Scammers changing tactic

Scammers changing tactic The ATO has warned taxpayers to be alert for scammers impersonating the ATO, as they are changing tactics. “We are seeing the emergence of a new tactic, where scammers are using an ATO number to send fraudulent SMS messages to taxpayers asking them to click on a link and hand over their personal details in order to obtain a refund,” ATO Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said. The ATO said that there are some tell-tale signs that a contact is a scam, including: • they send you an email or SMS asking you to click on a link to provide login, personal or financial information, to download a file or open an attachment • they use aggressive or rude behaviour, or threaten you with arrest, jail or deportation • they request payment of a debt via iTunes, Google Play or pre-paid Visa cards, cryptocurrency or direct credit to a personal bank account • they request a fee in order to release a refund owed to you. The ATO released data on scams in December 2018. Some of its findings include: • more than 25,000 phone scam reports were recorded by the ATO in December • more than 1500 […] read more

When is a contractor not a contractor?

When is a contractor not a contractor? Mistaking an employee for a contractor can devastate any business, with fines of up to A$63,000 per breach. Contract work is definitely on the rise. A recent survey by PwC revealed that 46 per cent of global human resources (HR) professionals believe contractors or temporary workers will comprise at least 20% of their workforce by 2022. The sentiment is strongest in China, where half of the survey’s respondents believe traditional employment is being chipped away by an emerging preference among workers for greater freedoms, entrepreneurship and specialist skills. In Australia, 23% of employers say they now regularly engage contract or temporary staff – with another 44% employing them for special projects – according to the 2017 Hays Salary Guide. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates there are one million independent contractors currently working in Australia, representing about 9% of the workforce – an increase of 2% in the last six year. Why use a contractor? For a businesses looking to lower overheads and improve flexibility, contracting appears to be a perfect solution. In theory, employers can hire the resources they need, when they need them, without taking on the associated infrastructure and taxation overheads required for permanent employees. In Australia, […] read more

Small Business online seminars

Small business operators and those just starting or thinking about starting a new business, should consider participating in these free tax webinars. read more

Good Record keeping for small business

compliance-made-easy-package Businesses must keep the following records: Sales records Sales invoices, including tax invoices Sales vouchers or receipts Cash register tapes, credit card statements Bank deposit books and account statements Records of purchases expenses purchase/expense invoices, including tax invoices purchase/expense receipts, which include an ABN cheque butts and bank account statements credit card statements records showing how you worked out any private use of something you purchased Year-end income tax records motor vehicle expenses debtors and creditors lists stocktake sheets depreciation schedules capital gains tax records. Good records will help you determine if one is eligible to claim small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions. Some of the records your business should keep include evidence of: the market value of relevant assets just before the CGT event (to demonstrate eligibility for the $6 million maximum net asset value test) carrying on a business, including calculation of turnover (to demonstrate eligibility for the small business entity test) how capital losses have been calculated and carried forward to later years relevant trust deeds, trust minutes, company constitution and any other relevant documents. South East Access can provide both on site and offsite bookkeeping services ranging from the simplest data processing through to a […] read more

Warning of Yellow Pages directory scam

Money Matters The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is warning small businesses to watch out for a business directory scam. Small businesses have reported receiving a fax claiming to be from ‘Yellow Page Australia’ and ‘Open Business Directory Ltd’. The fax appears to be seeking confirmation of the contact details for their business. However on closer inspection, the fax is an agreement to sign up to an online business directory service charged at $99 per month for a minimum two-year period. Small business operators should be alert and follow these key rules: If you receive a ‘Yellow Page’ fax or email, bin it. Sensis, the owners of the Yellow Pages® directory, will never approach you this way If you get a threatening phone call, email or fax demanding payment – ignore it and report it Ensure employees are aware of this scam and know how to protect your business. If you think you have come across a scammer you can report it to the ACCC via SCAMwatch Don’t get caught by Business Scammers Should you require more information regarding financial and identity protection, please feel free to contact the team at South East Access read more

Don’t get caught by Business Scammers

SCAMwatch is warning business owners and individuals to remain vigilant against scammers impersonating government officials with false claims of owed money. A new scam targeting small businesses involves individuals claiming to be from the Australian Treasury, including the Treasury Reclamations Section, and offering to recover overpaid bank fees in return for a ‘processing fee’. Protect your business from a potential scam by: deleting a suspected scam email hanging up on a suspected scam phone call not sending money or giving away your financial details to anyone you don’t know or trust Businesses should be aware of scam calls or emails claiming you to be entitled to reclaim fees or rebates. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC’s) Small Business Scams Fact Sheet (PDF)  also provides tips to help protect your business from scams. Advice from the Australian Government Business Resource on preventing being caught by Business scams … More Details Don’t get caught. Don’t reveal to anyone you do not know your personal details, including your date of birth and tax file number. More details Scammers are targeting job seekers Should you require more information regarding financial and identity protection, please feel free to contact the team at South East […] read more

Is it a business or a hobby

You would normally be considered to be in business for tax purposes if you enter into an activity with the intention of running it as a profit-making business, and if the activity is carried out in a way that shows it has a significant commercial purpose and viability. read more

Maintain personal and business security to stop fraud

There are many different types of scams – online, phone, mail and face-to-face. Online scams, such as email ‘phishing’ scams are on the rise and are designed to trick you into giving away your money, passwords and personal details such as Your tax file number – TFN Date of Birth Protect yourself and/or business from a potential scam by: deleting any suspected scam email hanging up on a suspected scam phone call not sending money or giving away your financial details to anyone you don’t know or trust Ensure that one avoids sharing passwords and login details change passwords and remove user access when a staff member leaves secure tax records when they aren’t in use avoid circulating tax file numbers in emails unless it’s absolutely necessary ensure your computers have up-to-date security software, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewall protection. Tax Refund fraud occurs where tax returns, activity statements and other documents are deliberately falsified in order to claim a tax refund a taxpayer is not entitled to. Fraudulent claims can be lodged by individuals on their own account or by third parties on behalf of others. Sometimes this involves identity crime, where taxpayer identities are used by third […] read more

Failure to lodge Business Activity Statement

A failure to lodge (FTL) penalty is applied when Businesses are late with reporting to the ATO to supply information as and when required. It is applied when an ‘approved form’ is required to be lodged with the ATO by a due date and is not received by that due date. These include: Business activity statement (BAS) fringe benefits tax return pay as you go (PAYG) withholding annual report annual goods and services tax (GST) return annual GST Information report A failure to lodge on time (FTL) penalty is an administrative money penalty which may be applied where you are required to lodge a return, statement, notice or other document with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) by a particular day, and you fail to do so. And payment is not claimable as a tax deduction. The team at South East Access has extensive experience in accounting, personal and business tax, financial management, payroll services and bookkeeping. Our “Compliance Made Easy” Package gives you stress-free business reporting to the Australian Taxation Office. This package includes all the essentials: Meeting with South East Access Accountant in the final quarter to review your business financial position and to advise you on ways to […] read more

New charity regulator operations

From 3 December 2012, there is a new national regulator for charities, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Contact South East Access should you require more information about charity tax concessions. read more