out for such as

  1. Companies providing unusually low quotes or tenders
  2. Company directors who have previously been involved with liquidated entities
  3. Changes to the company’s name and directors, but the manager and staff remain the same
  4. Companies requesting payments to be sent to a new company
  5. Told that your last contract won’t be paid, unless a new contract is signed, usually this is done under a different company name from the 1st one you began having dealings with.

If you suspect anything illegal, please contact the ATO and/or

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

The Prime Minister has removed the $10,000 liquid asset test from the COVID-19 Disaster payment

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Did you know before Thursday last week, eligible applicants for the COVID disaster payment were subjected to a liquid asset means test to prove they had less than $10,000 worth of liquid assets, like shares & savings?

Now the Prime Minister said the liquid asset test applied to payments of $325 or $500 would be lifted for those who apply for the payment as a result of having missed work in NSW, and residents of other states, should any lockdowns persist.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked the state for the Job Keeper to be reinstated on Thursday, ongoing discussions and options are on the table.

‘In addition to the asset test changes, the Morrison government suspended mutual obligation requirements for Greater Sydney residents receiving welfare payments, like JobSeeker’
‘The announcements from both Premier Berejiklian and Prime Minister Morrison come less than 24 hours after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg knocked back the state’s request for a return of JobKeeper’
It will be interesting to see what happens.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

Don’t forget to review your work-related expenses at Tax Time!!

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This will be very interesting, as most people working from home since the pandemic, have now worked solidly for the full 12 months, so many people will be asking what are work-related expenses and what is not.

The Tax Office has warned it will be taking a close look at work related expenses.

Do you know what you can or cannot claim at tax?

If you don’t have a clue and need help, then please give me a call.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

How the Budget will affect your super

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Did you know about these recent changes which may affect your super?
In summary, this is what the Government have outlined.

– $450 monthly threshold for superannuation payments have now been scrapped
– First home super saver scheme maximum increased from $30,000 to $50,000
– Work test for super contributions scrapped for ages 67-74
– Super downsizing contribution age threshold reduced to 60

I am sure you didn’t know this information. As a Bookkeeper I must keep up to date on a daily basis of changes. This is what I do each day to ensure all my clients are up to date.
If you need assistance in relation to Superannuation | Bookkeeping, then please give me a call.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

The COVID Rebound

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Can you believe it’s been 12 months already of the 1st case of COVID. In Australia we faired pretty well compared to the rest of the world.

We are definitely in rebound mode, for many business owners, it’s survival. Some have been able to grow leaps and bounds, pivot, while others have relied on the Jobkeeper payments and still could close.

But the outlook looks to be that Australia business is on the rebound.

There has been new consumer confidence in the market, people seem to have more money, they are spending on homes, cars, holidays locally and interstate because they can’t spend that money on overseas holidays.

So there are a couple of things to think about with this rebound which is:

1.Cashflow
Look at your business and review exactly how much it needs to survive and what timeline.

2. Documentation
Document everything, if you are not already, look at streamlining your processes. Start reviewing your costs in pre-crisis revenue and margin to post crisis.

3. Inventory
As Australia is starting to reopen borders, early movers building inventory soon may benefit from pre-surge prices.

4. Prepare to Hire
I know that sounds crazy, but can you afford to add staff now or not. Do you have a HR person to help, look at identifying job descriptions, start dates.

5. Work with the best Bookkeeper
Now this one is a given, you need to talk to me. A good bookkeeper will save you a lot of $$$.

So remember, we are coming out of this pandemic and it’s exciting to see Australia rebound and show the rest of the world, how tough and resilient we truly are.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID
We are a full service, insourced Payroll and Bookkeeping business that puts money back in your pocket and saves you time to work in/on your business this makes good financial sense!!

What can we learn from 2020?

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That is the million-dollar question right there.

What have we learned from 2020? The year that brought Australia and the world to a stop. A global pandemic that brought businesses to a standstill, many hundreds and thousands of deaths across the world, not only in Australia but all countries because of COVID-19.

We all wanted a slower pace of life, the old saying, there is no place like home.

And home is what we got.

Hundreds and thousands of people, children, families had to stay home because of this pandemic. It made us all look and review how we live our lives, it gave us time to reflect on what we have, our health, our families.

What is most important to us.

Personally, what I learnt from 2020 was I had more time with my two boys and my husband. I was able to see what my boys were learning through school and find out their weaknesses first hand and was able to support and help them. Especially my eldest boy who finished Year 12 this year. I am glad I was able to support him during this time.

I was there for my dad more and helping him with errands and my husband. So for me what I learned was life is precious, family is precious. Business is not the most important thing in life, family, love and our health is.

I truly feel many people probably think along the same lines as I do, but that is what I learnt in 2020.

I hope we all as a community, as a country pulls through this together and 2021 is a better year for us all, but that we don’t forget the precious things in life, which is are families.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

We are a full service, insourced Payroll and Bookkeeping business that puts money back in your pocket. Our team works like a full-time employee and part of your business when it comes to processing your Payroll and bookkeeping, but without the cost or other concerns full time employees bring.   When compared to a full-time employee, we give you all the benefits and more but save you around $60,000 a year in costs, makes good financial sense!!

It’s now December 2020 and Christmas is here, are you claiming all your business expenses?

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Probably the last thing you would be thinking about is claiming your business expenses at this time of year. But only another 6 months’ time is EOFY, so we are mid-way and it’s a great time for businesses to go through what you are claiming as a business expense.

The ATO has found that ‘around 90% of small businesses are using a registered bookkeeper/tax professional to help them with their income tax obligations. That is music to my ears as it is important for Bookkeepers like myself to make sure businesses get their tax right.

Come time to do your tax return, are you claiming all of your business expenses?

Those businesses that keep good records and invest in a good bookkeeper will be less stressed when it comes to tax time in 6 months’ time.

Enlist a professional like myself to hep you with your books and uncover more to claim as businesses expenses.

Most people know that general office stationery, cost of renting your office or business space are some common expenses that can be deducted. But here are a few more that you may not know

– Cost of running your website, including maintenance, updates, service provider fees
– Marketing and promotional activities
– Tender fees, bet you didn’t know that, (even though that didn’t have a successful outcome)
– PR related expenses
– Parking related fees

Just to name a few.

Then if you operate and run a car for your business, you are also entitled to receive deductions.

If your business operates under a company or a trust there are additional motor vehicle claims as well.

But a few you can claim ie
– Registration
– Oil & Fuel
– Depreciation
– Interest on motor vehicle loans

Then there is repairs an maintenance on business machinery, tools, travel expenses for meals, parking, road tolls, fuel etc the list goes on and if you operate from home like many are now doing since COVID, you have home office cleaning expenses, percentage of phone and internet, stationery, home office equipment.

Give me a call, let me help you, so in six months’ time you won’t be stressed.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

We are a full service, insourced Payroll and Bookkeeping business that puts money back in your pocket. Our team works like a full-time employee and part of your business when it comes to processing your Payroll and bookkeeping, but without the cost or other concerns full time employees bring.   When compared to a full-time employee, we give you all the benefits and more but save you around $60,000 a year in costs, makes good financial sense!!

Tips on teaching kids about money

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This might be one of those things you think about from time to time, but I think teaching kids about money in the early years will set them up during their life.

I am a mother of 2 boys and have tried to install good money and spending habits. I have tried to teach them the value of money and how saving up for something is much better than buying something on credit.

Saving is such a long-term habit and could make a huge difference in a kid’s life if you teach and start them young. Even pocket money or making them do some more chores around the home for a bonus at the end of the week ie match a dollar for a dollar in their bank account for example.

It is about teaching kids’ simple strategies about the difference between wants and needs.

A great place to start it explaining the basic needs, ie food, water, shelter, you can reinforce the concept of a want versus a need. When you go shopping with your child and they have asked for a treat when you walk down the confectionary aisle. Unless it’s a special occasion, firstly don’t walk your kid or kids down that aisle (bad idea), but unless they have earned it during the week, then it is a treat for them, because they washed dad’s car or helped put clothes on the line.

Kids should be given goals, it’s too easy to give kids everything they want, they won’t appreciate working for things like cars and houses as they get older if you as a parent have just always given them what they wanted, when they wanted.

Get kids to make a vision/goal board and help them write out what they want and how they can reach that goal. Let them earn their own money and they can start ticking off that vision board each item they have worked for, be it doing more chores around the house for pocket money or saving more each week into their bank account.

Show them and explain to them about compound interest, the earlier and quicker they start saving it will grow so much in only a few short years.

I realise this isn’t so much bookkeeping related, but I think it’s an important one to touch on, as adults if we are clever about money, we can to be saving money and using our money wisely in business.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

We are a full service, insourced Payroll and Bookkeeping business that puts money back in your pocket. Our team works like a full-time employee and part of your business when it comes to processing your Payroll and bookkeeping, but without the cost or other concerns full time employees bring.   When compared to a full-time employee, we give you all the benefits and more but save you around $60,000 a year in costs, makes good financial sense!!

 

The NSW Government hands down the 2020-21 Budget

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I have to applaud the NSW Government during COVID-19, this year has been tough for so many both personally and professionally.

Recently the NSW Government announced it’s $1 billion Working for NSW Fund, which will help sustain businesses and create much needed cash flow and help businesses retain employees across government and non-government businesses.

They also announced that over $6 billion, that’s right $6 billion dollars will go towards waiving or deferring taxes, levies and fees, which includes payroll tax and licensing and registration fees to support businesses.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on certain industries in NSW, the Government announced assistance for the following

$50million for arts rescue and restart, $27.3 million for sports and $11.6 million to support the taxi industry.

That is an incredible amount of money and the Government has advised the will also extend funding of $39.3 million for the Business Connect Program, which assist businesses in need of advice with those facing the multitude of challenges of COVID-19.

Let’s face it, the NSW Government are trying to serve and support local and small business, because as we know, we are the backbone of the country. If you didn’t have the local and small business, NSW / Australia wouldn’t function, pure and simple.

I support the NSW Government as they hand down the budget and we all know the future is uncertain, but this will definitely help many for a more positive 2021.

Maree Punzet | Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | 0429 363 047
You didn’t go into business to do your Payroll and Bookkeeping, BUT WE DID

We are a full service, insourced Payroll and Bookkeeping business that puts money back in your pocket. Our team works like a full-time employee and part of your business when it comes to processing your Payroll and bookkeeping, but without the cost or other concerns full time employees bring.   When compared to a full-time employee, we give you all the benefits and more but save you around $60,000 a year in costs, makes good financial sense!!