The end-of-financial-year is fast approaching, but there is still time to get your tax in order. We’ve compiled our top strategies for year-end tax planning for the consideration of your business.
| If you | You may want to | So you can | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Count your stock | Have a business that holds stock | Ensure you do a stocktake on 30 June and keep a record of the market, cost and replacement values or assets which are obsolete | Use the value which gives you the best tax outcome possibly saving you tax, or deferring paying tax |
| Pay staff super | Employ staff | Pay their April – June super before 30 June 2022 | Bring forward your tax deduction to 2022 |
| Single Touch Payroll (STP) | Employ staff | Ensure that your software is STP ready as it is now compulsory to report via STP | Report tax and super information to the ATO each time you complete a pay run |
| Super guarantee | Employ staff | Consider whether the increases in super guarantee percentage to 10% from 1 July 2021 and 10.5% from 1 July 2022 will be borne by you or your employees | Ensure employee salary packages are properly costed |
| Taxable Payments Annual Report | Operate in one of the following industries: • Building & construction • Cleaning services • Courier services • Road freight services • IT services • Security, investigation or surveillance services AND make payments to contractors | Ensure that you have completed and lodged your report prior to 28 August 2022 | Ensure you are not penalised for late lodgement |
| Asset write-offs | Operate a business with aggregated turnover less than $5bn | Claim a deduction for the business portion of each depreciating asset (new or second hand - depends on turnover) purchased and first used or installed ready for use*. *Eligibility is complex and depends on timing and entity considerations | Continue to expand and improve your business with new or second-hand assets |
| Prepare some estimates | Have business or investment income and your income varies from year to year | Contact our office before 30 June so that interim estimates can be prepared for the 2022 financial year before it ends | • Take any actions necessary to increase or decrease your income where possible to minimise tax payable • Ensure you know what your tax position is so that the correct amount of tax is set aside • Vary your June 2022 PAYG instalment to help cashflow if profit is down |
| Prepay expenses | Operate a “small/ medium business” (turnover less than $50m) | Prepay expenses for up to 12 months | Bring forward your tax deduction to 2022 |
| Trustees distribute income | Operate your business or own investments in a trust | Keep an eye out for your end of year distribution resolution that will be sent to you in the next few weeks | • Ensure profits are distributed in the most tax effective manner • Meet the ATO’s requirements that this resolution be made prior to 30 June |
| Update your assets | Have depreciating assets not in an asset pool | Check the list of assets provided with last year’s financial statements and advise of any items that have been destroyed or sold | Claim a tax deduction for the balance of the asset value this year |
| Write off bad debts | Have debtors who have not paid their accounts, have been chased and are not likely to pay | Write off the debt in your books prior to 30 June 2022 | Claim a tax deduction for the bad debt this year |
We have prepared a more comprehensive guide to help you step through the different opportunities, how they should be implemented, and the future tax cashflow consequences from adopting the strategies.
Have you got questions about the end of the financial year? Contact your local Bentleys tax advisor today. We’re here to help you get where you want to be.
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and should not be relied on as advice. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs and seek professional advice before making any decisions based on this information.
Reminder: Changes to super
Is your business ready for the super guarantee increase?
From 1 July 2022 the super guarantee percentage will increase from 10% to 10.5%. Employers should make sure they review employee contracts to determine whether the employee is remunerated on a superannuation inclusive or exclusive basis and whether the additional cost will be passed on to the employee.