Active Accountants

Could your super be sitting in more than one place? Across Australia, $21.2 billion in super is lost or held by the ATO. A super health check can help you understand your accounts, fees and whether consolidation may suit your circumstances. Before combining accounts, check your insurance carefully—cover can change or be lost. Your super may be especially valuable as you approach retirement, so it’s worth reviewing your options early.
Speak with the Active Accountants Cairns team on (07) 4222 1650, [email protected] or activeacc.com.au. 📞

🦘 The Payday Super Shake-up is here — is your business ready?

From 1 July 2026, quarterly super is dead. Under the ATO's new Payday Super legislation, Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions must be paid every time you run payroll — not once a quarter.

The ATO now tracks this in near-real-time via Single Touch Payroll (STP). Miss the 7-business-day window and you're facing steep, non-deductible Super Guarantee Charge (SGC) penalties. ⏰

Here's what to action now:
✅ Ditch manual spreadsheets — automate concurrent pay runs & super batching
✅ Review your cash flow timeline — outflows now hit weekly/fortnightly, not quarterly
✅ Audit contractor contracts — check for SG misclassification under the updated ATO rules

Don't get caught out by automated ATO penalties. Let our team secure your systems before the deadline.

📞 Call Active Accountants today on (07) 4222 1650 to book your Payday Super Readiness Audit and keep your cash flow protected.

Trust distribution minutes help keep trustee decisions clear, documented, and compliant.

A simple record today can help reduce disputes, support ATO and audit requirements, and strengthen trust governance.

Good decisions deserve good documentation.

🚨 URGENT COMPLIANCE ALERT: STP Finalization Due! 🚨

Attention all employers and business owners! The deadline for Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalization is fast approaching.

Before you wrap up your payroll year, it is critical to ensure that your employee data is 100% accurate. Once finalized, this information is used by the ATO to pre-fill your employees' individual income tax returns—meaning any mistakes now can cause massive headaches for your team later.

What You Need to Know: ✅ Check Your Data: Ensure all employee wages, allowances, and superannuation data are accurate and complete. 📅 Lodge on Time: Most employers must finalize their STP data by 14 July. 🛠️ Fix Errors First: If you spot an error, it must be corrected before you submit your final declaration. ⚠️ Don't Risk Penalties: The ATO actively monitors compliance, and failing to finalize on time can result in failure-to-lodge penalties.

At Active Accountants, we take the stress out of your end-of-financial-year payroll requirements. Let us help you review, reconcile, and securely lodge your STP data so you can focus on running your business.

👉 Ensure a seamless finalization. Contact our expert team today!

📞 (07) 4222 1650 📧 [email protected]

🚨 URGENT BUSINESS UPDATE: Trust Distribution Minutes 🚨

If you operate your business or invest through a family or discretionary trust, this is a critical compliance reminder!

To ensure your trust remains compliant and to prevent potentially thousands of dollars in extra tax, your Trust Distribution Minutes must be prepared and signed by June 30th.

Failure to have these resolutions formally documented and executed in time means the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) could assess the trust’s income at the highest marginal tax rate. Don't risk unnecessary penalties or unexpected tax liabilities.

At Active Accountants, we take the guesswork out of compliance. Our team will ensure your trust minutes are prepared correctly, legally compliant, and optimized for your specific financial situation.

👉 Get ahead of the deadline. Contact our expert team today!

📞 (07) 4222 1650
📧 [email protected]

🚨 EOFY Reminder for Trustees 🚨

With 30 June fast approaching, now is the time to review your trust distributions, resolutions, and record-keeping practices.

The ATO has highlighted its Top 5 EOFY Tips for Trustees to help avoid common mistakes that can lead to higher tax liabilities, denied deductions, and costly penalties.

✅ Understand how income is defined in your trust deed
✅ Correctly identify beneficiaries
✅ Ensure trust resolutions are made by 30 June
✅ Maintain complete and accurate records
✅ Check holding period rules for franking credits

A missed deadline or incorrect distribution can have significant tax consequences. If you're a trustee or beneficiary, now is the time to act.

Need assistance reviewing your trust before EOFY? Contact Active Accountants today.

🚨 Federal Budget 2026–27 Key Changes Explained

Big updates are coming that could impact:
✔️ Property investors
✔️ Business owners
✔️ Trust structures
✔️ Tax deductions
✔️ CGT & negative gearing
✔️ Instant asset write-offs
✔️ PAYG & company losses

We’ve put together a simple summary handout covering the major changes and what they may mean for you and your business.

💬 Comment “BUDGET” below or send us a DM with the word “BUDGET” and we’ll send you the full guide. 📩

Payday Super is coming — are you ready? ⏰💼

Big changes are on the horizon. Soon, superannuation will need to be paid at the same time as wages, not quarterly. That means tighter cash flow, updated payroll processes, and a greater need to stay compliant.

Here’s what this means for your business:
✔️ More frequent super payments
✔️ Adjustments to payroll systems
✔️ Increased compliance requirements
✔️ More admin if processes aren’t streamlined

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get ahead of the change and make sure your business is prepared.

📅 Book your Payday Super Readiness Check today:
👉 https://calendly.com/scootercal

In the small business playbook, we take everyday business scenarios and walk through what small business owners should know and do.

This scenario 💍📦

Mia is a handmade jewellery seller who runs her small business on Etsy. Each piece is carefully crafted, beautifully packaged and sent to customers all over Australia.

But once her jewellery leaves her hands, things can go wrong. Parcels can be delayed, damaged or lost in transit.

With help from business.gov.au, Mia learns that protecting her products means understanding tracking and shipping insurance as part of managing business risk.

She puts a few important steps in place:
✅ choosing delivery options with tracking, so she and her customers can follow orders
✅ checking whether her business insurance covers goods in transit, or if she needs extra cover
✅ communicating delivery and tracking details to customers to build trust and manage expectations.

These steps don’t prevent every issue, but they reduce financial loss and customer disputes, all important risks for online sellers.

Always check what insurance and consumer obligations apply to your business.

🔗 Find out more about shipping products to customers at: business.gov.au/shipping

Who else was lucky enough to catch this beautiful Cairns sunset last night? 🌴

Our very own Virginia managed to snap this stunning moment as the day came to a close, and it was too good not to share.

One of the many little reminders of why we love living and working in Far North Queensland.