Ward & Ilsley Partners

21/10/2026

🧑‍🌾With summer hiring approaching, many businesses will be engaging Working Holiday Makers (WHMs). Here's a quick reminder of your employer obligations and the current tax treatment. 🫜

📢 Employing Working Holiday Makers? Here's What You Need to Know

If you employ individuals on a
Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) or Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday)visa, special tax and reporting rules apply.

✅ Register with the ATO as a Working Holiday Maker employer
Registered employers can withhold tax at the concessional WHM rates. If you're not registered, higher withholding rates may apply.

✅ Verify work rights
Before employment commences, confirm your worker's visa and work entitlements through the appropriate government verification process.

✅ Apply the correct tax rates (2025-26 and 2026-27)
Working Holiday Maker tax rates are currently:

• $0 - $45,000: 15%
• $45,001 - $135,000: 30%
• $135,001 - $190,000: 37%
• $190,001+: 45%

✅ Obtain a Tax File Number (TFN)
If a worker does not provide a TFN, tax must generally be withheld at the highest rate.

✅ Pay Superannuation
Working Holiday Makers are generally entitled to superannuation contributions in the same way as other eligible employees.

✅ Meet your payroll reporting obligations
Ensure WHM employees are correctly identified in your payroll and Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting.

💡 Common mistake: Treating a Working Holiday Maker as a contractor when they are actually an employee. The usual employee vs contractor rules still apply.

Need help reviewing your payroll setup or WHM compliance obligations? Contact our team for advice tailored to your business.

*General information only. Consider your specific circumstances before relying on this information.

19/10/2026

Family Trusts: A Good Time for a Health Check 🩺

If you have a family trust, the ATO has announced an extended opportunity to review your trust arrangements and get things in order if needed. The period for interest charge relief has now been extended until 30 June 2027.

Many family trusts have elections and structures that were put in place years ago and may no longer reflect how the family or business operates today.

The ATO is encouraging trustees to:
🩺Review existing family trust arrangements.
🩺Check that distributions are being made appropriately.
🩺Ensure records are up to date and complete.
🩺Address any historical issues proactively.

A simple review now can help provide peace of mind, reduce the risk of unexpected tax issues, and ensure your trust continues to support your family's goals.

If it's been a while since your trust structure was reviewed, this may be the perfect opportunity to have a conversation with us and make sure everything is still working as intended.

19/10/2026

🚀 Running a small business? Are you spending too much time *guessing* your tax and business obligations?

The good news? You don't have to figure it all out alone.

✅ Learn how to manage GST
✅ Keep records the right way
✅ Understand deductions you can claim
✅ Stay on top of super and payroll obligations
✅ Improve cash flow and business confidence

The free Small Business Masterclasses are designed to help you build strong foundations, avoid common mistakes and make smarter business decisions.

Because when you understand your obligations, you can spend less time worrying and more time growing your business. 📈

Build confidence in managing your small business obligations with our interactive masterclasses.

16/10/2026

📢 Privacy compliance is no longer a "set and forget" exercise.

As regulators ramp up enforcement, businesses should be reviewing their privacy policies and data collection practices. This article outlines what businesses need to know and the key steps to stay compliant and build customer trust.

Privacy policies of selected businesses are under the microscope, and businesses with non-compliant policies could receive significant penalties. This article explains the privacy compliance sweep, who is being targeted, and how you can ensure your privacy policy is compliant.

14/10/2026

Child Support and Tax Obligations (ATO) 👧

The Australian Taxation Office reminds parents who pay or receive child support that annual income reporting is essential to ensure child support assessments remain accurate and up to date.

👉🏼Key Requirements
Parents who pay or receive child support are generally required to lodge an annual tax return to confirm their income.
👉🏼Income information is shared with Services Australia to determine:
who is required to pay child support, and the amount payable.
👉🏼Individuals who are not required to lodge a tax return should submit a non-lodgment advice and provide their income details directly to Services Australia.
👉🏼Consequences of Not Lodging
The ATO operates a child support lodgment enforcement program for parents who have not met their lodgment obligations.
👉🏼The ATO may contact affected individuals via SMS, myGov messages, letters, or phone calls to encourage compliance.
👉🏼Continued failure to lodge or engage with the ATO may result in stronger compliance action, including penalties and prosecution.

The Australian Government has allocated additional resources to expand prosecution activity for child support parents who repeatedly fail to lodge tax returns.

👉🏼ATO and Services Australia Collaboration
The ATO and Services Australia work together to:

-identify overdue tax lodgments earlier,
support parents to meet their obligations, and
-improve child support outcomes for children of separated parents.
Information sharing occurs in accordance with privacy laws.

👉🏼Key Takeaway
Timely lodgment of tax returns is both a legal obligation and a critical component of maintaining accurate child support assessments. Parents who are unable to lodge on time should seek assistance promptly, as support is available, while continued non-compliance may lead to significant enforcement action.

Child support parents: understand your tax obligations, support to lodge and what happens if you don’t lodge on time.

13/10/2026

Privacy compliance isn't just for big business.

If you collect customer data online, make sure you have a clear Privacy Policy and Collection Notice, explain how information is used, and keep your documents updated as your business grows.

It's a simple step that builds customer trust and helps meet legal obligations.

An online store collects personal information constantly, and most of it arrives without anyone deciding to collect it. A visitor loads a page, and an analytics tag records an address. A customer abandons a cart and an advertising pixel follows them. Australian privacy law asks you to be transparent...

12/10/2026

A question for SMSF trustees:

If an auditor asked for evidence of your last investment decision, could you produce it today?

Many trustees focus on investment performance but overlook one critical obligation: documenting decisions and maintaining records.

The ATO expects trustees to:
✔ Keep accurate records �✔ Maintain and review an investment strategy �✔ Document key decisions �✔ Retain records for 5 to 10 years

Great governance isn't about paperwork. It's about protecting your fund, your members, and yourself.
Good records today can prevent major compliance headaches tomorrow.

If you would like more information on how you can keep accurate records we can help ☎️ 9535 5900

09/10/2026

Government Backflip: ATO Credit Card Ban Put on Hold After Small Business Uproar

Australian small businesses have scored a significant win, with the Federal Government stepping in to delay the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) planned ban on credit card tax payments.

The proposal had sparked widespread concern among business owners who rely on credit cards to manage cash flow, particularly when meeting BAS, GST and income tax obligations. Many argued that removing the option would add unnecessary pressure at a time when rising costs and tighter margins are already challenging businesses.
In response to the backlash, the Government announced funding that will allow the ATO to continue accepting credit card payments while further consultation takes place.

Rather than being discontinued this year, credit card payments are expected to remain available until at least June 2027.

The ATO had previously argued that changes to card surcharge rules would leave taxpayers covering substantial merchant processing costs. However, business groups pushed back, warning the move would limit payment flexibility and potentially impact cash flow management for thousands of small businesses.

What This Means for Businesses
For now, it's business as usual. Taxpayers can continue using credit cards to pay their ATO liabilities, providing an important funding and cash flow tool while the Government and ATO review long-term arrangements.

Key Takeaways
* The proposed ATO credit card payment ban has been delayed.�
* Credit card payments are expected to remain available until at least 30 June 2027.�
* The decision follows strong opposition from small business advocates.�
* The Government will fund the interim arrangement while further consultation occurs.�
* Businesses should keep an eye on future announcements as the long-term approach is considered.�
Bottom line: What was shaping up to be a major change for Australian businesses has been paused, giving taxpayers certainty and preserving a popular payment option for at least another year.

08/10/2026

A business plan is a practical roadmap that helps you define your business goals, assess whether your idea is viable, secure funding, and track progress. It should be reviewed regularly as market conditions change.

Key elements include:
🌱Your business vision and objectives.�
🌱A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).�
🌱Strategies and actions to achieve your goals.�
🌱Clear responsibilities and timelines for implementation.�
Bottom line: Use a business plan to clarify where your business is now, where you want it to go, and the actions needed to get there.

When you are starting out, your business plan can help you to secure financing and investment. But your business plan does more than tell others what your plans are. A good business plan can help you test the feasibility of your new business idea, set operational and financial objectives, and make s...

07/10/2026

Is it a hobby or business?

If you are earning money through online activities you should understand when a hobby, side hustle, or online activity becomes a business for tax purposes.

👉🏼Key points
* If you're creating content online, selling through online marketplaces, or earning income via social media platforms, your activity may be considered a business rather than a hobby. �
* If you are carrying on a business, you may need to:
* report your income�
* keep business records�
* obtain an ABN (Australian Business Number)�
* register for GST in some circumstances. �
* The ATO emphasises that income is not limited to cash payments. Gifts, free products, services, perks, and other benefits received through your online activities can also have tax implications. �
* The ATO has resources available for:
* content creators�
* online sellers�
* influencers. �
* These resources include industry guides, the “Content, clicks, income and tax” course, and small business tax education materials. �
* The article encourages people to review ATO guidance on determining whether they are actually operating a business and to subscribe to small business updates and newsletters. �
🥤Practical takeaway
If you're earning money, receiving free products, affiliate commissions, sponsorships, or other benefits from activities such as social media, content creation, online selling, or similar online ventures, the ATO wants you to check whether your activity has crossed the line from a hobby into a business, as different tax obligations may apply.

The ATO looks at the overall nature of the activity, not just whether you make money.

🎨More likely to be a hobby
An activity is generally a hobby if:
* You do it mainly for enjoyment, personal interest, or recreation.�
* Making a profit is not the main objective.�
* The activity is irregular or occasional.�
* You don't operate in a business-like way.�
* You don't have formal business plans, systems, or marketing activities.�
Examples:
* Selling a few unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace.�
* Occasionally making crafts and selling some to friends.�
* Running a social media account for fun and occasionally receiving small gifts.�
📥More likely to be a business
An activity is more likely to be a business if:
* You intend to make a profit.�
* The activity is repeated and ongoing.�
* You keep records and track income and expenses.�
* You advertise, market, or actively seek customers.�
* You operate in an organised, business-like manner.�
* The scale of the activity is growing or significant.�
Examples:
* Regularly selling products online with the aim of generating income.�
* Being a content creator who earns from sponsorships, ads, affiliate links, or free products in exchange for promotion.�
* Providing services online and charging clients.�
🤷🏼‍♀️Why it matters
If your activity is a business, you generally need to:
* Declare the income in your tax return.�
* Keep records.�
* Consider obtaining an ABN.�
* Consider GST obligations if your turnover reaches the registration threshold.�
If it's genuinely a hobby, hobby income is generally not taxable, although the specific facts matter.

💉A simple test
Ask yourself:

"If I stopped making money from this, would I still be doing it purely for enjoyment?"

If the answer is yes, it's more likely to be a hobby. If you're actively trying to grow income, attract customers, and make profits, it's more likely to be a business.

For example, if someone in NSW starts posting cooking videos for fun and occasionally gets sent a free sample product, that's often hobby territory. If they begin negotiating brand deals, earning affiliate commissions, and regularly promoting products, the ATO is much more likely to view it as a business.

📚Record-keeping tip
If you're earning any money at all, even if you think it's a hobby, keep:
* invoices and receipts
* bank statements
* records of free products received
* sponsorship agreements
* affiliate income reports
Good records make it much easier if your activity later grows into a business.

Get guidance on tax obligations for content creators, online sellers and influencers.