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Is your business avoiding its debts?

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

You don’t want to receive a Final Demand letter from the ATO

If you have any outstanding lodgements, the ATO will send you a final demand letter which normally will say something along the lines of that you will be even fined or could go to jail.

Yes, you don’t want to ever receive a final demand letter from the ATO.

If this sounds like you and you need help getting back on track, Maree can help you. If you are behind in your paperwork and the ATO have not sent the letter – yet, you don’t want to wait for that letter to come in the mail. Now is the time to contact Maree.

Maree calls these kind of clients ‘rescue clients’ because that is what Maree is doing, rescuing you from the ATO.
Contact her today to help you.

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

ATO is flipping the switch on debt recovery

As you may or may not know, taxpayers in Australia are falling behind on tax debts and lodgement obligations.

With JobKeeper coming to an end on the 28th March 2021, the program is officially over. The Tax Office has confirmed that it will now resume pursuing and enforcing debt recovery.

It has come to this stage because the ATO had been sending out letters to taxpayers in February to warn them of potential action, but many taxpayers have failed to make good on their obligations.

The debt is growing and many bookkeepers and accountants have predicted that the ATO would turn to stronger enforcement, once the JobKeeper program finished.
Even though Australia has had to ensure, bushfires, floods, COVID-19, has had a significant impact on taxpayers. What is required is for people now to get their paperwork in order and that is where I come in.

The last thing you want is the ATO on your case, we as bookkeepers and accountants have been urged from the ATO office to ensure our clients continue to lodge even if they are unable to pay, with tailored payment plans as this is still available to them.

Don’t ignore the letters from the ATO, if you are worried, 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
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!!

Have you lodged your TPAR or have your forgotten to lodge?

Did you know more than 60,000 businesses in Australia are yet to comply with their lodgement requirements under the Taxable Payments Reporting System (TPRS). The due date was last August 2020, so the ATO will be chasing those who haven’t lodged.

Are you one of those 60,000 businesses in Australia?

Did you know if you have yet lodged, that you may incur penalties from the ATO. This is when contractors who have don’t report or under-report their income, it’s dangerous to do this and you will be caught.

In fairness, some businesses do not realise they need to lodge a taxable payments annual report (TPAR), but may be required, depending on the percentage of payments received for courier services or deliveries.

Businesses for example ie Restaurants, Cafes, Pharmacies, Grocery Stores and retailers have started paying contractors to deliver their goods to customers, especially since COVID. These businesses previously may not have needed to lodge a TPAR, but if the total payments received for deliveries or courier services are 10% or more of the total annual business income, then they will need to lodge.

Do you fit in this criteria?

It is what the ATO describe as the Black Economy. This is costing the community as much as $50 billion dollars. Other areas that pay contractors are those that provide road freight, information technology, security, investigation or surveillance services. If you do fit in these areas then you need to lodge a TPAR with the ATO.

If you are confused and think maybe I need help, then give Maree a call direct on 0429 363 047 today.

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!!

Are you behind in your Bookkeeping?

Are you needing help?

Are you behind in your bookkeeping Lodgements?

Many times, I have what you call, RESCUE JOBS.

Rescue jobs are those clients who have come to me with more then three months work that is behind.

For example, if you are in the following situation, then you are a rescue job

  1. Behind in your tax return lodgements
  2. Behind in your Superannuation contributions
  3. You haven’t lodged any BAS for months or even years

If this is you, I can definitely help you.

Many business owners are fearful that because they have put off their lodgements that they fear they will receive a HUGE BILL from the ATO.

Unfortunately, even though you probably will have a huge bill to pay, you may also receive penalties on top of what you owe for every quarter overdue in you haven’t lodged every quarter.

It can really add up.

Don’t take the mental burden of being behind in your obligations and let me look after your reporting, your BAS and your Tax Returns and everything in between.

It just takes one phone call to 0429 363 047 to rescue you.

Call me today.

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 ATO has issued a reminder to businesses who may be subject to penalties for missing October 2020 deadline to fulfil their Superannuation Guarantee Obligations

Don’t be one of those businesses that is subject to penalties.

By law, the ATO has advised and reminded businesses they cannot extend the due date to pay superannuation.

If you have already missed the 28th October deadline to pay your quarterly SG contributions, you will need to lodge a superannuation guarantee by the 28th November 2020 to avoid penalties, after this date you will incur the penalties and believe me you don’t want to miss the deadline.

‘The ATO noted the superannuation guarantee charge is different to the regular contributions businesses pay and is made up of SG shortfall amounts, interest on those amounts (currently 10 per cent) and an administration fee of $20 per employee per quarter’

If you need assistance now, then please give me a call on 0429 363 047.

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 ATO is warning businesses to stay up to date with their obligations

The ATO have been sending out notices to all businesses, warning them that if they are not staying up to date with their obligations, that is may in fact impact their eligibility for future stimulus measures.

In short, they are saying that businesses who are doing well need to resume their obligations whilst those that are facing ongoing hardship are encouraged to get in contact with the ATO.

Since September 1st 2020, the ATO has stopped providing blanket extensions to small business audit cases. The ATO have also recommended activity where the business is either not adversely impacted by COVID or is now in a position to progress.

If you need some help in this area, please do not hesitate to contact me direct on 0429 363 047.

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 Fair Work Ombudsman is prioritizing COVID-19 workplace disruptions which include the Job keeper payment compliance

What that means is over the next 12 months, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) are reviewing any underpayments in large corporations.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker has confirmed that Aussie workplaces can expect a degree of flexibility in the FWO’s enforcement approach in the new financial year, especially those sectors heavily impacted by the coronavirus crisis’

There have been many sectors within the Australian economy that have been seriously impacted by COVID-19. The FWO will enforce workplaces of their financial positions and review the challenges each are facing whilst recovering from the health disruption. The FWO are trying to uphold the integrity of the Jobkeeper scheme through these appropriate compliance activities.

“Due to the impact of COVID-19 on Australian workplaces, the number of employers and employees seeking our assistance has grown significantly,” Ms Parker said.

“More than 60 businesses have come forward to self-disclose workplace law breaches, with a total of half a billion dollars owed to workers — and that’s just what we know about,” Ms Parker said’

In other words, many large organisations in Australia need to prioritise and review workplace relations systems to ensure their paying workers are receiving the entitlements. Areas such as the fast food industry, cafes, restaurants, horticulture sector, franchisors and sham contracting.

‘Ms Parker did, however, explain that the agency will provide education, advice, tools and resources to small business and those hardest hit by COVID-19’

The FWO will take into account those businesses and their financial circumstances.

Excerpts taken from https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/news-and-media-releases/2020-media-releases/july-2020/20200713-media-release-2020-21-priorities

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me direct on 0429 363 047.

Maree Puznet
Marees Mobile Bookkeeping
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

Watch Out!!! The ATO is chasing those Job Keeper cheaters

https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/how-jobkeeper-cheats-will-get-caught-by-atos-allseeing-eye/news-story/ad0f088e04a423634100f21028ea5aa6

It makes you wonder how many businesses out there that are doing the wrong thing and so many are really in financial hardship.

Stories of people turning down business, claiming for payment for family members who don’t actually work within the business or full time workers who have not lost any hours, but still are claiming the Job keeper illegally.

It makes you think how this is going to affect our country, not only now, but years and years down the track. This money has to be repaid back, it’s not just the taxpayers, but our children and grandchildren who will suffer.

I just hope the ATO are able to chase the cheaters.

But if you yourself are not 100% sure that your legally entitled to Job keeper, then please contact me and we can go through everything, or if you know of anyone that is reporting illegally, the ATO have a Tip Off line on 1800 060 062.

Otherwise, call me on 0429 363 047 and we can go through this together.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | Over 20 years Bookkeeping experience | Qualified BAS Agent
M: 0429 363 047
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

 

ATO to begin Debt Collection in September 2020

Don’t get too excited as the ATO has cautioned that it has its eyes out and will be starting the debt collection restart.

The ATO are looking at recommencing the debt and lodgement intervention in September after it hit a pause earlier this year due to COVID-19

It will be a bit of a cliff-hanger if the government stimulus package such as Job Keeper comes to an end. They are calling it the September ‘cliff’

The ATO are focusing on small business which is currently the majority of tax debts, which hit $16.5 billion in the 2018-2019 financial year.

Did you know that almost one in five small businesses entered into a payment plan with the ATO during this time?

If you are needing assistance and need to get on top of your books before the ATO comes knocking, then contact Maree today.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | Over 20 years Bookkeeping experience | Qualified BAS Agent
M: 0429 363 047
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

What’s your thoughts on the minimum wage rise?

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/minimum-wage-up-13-a-week-despite-coronavirus-recession-20200619-p55471.html

This excerpt is from the Sydney Morning Herald

‘Workers on the minimum wage will earn $753.80 a week, or $19.84 an hour after the rise, but employees in the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus, including tourism and aviation, will have their wage increase delayed until February. Healthcare and other essential workers will get their rise in July while the rest of the workforce will have a pay boost in November. The wage increase also affects 2.2 million employees on industry awards tied to the minimum wage’

These are the industries that the minimum wage will affect.

Minimum wage increases by industry

From July 1 — frontline worker:

    • Frontline health care and social assistance
    • Teaching and child care
    • Other essential services
  • From November 1 — most industries:
    • Construction
    • Manufacturing
    • Most other industries
  • From February 1, 2021 — hardest-hit industries:
    • Accommodation
    • Arts and recreation
    • Aviation
    • Retail
    • Tourism

Does this affect you as a business owner and do you have a business in any of these industries?

If you are not sure if you are paying the correct rates or paying your employees the correct award, let Maree help you today.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | Over 20 years Bookkeeping experience | Qualified BAS Agent
M: 0429 363 047
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

Do you know what TPAR is?

TPAR stands for Taxable Payment Annual Report.

In a nutshell TPAR tells us about payments that are made to contractors for providing services.

When you think contractors, these can include consultants, independent contractors, subcontractors, they can be operating as sole traders (individuals), companies, partnerships or trusts.

When you look at the report which is generally found on the invoice you receive, it should have the following

  1. ABN (Australian Business Number)
  2. The person’s name and address
  3. The gross amount you paid to them, for the financial year (including any GST)

The ATO will use this information to identify the contractor/s who may have not met their tax obligations, hence why this report is so important.

If your business falls under one of these categories.

  1. Cleaning
  2. Building & Construction Industry
  3. Courier/road freight/delivery
  4. IT (Information Technology)
  5. Security, surveillance & investigation

If you have a business under one of these categories, they you may need to lodge a Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR), under the taxable payment reporting system (TPRS), by the 28th August 2020.

If your business is offering new or expanded services (as listed), due to the response of COVID-19 and the restrictions implied and you have been paying contractors to provide these services, then if you do not lodge your TPAR, the ATO can penalise for late or non-lodgement.

That is why it’s so important to make sure this is completed within the due date.

If you are concerned or need assistance, Maree is a Registered BAS agent and can lodge your TPAR.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping | Over 20 years Bookkeeping experience | Qualified BAS Agent
M: 0429 363 047
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

Could the ATO be coming after you?

Are you one of those people that are behind in their GST and or Tax obligations, and think the ATO wont chase you or you just keep putting in the too hard basket.

Our team has received over 15 calls in the last 2 days chasing clients with outstanding lodgments and or debts.  Even with the threat of the Corona virus, we are still receiving calls from clients and we thought things would quieten down, so the ATO will come after you, no matter what.

Do you have outstanding GST and or Tax lodgments overdue?  I can definitely help you get on top of things.  Don’t wait for the ATO to send you a letter to say you need to catch up on your outstanding lodgments I can help you get on top of this before they contact you. But don’t delay and contact me today 0429 363 047.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping
0429 363 047
Qualified BAS agent with over 20 years Bookkeeping experience
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

Have you been making mistakes because you have been doing your own Bookkeeping?

What is the likelihood that you may have been doing your own bookkeeping, but on review, you have realized there are mistakes that you have made and have already lodged your return?

Boy oh Boy, I would be one rich lady with the amount of times I have heard a new client tell me they have been doing their own bookkeeping for years and have realized they may have been making many mistakes over that time, which probably has cost them a lot of money.

Then don’t do it.

Outsource today to Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping.

If I was a plumber or electrician, I wouldn’t expect you to know how to do bookkeeping, no different I wouldn’t be able to fix my plumbing or electrics at home.

Only work on what you are good at.

I’m amazing at Bookkeeping and you are probably an amazing Plumber or Electrician.

So, throw over your bookkeeping to me today and let me sort it out and I’ll call you if I need an Electrician or Plumber!!!

Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping.
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au | 0429 363 047

 

Can you claim your bookkeeping fees at tax

Ok, you might think this is a simple question, but yes you can definitely claim your bookkeeping fees at tax time.

It’s an expense which of course is related to your business.

Yes they can claim their bookkeeping fees 100% just like there accounting fees and for me for eg as GST registered if the client is to they can claim back the GST of their fees each quarter.

So why wouldn’t you outsource your bookkeeping to me, as a GST Registered BAS Agent, Bookkeeper these are all the little things I know, that many other business owners wouldn’t.

Bookkeeping isn’t simple, there is so much to learn and know and the regulations keep changing, so if you want to know what you can claim and cannot claim, then let me handle all your bookkeeping needs.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping
0429 363 047

Only a few months away to EOFY, time to review your finances

How many of you have actually recently gone through your finances for the last few months? I’m not just talking how January 2020 was when it comes to profit/loss, but I’m talking about reviewing the last 6 months.

We are now in January, well February 2020, so we only theoretically have March/April/May and June, so really only another 4 months before the EOFY.

That’s right 4 months.

Have you been making a profit?

Have you paid your staff correctly?

Have you paid your suppliers?

Have you been paid?

That’s right, how many people owe you money, have you chased these businesses for your money?

That’s the thing, when we are in busy, we are wearing so many hats.

As a Bookkeeper and BAS agent, it’s my job to keep track of all this for you each month. Sometimes I do have to make that call and do debt collection on a businesses behalf.

So does this sound like you?

Are you behind in your books, do people owe you money,well if any of the above resonates with you, then give me a call on 0429 363 047.

Let me get you and your finances up to date so when EOFY comes, it’s all smooth sailing.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping
www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au

 

Two Heads are better than one!

Peter the Accountant and myself have formed a great team a number of years ago. Some people like to have the option of utilising both our services in the one place.

Many times, Peter will have a client and send to me or visa versa or we work together on some business cases too.

It just depends what tasks are needed.

So, if you are in need of a Bookkeeper/Accountant, give me a call anyway so Peter and I can look after your business needs.

Maree Punzet
Maree’s Mobile Bookkeeping
04291 363 047

ATO eyes off over 300 businesses on South Coast of NSW…mmm..maybe they should have contacted me first.

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/tax-compliance/13703-ato-eyes-300-businesses-on-nsw-south-coast

This story just shows that the ATO is cracking down on many businesses and over 300 businesses on the South Coast of NSW have been found to be a higher than average number of overdue tax returns and business activity statements.
This just shows that you must keep up to date with your paperwork.

This is what my niche is, I help many businesses catch up and I do heaps of rescue work for clients. Those that are behind for the last few years is my specialty.

So don’t be like these businesses on the South Coast, give me a call and keep the ATO off your back.

Call me today, Maree Punzet | Marees Mobile Bookkeeping | www.mareesmobilebookkeeping.com.au 0429 363 047