Blog

Be organised.
Keeping records can take away much of the stress when it comes to taxation time. Start now! Set-up processes, methods and systems for filing paperwork. Secure important documents. Make a 'photo' copy of documents as ink can fade.

Seek guidance
Not sure if an item is claimable. Don't hesitate, ask now rather than later.

Change in circumstances
Keep on top of things. Discuss any changes with your Accountant

7 Steps and Strategies for moving forward
Having survived the tough times now is the time to prepare your Business Recovery Plan. What will this look like? How to get started?
This begins by preparing to position your business for sustainable growth.
Step 1: Underpinning your Recovery Plan is the implementation of the best practice procedures. It is important to maintain a disciplined approach to working capital management, focus on increasing profitability and improving efficiency.
Step 2: Complete a Financial Health Check
Step 3: Undertake a situation analysis
Step 4: Review & Rewrite your Business Plan
Step 5: Review & Revise your Marketing Plan
Step 6: Remain focused on improving your cash position
Step 7: For more steps and strategies contact Blackburn Accounting. Contact our office today to get the templates and work through your recovery plan.

Key measures that will help Australians transition through the impacts from COVID-19. Those relating to tax and superannuation include:
• Tax relief for low-and-middle-income earners—As part of the government's updated Personal Income Tax Plan, the low-and-middle-income tax offset (LMITO) will provide tax relief of up to $1080 at the end of each tax year to 2021-22
• Small business tax cuts — the tax rate for small businesses structured as companies with turnovers of less than $50 million will decrease from 27.5 per cent to 26 per cent.
• Second economic support payment — two separate $750 payments will be provided to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders; who are eligible on Friday 10 July 2020.
• Extension of the instant asset write-off — the $150,000 instant asset write-off has been extended for six months from Wednesday 1 July 2020 to Thursday 31 December 2020 for Australian businesses with an annual turnover of less than $500 million.
• Temporary early access to superannuation — eligible Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents will be able to apply online through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation from 1 July 2020 to 24 September 2020.
• Increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds — the Medicare levy low-income thresholds for individuals and families, and individuals and families eligible for Senior and Pensioner Tax Offset have been increased in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index.

Building Industry - Property and Rental news

Maintaining a skilled workforce
A $24.5 million support package will assist the building and construction industry to maintain a skilled workforce during the COVID-19 crisis, including: 
• $10 million to provide immediate, one-off payment of $2000 to employers of existing apprentices and trainees currently receiving Construction Training Fund (CTF) grant payments. 
• $9.5 million grants scheme to assist employers to retain their existing apprentices, with payments beginning from 1 June 2020 backdated from 1 April 2020. Payments can range from $250 to $500 per month, per apprentice or trainee, depending on the trades facing the most critical skills shortages in the industry. 
• Up to $1000 for apprentices and trainees employed in the industry to support the costs of undertaking short courses to assist in upskilling. Find out more about the support package to assist the building and construction industry

Incentives for employers who take on displaced apprentices.
To support displaced apprentices and trainees during the State’s COVID-19 recovery, employers are being offered financial incentives to hire them.

The new Apprenticeship and Traineeship
Re-engagement Incentive provides employers with a one-off payment of $6000 for hiring an apprentice and $3000 for hiring a trainee. For an employer to be eligible for the payment, the apprentice or trainee must have had their training contract terminated on or after 1 March 2020. The incentive is available until 30 June 2021 through the Department of Training and Workforce Development.

Land Tax Relief for commercial landlords 
Landlords in WA will receive grants equal to 25 per cent of their 2019-20 land tax bill for the property in which an eligible tenant is provided relief. 
Eligibility: 
• commercial landlords must provide rent relief that equates to a minimum of 3 months’ rent and 
• freeze outgoings to small businesses that have suffered at least a 30 per cent reduction in turnover due to COVID-19.

Housing funds to support jobs in the building industry
The WA Government is bringing forward funds in a $150 million housing investment package to help maintain a pipeline of work for local tradies and building businesses.

Having survived the tough times, now is the time to prepare your Business Recovery Plan.
What will this look like? How to get started?
This begins by preparing to position your business for sustainable growth.
Step 1: Underpinning your Recovery Plan is the implementation of the best practice procedures.
It is important to maintain a disciplined approach to working capital management, focus on increasing profitability and improving efficiency.
Step 2: Complete a Financial Health Check
Step 3: Undertake a situation analysis
Step 4: Review & Rewrite your Business Plan
Step 5: Review & Revise your Marketing Plan
Step 6: Remain focused on improving your cash position
Step 7: For more steps and strategies contact Blackburn Accounting. Contact our office today to get the templates and work through your recovery plan.

1. No more payment summaries from your employer!! Employees’ income statements will be available through myGov and online for tax agents.

2. Employers finalise STP income statements by Tuesday 14 July if they have 20 or more employees, or Friday 31 July if they have 19 or less employees
3. JobKeeper payments are treated as assessable income and will be included in pre-fill data. If you are a sole trader, you need to include it as business income in the tax return.
4. COVID-19 early access to superannuation these payments are not assessable income and are not included in your tax return.
5. Cash flow boost payments are non-assessable non-exempt (NANE) income.
6. Work from home deductions - during COVID-19, you can claim 80 cents for each hour you work from home between Sunday 1 March 2020 and Tuesday 30 June 2020
7. Instant asset write-off threshold increased to $150,000 from 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020. To claim this tax time, assets must be first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2020.

Have questions concerning any of these matters please don’t hesitate to contact us.

To book an appointment to prepare your 2020 Tax Returns please contact Blackburn Accounting on 6454 5831

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