Your 12-point checklist to stay ahead on tax

Where has the time all gone to? The end of the financial year is almost on us. How’s it looking for you? Know what you need to do? To help make the information-gathering process hassle-free, we’ve put together an end of tax year checklist. So, to avoid scrambling this time next month – take a breath, take note, and take action. Being prepared is the key to avoiding end-of-year financial…  Read more

Digital snapshot: the Xero app store

2tppwx1fagfgf1iflsdltw Marc Olivier Jodoin Nqoinj Ttqm Unsplash In a tough business environment, the right digital tools can give your business the edge over your rivals and take you to the next level. Innovative apps in nearly every industry have emerged over the past few years to help companies save time and become more resilient. Six reasons to jump onto the Xero App Store Xero customers can access more than 1,000…  Read more

Interest deductibility on property investments is now being phased in with 80% allowable from 1 April 2024

As of 10 March, the coalition government has confirmed the return of interest deductibility for property investors, with the phased-in changes taking effect from the next financial year. As a result, legislation is expected to be passed allowing you to deduct 80% of your interest expenses on property investments in the year to 31 March 2025 (ie from 1 April 2024). Note that the previously proposed 60% allowance for the…  Read more

How to move your online business to a bricks and mortar retail space

Running an online business has become a reality for a huge number of business owners in recent years. There are an estimated 12 million-24 million eCommerce sites across the globe and those numbers have risen sharply since the pandemic. But although online shopping may be convenient, there’s still a real desire for physical shops and in-person retail. So, if you’ve been running a successful eCommerce business or online side hustle,…  Read more

What Property Investors Need to Know

At this stage, there are still many unknowns as ministers assess new legislation and review existing policies. One key area to watch is the tax treatment of property investors. It’s been widely discussed that National plans to shorten the bright-line test for property investors to two years from 10 years, returning the law to its 2015 setting from 1 July 2024. New builds will not be exempt from the two-year…  Read more

More policy changes that may affect your business

Here are some of the major changes businesses should watch out for: 1. Reintroduction of 90-day employment trial periods The government has extended the availability of 90-day employment trial periods for all businesses, reversing changes made in 2018, which scrapped 90-day trials for businesses with more than 20 employees. 2. Clean car discount and ‘ute tax’ to end The clean car discount, allowing people to claim back up to $8,625…  Read more

What’s the difference between financial accounting and management accounting?

You’re running a business, so you know the legal requirements around producing accounts and submitting tax returns. But do you truly know WHY you’ve engaged an accountant? And do you understand the value that a good accountant and business adviser can add to your company?   As a business owner, managing director or CEO, there are three main areas of the accounting proposition that you’re probably most interested in: –…  Read more

GST and your Business

Goods and services tax (GST) is a tax on most goods and services in New Zealand, at a rate of 15%. As a business owner, you’re likely familiar with how this works. Your customers pay it when buying your goods and services and you collect GST on behalf of the government. Your business is a ‘taxable activity’. The goods and services you supply to consumers are taxable and the government…  Read more

Tax and property – spotlight on repairs & maintenance

When it comes to repairs and maintenance on a rental property knowing what can and can’t be claimed can be tricky. Example scenario: Sam owns a rental property that was rented out for 33 weeks of the 2023 financial year. The tenants moved out in October 2022 and Sam found that the kitchen needed some repairs before it could be rented again. Sam decided to move into the property in…  Read more

Setting goals for you and your business in 2024

The new year is a new beginning. If you are a business owner, this is often the time of year when you reflect on where you are at and think about your business goals for the year ahead. Setting goals is an essential part of personal and professional growth. These could be lofty goals, or even setting out a business plan to achieve some more mundane (but equally important) projects.…  Read more

Peak season over the holidays?

While some businesses shut completely over the summer break, many stay open. Businesses have the difficult task of balancing their rotas to keep things running smoothly. If you’re maintaining a skeleton staff over Christmas, offer incentives and ensure staff get the chance to take turns to cover shifts, so everyone gets some time off to see their loved ones. If you’re taking on extra staff, make sure you follow sound…  Read more

A business budget will help with your financial decision making

Budgeting is about estimating your revenues, projecting your expenses and detailing the allocation of funds, so you stick to (and don’t overrun) your agreed budget ceiling. How does budgeting affect your business? Having a clear, agreed budget gives you a structured framework for your financial decision-making. It’s a practical way to control your costs, monitor performance and adapt your strategic and financial decisions to meet changing economic conditions. Using budgeting…  Read more

Making your information safer

We have been using email software called Karbon for a while and they have some great features to help us keep your details safe. One of those features is the Karbon Client Portal and Magic Links. We’ll be using these from now on for our correspondence with clients. This platform will facilitate the sending, receiving, and requesting of documents and information in a more secure manner. When we request information…  Read more

Your business culture and business performance

Your team have a direct impact on the overall experience the business provides to its customers. A study by Glassdoor Economic Research reported that public companies named in a ‘Best Places to Work’ list in 2009 outperformed the Standard and Poor’s 500 by 115% over the next five years. It suggests a culture that engages and motivates employees helps the bottom line. Others have looked at business culture and long-term…  Read more

Cyber Smart Week

Cyber Smart Week is here! This Cyber Smart Week (30 October – 5 November), we’re supporting CERT NZ to highlight the importance of staying secure online and showing New Zealanders what’s at stake when they don’t get their online security right. CERT NZ has found that despite being aware of cyber security risks, New Zealanders aren’t necessarily taking the simple actions that can protect them. For this year’s Cyber Smart…  Read more

5 things to know when you’re applying for a home loan

Thinking of applying for a home loan? Here are some tips to help you prepare an application that’s more likely to be approved. You may need to go on a financial diet before you apply – When you apply for a mortgage, a bank will typically analyse the statements for all your accounts for the past three months. Some types of spending will dent your chance of being approved, such…  Read more

Keeping you and your staff pain-free at work

Whether you and your staff are sitting or standing at work, there are risks to physical and mental wellbeing that can be easily avoided. We have some top tips from Erin Holland at Active+, an experienced physiotherapist in occupational health. What are the key health and safety risks when you’re working in an office? You’re often sitting for large chunks of time in an office so the primary risk is…  Read more

10 hot questions to ask yourself as a business owner

Running a busy and successful business means you often don’t have the time to step back and work ON the business. This can be a challenge if your aim is to grow and scale the company. As experienced professional business advisers, we know the value of taking the time to ask yourself some pertinent questions. Holding yourself and the business to account is something we can help with. And there’s…  Read more

Office Energy Boosters

  Lack of energy is a motivation crusher for you and those around you. It’s unhealthy too. Slumped shoulders, bad posture, and inattention can all lead to workplace injury. And lack of energy shows up in office output or, rather, lack of output. Everyone’s different but it can help to run interference on your daily routine. Here are some simple ideas: Work out. Some people swear by a dawn session at…  Read more

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