一晃，2020年已经过去了一半，我们正式步入了澳洲的新的财年。新的财年有哪些税务或政府的政策变化需要我们注意的呢。汇总如下：

7月1日公司税率下调

尽管目前的经济环境，但是从2020年7月1日起，中小企业的企业所得税税率仍将降至26%。

降低的税率适用于年总营业额不到5000万澳元基准税率实体(BRE)——公司、公司单位信托和公共交易信托。年营业额超过5000万澳元的公司将继续支付30%的税率。按照计划，公司的税率将从2021年7月1日起降至25%。具体变化见表格：

	2018-19 and 2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
基准税率实体*	27.5%	26%	25%
Other corporate tax entities	30%	30%	30%

*年总营业额不到5000万澳元并且公司应税收入中不超过80%的被动收入 。

最低工资标准提高

从2020年7月1日起，最低工资将提高1.75%。

加薪分3个阶段走:

• 第一组薪酬——从2020年7月1日开始
  • 一线医护及社会援助工作者
  • 教师和幼教者
  • 其他必要服务行业工作者

• 第二组薪酬——从2020年11月1日开始
  • 建筑行业
  • 制造业
  • 一系列其他行业

• 第三组薪酬- 2021年2月1日起
  • 住宿和餐饮服务行业
  • 艺术及娱乐服务行业
  • 航空
  • 零售
  • 旅游

你可以在公平工作监管会的网站（Fair Work Ombudsman’s website）上找到完整的受影响的行业。

对于任何未提及的行业或协议覆盖的人，新的全国最低工资标准，即每周753.80澳元或每小时19.84澳元，从2020年7月1日或之后的第一次工资发放开始实施。

雇主应当保证员工的工资符合最低工资标准，以避免违反行业和退休金义务。

为自雇人士增加带薪产假的灵活性

从2020年7月1日起，使用政府的带薪产假(Parental Leave Pay)计划的父母将获得更大的灵活性和选择性。

针对自雇人士和小型企业业主，这项改革引入了为期30天的灵活带薪产假。

以前，新父母只可以申请连续18周的带薪产假。改革后，父母可以将这段时间分为两段:

• 连续12周，和
• 30天的弹性工作制。

父母可以一次性连续使用18周的带薪产假，或者根据新规定，先连续使用12周的带薪产假，然后以适合自己的方式，在孩子两岁之前使用额外的30天带薪产假。例如，假设每周工作5天的妈妈有了孩子，她可以先选择连续拿12周的带薪产假， 然后每周回去做3天的兼职工作。在这种情况下，妈妈每周可以申请两天不工作的带薪产假工资。

如果员工希望获得灵活的带薪产假，他们将需要与雇主协商休假时间或以兼职的方式返回工作等。如果雇主不能满足这个要求，那么员工还是只能一次性把18周休满。

带薪产假计划的变化适用于在2020年7月1日或之后出生的孩子，并且申请可以从2020年4月1日起开始。

另外一些7月1日后的变化：

• 本来定于6月30日结束的小生意15万澳元的资产立即抵扣的政策，7月1日后延续到2020年12月31日；

• 工作相关行车的税务抵扣从每公里68分涨到72分；

• 非税务居民自住房增值税豁免的政策将不再有，除非有特殊情况，详细参考我们之前的文章“自住房增值税豁免的取消 – 非税务居民最后的机会”

• 雇佣19人及以下的小企业主同大企业一样需要通过一键式薪酬系统确认和完成员工的工资的年度申报，详细参考我们之前的文章”一键式薪酬系统”

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

A new financial year is an important time for all kinds of businesses, from sole traders to big corporate. It is not only to meet your tax obligations with the Australian Taxation Office, but also the perfect time to plan for the next 12 months of your business.

There is certainly lots to do as a small business owner as you focus on year-end accounting and bookkeeping tasks besides some planning for the new financial year. To help you organise your financial records, Pitt Martin has put together a handy EOFY checklist for businesses.

• You need to ensure your BAS lodgements are up-to-date and accurate. This is not only making it easier for you to finalise your financial statements but also avoid penalty from the ATO
• You need to ensure your superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions are accurate and up to date. Please note that your March SG is due 28 April 2020 and if you have previous quarters outstanding, you need to act as soon as possible or contact your accountant and bookkeeper for guidance.
• If you are reporting to the ATO via Single Touch Payroll (STP), you are exempt from lodging a PAYG payment summary (Group Certificate) annual report for the amount you’ve reported through STP and from providing payment summaries to your employees so long as you undertake the finalisation declaration by the appropriate date. Please note that you can finalise your employees’ EOFY payroll information through your STP enabled software as soon as you have reconciled the information. Otherwise, you have up until 31 July to do so. Your employees will be able to access their income statements via myGov under the employment tab. If they do not have a myGov account and cannot create one, or do not have a registered agent, you can direct them to contact ATO on 13 28 61.
• You need to ensure that you keep records for at least 5 years, and they are compliant with the ATO requirements
• If you prepared your bookkeeping during the year, please make sure you have your accountant to review the transactions and GST codes assigned to the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet items to ensure you are lodging a correct BAS.
• The stocktake of your inventory should be done by 30 June 2020, if your business carries stock. Any adjustment on stock quantities and wastage should be reflected in the 2020 accounts.
• If you maintain an asset register for your business, you need to review with your accountant or bookkeeper and remove any assets that had been disposed of or write off. Speak to your accountant about the instant asset write-off that the government introduced as part of the Australian Government’s economic response to coronavirus.
• You need to ensure the following have been completed and reflected in your Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet,
  • Bank accounts, petty cash, prepayments, credit cards, borrowing cost, loans, Chattel Mortgages, and Division 7A Loans are reconciled
  • Depreciation has been properly accounted up to 30 June 2020 in the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet
  • Review your Debtors and Creditors balance to ensure the accuracy
  • GST and PAYG withholding accounts are reconciled to the June quarter BAS
  • Wages and Superannuation in the Profit and Loss are reconciled to the Payment Summaries.
  • Superannuation Payable in the Balance Sheet is reconciled to the June quarter superannuation guarantee contributions
  • Review the suspense account and ensure all amounts are allocated to the appropriate account
  • Ensure there have been no personal expenses claimed as business expenses

With many businesses facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19, there is no better time for small business owners to start afresh and thinking about improving their current business performance.

We have included additional checklist which hopefully can help you improve your business performance and financial health going forward,

• You need to revisit your business plan and adjust accordingly to provide a better and clearer direction for your business amid the pandemic. You need to think about what areas of your business do you want to improve? Your accountant can be an important resource to help you put in place a plan to get where you want your business to be.
• You need to update your cash flow budgets for the next 12 months by comparing it to the actual performance. Cash flow is the lifeblood of your small business and needs to be looked at closely for your business to sustain. Review your pricing structure and if you need to raise your price, now is the best time to do. Again, your accountant will be able to assist in the pricing and cash flow budgets.
• You need to review your business insurances or public liability to ensure you have a sufficient level of coverage
• You need to review your financing arrangements to ensure that you have a better deal
• You need to review your own personal insurances including life insurance and income protection insurance to ensure you have adequate coverage should your circumstances have changed
• You need to review your health and safety policies and procedures to ensure your workplace is COVID Safe by following the guidance from the government for the safety plan.
• If you are still using a spreadsheet or other manual accounting system, you might want to consider switching to cloud-based accounting software. Your accountant will be able to assist you with the transition.

In the face of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, actions taken now can have an immediate impact on how quickly your business rebounds from the global downturn.

Pitt Martin Accountants and Tax Advisers are Xero qualified and Award-winning accountants and bookkeepers who can assist you and your business to improve your business performance and financial health moving forward.

If you know any small business owners who require an assistance in managing their bookkeeping and accounting, please do not hesitate to pass on our details or get in touch with our team on 02 9221 3345 or email connect@pittmartingroup.com.au

Given the impact of Bushfire and COVID-19, Australia has entered into an economic recession first time in the last 30 years. Last a couple of weeks, we have witnessed the Federal Government announced that they have been working with States and Territories to offer a $25,000 HomeBuilder Grant between 4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 for eligible owner occupiers and buyers including first home buyers.

Eligibility:

• Natural person (not a company and trust)
• Aged 18 years or older
• An Australian Citizen (does not mention PR or New Zealand Citizen)
• Income cap:
  • For Individuals, your earning should be $125,000 or less based on 2018-19 tax return or later
  • For couples, your combined earnings should be $200,000 or less based on 2018-19 tax return or later
• can be either:
  • A new home worth less than $750,000 or
  • An existing home valued up to $1.5m, and the renovation contract should be between $150,000 and $750,000
• The construction and renovation must be executed within three months of the contract date.

Dwelling types:

House, apartments, house and land package, off-the-plan, can be existing property renovation and new property. The scheme will not apply to owner builders or those who are planning to build a new home or renovate an existing home as an investment property.  

Eligibility for Renovation

Renovation fee is between $150,000 and $750,000. The existing property needs worth less than $1.5 million. The construction should be carried out by licensed contractors at arms-length price within three months after signing of the contract. The HomeBuilder Grants must be used for improving your accessibility, liveability, and safety, but not used for add-ons like tennis courts, swimming pool and detached sheds etc. Also, the terms of the contract should be reasonable and in line with the market requirements to prevent any fraud between builders and property owners from swindling grants.

Am I still eligible if I own a land?

• If you own land with an existing dwelling on it and plan to demolish and rebuild your dwelling, this will be considered as substantial renovation as long as the upgraded work’s value is between $150,000 and $750,000, and the value of your existing dwelling (including land value) before the demolish does not exceed $1.5 million.
• If you acquired a vacant land prior to 4 June 2020, you can build a new dwelling on it as long as the total cost of the dwelling plus the land value before construction is less than $750,000.

Can I apply now?

No. It can only apply after your State or Territory enters into a contact with Federal Government and open the channel for application. You will be notified by each State or Territory government in regard to the updates of application. 

Required documents:

Required documents may vary from different State or Territory for your application. However, at least the following documents are required:

• Proof of identification
• Contract with date and signature of you and your licensed builder
• Copy of your builder’s registration or license (depending on your State or Territory)
• Copy of your 2018-19 tax return to demonstrate your income meets income cap
• Other documents including council approvals, building contracts and evidence of land value etc

More detailed documents require further notification from States or Territory government

If I have received First Home Owner Grant, am I still eligible for this HomeBuilder Grant?

Yes, you are. The Homebuilder Grant does not conflict with the First Home Owner Grant, Stamp Duty Concessions as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.

Do we have to pay tax on that?

No. This is a tax-free payment to you.

Call us on 0292213345 or email on info@pittmartingroup.com.au for further details.

Disclaimer: This article is not providing a formal advice and may not suit to all scenarios. Please make an appointment with us to discuss.

在过去的几个月里，新冠疫情对人们的生活，工作和整个经济环境都产生了重大的影响。毫无疑问，这也将会影响到我们的自管养老基金(SMSF)和退休金。总结一下，疫情后，自管养老金受托人需要注意以下问题。

投资

在过去的四个月里，很多的自管养老金受托人都看到了养老金投资的重大变化。在这个时候，受托人对市场的短期及中长期的判断是非常困难的，任何投资决定都应该充分考虑到当下市场情况跟预期市场走势，做出及时有效的调整。

我们建议您寻求您的财务规划师或者投资顾问来讨论自管养老金投资方面的问题。

退休金

2020年3月底，澳大利亚联邦政府宣布将2020财年和2019 财年的养老金最低支付要求减半，以帮助受托人保护他们的退休金跟养老金余额。2008年全球金融危机期间政府也曾宣布过类似的措施。

如果您已超额提取了本财年度的最低养老金，您就不能把这部分钱放回您的自管养老金中去了。 任何退还到自管养老金的款项都将属于自我缴款，您需要确保您可以合规这样做。

如果您同时有累积账户和退休金账户，您可以选择如何处理任何超额的退休金，比如可以当成是一次性的支取等。

提早提取养老金

从现在开始到2020年6月30日之前，联邦政府允许因疫情影响而面临经济压力的个人提早提取最多一万澳元的免税养老金，并在2020年7月1日到2020年9月24日期间再提取一万澳元。

可以提早提取养老金的个人包括：

• 没有工作的个人
• 有资格领取求职津贴（之前称之为“新起点”津贴），求职者青年津贴，子女抚养津贴，特殊福利或农业家庭津贴的个人
• 还包括在2020年1月1日之后
  • 失业的个人
  • 工作时间被减少超过20%的个人
  • 生意处于歇业状态，营业额减少20%以上的个体经营者

申请者必须通过myGov直接申请，所发放的福利与Centrelink津贴或退伍军人津贴不发生冲突。澳大利亚税局（ATO）将通知您的养老基金（包括自管养老金）给您发放养老金。

需要注意的是，自管养老金只有在收到ATO发放的授权情况下，才可以利用该政策提取释放养老金。

拥有商业房产的自管养老金

拥有商业房产的自管养老金持有人，可能已经与因疫情影响业务上受到经济压力的租客有过接洽，被要求获得某种形式的租金减免。

政府已就商业租约制定了强制性的行为守则。如果租客正在遭受着经济压力并且可以证明他们的营业额有所减少，房东(包括自管养老金)就必须提供租金减免。租金减免必须与营业额的减少成比例，减少的租金50%必须以减免的形式，50%以延缴租金的形式来实现。

想要了解更多信息请点击Australian Government Business website .

但这并不意味着房东跟租客之间就不能就不同的结果上达成一致,(这只是最基本的要求)。例如，如果租客只是想要延期缴租，这是没有问题的。

提到这一点的关键在于，确保自管养老金的受托人，能够就租赁协议上的任何修改提供适当的谈判跟文件记录。

这在租户是关联方的情况下尤其重要。例如，租客是自管养老金成员本身的企业。可以确定，自管养老金的审计员在进行2020财年的审计工作时，就租赁条约的任何变更，都会寻找相关的文件记录支持。

拥有住宅房产的自管养老金

虽然政府对住宅房产没有强制性的行为守则，但拥有住宅房产的自管养老金的受托人可能会发现，有经济压力的租户也会要求租金减免。

住宅租赁受各个州的法律和政府的管制，受托人应参阅相关州居民审裁处的网站来获取更多的信息。

同样，自管养老金受托人应保留，租户、房产中介和房东之间的协商，以及双方达成的协议文件和任何支持减免租金要求的证明文件。

有限的追索借款安排 （Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements）

对于那些有有限追索借款安排的自管养老金持有者来说，疫情对于租金收入，成员的缴款以及投资收入的影响，可能会进一步影响自管养老金持有者在有限追索借款安排协议下的还贷能力。

自管养老金持有者如果认为自己很难偿还目前的贷款，应联系他们的贷款人来协商修改还款条款。

若贷款方是关联方 (而非金融机构)，那么自管养老金受托人获取市场上商业放贷方在此方面行为的信息将十分重要。关联方贷款的一个关键方面是，要保证其执行的条款和条件与自管养老金持有者期望从金融机构或者银行获得的是一致的。

同样重要的是，要确保所有信息跟实际修改过的贷款条约都以文件的形式保存好，(提供给自管养老金审计师)。

内部资产

如果您的自管养老金持有所谓的内部资产，受托人可能会发现，由于疫情对其他资产估值的影响，内部资产的占比可能已经超过了5%的法定门槛。

内部资产包括：

• 关联方的贷款
• 养老金中出租给关联方的资产
• 关联方的投资

关联方指的是：

• 养老金的成员，其配偶或亲戚
• 由成员，配偶及其亲戚实际控制的信托或者公司

受托人应审核内部资产并考虑如何将其占比控制在规定允许的比例5% 以下。养老金法要求，受托人在2021财年结束前，记录并完成一个书面的内部资产补救计划。有证据能证明受托人已经解决或考虑解决了这个问题，将会对2020财年自管养老金的审计以及税局的检查至关重要。

为2020财年自管养老金的审计作准备

除了上述我们提及到的注意事项以外，自管养老金的受托人还应着眼于2020财年审计期间可能出现的其他问题，包括：

• 房地产估值 —— 我们目前还没有看到疫情对于澳洲房地产估值影响的报道。我们能看到其对于租金收入的影响，但这会损害到对房地产的估值吗？受托人可以考虑在年底时取得一个独立的评估，以支持其对于养老金中房地产的估价。

• 对于未上市的投资的估值 —— 与上述情况类似，目前可能难以预测疫情对于自管养老金持有者手中未上市的投资的影响。同样，受托人应确保，他们能够证明在评估2020财年这些投资的市值时获取和考虑了哪些信息。

• 自管养老金投资策略 —— 这是过去的18个月里，审计人员跟税局都特别关注，并将会持续关注的一个问题。也许并不需要改变自管养老金的投资策略，但受托人有义务定期审核投资策略。审计员将会着重于寻找受托人定期审核投资策略和审核结果的证据。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

在山火同新冠疫情共同的打击下，澳洲在近30年首次遭遇了经济衰退。因此，本周联邦政府又宣布将联手各州和地区政府向符合要求的自住房业主(包括首次置业人士)发放2万5千澳元的资助。资助时效是2020年6月4日和2020年12月31日之间。

申请资格是哪些？

• 必须是自然人（公司或信托等名下的住房不可以）；

• 已年满18岁;

• 澳大利亚公民 （目前没有说PR 和新西兰公民可以）；

• 收入上限要求:

• 单个申请人，2018-19年或以后的纳税申报单应税收入低于12万5千澳元;或

• 夫妻共同申请者，2018-19年或以后的纳税申报单总应税收入低于20万澳元;

• 在2020年6月4日至2020年12月31日之间签署一份建筑合同，可以是以下任何一项:

• 建造新的自住房，其价格不超过75万澳元； 或

• 翻新你现有的自住房，翻新合同价在15万到75万澳元之间，你现有的自住房不得超过150万澳元；

• 施工必须在合同签订之日起三个月内开始。

自住房包括哪些?

包括别墅、公寓、买地建别墅，期房等，可以是新建房，也可以是对现有房的大规模翻新。注意了，投资房不包括在里面。

什么样的翻新算符合标准?

翻新的费用在15万到75万澳元之间，翻新前的自住房（包括房屋和土地）价值低于150万澳元。并且翻新工作必须在合同签订之日起三个月内开始。

翻新必须是用来改善居住的方便性、宜居性和安全性。而不是增加一些娱乐设施，比如建立网球场、游泳池或者遮阴棚等。

另外，翻新的工作必须由持牌的建筑商完成，合同价钱要符合一般市场价格，合同条款也必须是符合一般市场合同条款。政府此举目的是防止房主和建筑商签订猫腻合同骗取政府的现金补助。

如果已经有地，是否可以申请？

• 如果你有的是房子加土地，并希望拆毁房子重建，这可以被视为大规模翻新，只要翻新价格在15万到75万澳元之间并且该房子加土地总价格在翻新前不超过150万澳元;

• 如果你在2020年6月4日之前拥有空置土地，这可以被视为全新建筑，建筑的总价值加上建筑前的土地价格不能超过75万澳元。

现在可以申请吗？

还不可以，您所在的州或地区需要和联邦政府签订合约以后，并且州或地区开通申请渠道以后才可以申请。各州和地区将会给与通知。

需要提供什么文件?

各州或地区政府将会要求提供特定的文件来处理申请。但是预计至少需要提供以下文件:

• 身份证明;

• 与指定注册或许可建筑商签署的合同副本;

• 建筑商的注册或执照副本(取决于你居住的州或地区);

• 一份2018-19年度(或之后)纳税申报单，以证明符合收入上限要求;

• 其他文件，如当地区政府建筑或翻新批准信，土地的价格公证等。

详细文件需要各州或地区政府进一步通知。

有拿到政府首次置业资助金，还可以申请住房建筑现金补助吗？

可以的，该项补助和首次置业资助金、印花税优惠等州政府补助，以及联邦政府的首次置业贷款存款计划和养老金存款计划不相冲突。

该项补助需要交所得税吗？

不需要。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

The last few months have shown a constant display of obscure challenges related to maintaining business during the COVID-19 pandemic for business owners and leaders everywhere. The latest obscure challenge is possibly the trickiest yet: how to cautiously recommence businesses after the government announced the major easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Businesses will be faced with many logistical details including how to maintain social distance, limit crowd size, and ensure spaces are cleaned thoroughly and regularly. It will take some time to lift the level of confidence in people to start visiting shops, restaurants, and other public venues. In such an uncertain and diverging environment, how can small businesses move forward and back to “business as usual”? There are many opportunities for us as business owners and leaders to unify and build this together amid the uncertainty.

Patience

Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. In today’s world, where technology has created the expectation that everything should move more quickly, patience becomes one of the rarest virtues. No one has the patience to wait for anything anymore. However, we need to be careful to not rush everything. We should be careful not to move faster than governments allow.

We should be patient with a timeline that might be slower than we anticipated; patient with a reopening process that might be awkward; patient with the line-up that we have to face when entering the shops; patient with our leaders feeling the pressure of this difficult situation; patient with one another as we are getting used to with the new normal. As hard as it will be to practice patience, we must be determined as it is unquestionable the second wave of Covid-19 cases, or a local outbreak would detrimentally impact businesses.

Humility

Humility is to have a student mindset and always be willing to learn new things. With so many changes in the world amid the pandemic, we need to quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. When you listen, it may slow down the process of consideration and planning, but it is worth it. We need to be humble to learn to adapt and to accept that things might not be the same as they used to be.

We need humility in how we react to the plans by the government leaders, even if we do not agree with every aspect of it. There is no definitive answer on how to do this well and everyone is just trying to do the best they can to get through this crisis. If we are willing to learn and adapt with all humility, we will be able to survive.

Service

This pandemic is affecting us individually, societally, and organisationally. During this pandemic, we all need to step up and be a leader to do what we can for the greater good. If you are fortunate enough to have cash in your pockets, you can use it to support other businesses. We need to think of ways we can serve our friends, family, neighbours, and community as a whole. We need to encourage “we” before “me” and show gratitude and compassion for others.

If you can make your business about helping others during this crisis, you will always have plenty of work because no one has ever become poor by giving. There is no better time than now to put the needs of others ahead of our own. Remember, success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself; it is what you do for others.

There is no need to panic. Tough times never last but tough people do. If we can all continue to show up as servant leaders with patience and humility to serve others, we can get through this uncertainty and crisis stronger than ever.

Don’t let this uncertainty sink your business, reach out for help not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers are Xero qualified and Award-winning accountants and bookkeepers for small businesses which can be reached on 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

It has already been two months since the lockdown was in place. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally announced a “Three-Step” procedure to reopen Australia after the COVID-19, which is good news to all of us. Based on the data from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Australian has been losing more than $4 billion each week due to the lockdown, of which the largest portion has been attributed to the affected small and medium-sized business (SME). As the lockdown has been gradually lifted, how would SME self-adjust their business and catch up with the changing market in order to bring their business back to normal or even beyond?

1. Get government subsidies and grants

First of all, the biggest issue that SME is facing at the moment is cashflow caused by the declined revenue. As cashflow is considered as the lifeline for any business, the shortage of cashflow may directly lead the business to insolvency. For now, the fastest and most efficient way to deal with the cashflow shortage is to apply for and get the government subsidies and grants. We have mentioned those subsidies and grants in our previous articles The second and third Stimulus Plan – Which one suits you? and How small and medium business benefit from the Stimulus Package? , such as JobKeeper Payment, Cash Flow Boost to employers and Apprentices and Trainees Wage Subsidy etc. These are the most effective approaches you can take currently to maximise your cashflow. For more federal and state stimulus measures, please click on our Internal Manual (https://pittmartin.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ef7c505bc2b5ac5d9125b1f2&id=8a6e991bbb&e=199892a471)。

Also, the Government Guaranteed Unsecured Finance for up to $250k provided by the bank is another feasible way to supplement the SME’s mid or long term cashflow.

In addition, all the tax liabilities incurred after 12 March, such as income tax, GST, FBT etc, can be deferred to 14 September. Companies that make good use of this relief can help with cashflow shortfalls without violating regulation to delay their tax lodgement.

2. Prepare for return to workplace

If you have already applied for the JobKeeper Payment, you should not worry too much about finding new employees which is the government initiative. Employees can return to work at any time to resume as usual. If you lose your employee for any reason such as you are not eligible for JobKeeper Payment, it is the time for you to consider recruiting or getting in touch with right candidate for the recovery.

After returning to work, business should actively respond to the preventive anti-epidemic measures, such as making employee and customer safety manual or post, keeping 1.5 meters social distance, maintaining 4 square metres of space per person and preparing hand sanitiser etc.

If your business was temporarily closed and you have been working from home since the lockdown, it is the time for you to get in touch with your suppliers and building manager of your workplace to ensure the goods, utilities supplies and office are operating as normal.

3. Have an effective communication with other parties

As a result of market changes caused by the outbreak, the personnel and department in the organisation may also need to be changed. For example, some departments may need more people while others may have to cut. Managers have to have an effective communication with affected employees to make sure personnel change is undertaken in a considerate and proper way.

For most of SME, rent is one of the biggest expenditures in their daily business. The Federal government as well as State government have issued the relevant law and code to ensure landlords to share a portion of the business loss. Therefore, affected business should reach out to their landlord in order to get some rental relief if they have not yet. If you decide to update or enter into a new lease with the landlord, you should take an advantage of the current market to get a better price and terms.

Given everyone is suffering from cashflow shortfall at the moment or in the near future, business should accelerate any necessary debt collection procedures to avoid further capital loss because of the potential future bad debt.

Businesses also have to review the contract with existing suppliers and customers and actively communicate with them to ensure the terms in the contract are updated in a timely manner to reflect the changed market.

4. Change your business plan and look for new opportunities

The current business plan and financial budget may no longer be applicable to the SME. An adjustable and flexible business plan and financial budget are the only guarantee for future recovery and success. Similarly, business who can adjust themselves in the changing market may have more opportunities. For example, lockdown increases the online demand and delivery. In the meantime, online meeting is becoming more acceptable during this period. Therefore, in future, some retail and hospitality business may consider expanding their take-away and IT-related business might intend to engage in online App Development or Video calls.

There is no doubt that there will be a long-term impact brought by this coronavirus pandemic. Business should take their long-term strategies into consideration when they make new business plan to ensure the new plan is more suitable for the changing market and prepare for the worst on the other hand.

Since the outbreak, we can deeply feel that clients, at any other time, never like now need our assistance and advice. At Pitt Martin, we strive to understand your business and put our feet in your shoes so we can be committed to delivering the best service we can to help you out during this tough time. Let us work together and bring your business and life back to normal as soon as possible! Call us on 02 92213345 or email connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

Disclaimer: This article is not providing a formal advice and may not suit to all scenarios. Please make an appointment with us to discuss.

Tax time is fast approaching and for some of you this might be the last thing on your mind. There might be other things that are more important for you to get through this uncertainty. However, now is the best time to get your tax affair in order and avoid last minute planning that can cost you.

As you have spent more time working from home during the lockdown period, it might be a good idea to put together all the information you need to prepare your returns as it will take some time especially if you have not organised them as you go. You can collect all your receipts or invoices for work related expenses and any credit card statements for invoices that you no longer had and discuss with your tax agent to ensure you are maximising your claims.

If you have been working from home as a result of COVID-19, the Australian Taxation Office has introduced special arrangements which will allow people to claim 80 cents per hour for all their running expenses, rather than needing to calculate costs for specific running expenses. You will need to keep a record of the number of hours you have worked from home. This will apply from March 1 to June 30, after which the ATO will review the arrangement for the next financial year.

If you choose to use the 80 cents per hour for all your running expenses, you can’t make other claims in relation to working from home because items such as mobile phone and internet are included in the 80 cent rate.

You still had the option to use the old claiming method which is known as the 52 cents per work hour method for claiming items such as heating, cooling, lighting, cleaning and the decline in value of office furniture. You need to keep a diary of when your start and finish work each day. This old method also allowed you to calculate the work-related portion of phone and internet expenses, computer consumables, stationery and the decline in value of a computer, laptop or similar device. Nevertheless, you would still require to work out what private use and work use is on ‘a reasonable basis”

You can claim tools or equipment as a deduction in your tax return if you have to use them as part of your job and your employer didn’t reimburse you. You can claim a deduction straight away if the tools or equipment are $300 or less otherwise you will need to depreciate over the life of the item. On the other hand, if you run your own business and acquired all your capital items from 12 March 2020 and the cost of all of them less than $150,000, you can claim a deduction straight away. The capital items included work related IT equipment, cars and tools. Please note that you will still require to apportion the cost if you use them for private use.

As we are approaching the end of financial year, we still have plenty of time to generate some extra common tax deductions if you made the payment by 30 June:

• Donation to a charity registered as a deductible gift recipient over $2 with a receipt are tax deductible
• A personal contribution into your super fund including the contribution made on your behalf by your employer which are less than $25,000 can be claim as a tax deduction providing the payment made by 30 June. You need to advise your super fund by completing the relevant form or speak to your accountant for guidance.
• You need to pay by 30 June your professional membership or subscriptions and union fees to claim the deduction this year

Remember that good record keeping including invoices and receipts will ensure the finalisation of your tax return easier and you can claim for everything you’re eligible to.

If you know anyone in your circle who need any assistance during tax time, please reach out to them because “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone” and “Together We Can Make A Difference”

Pitt Martin Accountants & Tax Advisers is here to assist you and your business in time of crisis by contacting 02 9221 3345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

在澳洲政府从三月实行封锁以来，已接近两个月，随着上周五总理的”三步走”解封，我们终于迎来了逐步解封的好消息。根据澳洲财长Josh Frydenberg的数据，封锁中澳洲每周经济损失高达40亿澳元，这其中有很大一部分受影响的是中小企业。现在随着解封的步伐，中小企业如何做自我调整，逐步适应变化中的市场，以使生产或经营恢复到之前的水平甚至超越。

1. 充分利用政府补助和优惠政策

首先，目前对中小企业打击最大的即是营业额的下降导致的现金流的短缺。现金流是企业生存的生命线，它的短缺或将造成企业直接的倒闭。现在最快、最直接获得现金流的方式是申请到政府的补助，我们之前的文章《澳洲政府重磅推出第二和第三刺激计划，哪一款政策适合你？》和《澳洲疫情中推出救市刺激计划，中小生意如何从中受益》中都有提到政府的现金补助政策，比如员工保留金，支付给雇主的现金流，学徒的工资津贴等等，都是快速获得现金流的很好和很可观的方式。具体的政府补助和优惠政策可以，点开我们的内部文件（https://pittmartin.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ef7c505bc2b5ac5d9125b1f2&id=8a6e991bbb&e=199892a471），参考详细内容。

另外，银行提供的无抵押贷款，高达25万澳元，也是企业获得中长期现金流保障的一个有效方法。企业三月以后所产生的税务债务，比如所得税，消费税，员工福利税等都可以延迟到今年的9月份再支付税局。企业合理利用该项优惠政策也可以对短缺的现金流有所帮助，而不用违反规定推迟相关税务申报。

2. 做好复工的准备

如果你有申请了员工保留金，那么你应该不太需要为寻找新的员工而烦恼，他们可以随时回到工作的岗位，让生产或经营恢复。如果你没有活得员工保留金或其他原因而导致了员工流失，那么现在你应该考虑招聘或联系合适的人选，以备复工时人员的需要。

复工后，企业应该积极响应政府的防疫安全措施，制定员工安全手册，比如社交距离1.5米，工作环境每人4个平方米的个人空间，准备消毒液等。

如果你这段时间生意是关闭的或一直在家办公，可以考虑提前联系供应商和工作场所的物业，确保供应链，水电，办公室等正常运转。

3. 和各方进行有效的沟通

由于疫情导致的市场变化，企业内部人员和部门的结构也将可能有变化，比如，有些部门可能需要增加人员，有些部门可能需要减少人员，管理层和调整的人员需要进行有效的沟通，尽量做到合情合理，妥善处理。

中小企业很大一部分的开销是花费在房租上，联邦政府和各个州政府都出台了相关的法律和规定来确保企业的损失房东可以承担一部分。因此，受到疫情影响的企业，如果还没有联系房东，现在应该考虑和房东进行有效的沟通，来缓解短期内的经济压力。如果在此期间要更新或签订新租约的企业，可以考虑利用目前市场的优势获得更有利的租房条约和价格。

在各方现金流都短缺的情况下，企业应该对有账期的客户进行有主次有步骤的欠款追述，以免将来大面积的坏账导致资金进一步的损失。

企业还需要对现有的供应商和客户的合同进行复查，同相关方进行积极的沟通，以确保合同中的条款可以得到及时的更新，来应对疫情带来的市场变化。

4. 改变生意计划，寻找新的机会

由于疫情导致的市场需求的变化，原先的生意计划和财务预算可能已经不再适用，新的计划方案和相应的财务预算是将来企业得到恢复和注入活力的保障。同样，善于改变的企业，也许在变化的市场中，未来会获得更多的机会，比如，封锁让线上和物流变得需求量更大，同样在线视频会议也渐渐获得人们的青睐，等等。因此，一些餐饮和零售业可能会考虑扩大他们的外卖业务，做软件的企业，可能调整发展方向去到线上App 或 视频服务。

我们不得不承认，这次疫情对市场和经济的影响将是长期性的，企业在制定新的计划时也应该考虑到长期的因素，确保新的计划可以对市场有更好的弹性，作好一切最坏打算的准备。

我们感觉这次疫情发生后，客户在其他任何时候都没有像现在，更需要我们会计师的建议和帮助。我们皮特马丁会计师事务所一直秉承着为客户利益着想的原则，这次也会致力于帮助客户走出困境，重回正常的生意和生活轨道。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计等综合性服务的经澳洲会计师公会认证的注册会计师事务所。我们每年会花上几百个小时去研究新的税法，以保证我们的客户可以最大化合理避税。我们的中文联系方式是 Robert Liu +61292213345 或邮件robert@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin 坐落在交通便利的悉尼市市中心，是一家拥有可以说中文合伙人的会计师事务所。

本文内容仅供参考，不构成对任何个人或团体的具体情况而形成建议。任何个人或团体应该在征求专业人士的意见后方可采取行动。由于税法的时效性，我们在发布时已致力于提供及时、准确的信息，但不能保证所称述的内容在今后任然可以适用。转发该文内容请注明出处。

Followed by the first Stimulus Package plan announced on 12^th March 2020, the federal government has rolled out the second and third Stimulus Package plan with a total amount of up to 200 billion dollars in last two weeks aiming at helping small and medium business and keeping Australians in jobs. Let’s take a look at what are they for both business and individual and navigate one suits you.

For business

JobKeeper payment

The JobKeeper payment will assist employer to retain their employee and quickly re-start when the crisis is over. Affected employer will be able to claim the fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30^th March 2020. The first payment will be received on the first week of May, lasting for maximum of six months.

Eligibility for employer (including Not-For Profit):

• Business turnover less than $1 billion PLUS turnover has been reduced by more than 30% (of at least one month compared to the same period of last year)
• Business turnover more than $1 billion PLUS turnover has been reduced by more than 50% (of at least one month compared to the same period of last year)
• The business is not subject to the Major Bank Levy

Eligible employee can be full-time, part-time and casuals (a casual employed on a regular basis for more than 12 months as at 1^st March 2020). They must be an Australian citizen, Permanent Visa Holder, or a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder who is a Australian tax resident on 1 March 2020.

Self-employed individuals (Sole Trader) who meet the above turnover test are also eligible for JobKeeper Payments.

Register you interest and keep update with ATO.

Cash flow paid to eligible employers

As we mentioned in our previous article “How small and medium business benefit from the Stimulus Package”, eligible employers have the entitlement to claim equal to 50% of the PAYG Withholding amount with a minimum of $2000 and maximum of $25,000 even the withholding amount is nil. At this second package plan, the figures are lifted up to 100% cashback on PAYG Withholding, with an increased minimum payment of $20,000 and maximum payment of $100,000.

The cash payment will be provided in two phases. The ATO will automatically credit the first phase amount (from $10,000 to $50,000) to the tax payer’s ATO account after the BAS or IAS lodgement from 28^th April 2020. Different cycle tax payer will be paid upon the lodgement as below:

• Quarterly lodgers – March 2020 quarter (due on 28^th April 2020), and June 2020 quarter (due on 28^th July 2020)
• Monthly lodgers – March 2020 (due on 21^st April 2020), April 2020 (due on 21^st May 2020), May 2020 (due on 21^st June 2020) and June 2020 (due on 21^st July 2020)

The second phase amount will be equal to the first phase amount. Different cycle tax payer will be paid upon the lodgement as below:

• Quarterly lodgers (each credit will be equal to 50% of the phase one payment), one after each BAS or IAS lodgement for June 2020 quarter and September 2020 quarter
• Monthly lodgers (each credit equal to quarter of the phase one credit) one after each BAS or IAS lodgement for June, July, August and September 2020

Government Guaranteed Unsecured Loan

The $40 billion guarantee for small business loan under the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme is in place to support small and medium business in obtaining the additional working capital. The government will grant a guarantee of 50% to eligible small and medium business lenders which will reinforce lenders’ willingness and ability to provide credit.

Meanwhile, a deferred repayment of up to 6 months has been announced by the Australian Banks aiming at supporting small and medium business who has existing loans. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has also announced a $90 billion Term Funding Facility for the banking system to lower the funding costs for banks and subsequently to encourage lending to businesses.

Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses:

• The threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company has been increased from $2,000 to $20,000
• The threshold at which creditors can initiate bankruptcy notice has been increased from $5,000 to $20,000
• The time companies have to respond to a statutory demand and bankruptcy notice they receive will be extended from 21 days to up to 6 months

Directors will also be temporarily exempted from any personal liability arising from the trading during insolvency. The Corporate Act 2001 will also be amended to provide companies with temporary and targeted relief against unforeseen events caused by COVID-19.

For individual

JobSeeker Payment

The government introduced a temporary income support payment for the next six months, offering a fortnightly payment of $550, which is the double of the current allowance, to eligible job seekers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. This supplement will be an additional payment paid on top of their existing allowance to both existing and new eligible recipients (including those currently receiving JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit)

One-Off $750 Economic Support Payment

On top of the one-off $750 economic payment released by the government on 12^th March 2020, the government will be providing second $750 income support payment to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders (except for those receiving the Coronavirus supplement).

The first $750 payment will be available from 31^st March 2020 to individual who becomes eligible from 12 March 2020 to 13 April 2020.

The second $750 payment will be made automatically to eligible payment recipient and concession card holders from 13 July 2020

Early Access to Superannuation

Eligible individual affected by the COVID-19 have earlier access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21 to help them relieve the financial hardship. The first period for them to access their superannuation is between 20 April 2020 and 1 July 2020. The second period is between 1 July 2020 and 24 September 2020.

To apply for early released superannuation, you must satisfy any one or more of the following requirements:

• You are unemployed
• You have the entitlement to receive a JobSeeker payment, Youth Allowance for jobseekers, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit
• On or after 1 January 2020,
  • You were made redundant
  • Your working hours were reduced by 20% or more
  • If you are a self-employed individual (Sole Trader), your business is forced to suspend or your turnover has fallen by 20% or more

Early released superannuation is not subject to income tax, and the money you are claiming will not affect Centrelink or Veteran’s Affairs payments.

Reduce the minimum superannuation pension drawdown rates

The minimum superannuation drawdown rates for account-based pension and similar products will be reduced by 50% for 2019/20 and 2020/21. The pensioners who hold these products will be benefit from this measure because they do not have to sell their products to meet the minimum withdrawal requirement under the current financial market downturn.

Minimum pension drawdown rates halved for 2019/20 and 2020/21：

Given all the measures rolled out by the government in respondence to the outbreak of COVID-19 are temporary and applications are required with supporting fact and explanation, both business and individual should examine their own situation and check for the subsidies they are entitled in order to turn around their business and life during the outbreak. If you need any assistance for the consultation or application, please do not hesitate to reach us on 02 92213345 or connect@pittmartingroup.com.au.

Disclaimer: This article is not providing a formal advice and may not suit to all scenarios. Please make an appointment with us to discuss.