29/06/2026
🚨 **HAPPY END OF FINANCIAL YEAR! 🥂**
Before you pop the champagne and start rushing to hit "lodge" on your 2025–26 tax return tomorrow morning, we have some critical updates, compliance warnings, and firm announcements you need to know.
Here is what's happening at **CKF Bookkeeping & Tax** as we roll into the new financial year:
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# # # 🛑 1. The ATO Warning: Step Away From the July 1st Lodgments!
We get it—you want your refund fast. But the ATO has issued a strong warning against lodging in the first couple weeks of July.
* **Why the wait?** Employers, banks, health funds, and share registries have until mid-to-late July to report your data.
* **The risk:** If you lodge tomorrow, your income statement will likely say "Not Tax Ready." Rushing means missing pre-fill data, which leads to automatic ATO adjustments, frozen refunds, or having to pay for a formal amendment later. Last year, over 140,000 early birds got caught out. Let’s make sure you aren't one of them!
# # # 📈 2. Firm Updates: Rates & Bookings
* **Fee Adjustment:** To keep up with the rising costs of doing business and the heavy tech/compliance stack required to keep your data secure, you will see a modest price increase on our services starting 1 July. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to invest in giving you the highest quality service.
* **July Booking Notice:** If you haven’t secured a spot yet, please get in touch ASAP. July is now pretty much completely booked out. Don't panic if you missed out—remember that registered tax agents have extended lodgment deadlines well into next year, so we have plenty of time to look after you safely!
# # # ⚖️ 3. Big Legislative Changes & 2026 Budget Shifts
A wave of massive regulatory changes kicks off on July 1st. Here is a quick snapshot of what we are monitoring for you:
* **🏠 SMSF Residential Property Borrowing Ban:** In a massive late-June bombshell, the Government announced a proposal to ban Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) from entering into *new* Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to buy residential property. Existing loans will be grandfathered, and borrowing for commercial/business real property is still allowed.
* **💼 Tranche 2 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Laws:** Starting 1 July 2026, professional services (including accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, and real estate agents) fall under strict new AUSTRAC compliance and identity verification rules. This means our client onboarding and identity check processes will look a bit stricter moving forward to protect everyone.
* **📊 CGT & Negative Gearing Adjustments:** The recent Federal Budget has put forward changes aimed at property investors, including tightening negative gearing down to new builds and replacing the 50% CGT discount with indexation. These are still moving through parliament, but structural shifts are on the horizon.
* **💸 Small Tax Wins:** On the bright side, the lowest marginal tax bracket drops from 16% to 15% tomorrow, and a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for basic work-related expenses is being introduced for the 2026–27 year to simplify claims.
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Let’s navigate the new financial year together safely and accurately. If you need to lock in a spot for later in the winter or spring, drop us a line or head to our website.
✨ **Visit us at:** [www.ckfbookkeeping.com](https://www.ckfbookkeeping.com).au
