PLH Accountants

🌟 MEET THE TEAM | LAURA 🌟

Meet Laura, our wonderful Office Manager and one of the friendly faces who helps keep everything running smoothly here at PLH Accountants! 💙

Laura is the glue that keeps so much happening behind the scenes. Whether she's supporting our team or helping our clients, she brings a positive attitude, plenty of knowledge and a smile to everything she does.

✨ A few fun facts about Laura...

☕ Coffee order: Oat Latte
🌮 Favourite food: Mexican
🏝️ Dream holiday: The Galápagos Islands
🎵 Currently listening to: Smith Street Band
📺 Favourite TV show: Doctor Who
🐶 Pets: Narla
🍪 Favourite snack: ANZAC biscuit

💰 Best money tip:
"Put any bonuses, tax refunds or pay rises towards your mortgage or other personal debt. Your future self will thank you!"

😂 Fun fact:
She's 6'1"! 📏

🎯 Hidden talent:
She's still trying to figure that one out! 😂

👶 First ever job: Pizza delivery driver 🍕

🌿 Favourite way to spend a weekend:
Spending time outdoors with her family.

🚗 Dream car:
She's not a big car person... just something comfortable!

🏆 Biggest achievement:
Becoming a mum to her son. ❤️

❤️ What she loves most about PLH:
The incredible team culture. Everyone is supportive, welcoming and so much fun to work with.

🤝 What she enjoys most about helping clients:
Building genuine relationships and helping clients better understand their tax.

💙 Three words that describe PLH:
Success. Relationships. Fun.

🙂 Most used emoji: 🙂

💃 Something you might not know:
Laura used to be a belly dancer!

👇 Say hello to Laura in the comments! She's a big part of what makes PLH such a great place for both our team and our clients, and we're lucky to have her back leading the office. 💙

🌟 MEET THE TEAM | MELODY 🌟

Meet Melody, who's currently stepping into the Office Manager role while Laura enjoys maternity leave! 💙

Melody is always ready to lend a hand, whether she's supporting our team behind the scenes or helping our clients understand the world of tax. She brings plenty of positivity, a great sense of humour and keeps everything running smoothly around the office.

✨ A few fun facts about Melody...

☕ Coffee order: Flat White
🍜 Favourite food: Brownies… or Buldak Carbonara noodles! (Depends on the day 😂)
🌎 Dream holiday: South America
🎵 Currently listening to: Bed on Fire by G Flip
🎬 Favourite movie: The Goonies
🐾 Pets: A greyhound named Dawn
🍫 Favourite snack: M&Ms

💰 Best money tip:
"Don't forget to budget for fun! Whether it's shopping, a night out or a few beers with friends, make sure you enjoy your money too."

😂 Fun fact:
Her eyesight is -8.5 in both eyes! 👓

🎯 Hidden talent:
She's VERY good at trivia! 🧠

👶 First ever job: Working on the register at IGA.

📚 Favourite way to spend a weekend:
Reading at the beach or spending the day cleaning the house.

🚗 Dream car:
She's not too fussed about cars... as long as it gets her where she needs to go! 😂

🏆 Biggest achievement:
Every new challenge has helped her grow, and stepping into the Office Manager role is one she's especially proud of.

❤️ What she loves most about PLH:
Spending a good chunk of the day laughing at Pete's jokes. There's never a dull moment!

🤝 What she enjoys most about helping clients:
Explaining how tax works in a way that's easy to understand because it's something most of us were never taught at school.

💙 Three words that describe PLH:
Fun. Honest. Supportive.

😊 Most used emoji: 😊

🇳🇿 Something you might not know:
Melody is half Māori through her dad.

👇 Say hello to Melody in the comments! She's doing an amazing job keeping everything running smoothly while Laura is on maternity leave, and she's always bringing plenty of laughs to the PLH office. 💙

If your prices haven’t changed in 2+ years… your profit has.

Costs have gone up. Wages, materials, fuel, software… everything.

But many businesses haven’t adjusted their pricing.

That usually means:
• Same workload
• More stress
• Less profit

Reviewing your pricing isn’t greedy — it’s necessary.
Strong businesses protect their margins.

🌟 MEET THE TEAM | JHOBIE 🌟

Meet Jhobie, one of our fantastic Bookkeepers based in the Philippines! 💙

Jhobie is an important part of our bookkeeping team, helping our clients stay organised, compliant and on top of their finances every day. While she works remotely, she's very much part of the PLH family, bringing a calm, supportive approach and a genuine passion for helping others.

✨ A few fun facts about Jhobie...

☕ Coffee order: Iced White Chocolate Mocha with Strawberry Cold Foam
🍔 Favourite food: Burgers & fries
🏯 Dream holiday: Japan
🎵 Currently listening to: LANY
📺 Favourite TV shows: Friends & Young Sheldon
🐱 Pets: Cats
🍫 Favourite snack: Dark chocolate & yoghurt

💰 Best money tip:
"Spend less than you earn and invest the difference."

😂 Fun fact:
She can spend an hour deciding what to watch... only to end up watching nothing! 😅

🎯 Hidden talent:
Finding amazing restaurants in cities she's never even visited.

👶 First ever job: Junior Accountant / Bookkeeper

🏃 Favourite way to spend a weekend:
Going for a run, relaxing at the beach, spending time with family and travelling whenever she gets the chance.

🚗 Dream car: Rolls-Royce Boat Tail

🏆 Biggest achievement:
Building a career that allows her to support both herself and her family.

❤️ What she loves most about PLH:
The flexibility of working from home and the supportive team culture that makes collaboration easy, even from across the globe.

🤝 What she enjoys most about helping clients:
Taking the stress out of bookkeeping and helping clients stay organised, compliant and confident.

💙 Three words that describe PLH:
Flexible. Supportive. Collaborative.

🙂 Most used emoji: 🙂

🌏 Something you might not know:
Jhobie may be quiet when you first meet her, but she's incredibly independent, determined and always ready to help.

👇 Say hello to Jhobie in the comments! Even though she's based in the Philippines, she's a valued member of the PLH family and plays a huge role in keeping our clients' bookkeeping running smoothly. 💙

💰 Tax vs GST: What's the Difference?
They're both paid to the ATO, but they're not the same thing.
Here's a simple way to understand it.
💵 Income Tax
Income tax is paid on the profit your business makes.
Think of it like this:
Income − Business Expenses = Profit
It's your profit that is taxed, not the total amount of money coming into your business.
________________________________________
🧾 GST (Goods and Services Tax)
GST is a 10% tax added to most goods and services sold in Australia.
If your business is registered for GST:
✔ You collect GST from your customers.
✔ You claim GST credits on eligible business purchases.
✔ You report the difference to the ATO through your BAS.
The GST you collect isn't your money—you're simply collecting it on behalf of the government.
________________________________________
Here's a Quick Example
You invoice a customer $1,100 (including GST).
• $100 is GST that you'll report through your BAS.
• $1,000 is your business income before expenses.
At the end of the financial year, you'll pay income tax on your profit, not on the GST you've collected.
________________________________________
Understanding the difference between tax and GST can help you manage your cash flow and avoid unexpected surprises.
If you're unsure about your tax or GST obligations, our team is always happy to help.
📞 PLH Accountants
Helping you understand your numbers, one step at a time.

🚨 When Do I Need to Register for GST?

If your business has a GST turnover of $75,000 or more (or you expect it to reach $75,000 within the next 12 months), you must register for GST. Once you know you'll exceed the threshold, you generally need to register within 21 days.

💡 Can I Register Earlier?
Yes! If your turnover is below $75,000, registering for GST is optional. Some businesses choose to register voluntarily so they can claim GST credits on eligible business purchases, while others wait until registration becomes compulsory.

📞 Not Sure If It's Time?
Every business is different. If your turnover is growing or you're unsure whether you need to register, chat with the team at PLH Accountants. We'll help you understand your obligations and make sure you register at the right time.

🌟 MEET THE TEAM | PRINCESS 🌟

This week we're introducing the wonderful Princess, one of our Accountants here at PLH! 💙

Originally from the Philippines, Princess has recently made the exciting move to Australia to continue her accounting career. She's already become a valued part of our team with her positive attitude, love of learning and passion for helping clients feel confident about their finances.

✨ A few fun facts about Princess...

☕ Coffee order: Chocolate mocha with oat milk
🍜 Favourite food: Spam with ramen
🏙️ Dream holiday: New York
🎵 Currently listening to: Usher
📺 Favourite TV show: FRIENDS
🐱 Pets: Lottie Marie & Jessie Mae
🍟 Favourite snack: Chicken Crimpy biscuits with French onion dip

💰 Best money tip:
"If you can't reduce your expenses any further, look for opportunities to increase your income."

😂 Fun fact:
She swallowed a coin as a child… safe to say she's been handling money from a very young age! 😆

🎯 Hidden talent:
Still waiting to discover it… it's very well hidden! 😂

👶 First ever job: Bookkeeper

📚 Favourite weekend activity: Binge watching Netflix

🚗 Dream car: A pink Suzuki Jimny 💖

🏆 Biggest achievement:
Moving from the Philippines to Australia and continuing her accounting career with the amazing team at PLH.

❤️ What she loves most about PLH:
The supportive team and the opportunity to keep learning every day.

🤝 What she enjoys most about helping clients:
Turning confusing numbers into something simple and stress free.

💙 Three words that describe PLH:
Fun. Family. Fueling.

✨ Most used emoji: ✨

🌏 Something you might not know:
Princess recently moved from the Philippines to Australia to begin an exciting new chapter, and we're so lucky to have her as part of the PLH family.

👇 Join us in welcoming Princess to both Australia and the PLH team! Leave a comment below and say hello! 💙

🤔 What Does "Balancing Account" Mean on My Tax Return?

If you've lodged your tax return and the status has changed to "Balancing Account", don't panic!
This simply means the ATO is working out your final tax position. They're checking the information they've received, matching it with your tax return and calculating whether you're due a refund or have tax to pay.

For most people, it's a normal part of the process and doesn't mean there's a problem with their tax return.

If your tax return stays in the same status for an extended period or you've received a message from the ATO requesting more information, our team is happy to help explain what it means.

📞 Contact PLH Accountants if you have questions about your tax return.

Please note: Assistance with reviewing a tax return or providing tax advice is a professional service and fees may apply.

🔒 Is Your ATO Account Locked Due to Suspicious Activity? Here's What to Do.

If you can't access your ATO online services because your account has been locked for security reasons, don't panic. This usually means the ATO has detected unusual activity and placed a temporary security measure on your account.

Here's what you should do:
✅ Call the ATO to report the issue and confirm your identity.
✅ Sign in using myID (Digital ID) if you've previously set it up, as this is the most secure way to access your ATO online services.
✅ Check your myGov account for any unexpected changes, such as your bank account details, email address or linked services.

⚠️ Don't ignore it. The sooner you contact the ATO, the sooner they can help secure your account and restore access.

Don't feel like spending hours on hold?

📞 The team at PLH Accountants can contact the ATO on your behalf, help resolve the issue and guide you through the next steps, so you don't have to deal with the stress yourself.

Please note: Assistance with contacting the ATO or resolving account access issues is a professional service and fees apply. We'll always discuss the cost with you before we commence any work.

🚨 Received an ATO Message About Your Tax Return? Don't Ignore It.

We're seeing more people receive ATO messages asking them to review deductions they've claimed before their tax return is finalised.

The message may say something like:
"We've noticed some of your deductions may need reviewing. You don't need to do anything at this stage—we'll adjust your return if required and continue processing it."
While that might sound simple, many taxpayers are left wondering:

❓ Did I claim something incorrectly?
❓ Will my refund change?
❓ Should I contact the ATO?

The result? Long wait times on the phone and a lot of unnecessary stress.

Before you spend hours trying to work it out yourself, give us a call.

At PLH Accountants, we can review your tax return, explain what the ATO is querying and help you understand your options. If an amendment is needed, we'll guide you through the process.

Sometimes a quick conversation with your accountant can save you a lot of time, confusion and frustration.

📞 Need help? Contact the friendly team at PLH Accountants today.

Please note: Assistance with reviewing or amending a tax return is a professional service and fees may apply. We'll let you know any costs before we commence any work.