Woodland for the trees - Accounting, Taxation & Bookkeeping Services

29/05/2026

Big changes are coming with the budget 2026

🏠 Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Old rules (current):
✔ 50% CGT discount
✔ No minimum tax
✔ Same rules for everyone

New rules (from 1 July 2027):
🔸 Discount replaced with inflation indexation
🔸 Minimum 30% tax on gains
🔸 Pensioners keep the 50% discount

🏡 Negative Gearing
If you already own a rental property:
✔ You can keep negative gearing
✔ Nothing changes for you

If you buy after 12 May 2026:
🔸 No negative gearing
🔸 You can only claim expenses up to your rental income
🔸 Extra losses are denied (not carried forward)
🔸 New builds are the exception — they keep negative gearing

01/05/2026

Tax time is starting to whisper in the background — not loud, not urgent, just that little voice saying, “I probably should get organised.”

If you want this year to feel smoother (and less like a sprint through paperwork), now’s the perfect moment for a tiny first nibble:
• Make a quick list of anything unusual this year
• Gather the receipts you know are floating around
• Business owners: reconcile your bank feed before July hits
• And if you’re behind… now’s a great time to catch up

I’ll be starting tax‑return appointments after 14 July, once the ATO data starts flowing properly.

All bookings are remote via Zoom or send‑in, so it’s easy, flexible, and no parking battles required.

If you’d like a reminder when appointments open — or want to pre‑book — here’s the link:
https://calendly.com/contact-woodlandforthetrees

Or just comment or message me. I can also help with tax planning if you want to get ahead.

08/01/2026

🧾 GST on Mixed‑Use Purchases

Some expenses are clearly business. Some are clearly personal.
And then there’s the awkward middle — mixed‑use purchases — where GST gets tricky and overclaims happen.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

✅ Fully business?
Claim the full GST if GST is applicable.
Think: software, tools, subscriptions, professional services.

❌ Fully personal?
No GST credit.
Groceries, private travel, personal clothing — all excluded.

⚪ Mixed‑use?
This is where most BAS errors come from.
If something is used for both business and personal purposes (like your mobile plan or home internet), you can only claim the business-use portion — and you need a reasonable method to back it up.

That might be:
• A usage log
• A sample period
• A calculation tied to actual business activity

🧠 Why it matters:
Mixed‑use claims are low‑hanging fruit in an ATO review.
Getting it right reduces your adverse audit outcomes.

If you’re not sure how to work out your percentage — or want help reviewing your setup — we’re here to help. Message us or visit www.woodlandforthetrees.com.au

11/12/2025

🎄✨ Christmas parties & FBT – what you need to know ✨🎄
As the year wraps up, many businesses celebrate with staff parties, gifts, and festive activities. But did you know these can attract Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT)?
A few key points:
Employees vs. partners: Employees may have exemptions for on‑premises parties, but partners only qualify if the minor benefits rule applies (under $300 per head, infrequent, not a reward for services).
Location matters: On‑site vs. off‑site can change the FBT outcome.
Gifts aren’t always exempt: Value and type matter.
👉 The takeaway: Planning ahead helps you reward your team without unexpected tax surprises.
At Woodland for the Trees, we help businesses navigate these rules, so you can focus on celebrating the wins of the year.
💬 How does your business celebrate Christmas? Share your traditions below – we’d love to hear them!

01/12/2025

✨ Big milestone, fresh chapter ✨ We’ve been busy behind the scenes refining how we support businesses and individuals — and we’d love for you to see what’s new!

🌐 Explore our refreshed website: https://woodlandforthetrees.com.au/

💼 Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/woodland-for-the-trees/

Whether you’re curious about bookkeeping tips, tax insights, or simply want to stay connected, these are the best places to follow along.

Thank you for being part of the journey — here’s to the next chapter together! 🌱

About Woodland For The Trees Peta Woodland Business Mission WFTT Provide bookkeeping with the depth of an accountant—giving businesses clear, accurate financials they can rely on.Bridge the gap between bookkeeper and accountant, combining practical support with strategic insight.A trusted accounta...

25/11/2025

✨ Australia is powered by small business. As of June 2024, there are around 2.6 million small businesses across the country — that’s about 97% of all businesses.

Starting your own business is equal parts exciting and terrifying. On the upside: freedom, creativity, and the chance to shape your own future. On the downside: long hours, financial risk, and the joy of juggling every hat from CEO to cleaner.

If you’re thinking about taking the leap, here’s a simple checklist to keep things real:

1. Nail down your idea and who it helps (business plan).
2. Work out initial funding and a simple budget (how much you need, where it’s coming from, and how you’ll track it).
3. Pick a structure (sole trader, company, trust).
4. Register your ABN and business name.
5. Get your tax and bookkeeping sorted early (future‑you will thank you)
6. Protect yourself with the right insurance.
7. Map out a basic marketing/networking plan (how you’ll reach and connect with customers or industry insiders).
8. Decide what you’ll handle in‑house vs. outsource (play to your strengths, delegate the rest).
9. Launch, learn, and keep adapting.

With 2.6 million businesses out there, everyone has a story about what that means to them.

👉 For those who have their own business: what’s the one lesson you wish you knew before you started?

24/11/2025

Building Beer Snakes… and Businesses....

For this post I tried desperately to turn the beer snake building from Day 2 of the Perth Ashes Test into a business analogy for a cool post… here’s what I came up with:

**Collecting the cups = putting the building blocks of the business together. Where do you source them? What do they cost? What return do they bring? What other benefits come from gathering them?

**It takes a village = just like punters handing over cups to grow the snake, you need suppliers, contractors, customers, and networks to cooperate if you want your business to grow.

**Dodging security = keeping the snake alive means thinking fast and adapting when challenges pop up. Business is no different — agility matters.

**The rewards = for the beer snake, it’s bragging rights, national TV, and viral photos. For the business, it’s recognition, growth, brand awareness, and the satisfaction of seeing what you’ve built.

I really just wanted to show a picture of one of the beer snakes!
What do you think of my analogy though? :)

19/11/2025

🔐 Cybersecurity isn’t just for big business
Small businesses are being targeted more than ever. One cyber attack can lock you out, expose client data, and stop your business in its tracks.

The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to lower the risk. ✅ Strong passwords + two‑factor authentication ✅ Keep software up to date ✅ Teach your team to spot dodgy emails ✅ Have a backup plan if things go wrong

At the end of the day, cybersecurity is about trust. If clients can’t rely on you to keep their information safe, what else might they hesitate to trust you with?

👉 What’s one simple step you’ve taken to protect your business online?

13/11/2025

💡 Payday Super is coming July 2026 Employers will need to pay super with every wage payment, not quarterly.

12% super guarantee stays the same

Funds must reach super accounts within 7 business days

ATO clearing house will close

Penalties for late payments will be tougher

🔑 It’s not more money — just a timing change. Employees get what they’re entitled to sooner, and businesses need to plan payroll and cash flow ahead of time.

👉 Best move? Start preparing now.

About Woodland For The Trees Peta Woodland Business Mission WFTT Provide bookkeeping with the depth of an accountant—giving businesses clear, accurate financials they can rely on.Bridge the gap between bookkeeper and accountant, combining practical support with strategic insight.A trusted accounta...

07/11/2025

Balance isn’t optional—it’s foundational.

Last year I injured my left shoulder playing basketball. It didn’t seem like a big deal at first, but the injury lingered. My right side started doing all the work, while my left side got weaker. Now, even though my shoulder has “healed,” it’s still behind. I have to spend extra time rebuilding strength and restoring balance.

It’s a slow process. Maybe it couldn’t have been avoided (other than not playing basketball!), but it needs attention—or I’ll stay lopsided.

Running a business is no different.

Imbalances creep in quietly. What once felt manageable starts to strain. One part of your business struggles while another overcompensates—maybe it’s your time, your team, your systems. And before you know it, you’re spending hours fixing things that should’ve been simple. You miss opportunities because you’re stuck in the weeds. You feel the strain.

Then your work-life balance takes a hit. You’re covering your “weak side” while pushing harder with your “strong side”—and that includes the hours you’re putting in each week.

Just like my shoulder, sometimes you have to give attention to the imbalance. To make things work better for you.

Business balance isn’t just about work-life—it’s about structure. It’s about making sure your business is strong on all sides. Sometimes that means bringing in someone who can do in 3 hours what takes you 10. And then choosing how to spend those 10 hours—on your business, or with your family.

Either way, you’re restoring strength to the shoulder that’s been left behind.

Photo: My favourite photo of me, completing a triathlon. Balance required between the three legs, swim/bike/run—AND doing it with a smile on your face.