2017 bought a raft of changes to superannuation. No surprises that the mainstream press provided mostly negative coverage, with their usual scare mongering approach.

Few people are aware however of some of the new rules listed below that may actually benefit you:

Tax Deductible superannuation contributions. Did you know that since 1 July 2017 all individuals […]

It’s a number of great importance, but you may have no idea what it actually is. Your credit score is determined by your financial history—factors such as how you have dealt with repayments, any outstanding debts you have, how many accounts you’ve applied for, had, and for how long.

If you have had a less than […]

When a loved one passes away, the last thing most families want to deal with is the finances and estate. This is a difficult time that can be very emotionally taxing. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has taken steps to relieve some of the burden by making it easier to take care of any loose […]

When you think of taxes and deductions, you probably think of tangible goods and services. With an ever-changing modern world that’s focused on technology, there is a bigger emphasis on the value of intellectual property. Naturally, the government has caught wind of this trend and has found ways to incorporate it into the tax system.
What […]

There is no denying that the internet has become a huge part of modern society. We use it to do many things in our personal lives. Naturally, this would also translate to the business world where more companies are using sites like Gumtree to find better deals on assets for their operation. This has created […]

Some Australians shrug off the idea of hiring an accountant. Why spend money when the goal is to save as much money as possible? As the old saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. That saying is especially true when it comes to handling your taxes. When you have the best accountant […]

Cars are a confusing issue when it comes to the fringe benefit tax, specifically employers providing employees with vehicles. Some Australians do not understand how to properly apply this fringe benefit to their taxes. A common problem arises when the employer does not disclose the fringe benefit.
Family vs. Employee
When an employee is related to the […]

A rental property can be a great investment. It’s a chance to expand your financial portfolio and generate income. Some landlords try to take advantage of the tax system by mislabeling any changes or updates they make to the property. While this could lead to some immediate tax breaks, it can also cause big trouble […]

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) began a campaign in recent years that targeted small businesses with a cash economy. The effort was to reintroduce billions of dollars into the tax system that otherwise were going undeclared. That meant more audits of small businesses including those who operate in carpentry, electrical, building trades, road freight, and […]

Setting up a self-managed superfund can be a daunting task. If you want the process to go smoothly, then there are several things you should have ready before you visit your SMSF strategy specialists Gold Coast office. The following checklist will help you get started.

Trustees, Beneficiaries, & Assets

In order to have a trust, you […]

Can you imagine the world without accountants? A paper recently published by the Social Party of Great Britain described such a situation. The paper, titled World Without Accountants, explores a future where accountants are redundant as common ownership becomes prominent in society. There’s no need for the market sale of goods and services, and so […]

There is an upward trend in the average retirement age across Australia. That means more people are working later in life, sacrificing years that are supposed to be spent enjoying retirement. Roy Morgan conducted a study that revealed this disturbing trend. In 2008, the average retirement age was 57.5 years. That rose to 59.6 between […]

Family trusts are still a popular choice when it comes to investing in the future. Many have found that this type of investment has numerous perks, like lower tax rates. If you are looking for the best way to transfer wealth from parents to children, trusts may be the best way to go.

Are Trusts a […]

ATO and Centrelink scams are on the rise, which is why everyone needs to know how to protect themselves. When most people think of scams on the internet, they usually envision poorly worded emails with obvious mistakes and oddities. The problem is that scammers are getting much better at what they do. Many have adapted […]

The FBT, or fringe benefits tax, is another form of payment an employee can receive that isn’t a traditional wage or salary. According to Tony Greco, IPA senior tax advisor, the FBT “has that unsavoury aspect of being the most cumbersome of all taxes and the one that drives most employers the biggest compliance burden […]

If Fund managers have a difficult time sorting through the noise of the financial news, can you imagine how confusing it must be for regular investors? Plus, people don’t really read the news anymore. It’s all consumed through headlines.

We recently saw a great article by Ben Carlson on A Wealth of Common Sense explaining how […]

Many are not aware that they can contribute to their spouse’s superannuation balance. This is actually a smart tax strategy for people who plan to retire before the age of 60. Split contributions can be made regardless of your age, but your spouse must be under preservation age or between preservation age and 65 and […]

The GST, or Goods and Services tax, adds a 10% fee on many goods and services sold in Australia. This is something that effects all businesses, no matter what industry you operate in. Inland Revenue determined that the government was missing out on $140 million in GST revenue for goods that were bought on the […]

Cloud accounting is one of the best things to come out of modern technology in the Finance industry. There once was a time when it was much harder to get information on your bank account. You had to visit a branch office, make a phone call, or send something in the mail. Today, we have […]

Tax planning can make a huge difference in how much you have to pay each financial year. Compiling your receipts, invoices, and other financial documents can be very tedious and time consuming. The best way to complete the process as smoothly, quickly, and cheaply as possible is to have a plan. The following tax tips […]

From the entire team at BIS Cosgrove, we hope that your Christmas is filled with family, fun and plenty of festivities! May your 2017 be prosperous. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

There are many reasons an investor might choose to sell stock. Current events can play a big role in how the stock market performs. Before you make a quick decision and possibly lose out on financial opportunities, make sure you understand market influences and why staying and not selling might be the better choice.
The Stock […]

Estate planning is not a fun endeavour for most people. In fact, many prefer to put the task off as long as possible or, in some cases, not do it at all. No one wants to consider what will happen after they die. It is a sad reality we must all face, and the more […]

Who do you turn to when you need self-managed super fund advice? Most people rely on the recommendations of a professional when making decisions about their SMSF. Just because someone claims to be a financial expert doesn’t necessarily mean they can legally provide the information you need. Make sure you’re trusting your financial future to […]

A self-managed super fund, or SMSF, is an attractive investment option that many people use. An SMSF allows trustees to control investments. It also provides a better perspective on how to manage retirement savings to get the biggest return. Before you get started, make sure you are aware of these common SMSF mistakes.
SMSF Mistake 1: […]

The ATO or Australian Taxation Office, is responsible for collecting funds from citizens and businesses. Their job is to administer the federal taxation system and superannuation legislation. While the ATO serves an important purpose, most people would rather not attract their attention. So what are you doing that might put you on the ATO’s radar?
Your […]

Have you begun preparing your finances for the Christmas season? This time of year can be full of fun and excitement. For some, it can also get very expensive. Whether you only have a few people to buy for or a large group of family and friends, it’s important to plan out your seasonal spending. […]

When tax season comes around, many people decide to tackle this difficult task on their own instead of heading to a professional. Although you may think you are saving money, in the long run, a tax accountant is actually a great investment, especially if you have a complicated tax situation (you run a small business […]

Think that meeting with a financial advisor is a one time occurrence? Think again. To really get the most out of financial planning services, you should be meeting with your advisor a few times a year, as well as any time you need to make a big financial decision. Your financial advisor is a great resource for […]

Here at BIS Cosgrove, we offer a number of different financial services that can help you do more with your money, regardless of who you are. We work with you to assess your finances and help give you options to achieve your goals. All of our trained accountants are very caring and friendly, and will […]

Accounting is often thought of as just the business of managing money, but it is so much more complex than that. Many people believe that they don’t need an accountant for their business, and that they can handle their finances on their own, but this is far more difficult than you might expect. Accountants handle […]

If you have a good grasp of basic budgeting and financial concepts, you may think that you don’t need a financial planner, or that you just wouldn’t benefit much from one. However, this is a huge misconception that prevents plenty of people from using a resource that can help you save and make more money […]

Accountants handle all aspects of a businesses’ financial transactions, from sales to expenses to payroll, and more. Auditing is a process that is often used in accounting to verify the accuracy of a businesses’ operations. Many people are unclear on exactly what auditing is or how it can help your company. Most accounting firms are […]

Many people use the terms ‘accountant’ and ‘bookkeeper’ interchangeably, but in fact, they actually mean very different things. The two positions serve very different purposes, and they are better suited to different types of businesses as well. However, they both provide important financial services that can help keep your business running at its peak performance. […]

Every year, the ATO makes thousands of dollars in audits relating to mistakes people make when lodging their taxes. The tax process can be very complicated, and the cause of most tax mistakes is simply confusion or a lack of awareness of regulations. It is important to be aware of these common mistakes so that you […]

Financial management is a big responsibility, and making mistakes with your money can be costly. One of the best resources that you have when it comes to managing financial issues is an accountant. Accountants are trained and certified in many complex monetary issues, processes, and regulations, so they are highly equipped to help you with any […]

If you are on the pension, or nearing retirement, it is extremely important that you review you assets. Changes are coming into effect this January that will affect hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Many Australians are unaware that the upcoming changes to the age pension assets test will affect them, however, in some cases, it could […]

Estate planning is the putting in place of processes and plans to protect your estate and interests in the event of your death. An effective estate plan will help to protect your estate from gift, estate, generation skipping transfer and income tax.
What is an estate?
An estate is comprised of everything you own, be it your […]

The sharing economy has had a relatively new boom in recent years thanks to websites like Airbnb and Uber which allow you to cash in on spare rooms, lend out cars, rent out a place on their couch, drive people around town or even hire out parking spaces. The sharing economy is looking to make up […]

We are more than a month into the new financial year and well and truly on the home stretch for 2016. Now is the time for small businesses to get their finances in order. Here are three recommendations our Gold Coast accountants have for you and your business:
Re-evaluate your business plan
Every business should have some […]

The new financial year has bought with it some tax and legal changes that business owners should be aware of. These include:
An increase to the minimum wage
As of the 1st July, the minimum wage was increased by 2.4% for all Australian employees. This was reflected across all awards and is an expected change for most […]