AVA Advisory

AVA Advisory was proud to be invited to ScotPac's exclusive FY26 Platinum Partners Programme in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! 🇻🇳

Our CEO Andrew Quinn represented AVA Advisory at the event, joining ScotPac's Platinum Partners community for a week of connection and celebration.

It's a great reflection of the strong relationship we've built with ScotPac Business Finance, and the trust placed in us by the businesses and brokers we work with every day.

Thank you to the ScotPac team for the invitation - and to everyone who continues to refer clients to us for support through financial difficulty. 🙏

📰 Extra! Extra! Our second edition of Compass is here.

Each month, we'll be sharing what's really happening beneath the surface of Australian business - and what it means for you. This month we're stepping into the ring with our new AVA Fighters sponsorship, teasing our ASERR report, sharing this month's wins, and wrapping up our Enforcement Era series.

Subscribe now at avaadvisory.com.au 👇

"It's just a payment plan. I'm covered." 💬

It's one of the most common things a director tells themselves - and one of the most costly.
Anthony Percy, our Head of Strategy and Growth, explains the three small moments that quietly turn a fixable tax problem into personal liability:

1️⃣ Treating lodgement as optional when cash is tight - the ATO expects you to lodge even when you can't pay. Miss the window and any Director Penalty Notice becomes a lockdown notice, with no way out except paying in full, personally.

2️⃣ Letting the 21-day clock run - that's your window to pay, or place the company into administration, liquidation or restructuring. The clock starts the day the ATO posts the notice, not the day you open it.

3️⃣ Believing a payment plan makes it go away - it doesn't. A payment arrangement, on its own, doesn't protect you from the penalty.
None of it comes down to how much you owe. It comes down to timing, and timing is the one thing you can still control, if you act early.

Part 4 of The Enforcement Era is live - read it here 👇

Three traps that turn a fixable tax problem into a personal liability you can't undo Most directors who end up personally liable for a company's tax debt didn't get there through one big mistake. They got there through three small ones – late lodgement, a missed 21-day window, and a misplaced faith in payment plans. Each is avoidable if you see it coming.

What a weekend 🥋

We're so proud to have been a Major Sponsor of the So-Kyokushin All Australian Championships – and that's our founder Andrew with the award from the So-Kyokushin team on Sunday 🙏

But honestly? The trophy isn't the point.

We spend our days working with business owners doing it tough, and we've seen how much of that pressure gets carried quietly. It's never just about the money – it takes a real toll on mental health. That's why we started the AVA Fighters: a way to back people who understand what it means to keep standing when it's hard.

That's Harrison in the ring 🥊 – he's been our team's barber for over two years, and it turns out he's also a serious Kyokushin fighter. When we found out, backing him was a no-brainer. And that's Dylan, our very own Business Strategy Rep and Muay Thai fighter, from the shoot for our new AVA Fighters page (watch this space 👀).

We're proud supporters of Beyond Blue, and our promise is simple: keep showing up for the causes – and the people – fighting for mental health 💙

No one should face their fight alone.

🔍 Facing creditor pressure? It might not be the end!

We recently helped a real estate business with a $569K debt. The ATO was the main creditor, and liquidation was looming. But here's the twist: we turned things around!

By moving into Voluntary Administration, we negotiated a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) and restructured financing. The results?

✅ Orderly resolution, no forced liquidation.
✅ Director's personal exposure shielded.
✅ Debt slashed by 24%.
✅ DOCA approved by creditors.

The key? Acting FAST and staying responsive.

If you're feeling the squeeze, reach out before options run out. Let's chat—no strings attached! 👉 https://tidycal.com/ava-advisory

🏃 Cheering on our own Garth McBurney!

In less than two weeks Garth, our Insolvency & Restructuring Manager, will be taking on the TCS Sydney Marathon: 42.2km from North Sydney, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, finishing at the Sydney Opera House.

Garth is running to raise funds for Cancer Council NSW, a cause close to many of us. Want to support him on the way to race day? Donate link in the first comment 👇

Go Garth! We're all behind you! 👏

Struggling with business stress? 😟 By the time finances look rough, the personal toll has often already hit hard.

We see it all the time: the mental and financial strain can be overwhelming, and taking the first step is usually the toughest.

If you're finding it tough, remember there's free, confidential support designed just for you. Reaching out early can truly transform your path forward.

Asking for help isn't an end - it's the beginning of reclaiming your options. 💪

Share your thoughts or tag someone who might need this. ❤️

Introducing the newest member of our team 👋

Jen has joined AVA Advisory as our Office & Operations Manager, bringing extensive experience in operations and executive assistance from large professional services firms. She'll be helping create the systems and support that keep our team running smoothly, so we can focus on delivering the best outcomes for our clients.

Welcome aboard, Jen - we're delighted to have you with us! 🎉

⚠️ Did you know? 84,000 Director Penalty Notices were issued in just one year... a 136% increase! That's $5.5 billion in personal director debt. The ATO's patience seems to be over.

But here's what you might not hear: the Tax Ombudsman is reviewing how these notices are used because many directors never knew they were liable until it was too late. The game is changing, and enforcement continues.

We're launching "The Enforcement Era" series this month. Discover what this shift means for directors and how to prepare before a notice arrives. 📈

Check it out: https://www.avaadvisory.com.au/blog/84-000-director-penalty-notices-what-the-surge-means-for-directors

💬 Share your thoughts or tag a director who needs to know!

84,000 Director Penalty Notices: What the Surge Means for Directors The ATO issued more than 84,000 Director Penalty Notices in 2024–25, a 136% jump in a single year. The Tax Ombudsman is now reviewing whether the ATO has pushed too far – but the review doesn't pause enforcement, and the 21-day clock starts the day the notice is posted, not the day you open it.