JL Business & Tax Chartered Accountants

14/04/2026

Super reminder - if you’re using Xero Auto Super, the cut off to submit and approve the March 2026 Quarter employer SGC is by 2:00pm AEST, Friday 17 April 2026.

Get in early and process now. If you haven’t already moved to Payday Super, this is a good opportunity to start the transition now.

From Xero:

“A reminder that the Superannuation Guarantee payment deadline for the January to March 2026 period is due Tuesday 28th April 2026.

We suggest you submit and approve Auto Super batches before 2.00pm AEST, Friday 17th April 2026, which should allow for contributions to reach super fund providers no later than the payment deadline of 28th April.

For help, see our guide to processing superannuation payments using Auto Super.

Don’t forget Payday Super is coming. Learn more and start preparing with our useful guide."

If you want a copy of the Xero guides, flick me a message.

12/04/2026

There’s a lot of noise at the moment about interest rates, rising costs and businesses doing it tough.

It’s not one big issue causing problems. It’s a combination.

Higher costs.
Slower sales.
Tighter lending.
The ATO being more active.

Most businesses are still trading. But the margin for error is smaller than it used to be.

The biggest risk right now isn’t doing badly. It’s drifting along without a clear view of where things are at.

If you don’t have visibility over your cash flow for the next few months, now’s the time to get one in place.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to exist.

09/04/2026

There’s a big change coming that isn’t getting much attention yet.

Most of our clients are already sorted on this, we’ve been talking about it for a while and many have moved across early.

But outside of that, it’s a mixed bag. Some people have heard of it but haven’t made the switch yet, and others haven’t come across it at all.

Payday super starts from 1 July 2026.

That means super will need to be paid at the same time as wages, not quarterly.

For some businesses, that won’t change much. For others, it’s going to tighten cash flow more than expected.

Add that to rising costs, interest rates, and general pressure on margins, and it’s worth getting ahead of it early.

Now’s a good time to ask:

- Are your systems set up properly?
- Is your cash flow steady enough to handle more frequent payments?
- Are you carrying any tax debt that could complicate things?

If you want help working through it, happy to have a look with you.

06/04/2026

Most people blame the economy when things aren’t working.

In reality, that’s rarely the issue.

What we’re seeing right now is businesses that look busy, even profitable, but are tight on cash.

That usually comes back to what’s happening inside the business.
Cash flow. Pricing. Decision making. Visibility over the numbers.

That’s where things start to come undone.

If you’re not clear on what’s coming in and going out over the next few months, it’s worth getting on top of it now.

Keep it simple. Just don’t ignore it.

04/03/2026

Looking to bring on an apprentice? The new Key Apprenticeship Program is putting real money on the table for certain sectors.

Eligible employers can get up to $5,000 for full time apprentices (or $2,500 part time) in the first year — paid at the 6 and 12 month marks.

Good incentive. Good talent pipeline. Good for the region.

Details -

28/02/2026

Tuesday 3rd March – Important BAS Deadline

A quick reminder for business owners:

• Lodge and pay your December 2025 quarterly Business Activity Statement

25/02/2026

Let’s be real – compliance used to be this vague thing you dealt with at tax time.

That’s changed. The ATO’s now digging deeper into how businesses run their systems, not just whether they paid tax on time.

The focus on things like accurate reporting across BAS, GST and super is stronger than ever. If you’re thinking “I’ll worry about that later” you’re already behind.

Ready to have a chat? Give me a call.

Jen

21/02/2026

Monday 23rd February – Important BAS Deadlines

Just a reminder for business owners:

• Lodge and pay your December 2025 monthly Business Activity Statement

• Lodge and pay your January 2026 monthly Business Activity Statement

16/02/2026

If you’re running a business right now you’ve probably sensed it. The ATO isn’t the same old quiet tax office anymore.

They’ve boosted their access to real time data and are looking at things differently. It’s not just big corporates under the microscope anymore, even small operators are getting more visibility.

Get ahead of it by tightening up your reporting and checking your trust and payroll setups now rather than reacting later.

Ready to have a chat? Give me a call.

Jen

09/02/2026

“Doing fine” is not a strategy.

One thing that keeps coming up in small business data is this: Owners say they’re fine right up until they aren’t.

No buffer. No plan. Just exhaustion and pressure.

If nothing changed in your business for the next 12 months, would that actually be okay?

If the answer is “I’d cope” or “I’d survive”, that’s your sign.

Book a review that’s not about tax. One focused on sustainability. That’s how businesses last.

08/02/2026

SMSF trustees. This is a heads up on Payday Super

📅 Monday 16 February
🕑 2:00 pm AEDT

The ATO is running a Payday Super webinar to walk through what’s changing and how SMSFs can be ready ahead of 1 July 2026.

If your SMSF receives super guarantee contributions from an employer, this is worth your time.

The session will cover:

- What Payday Super means for SMSFs

- Updates to SuperStream

- Practical steps to help make the transition smoother

- A chance to ask questions directly

You can register here:
https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/self-managed-super-funds-smsf/smsf-newsroom/register-now-payday-super-webinar

As always, reach out if you’d like to talk through how these changes may affect your SMSF specifically — we’re here to help.

Join us to hear the latest on Payday Super and what you may need to do to be ready for 1 July 2026.

03/02/2026

Compliance fear is costing you money

A lot of business owners are stuck in freeze mode.

Not growing. Not changing prices. Not hiring. Because they’re terrified of getting something wrong.

And honestly? I get it. Workplace rules, tax rules, reporting rules. None of them were written with a one person admin team in mind.

But avoiding decisions doesn’t reduce risk. It just pushes it down the track.

When was the last time you reviewed whether what you’re doing is actually required versus what you’ve just always done?

Write down the three things you avoid dealing with because they “feel risky”.

Ready to have a chat? Give me a call.

Jen