RBizz Corporate Accountants - Resources #ATO compliance

You Can Probably Throw Out Your Paper Receipts. But Only If You Do This First.

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:42:39 +1100

You Can Probably Throw Out Your Paper Receipts. But Only If You Do This First.

The shoebox of receipts is one of the most common reasons small business records fall apart. The good news is that you generally do not have to keep paper. The ATO accepts electronic records. The catch is that a poor digital copy is not much better than a lost one.

What Makes a Digital Record Acceptable

A digital copy generally needs to be:

Legible. If you cannot read the supplier, date, amount and what was bought, it will not support a claim.
A complete copy of the original, showing all of the information that was on it.
Kept in a form you can retrieve and produce if asked, and for the required period, which is generally five years.

A blurry phone photo that cuts off the total fails that test, even if it feels like a record.

Where Digital Records Go Wrong

Poor quality scans. Faded thermal paper is the classic problem. Receipts printed on it can become unreadable within months, so capture them early.
Receipts saved to a personal phone or inbox, with no connection to the transaction in your accounting software.
No link to the payment. A receipt on its own does not show that you paid. Matching it to the bank transaction closes the loop.
Records tied to a single service. If the app or subscription ends, so can access to your records.

A Practical System

Capture receipts at the time of purchase using an app that attaches them to the transaction.
Check the image is readable before you discard the paper.
Back up your records somewhere you control, not only inside one provider.
Keep the records for the required retention period.

RBizz sets up simple receipt capture and bookkeeping systems that make the shoebox obsolete. Get in touch if your records still live in a drawer.

FBT tax time 2025-26 – are you ready?

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 23:25:25 +1000

FBT tax time 2025-26 – are you ready?

The 2025-26 fringe benefits tax (FBT) year ended on 31 March 2026. As employers gear up for FBT tax time, there are a few changes for 2025-26 that employers should be aware of, especially if you provide plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to your employees.

Removal of blanket FBT exemption for PHEVs

From 1 April 2025, PHEVs are no longer considered zero or low emissions vehicles under FBT law, which means that a PHEV may no longer qualify as FBT exempt.

The electric car exemption can, however, continue to apply for PHEVs where certain conditions are satisfied:

The use, or availability for use, of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle was exempt before 1 April 2025, and
There is a financially binding (pre-existing) commitment before 1 April 2025 to continue providing the use, or availability for use, of the car for private purposes on and after 1 April 2025 (any optional extension of the agreement is not considered binding).

Home-charging expenses – shortcut method

Employers with FBT liabilities can sometimes find it challenging to calculate the electricity cost of charging a vehicle at an employee’s home. For the 2025-26 FBT year, the ATO has updated its guidance and provided a shortcut home-charging rate for electric vehicles and PHEVs.

Use of the shortcut rate is optional and requires that certain eligibility criteria be met. If the shortcut rate isn’t available, or you’d prefer to calculate the actual electricity costs used instead, that’s perfectly fine.

ATO’s focus on misreporting

When it comes to vehicles, the ATO has a few FBT focus areas that attract its attention. This includes incorrectly treating the private use of a work vehicle as being for business use, failing to apportion between business and private use, or failing to report personal use of a work vehicle altogether. Keeping adequate records, such as valid logbooks, can help ensure that this problem doesn’t arise.

Remember, FBT can apply even if a work vehicle is made available to someone other than an employee, for example, the employee’s family members or associates.

Ready for FBT tax time?

Need help checking your documents for FBT compliance, or have questions about the changes for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles? Book some time with a member of our team today. We’d be happy to have a chat to discuss your business’s needs.

Calculated Growth: Why Your "Ordinary Time Earnings" Are Changing

Wed, 06 May 2026 14:42:27 +1000

Calculated Growth: Why Your "Ordinary Time Earnings" Are Changing

As we move through May 2026, the ATO is preparing for a technical but critical shift in how superannuation is calculated. 1 July 2026, the focus moves away from "Ordinary Time Earnings" (OTE) toward a new standard: Qualifying Earnings (QE).

What are Qualifying Earnings?

For years, employers calculated the 12% super guarantee based on OTE. Payday Super regime, the base for calculation is being refined to Qualifying Earnings. This change is designed to simplify calculations for diverse pay structures—including bonuses, commissions, and certain allowances—ensuring they are captured more consistently across all payroll software.

The "7-Day" Compliance Window

It’s not just about how much you pay, but how fast it arrives. Along with the shift to QE, the ATO is strictly enforcing the arrival window. 7 business days of their payday.

What Happens if You Miss the Window?

The penalties in 2026 are becoming more automated. If a payment is late:

The SGC Charge: Unlike the old system, the new Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC) will compound daily at the General Interest Charge rate.
Administrative Uplift: Businesses with a history of late payments may face an additional "administrative uplift" penalty of up to 50% of the unpaid amount.

The "Payday Super" Countdown: What You Need to Know

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:11:34 +1000

The "Payday Super" Countdown: What You Need to Know

From 1 July 2026, the way Australian employers pay superannuation is fundamentally changing. The Federal Government’s "Payday Super" reform means that Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions must be paid at the same time as salary and wages, rather than the current quarterly system.

Why the Change?

The shift aims to ensure employees receive their entitlements faster and to help them track their super more easily. It also prevents the "super gap" that occurs when businesses fall behind on quarterly payments.

What This Means for Your Business

Cashflow Timing: Instead of a large lump sum every three months, your cashflow will need to accommodate super payments every pay cycle (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly).
Compliance Deadlines: Contributions must reach the employee's fund within 7 business days of payday.
Software Updates: You must ensure your payroll software is configured to handle these automated, frequent transfers well before the July deadline.

Preparing for the Shift

To avoid penalties and administrative stress, businesses should use the remainder of 2026 to audit their payroll processes. Your cash reserves now to reflect "real-time" super obligations will make the transition in July 2026 much smoother.