尽管今年生活成本压力有所缓解，但消费者和企业仍然感到财务紧张。在圣诞季节，谨慎规划对企业尤为重要，因为这一时期既带来机遇也伴有挑战。让我们从商业角度来探讨这一季节的关键因素。

应对季节性波动和不确定性

随着假日购物季的开始，各企业正争分夺秒，抓住圣诞假期前的最后机会。然而，圣诞节的到来打乱了正常的运营节奏，增加了业务的波动性，对计划不充分的公司而言尤其具有挑战性。

面对持续的生活成本压力，消费者们变得愈加谨慎。许多按揭房贷家庭尤其受到固定利率贷款转换为更高浮动利率的影响。虽然能源补贴和燃油价格下降提供了一些缓解，但整体通胀率，尤其是房租、保险、个人护理等服务性通胀，仍然高于目标。澳大利亚储备银行表示短期内不会降低利率，消费者希望物有所值才能放心消费。讽刺的是，如果假期消费激增，可能会推迟未来的降息，因为支出增加可能加剧通胀。然而，由于通胀水平的上涨，今年消费者即使支出更多，也仅能与去年的购买力相当。

折扣策略的两难

打折是节日期间的一大策略，但企业必须谨慎使用，了解利润率至关重要。例如，毛利率20%的企业提供15%的折扣，则需要销售额增加三倍才能维持盈亏平衡。没有妥善规划的折扣可能导致亏损，尤其是当销售额未显著增长时。

在库存过多、旧库存急需处理、或打折促销可以带动需求和吸引新顾客时，折扣策略能有效提高销量。此外，增加价值不一定依赖于直接折扣。将热门商品与低需求商品打包销售或提供数量折扣，也能在提升客户价值的同时维持利润率。

假期成本管理

圣诞节期间的运营成本通常会上涨，额外的员工、效率下降、非营业日停工以及较高的营销费用都增加了开支。虽然参与节日氛围很重要，但要避免在新年遭遇财务“宿醉”，需要有效的成本管理。如果雇佣临时员工，务必确保正确支付工资和退休金，以保持合规性。

新年现金流规划

新年初通常是业务活动减少、现金流紧张的时期。3月季度往往是现金流最紧张的季度，因此，建立现金缓冲非常必要。在假期前期不要过度承诺，以免在新年初面临资金困难。

从“吝啬鬼”身上学到的债务管理

对于与账户客户合作的企业来说，最好尽早开始跟进债务，因为许多客户在圣诞节期间也会面临现金流压力。尽早跟进逾期账单可以增加获得支付的机会，而拖延可能会错失付款，因为客户可能资金已耗尽。

圣诞高峰期的库存管理

如果假期销售旺盛，企业可能会倾向于增加库存。这种做法合理，但过量库存可能导致节后出现过剩或过多的资金被库存占用。理想情况下，与供应商合作，以便可以在短时间内补货，避免占用过多资金。此外，若某些商品在门店售罄，提供在线购买选项以确保销售不被错失。

圣诞季可以是利润丰厚的时期，但也很容易让企业在兴奋中忽略基本的运营原则。通过周密的规划、有效的成本管理以及专注于客户需求，企业可以充分利用这一假期季节，避免不必要的困难。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款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 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group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。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

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。

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

While cost-of-living pressures have slightly eased this year, consumers and businesses alike continue to feel financial strain, making careful planning essential for companies navigating the holiday season. Christmas can bring both opportunities and challenges for businesses, so let’s explore what “makes or breaks” the season from a business perspective.

Managing Seasonal Disruption and Volatility

The holiday rush is underway, and as businesses race to capture any remaining opportunities before the Christmas slowdown, many find themselves grappling with dislocation and unpredictability. Christmas disrupts regular operations, creating periods of volatility that are challenging for businesses to manage without thorough planning.

Consumers, facing ongoing living cost pressures, are particularly cautious. Many households with mortgages are feeling the pinch as fixed-rate loans roll over into higher variable rates. Although energy subsidies and lower fuel costs offer some respite, overall inflation—especially for services like rent, insurance, and personal care—remains above target. The Reserve Bank of Australia has hinted that interest rate reductions are still some way off, so consumers are seeking value for every dollar they spend. Ironically, if spending spikes this season, it may delay future rate cuts, as increased spending can further fuel inflation. However, given inflation, consumers will naturally spend more this year just to match last year’s buying power.

The Discount Dilemma

Discounting remains a key strategy during the holiday season, but businesses must approach it carefully. Knowing your profit margins is essential before offering discounts. For instance, a 20% gross profit margin business offering a 15% discount would need to triple sales volume just to break even. Without careful planning, discounts may lead to losses if sales don’t increase significantly.

Discounting works best when you have excess stock, older inventory that needs to move, or if it generates demand and attracts new customers. Value doesn’t always have to come from direct discounts; bundling products can be more profitable. Packaging high-demand items with lower-demand stock or offering quantity discounts can create value for customers without eroding profits.

Holiday Cost Management

Operating costs often rise around Christmas, with increased staffing, reduced efficiency, downtime on non-trading days, and higher marketing expenses. While it’s essential to embrace the season, careful cost management is necessary to avoid a financial “hangover” in the New Year. If hiring casual employees, ensure they’re paid correctly, including superannuation contributions, to stay compliant.

Planning for New Year Cash Flow

The start of the New Year can bring reduced business activity and tight cash flow. Historically, the March quarter tends to be the hardest quarter for cash flow, so building a buffer is essential. Overextending during the holiday rush may lead to issues in the quieter months ahead.

Lessons from Scrooge: Managing Debts

For businesses working with account customers, it’s wise to start debt collection efforts early, as many clients may face financial pressure during the holiday season. Early follow-ups on overdue accounts increase the chances of getting paid, while waiting could mean missed payments if clients run out of cash.

Inventory Management for the Christmas Rush

If holiday sales are booming, businesses may feel tempted to stock up. While this makes sense, overstocking can lead to excess post-holiday inventory or too much cash tied up in stock. Instead, aim to work with suppliers who can provide goods on short notice to avoid tying up funds. Additionally, if items are out of stock in-store, offer customers online options to complete sales, ensuring no missed opportunities.

While Christmas can be a profitable time, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook essential business practices. With careful planning, effective cost management, and a focus on customer needs, businesses can make the most of the holiday season without unnecessary setbacks.

Pitt Martin Group is a CPA accounting firm, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Australian Taxation Registered Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

A significant shift in the administration of the superannuation guarantee (SG) is set to take place, introducing what is known as payday super. This change, aimed at improving the efficiency of super payments, will impose new obligations on employers starting 1 July 2026. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming changes.

What’s Changing?

Under the new system, employers will be required to pay their employees’ SG contributions on the same day as salary and wages, a departure from the current practice of quarterly payments. This adjustment will help reduce the estimated AUD 3.4 billion gap between the super payments employees are entitled to and the actual contributions made. In addition, the government believes that this will improve employees’ retirement benefits. It is estimated that for a 25-year-old employee with an average income, if pensions are paid with wages instead of quarterly, their pension amount will increase by about 1.5% by the time they retire.

The announcement was made in the 2023-24 Federal Budget, though the payday super is not yet legislated. In anticipation of the changes, the Treasury has released a fact sheet to help employers prepare for the new requirements.

How Will Payday Super Work?

Under this new system, SG payments will be due within seven days after employees receive their ordinary time earnings (OTE). This means that employers must transfer SG contributions to employees’ super funds within a week of each payday. Some exceptions will apply, such as for new employees during their first two weeks of employment and small, irregular payments outside the usual pay cycle.

Many employers have already transitioned to Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, which electronically tracks employee wages. It is expected that payday super will integrate with these existing systems, with some minor adjustments to ensure OTE data is captured for super contributions.

Impact on Employers

The key challenge for many employers will not necessarily be the administrative burden but rather the impact on cash flow. Under the current system, businesses hold onto 12% of their payroll for up to 28 days after the quarter ends before paying SG. Under payday super, this money will need to be disbursed as soon as employees are paid, which could pose cashflow issues for some businesses. However, this change is expected to limit the risks of unpaid super, particularly in cases where a business becomes insolvent.

Consequences for Late Payments

Penalties for late or missed SG payments are already severe and will remain stringent under payday super. Currently, late payments trigger the superannuation guarantee charge (SGC), which consists of the unpaid SG amount, 10% annual interest starting from the quarter it was due, and a $20 administration fee per employee. Notably, these SGC amounts are non-deductible for the employer, even when settled.

Under the new payday super regime, penalties will become stricter, especially for repeated violations. If an employer fails to make SG payments on time, the following penalties will apply:

• Outstanding SG shortfall: Based on OTE (ordinary time earnings) rather than total wages.
• Notional earnings: Daily interest charged on the shortfall amount from the day after the due date, at the general interest charge rate.
• Administrative uplift: A penalty of up to 60% of the SG shortfall to cover enforcement costs, reduced if the employer voluntarily discloses the failure.
• General interest charge: Interest on any unpaid SG shortfall and notional earnings, plus any outstanding administrative penalties.
• SG charge penalty: Additional penalties of up to 50% of the unpaid SG charge if the debt is not cleared within 28 days of receiving the notice of assessment.

These penalties can quickly escalate, particularly for employers who have consistently underpaid or misclassified employees as contractors, leaving outstanding SG obligations. The new system will make such oversights costly. However, unlike the current SGC, under payday super, the SGC will become tax-deductible—excluding any penalties and interest accrued if the SG charge is not paid within 28 days.

Though not yet enacted, payday super represents a significant shift in the way superannuation is managed and paid. Employers will need to prepare for the upcoming changes and ensure they meet their new obligations once the law is finalized. Keep an eye on updates as the policy evolves to ensure compliance and avoid costly penalties.

Pitt Martin Group is a CPA accounting firm, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Australian Taxation Registered Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

一项关于养老金保障（superannuation guarantee，以下简称SG）管理方式的重大变革即将推出，这项变革称为“发薪日养老金” （Payday Super）。这一新规旨在提高养老金缴纳的效率，并将从2026年7月1日起，对雇主提出新的义务。以下是关于即将实施的这一变革的详细介绍。

有哪些变化？

根据新规定，雇主将被要求在发放工资的当天支付员工的养老金保障（SG）缴款，这与当前按季度支付的方式有所不同。此调整将会有助于缩小目前员工应得养老金与实际缴纳之间估计为34亿澳元的差距。另外，政府认为，这将改善员工的退休收益，预计一位现年25岁、收入中等的员工，如果养老金能随工资发放而不是按季度支付，到退休时其养老金金额将增加约1.5%。

这一新规是在2023-24年联邦预算中宣布的，尽管“发薪日养老金”尚未立法，但财政部已发布了一份说明，帮助雇主提前了解这一变革可能带来的影响。

发薪日养老金如何运作？

在这一新系统下，雇主必须在员工获得其“普通工时收入”（ordinary times earning ，以下简称OTE）后7天内支付养老金保障（SG）缴款。这意味着雇主必须在发放工资后一周内将SG缴款转入员工的养老基金。某些例外情况包括新员工在其前两周内的工资，以及不在常规工资周期内的小额、非定期支付。

近年来，许多雇主已经过渡到一键式薪酬系统（single touch payroll，以下简称STP），该系统可电子记录员工工资。预计“发薪日养老金”将整合到现有的电子系统中，同时对STP进行一些调整，以便收集OTE数据用于养老金缴纳。

对雇主的影响

对于许多雇主来说，主要难点不一定是管理负担，而是现金流的影响。目前，企业可以在季度结束后最多持有12%的工资额长达28天，然后再支付SG。然而，在“发薪日养老金”系统下，这笔资金需要与工资同步发放，这可能会给一些企业的现金流带来压力。然而，此举被认为能有效减少未支付退休金的风险，尤其是在企业破产的情况下。

迟缴养老金的后果

在新的“发薪日养老金”制度下，处罚将变得更加严厉，尤其是对屡次违反的雇主。如果雇主未能按时支付SG款项，将会面临以下处罚：

迟缴或未缴养老金的处罚本已十分严格，并将在“发薪日养老金”制度下继续保持严格。目前，迟缴养老金会触发养老金保证金费用（super guarantee charge ， 以下简称SGC），其包括未支付的SG金额、从应付季度开始计算的年息10%，以及每个员工每季度20澳元的管理费。值得注意的是，即使SGC欠款已结清，这些金额对雇主来说也不可抵扣。

• 未缴养老金差额：根据OTE而非总工资计算。
• 名义收益：从到期日后起按日计算的短缺金额利息，利率为一般利息费率（general interest charge rate）。
• 管理提升费：最多可达未缴SG差额的60%，用于反映执法成本，如果雇主自愿披露未缴款项，费用会有所减少。
• 一般利息费用：对未支付的SG差额、名义收益以及未缴管理费的部分加收利息。
• SG罚金：如果在收到评估通知后28天内仍未全额支付未缴SG费用，将额外加收最多50%的罚款。

这些处罚可能迅速升级，特别是对那些长期少付工资或错误地将员工归类为承包商的雇主，他们可能面临未缴养老金的责任和处罚。然而，与当前的SGC不同的是，在“发薪日养老金”制度下，SGC将成为可税前扣除的费用（不包括如果28天内未支付SG费用而产生的罚款和利息）。

虽然尚未立法，“发薪日养老金”代表着养老金管理和支付方式的一次重大变革。雇主需要为即将到来的变化做好准备，并确保在新法律最终确定后履行新的义务。随着政策的发展，请及时关注最新动态，确保合规，避免高额罚款。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款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 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group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。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

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。

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

当你登录到你的myGov账户时，发现过去一年的”业务活动报表”（business activity statement，简称：BAS） 有申报记录，并且发放了10万澳元的GST退税。问题是，这并不是你做的税务申报，而且你的银行账户里也没有10万澳元的退款。那么现在该怎么办呢？

这种情况正变得越来越普遍，诈骗者盯上了myGov账户，因为这些账户含有大量个人数据。他们更改银行信息，提交虚假的退税申报，利用你的身份申领巨额资金。从表面上看，这似乎是你本人在操作，但实际上并不是。最糟糕的是，你可能无意中帮助这些诈骗者进入了你的账户。

而且问题不仅仅在于BAS的税务申报。诈骗者还盯上了任何能够发放付款或退款的myGov相关服务。他们利用税法中的漏洞和修改期，篡改税务数据，制造虚假的个人所得税、GST退税，甚至修改预缴税（PAYG）分期付款。诈骗者对澳大利亚税收和社会系统的了解相当深入，这让他们的骗局更加具有欺骗性。

一旦他们掌握了你的myGov账户，他们就可以让你造成巨大的损失。

这种情况是如何发生的？

通常情况下，人的疏忽是问题的根源。许多骗局都始于钓鱼邮件。过去一年中，约79%的税务相关骗局是通过电子邮件发起的，而18%是通过短信。这些骗局模仿官方信息，看起来很可信，诈骗者常用的几种策略包括：

• 发送关于未经授权的账户访问尝试的虚假警告，要求你点击链接并验证你的信息。
• 提供所谓的奖励，例如税务退税，并要求你点击链接领取。
• 模仿澳大利亚税务局（ATO）的官方通知，带有一个可以点击查看消息的链接。

ATO报告称，截至2024年3月，75%的电子邮件骗局都涉及虚假的myGov登录页面。

如何识别骗局

你可能首先通过myGov的通知发现可疑活动——讽刺的是，诈骗者可能正是通过这些通知进入了你的账户。不过，有一些明显的方法可以识别骗局：

• ATO、Centrelink和myGov不会发送带有超链接的消息。如果收到带有链接的消息，极有可能是骗局。
• ATO不会通过二维码要求你登录账户。
• ATO不会通过社交媒体要求你提供税号（TFN）、银行信息或myGov登录信息。诈骗者经常伪装成ATO或其他政府机构，在社交平台上诱导人们提供个人数据。ATO助理专员Tim Loh将这比作“把你家的钥匙交给陌生人，眼睁睁看着他们换锁。”
• ATO不会通过录音消息通知你有税务债务，也不会因涉嫌犯罪活动或洗钱而取消或暂停你的TFN。
• ATO不会发起包括你、你的税务代理和某个自称为执法人员的人的电话会议。有些诈骗者假冒ATO代表，安排与虚假税务代理的电话会议，以欺骗受害者。
• ATO不会要求你因myGov的安全更新而重新确认你的信息。如果你收到这样的请求，很可能是钓鱼骗局。

通常情况下，避免点击电子邮件或消息中的链接。相反，你应该直接登录myGov官网账户查看任何警报或更新。

另外，切记：永远不要在公共Wi-Fi上登录myGov。

谁会成为骗局的受害者？

尽管许多人认为老年人最容易成为诈骗的目标，但实际上，年轻人也越来越多地成为受害者。ATO报告称，25至34岁的人群最有可能向诈骗者提供个人信息。年轻人特别容易受到投资骗局的影响。

澳大利亚联邦警察领导的联合网络犯罪协调中心（JPC3）指出，如今50岁以下的澳大利亚人在报告投资骗局损失方面超过了年长者。在2023-24财年，澳大利亚人在投资骗局中损失了3.82亿澳元，其中几乎一半（47%）涉及加密货币。

其他类型的骗局

诈骗者不会只限于税务欺诈——他们会利用任何机会来窃取金钱：

• 投资骗局：诈骗者使用一种被称为“杀猪盘”的策略，通过社交媒体或消息应用程序与受害者建立长期信任。一旦建立信任，他们会引诱受害者投资虚假的加密货币或外汇平台。这些平台看似合法，显示虚假的收益，诱骗受害者投入更多资金。最终，诈骗者会卷走所有资金。另一种欺骗策略叫做“深度伪造骗局”。诈骗者使用AI生成的内容，例如名人的虚假视频或图片，推广虚假的投资计划。这些深度伪造视频通常在社交媒体上分享或通过消息发送。虽然一些不自然的面部动作或语音模式可能会露出马脚，但这些深度伪造的质量正在迅速提高。
• 发票骗局：网络犯罪分子先获取企业系统的访问权限，识别供应商，然后使用合法企业的名称和信息发送虚假发票，资金则被转入诈骗者的账户。
• 银行骗局：有些诈骗者假装是银行，给人们打电话，声称他们的账户有问题，并指导受害者将资金转入所谓的“安全账户”。受害者通常会相信这些诈骗者，因为他们似乎知道大量的个人信息。

值得注意的是，银行永远不会通过电子邮件或短信要求更新个人信息或账户信息。根据CHOICE的一项调查，四分之五的银行诈骗受害者表示，他们的银行在他们转账给诈骗者之前并没有发出任何警告。

澳大利亚银行协会宣布，到2024年年底，银行将实施新的警告系统和延迟支付，特别会针对加密货币等高风险交易渠道。

如果你被诈骗了怎么办

• 关于myGov诈骗：如果你下载了假myGov应用，分享了你的信息，或点击了可疑链接，请立即联系澳大利亚服务局的诈骗与身份盗窃帮助热线1800 941 126，或在线寻求帮助。
• 关于税务诈骗：在采取任何行动之前，请联系你的税务代理验证指令。如果你已经上当受骗，请立即拨打ATO电话1800 008 540报告问题。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款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 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group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。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

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。

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

When accessing your myGov account, you notice that your activity statements from the past year have been modified, and $100,000 in GST credits have been issued. The problem? You weren’t the one who made these changes, and there’s no sign of a $100,000 refund in your bank account. What should you do now?

This scenario is becoming increasingly common as scammers target myGov accounts for their wealth of personal data. They change bank details and file fake refunds, using your identity to claim large sums of money. From the outside, it looks like it’s all coming from you. The worst part is, you may have unknowingly helped these fraudsters access your account.

And it’s not just activity statements being manipulated. Scammers are targeting any myGov-linked service that can issue payments or refunds. They use legal loopholes and amendment windows in tax law to adjust tax data, leading to fraudulent refunds on personal income tax, GST, or pay-as-you-go (PAYG) instalments. The level of knowledge these scammers have about Australia’s tax and social systems is impressive—and concerning.

Once they gain control of your myGov account, they can wreak havoc.

How does this happen?

Human error is often at fault. Many scams start with phishing attempts. Around 79% of reported tax-related scams over the past year have come through email, while 18% have been through SMS. These scams mimic official messages that seem legitimate, with scammers using several common strategies:

• Fake warnings about unauthorized access attempts, prompting you to click a link and verify your details.
• Offers of supposed rewards, like a tax refund, with a link you must click to claim.
• Messages resembling official notifications from the Australian Tax Office (ATO), complete with a link to view the message.

The ATO reported that 75% of all email scams up to March 2024 involved a counterfeit myGov login page.

How to recognize a scam

You might first notice suspicious activity through alerts from myGov—ironically, the same kinds of alerts scammers may have used to access your account. However, there are clear ways to identify a fake:

• The ATO, Centrelink, and myGov never send messages with clickable links. If a message includes one, it’s likely a scam.
• The ATO doesn’t use QR codes to direct you to your account.
• The ATO will never ask for your tax file number (TFN), bank details, or myGov login information through social media platforms. Scammers often impersonate ATO or government agencies on social media to trick people into sharing personal data. Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh compares this to ‘handing your house keys to a stranger and watching them change the locks.’
• The ATO will not send pre-recorded messages about tax debt. It won’t cancel or suspend your TFN due to suspicious activity or tell you to transfer funds to a “safe” account.
• The ATO won’t initiate a conference call with you, your tax agent, and someone claiming to be from law enforcement. Some scammers pretend to be ATO representatives and stage fake calls with fraudulent tax agents to deceive victims.
• The ATO will not ask you to update your details due to a security issue with myGov. If you receive such a request, it’s likely a phishing attempt.

In general, you should avoid clicking on links in emails or messages. Instead, log directly into your myGov account to review any alerts or updates.

And remember: never log into myGov while using public Wi-Fi.

Who gets scammed?

While many assume older adults are the most vulnerable to scams, younger people are increasingly falling victim. The ATO reports that individuals aged 25 to 34 are the most likely to provide personal information to scammers. Younger people are also particularly susceptible to investment scams.

The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) notes that Australians under 50 are now more frequently targeted by investment scams than older citizens. During the 2023-24 financial year, Australians lost $382 million to investment fraud, with almost half of those losses involving cryptocurrency.

Other types of scams

Scammers aren’t limited to tax fraud—they will exploit any opportunity to steal money:

• Investment scams: Scammers engage in a tactic known as ‘pig butchering’, where they build trust with victims over time through social media or messaging apps. Once trust is established, they lure victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency or foreign exchange platforms. These platforms are often designed to look legitimate, showing fake profits to convince victims to invest more money. Eventually, the scammers disappear with all the funds. Another type is called ‘deepface scams’ that scammers use AI-generated content, such as fake videos or images of public figures, to promote fraudulent investments. These deepfakes can be very convincing and are often shared through social media or direct messages. While subtle clues like unnatural facial movements or odd speech patterns can be giveaways, the quality of these deepfakes is improving rapidly.
• Invoice scams: Cybercriminals gain access to business systems, identify suppliers, and use legitimate company details to send fake invoices. The money is then diverted to scammer-controlled accounts.
• Bank scams: Some scammers call people pretending to be from their bank, claiming there’s an issue with their account. They guide the victim through a series of steps that eventually result in transferring money to a scammer’s ‘safe’ account. Victims often trust the scammers because they seem to know a lot of personal information.

It’s important to know that your bank will never request personal or account details via email or text. A recent survey by CHOICE found that four in five bank scam victims weren’t alerted by their bank before they transferred money to scammers.

The Australian Banking Association has announced that by the end of 2024, banks will implement new warning systems and payment delays, especially for high-risk transactions like cryptocurrency transfers.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

• For myGov scams: If you’ve downloaded a fake app, shared your details, or clicked on a suspicious link, immediately contact the Services Australia Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk at 1800 941 126 or seek assistance online.
• For tax scams: Before acting on any instructions you receive, contact your tax agent for verification. If you’ve already been scammed, reach out to the ATO directly at 1800 008 540 to report the issue.

Pitt Martin Group is a CPA accounting firm, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Australian Taxation Registered Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

澳大利亚证券和投资委员会 (ASIC) 最近报告称，与上一财年相比，企业破产数量显著增加了39%。建筑业、住宿和餐饮服务业是受影响最严重的行业之一。

重组趋势与存活率

在2023-24财年，重组行动增长了超过200%。对于负债低于100万澳元的小型企业来说，重组是一个选择。这使他们在制定恢复计划时，能够保持对业务的控制权，并在重组专业人士的协助下与债权人达成协议。

自2021年1月1日之后进入重组并于2024年6月30日前完成重组计划的573家公司中，截至2024年6月30日，89.4%的公司仍在注册，5.4%的公司已进入清算，5.2%的公司已注销。

澳大利亚储备银行的Michelle Bull最近评论了经济市场日益增长的压力。她指出，前景不如从前乐观，生产力也在滞后。这一情况凸显了企业管理者需保持清晰财务认知的重要性，早期发现并解决问题，防止它们恶化。

企业失败的主要原因

当公司无法按时履行其债务义务时，就被视为资不抵债。导致企业失败的三大主要原因包括：

1. 无效的战略管理
2. 现金流不佳或支出过多
3. 运营亏损

识别预警信号

企业很容易忽视早期预警信号，导致过度依赖希望经济状况会改善。常见的预警信号包括：

• 业绩不佳：当业绩显著低于预算时。
• 固定成本增加：在收入没有相应增加的情况下，固定成本的上升会损害营利能力。固定成本在业务活动水平不变时保持不变，因此任何上升如果没有收入增长支持，都会产生不利影响。
• 毛利率下降：销售额与销售成本之间的差距缩小，直接减少净利润。
• 过度依赖债务：严重依赖债务而非股权融资会导致财务不稳定。
• 销售额下降：销售额下降会产生连锁反应，抑制增长并减少利润。
• 延迟支付债权人：单靠良好的销售情况并不足以应对现金流问题，可能导致无法及时支付债权人。
• 超出现金流支出：希望未来的收入能支付当前的费用，这是一种高风险策略。
• 财务报告系统不完善：在缺乏清晰财务可视性的情况下运营，犹如蒙着眼睛开车。
• 过度扩张：当销售增长速度超过企业的承受能力时，快速增长会压垮企业。
• 大量坏账或无法出售的库存：未支付账单的客户和无法出售的库存会消耗资源。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款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 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group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。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

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。

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently reported a significant 39% uptick in corporate insolvencies compared to the previous financial year. Industries like construction, accommodation, and food services have been hit the hardest by this surge.

Restructuring Trends and Survival Rates

In the financial year 2023-24, there was an over 200% rise in restructuring efforts. Small businesses with liabilities under $1 million have the option to engage in restructuring processes. This allows them to keep control of their operations while formulating a recovery plan with the help of a restructuring expert. The goal is to establish an agreement with creditors.

Out of the 573 companies that began restructuring after January 1, 2021, and finished their restructuring plan by June 30, 2024, 89.4% were still registered as of June 30, 2024, while 5.4% had entered liquidation, and 5.2% were deregistered.

Michelle Bull from the Reserve Bank of Australia recently commented on the growing pressures within the business sector. She noted that the outlook is not as positive as it once was, and productivity is also lagging. This situation highlights the importance for managers to maintain a clear understanding of their financial health. Identifying and addressing issues early can prevent them from escalating.

Key Factors Behind Business Failures

A company is considered insolvent when it cannot meet its debt obligations on time. The top three reasons for business failure include:

1. Ineffective strategic management
2. Poor cash flow or excessive spending
3. Operating losses

Recognizing Warning Signs

It’s easy for businesses to miss early warning signs, leading to an over-reliance on hope that conditions will improve. Common signs of trouble include:

• Underperformance: When results fall significantly short of budget projections.
• Rising Fixed Costs: Increasing fixed costs without a corresponding revenue increase can harm profitability. Fixed costs remain the same regardless of business activity, so any rise can be detrimental if not matched by growth in revenue.
• Declining Gross Profit Margins: A shrinking margin between sales and the cost of goods sold directly reduces net profit.
• Over-Reliance on Debt: Relying heavily on debt rather than equity financing can lead to financial instability.
• Falling Sales: A drop in sales can have a ripple effect, stifling growth and reducing profits.
• Delayed Payments to Creditors: Good sales alone aren’t enough if cash flow issues prevent timely payment to creditors.
• Overspending: Spending beyond the business’s cash flow, hoping future income will cover today’s expenses, is a risky strategy.
• Inadequate Financial Reporting: Operating without clear financial visibility is like flying blind.
• Overexpansion: Rapid growth can overwhelm a business if sales outpace the company’s capacity to sustain them.
• Significant Bad Debts or Unsellable Inventory: Customers who fail to pay and stock that doesn’t sell can drain resources.

Pitt Martin Group is a CPA accounting firm, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Australian Taxation Registered Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

个人税收和养老金

从2024年7月1日起，个人所得税减免现已生效。同时，养老金保证金（SG）已提高了0.5%，达到11.5%。雇主需要更新工资系统，包括薪金牺牲协议，以适应这些变化。PAYG预扣税也将受到影响。

澳大利亚税务局（ATO）提醒雇主确保他们履行养老金保证金义务。SG用途的雇员定义很广泛，包括临时居民、背包客、某些公司董事、在业务中工作的家庭成员和一些承包商。确保您的分类是准确的。

雇主必须核实员工的养老金基金详细信息和税号是否已提供给养老金基金。SG付款必须在季度到期日前支付到员工的基金中，下次付款截止日期为7月28日。错过截止日期将会导致养老金保证金费用（SGC），其中包括未支付的SG、从季度开始的10%年利率和管理费。而且，SGC金额不能税前扣除。

工资增长

从2024年7月1日起，全国最低工资增加了3.75%，达到每小时24.10澳元或每周915.90澳元。此增长适用于2024年7月1日或之后开始的第一个完整支付期。通常，最低工资增长与通货膨胀没有直接联系。

私营企业的年工资增长在2024年3月季度略微下降至4.1%，而2023年12月为4.2%，表明工资增长可能在稳定。

利率和生活成本

澳大利亚储备银行（RBA）行长米歇尔·布洛克强调，通货膨胀是生活成本压力的主要原因，而不是利率。利率是RBA控制通货膨胀的工具。由于通货膨胀缓解的速度比预期慢，RBA可能会进一步调整。通货膨胀率从2022年12月的7.8%下降到2024年3月季度的3.6%，但在5月再次上升到4%，影响了利率稳定的希望。

商业信心

最新的澳大利亚国家银行（NAB）商业调查显示，商业信心下降，5月进入负值区域，随着条件继续弱化。企业面临连续八个月的订单下降，预期需谨慎。国内生产总值（GDP）在3月季度略有增长，而人均消费继续下降。然而，劳动力市场依然强劲，5月失业率为4%。

财政部预测2024-25年的经济增长（GDP）将略微改善至2%，这是一个温和但可信的前景。

移民和劳动力

疫情后，随着国际学生、打工度假者和临时技术劳工的回归，澳大利亚的移民激增，以应对劳动力短缺。截止2023年6月30日的一年中，海外移民为澳大利亚人口净增518,000人，这是有记录以来的最高海外净移民估计值。

2024-25年联邦预算预计净移民将降至260,000人。虽然移民对住房的压力已被广泛报道，但对劳动力供应的积极影响是显著的。疫情后，澳大利亚面临严重的劳动力短缺，阻碍了供应链的恢复。

从2025年1月1日起，学生签证数量将受到限制。2024年3月的学生签证发放量比2023年同期下降了34%。政府的重点转向技术移民，雇主担保的名额将增加7,175个，但独立技术签证将减少13,475个。雇主担保员工的最低薪资要求（临时技术移民收入门槛）将从2024年7月1日起提高到73,150澳元。

战略企业管理

企业常常由于缺乏对业务的理解和监控而失败。管理者需要掌握业务数据，及早识别和解决问题。盈利不足问题会削弱企业，而现金流问题则可能会致命。计划、跟踪和测量现金流是至关重要的，包括管理应收账款和库存，并保持滚动三个月的现金流状态，以便早期预警潜在问题。

有效的企业管理还涉及监督现金流、运营预算、成本控制和债务管理。通过控制这些领域，企业可以降低风险。

小企业通常会吸收增加的成本。在困难时期提高价格并不是背叛，而是必要的。如果经营成本增加，应该反映在价格上，除非企业能够以相同的努力赚取更少，或者在价格敏感的行业中不得不跟随大企业的步伐。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group 是一家提供税务，会计，生意咨询, 自管养老金及审计的贷款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 info@pittmartingroup.com.au。皮特马丁会计师事务所Pitt Martin Group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。我们的荣誉包括2018年CPA新州首席优秀奖， 2020年澳大利亚小生意年度冠军入围奖, 2021年澳洲知名媒体《每日会计师》年度最佳会计师事务所冠军入围奖，2022年最佳会计师事务所新人入围奖和2023香港澳大利亚商业协会最佳积极生意入围奖。

皮特马丁会计师事务所 Pitt Martin Group资质包括超过十五年的从业经验，澳大利亚注册会计师协会（CPA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚税务注册代理，新州、维州和西澳律师协会信托账户 (Trust Account) 认证审计师，澳大利亚金融贷款经纪人协会（FBAA）执业认证会员，澳大利亚证券及投资委员会注册代理，XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB等会计软件授权单位及认证顾问。

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。

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax

Personal Tax and Superannuation

As of 1 July 2024, personal income tax cuts are now active. Additionally, the superannuation guarantee (SG) rate has increased by 0.5% to 11.5%. Employers need to update their payroll systems, including salary sacrifice agreements, to accommodate these changes. PAYG withholding will also be affected.

The ATO has reminded employers to ensure they are meeting their super guarantee obligations. The definition of an employee for SG purposes is broad, including temporary residents, backpackers, certain company directors, family members working in the business, and some contractors. Make sure your classifications are accurate.

Employers must verify that the correct fund details and tax file numbers are provided to the super fund for their employees. SG payments must be made into the employee’s fund by the quarterly due date, with the next payments due by 28 July. Missing the deadline incurs the super guarantee charge (SGC), which includes the outstanding SG, 10% annual interest from the start of the quarter, and an administration fee. SGC amounts are not tax-deductible.

Wage Increases

From 1 July 2024, the national minimum wage has increased by 3.75% to $24.10 per hour, or $915.90 per week. This increase applies from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2024. Typically, there is no direct link between minimum wage increases and inflation.

Private sector annual wage growth slightly decreased to 4.1% in the March quarter of 2024 from 4.2% in December 2023, indicating that wage growth may be stabilizing.

Interest Rates and Cost of Living

RBA Governor Michelle Bullock has highlighted that inflation is the main cause of cost of living pressures, not interest rates. Interest rates are used by the RBA to control inflation. Since inflation is easing more slowly than expected, the RBA may make further adjustments. Inflation dropped from 7.8% in December 2022 to 3.6% in the March quarter but rose again to 4% in May, affecting hopes for stable interest rates.

Business Confidence

The latest NAB business survey shows a decline in business confidence, which fell into negative territory in May as conditions continued to soften. Businesses have faced eight consecutive months of declining forward orders, leading to a cautious outlook. GDP saw marginal growth in the March quarter, while per capita consumption continued to decline. However, the labor market remains strong, with unemployment at 4% in May.

Treasury forecasts a slight improvement in economic growth (GDP) to 2% in 2024-25, a modest but credible outlook.

Migration and Labor

Post-pandemic, Australia saw a surge in migration with the return of international students, working holiday makers, and temporary skilled labor to address shortages. In the year ending 30 June 2023, overseas migration added a net gain of 518,000 people to Australia’s population, the highest on record.

The 2024-25 Federal Budget estimates a drop in net migration to 260,000. While migration pressures on housing have been well-publicized, the positive impact on labor supply was significant. Post-COVID, Australia faced severe labor shortages that hindered supply chain recovery.

From 1 January 2025, student visa numbers will be capped. Student visa grants were already down 34% in March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The government’s focus is shifting towards skilled migration, with an increase of 7,175 employer-sponsored places, although skilled independent visas will decrease by 13,475. The minimum salary requirement for sponsoring an employee (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) will rise to $73,150 from 1 July 2024.

Strategic Business Management

Businesses often fail because they don’t understand or monitor their operations effectively. Managers need to stay on top of their numbers to identify and address issues early. Profitability issues can weaken a business, but cash flow problems can be fatal. It’s crucial to plan, track, and measure cash flow, including managing debtor collections and inventory and maintaining a rolling three-month cash flow position to provide early warnings of potential problems.

Effective business management also involves overseeing cash flows, operating budgets, cost control, and debt management. By maintaining control over these areas, businesses can reduce their risk exposure.

Small businesses often absorb increasing costs. Raising prices during challenging times is not a betrayal; it’s a necessity. If the cost of doing business rises, this should be reflected in pricing unless the business can afford to make less for the same effort or is in a highly price-sensitive industry following the lead of larger competitors.

Pitt Martin Group is a CPA accounting firm, providing services including taxation, accounting, business consulting, self-managed superannuation funds, auditing and mortgage & finance. We spend hundreds of hours each year on training and researching new tax laws to ensure our clients can maximize legitimate tax benefit. Our contact information are phone +61292213345 or email info@pittmartingroup.com.au. Pitt Martin Group is located in the convenient transportation hub of Sydney’s central business district. Our honours include the 2018 CPA NSW President’s Award for Excellence, the 2020 Australian Small Business Champion Award Finalist, the 2021 Australia’s well-known media ‘Accountants Daily’ the Accounting Firm of the Year Award Finalist and the 2022 Start-up Firm of the Year Award Finalist, and the 2023 Hong Kong-Australia Business Association Business Award Finalist.

Pitt Martin Group qualifications include over fifteen years of professional experience in accounting industry, membership certification of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA), Australian Taxation Registered Agents, certified External Examiner of the Law Societies of New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia Law Trust Accounts, membership certification of the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited (FBAA), Registered Agents of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), certified Advisor of accounting software such as XERO, QUICKBOOKS, MYOB, etc.

This content is for reference only and does not constitute advice on any individual or group’s specific situation. Any individual or group should take action only after consulting with professionals. Due to the timeliness of tax laws, we have endeavoured to provide timely and accurate information at the time of publication, but cannot guarantee that the content stated will remain applicable in the future. Please indicate the source when forwarding this content.

By Yvonne Shao @ Pitt Martin Tax