Keep the books in order

Business Lighthouse provides innovative solutions, with a client-centred approach, to help build local businesses into a force for social good. Yes there is a lot in that sentence. We understand that compliance is necessary however it is only one part of what we do to support businesses. We understand the importance of solid processes and systems to strengthen operations as well as the need to support your business strategy through comprehensive financial forecasting.

The infrastructure of the Australian community such as health, education and public transport, etc are largely funded through various local, state, and federal government revenue-raising activities as part of a broad taxation system. Central to our taxation system are a raft of compliance requirements which help ensure the correct amounts of revenue are collected from taxpayers. Compliance requirements in this area include GST (BAS lodgements), PAYGWH (tax withholding on employee wages, various payroll reporting), and Income Tax return lodgements (income tax liability). The Australian taxation system provided nearly $600b of revenue in 2020/21, nearly 30% of GDP! Additionally, our business and organizational activities are regulated to provide various protections to customers, employees and other stakeholders. Compliance activities in this area are extensive and include those related to workover, fairwork, ASIC, SRO and the ACCC.

We recommend and mainly work with Xero software. Whilst there are many solutions out there that provide a similar service, we find that Xero is the most seamless, flexible, and intuitive. The add-on software integrations provided with Xero provide a wide scope for added automations across other business needs for e-commerce, inventory management, payroll management and reporting and data analysis functions.

Your business entity's or individual income tax liability is based on a taxable income calculation with lodgement of the Income Tax Return which is lodged annually to the ATO. The tax liability that arises is paid in 2 forms. Firstly, solely as a lump sum as part of the tax return lodgement. Either payable after lodgement once a Notice of Assessment is received (for individual taxpayers), or payable with lodgment of the tax return (a company). Secondly through a combination of a lump sum on tax return lodgement together with quarterly installment payments (IAS). This occurs following a tax return being lodged with a tax liability arising from mainly business and investment income which results in the taxpayer paying 'income in advance' on a quarterly basis with lodgement of an IAS (Instalment Activity Statement). These income in advance installments are a credit to the tax payment amount when the tax return is lodged. Sometimes these IAS payments can actually result in a refund because the in advance (estimated) payments are greater than the actual liability for the year. Most Trusts do not pay income tax because all profits are distributed or passed through to other individuals or entities and the income tax is paid by them. Partnerships never pay income tax because their profits are distributed to the partners (which can be individuals or other entities) and the tax is also paid by them.

Increasingly the Australian tax and accounting system is becoming increasingly complicated and non-compliance creates the risk of penalties. To ensure your exposure to risk in these areas is minimized, a qualified accountant or bookkeeper is in the best position to help and guide you. Trying to do it yourself will inevitably cost you more money in the long run. Do not make that mistake. You are good at what you do. Let a committed skilled accountant 'partner' remove the burden and risks of this area of the business from you allowing you to concentrate on growing your business.