Evolve Accounting

Evolve Accounting has been named a finalist for both the Three Freedoms Award and Advisory Firm of the Year at this year's The Gap AIM Awards!

We're proud to be recognised alongside so many great firms doing brilliant work in advisory.

Heads-up if you hold crypto.

IRD now has much greater visibility over crypto activity - including overseas transactions - and has started contacting people with undeclared crypto income.

If you're not sure where you stand, get in touch. We'll help you sort it.

Read more here 👉 https://www.ird.govt.nz/media-releases/2026/crypto-investors-urged-to-get-tax-compliant

Turns out we're a team of people-people who happen to do accounting.

We did Gallup Strengths with coach Maree Lloyd over the past few weeks, half-expecting to see "good with spreadsheets" across the board. Instead - Relator, Empathy, Belief, Consistency, Positivity. The people strengths, across nearly the whole team.

Which, on reflection, explains a lot. About why we love what we do, and who we love working with.

Confidence doesn't come first. Clarity does.

Most business owners we're talking to don't need more information right now. They need clarity on what to do next.

Our latest blog: a simple 90-day approach to strengthen cashflow, protect margin, and keep moving forward.

Read it here 👉 https://www.evolveaccounting.co.nz/reframing-confidence-with-clarity/

45% of NZ small businesses think AI is the biggest opportunity since the internet...

Most haven't started.

Xero and ASB Bank are running a free 12-week AI bootcamp for NZ small businesses.

Curious? Register your interest here 👉 https://www.asb-xero-ai-bootcamp.academyex.com/

It's Budget Day.

At 2pm this afternoon, Budget 2026 lands. Here's what we'll be watching for small businesses:

→ The Holidays Act replacement (the Employment Leave Bill is currently in Parliament)
→ Tweaks to KiwiSaver settings
→ Anything supporting R&D or business investment
→ Treasury's growth and inflation forecasts

A snapshot will land in next month's newsletter where we'll unpack what it means for SMBs.

What are you watching for?

On Friday 15 May, we celebrated Pink Shirt Day with a pink morning tea in the office, complete with plenty of treats, laughs, and a good excuse to wear pink.

In the lead-up to the day, we handed out compliment slips to each other - little notes like "you are a treasure", "love your work", and "you have a kind heart". It was a simple gesture, but a powerful reminder of how much a few kind words can lift someone's day. 💕

But Pink Shirt Day is about more than just the colour. It's about standing together against bullying and creating workplaces and communities where people feel safe, respected, included, and supported.

At Evolve, we believe the best teams are built on kindness, respect, and looking out for each other. And Pink Shirt Day is a great reminder of the culture we want to create every day.

With a new face joining recently, it got us thinking about something simple but powerful - how your team actually works together 🤝

One tool we rate? A team charter.

It helps you:
🔸 Set clear direction
🔸 Define roles and responsibilities
🔸 Get everyone aligned

It’s not just for new hires - it’s a great reset if your team has grown or changed.

Xero has a free template to help you get started. Grab it here ⬇️

https://www.xero.com/templates/team-charter-template/

If you’re giving gift cards to your team, there’s been a shift back to FBT rules 🎁

Small amounts (under $300 per employee per quarter) are often fine, but there are a few things to watch:

🔹 Prezzy-style cards (can be used anywhere) → no GST claim
🔹 Store-specific cards → GST usually claimable
🔹 If it’s replacing salary/bonuses → still needs to go through PAYE

Easy to get caught out if you’re not careful.

If you’re unsure what applies in your situation, send us a message 💬

7 May is just around the corner 👀

A quick reminder that it’s a big one:
✔️ Third instalment of provisional tax (year ended 31 March 2026)
✔️ GST return and payment due

This time of year can feel a bit hectic - new financial year, lots happening in business, and plenty to juggle.

If you’re feeling the pressure or just want a quick sense-check on where things are at, reach out. We're here to help 🙌