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1. Taxman opens door on debt relief

Help can come from the most unlikely quarters, and business owners may find that it is the ATO itself that will ease tax debt pain. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Legal & Regulatory.By Terry Hayes

2. Choose the best superannuation fund

Here are nine strategies to help you choose the best super fund for you and to protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund: 1. Look at the funds that the experts use Bresnahan says among the funds selected by his employees – “that I have seen” – industry funds are most favoured. And several other superannuation consultancies confidentially reveal that some of their employees hold their super in industry funds.

3. The Tax Forum: 10 ways to build a better tax system

The supposedly dry world of tax has been at the centre of two of the biggest political bunfights in as many years: the carbon tax and the mining tax. Throw in the controversy over the Government largely ignoring a lengthy review of the system led by former Treasury head Ken Henry and it’s clear bean-counting can be a taxing topic for our political leaders. When the Govern...

4. The ATO’s new Super Guarantee rules explained

The ATO recently released a very important ruling - Superannuation Guarantee Ruling SGR 2009/2 - that explains the tax commissioner's view on the meaning of Ordinary Time Earnings and ‘salary or wages' as defined in the superannuation law. It is a lengthy ruling and quite technical, but important for employers to be aware of in meeting ...

5. Australia’s best super funds

Is your super fund underperforming? It could be time to change. Here are 18 tips to help you chose the best superannuation fund in uncertain times. By MICHAEL LAURENCEBy Michael Laurence

6. 20 tax tips from the experts

The 2008-09 tax season is almost upon us and entrepreneurs can expect to get some extra scrutiny this year. MIKE PRESTON and JAMES THOMSON ask a panel of tax experts for their best tips and the best action you can take now to minimise your tax billBy James Thomson and Mike Preston

7. eBook Library

Welcome to the SmartCompany eBook Library. You can access all the eBooks here and keep an eye out for new titles. Now that you are a SmartCompany member you can join in on the conversation by participating in forums, commenting on articles and networking with other like-minded Australians who want to build bigger better businesses.    

8. Australia’s best super funds

Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund. By MICHAEL LAURENCE.By Michael Laurence Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund.  

9. Cashing in on the 50% rebate - here's how to do it

Businesses with annual revenue of less than $2 million are being urged to take advantage of the Government's increased investment allowance announced in the federal budget.   Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said that the allowance will be extended from 30% to 50% for assets purchased by eligible businesses - but second hand items are out of the question. ...

10. Australia’s best super funds for 2010

The task of trying to select the best super funds is filled with traps for uninformed consumers. Take the potential minefield for anyone who focuses solely on trying to hunt down the best performance or extremely low fees but fails to compare premiums for fund-provided insurance. "The differential between the highest price insura...

11. ATO warning on exceeding super contributions limits

Making contributions to superannuation is a good thing to do. So far, so good. But under the current superannuation regime, people who contribute more than the limits allowed under the law (known as the annual superannuation concessional contributions cap) will face penalties – in the form of what is known as the all-too-technically-sounding superannuation excess concessiona...

12. Australia’s best super funds for 2011

An almost certain way to become highly depressed is to look at the returns of the big super funds' balanced portfolios over the five years to September. Almost all of the annual returns – even of the top 10 performers – failed to match inflation. The median annual return of the hundreds of funds surveyed by s...

13. Employee super – don’t pay late, not even one day!

There is no wriggle room in legislation for late payments of employee super contributions – not even one day’s grace. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Legal & RegulatoryBy Terry Hayes, of Thomson Legal and Regulatory

14. Tax Deduction Tips

How to minimise your business tax burden Every business is different, so an exhaustive list of what is tax deductible will vary. The following is a sample of the kinds of expenses that could be deductible – it might get you thinking about what you are claiming concerning your business.

15. Tax deduction guide for small and medium business

I’ve already talked about some year end tax planning issues, but it might be worth reminding SMEs of some of the tax deductions they may be able to claim. By TERRY HAYES By Terry Hayes

16. Redundancy: your tax obligations

The Tax Office recently released an important tax ruling - TR 2009/2 - that outlines the conditions for a payment to qualify for concessional tax treatment as a "genuine redundancy payment" under the tax law.  They are important because part of a genuine redundancy payment is tax-free - for 2008-...

17. Small Business Software and Tools

Starting a business is always difficult, and trying to start one in the middle of an economic crisis be even harder. To add to the problem, many small businesses are unaware of the internet's power when it comes to free business advice. So we've compiled a list of simple small business software applications and tools to help small business managers setup and grow their businesses for little or no...

18. Revealed: Australia’s top 50 highest earning suburbs

More of the country's wealthiest suburbs can now be found in Western Australia, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found, with the mining boom displacing traditionally well-off suburbs in New South Wales in favour of the resource-rich west. The latest data shows four Western Australia suburbs were included in the top 10 richest areas in 2008-09, compared to just one suburb five years prior. While the New South Wales suburb of Mosmon takes the top spot, followed by Wool...

19. ATO reveals targets for FY2012 – the wealthy, contractors

The Australian Taxation Office has revealed its targets for the 2011-2012 financial year, with small business benchmarks, wealthy individuals, sham contracting, work-related expenses and employer obligations for SMEs in the tax man’s sights. Releasing its compliance program, the Tax Office says fields as diverse as real estate, hospitality, carpentry, medicine, football and aviation will be in focus for the year to June 30, 2012. Here are some of the key targets the ATO ha...

20. Australia’s best super funds: 2009

Low fees plus exposure to less volatile unlisted assets have cushioned industry super funds from the worst of the global financial crisis and helped secure their near dominance of the short list for super fund of the year, to be announced next month by SuperRatings. Eight of the 10 finalists for the award are public-offer industry funds with...

21. The big issues for 2010

There's no question that 2009 was the year of the GFC. But interestingly, just as some were ready to declare that a new Depression was upon us, the global economy bounced back. We can thank the aggressive stimulus applied by Governments and Central Banks. We can also give thanks to China – the global rebound wouldn't have occurred without Ch...

22. Capital Gains Tax

How to stay under the CGT threshold Here are seven strategies to consider if you are selling your business and are concerned about overshooting the small-business threshold. This  page will help you caluclate and minimise your capital gains tax. As discussed in strategy seven, you must always keep the anti-avoidance provisions in mind:   1: Make gifts to your adult children. ...

23. Inside the new Fair Work bill

It was always expected that Labor would change the IR landscape, and aspects of its workplace changes have been previewed – but there are still some surprises, and every employer will need to know them. By PETER VITALEBy Peter Vitale

24. COSBOA to use its tax forum invitation to push for less red

The Council of Small Business of Australia has welcomed its inclusion on the guest list for the Government's two-day tax forum, but others have complained about the invitation list, the topics ruled off for discussion and whether two days is sufficient for the tax talkfest. Peter Strong, executive director of Council of Small Business of Australia, says the body is pleased to be included on the list, but it's only appropriate given the sector's contribution to the country. This w...

25. Documents reveal how Matthew Perrin's $150 million fortune d

One year ago, former Billabong chief and entrepreneur Matthew Perrin was valued at $150 million. All he has left is a $30,000 in cash, a $200 watch, $3000 worth of clothes, a Mercedes he can't drive, and a list of creditors a mile long. The extent of Perrin's fall from grace has been revealed in bankruptcy documents lodged early this week which list his assets and liabilities. Perrin owes around $28 million to about 20 unsecured creditors, including his wife Nicole, who is...

26. Income testing the private health insurance rebate

This topic might seem a little leftfield for a tax column, but I will explain. The legislation to apply an income test to the 30% private health insurance rebate has passed the House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate when it resumes on February 27, 2012...

27. Top 10 performing super funds revealed

Of the top 10 performing major superannuation funds in Australia, the top three are all corporate funds run for in-house employees, according to figures released yesterday by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Superannuation funds for staff at Goldman Sachs with returns of 9% since 2004, the Common...

28. Australia has 190,000 millionaires

Wealthy Australians might have spent most of the year weeping over the shrinking size of their investment portfolio, but it’s not all bad news. Wealthy Australians might have spent most of the year weeping over the shrinking size of their investment portfolio, but it’s not all bad news. A new report from Boston Consulting Group has revealed that the number of households with $US1 million in “assets under management” leapt from 148,000 to 190,000 in 2007, putting Australi...

29. How to pick the best investment adviser

Storm Financial’s formula for investment success was fundamentally flawed, and should have sent warning signs to investors with even minimal investment skills. MICHAEL LAURENCE asks long-time investor specialists how to identify investment advisers that should be avoided.

30. 10 ways Australian businesses are using the iPad

The iPad has completely changed the personal computing world. But alongside the hundreds of thousands of apps offered in Apple's flagship market, Australian SMEs are now designing their own ways of integrating the iPad into the workplace. Property valuation tools, ordering and inventory fac...

31. 15 tax tips from the experts

It's that time again. The 2009-10 financial year is almost upon us, and the Australian Taxation Office is preparing to knuckle down and get to work. Businesses struggling to survive the downturn will know that every dollar counts. Whether extra money is used for cashflow issues or employing an extra worker, keeping a business's tax burden low ensures more money ca...

32. ATO targets salary sacrifice superannuation contributions

Tax payers who are likely to breach the new limits on salary-sacrificed superannuation contributions are being targeted by the Australian Tax Office, with 300,000 of the most likely offenders to be sent warning letters. Meanwhile, industry experts are also warning taxpayers to become familiar with the new contribution caps, or risk having their contributions taxed at a massive 46.5%. In an email to tax agents, the ATO said it will be sending the letters to taxpayers over t...

33. 10 best tax strategies for SMEs

Business owners have limited options to minimise their tax – and they’re disappearing rapidly. MICHAEL LAURENCE runs through 10 of the best tax-saving strategies By Michael Laurence   Business owner...

34. Eight smart borrowing strategies for SMSFs

The Cooper superannuation review's warning in its final report that borrowing to invest should not become the "core focus" of self-managed super funds should act as a trigger for many fund trustees to review their practices. And fund trustees who are considering gearing investments for the first time should move with part...

35. How to retain staff – without breaking the bank

It’s getting harder to afford financial incentives and bonus payments for staff, but this is not the time to lose your high performers. As LEON GETTLER explains, there are ways to motivate and retain staff without spending a fortune. By Leon Gettler

36. Which sectors will win and lose in the downturn?

Are your sales efforts aimed at the right sectors? As the Australian economy hurtles towards recession, veteran business watcher and IBISWorld founder PHIL RUTHVEN nominates the industries that will be hardest hit – and the sectors that should hold up.   As bad...

37. The multi-billion dollar industries of the future

As part of SmartCompany’s Developing an Entrepreneurial Australia Roundtable, we asked IBISWorld general manager ROB BRYANT to nominate the 10 multi-billion dollar industries of the future

38. Generation-X turns to generation eXport

Exporting success is so often dictated by the motivation of the generation of business leaders, so guess who is set to become our next Gen-eXport? History tells us that success in exporting often depends on the motivation of business leaders and managers. For instance much of Australia’s success as an exporting nation in the late 20th century was due to the efforts of the post-war immigrants who ended up leading successful companies. The names Abeles, Parbo, Adler come to mind for exam...

39. Five strategies for SMSFs investing in geared property

SME owners should now have more confidence about arranging for their self-managed super funds to borrow to acquire their business premises and other investment properties – provided the assets measure up as quality investments. This follows the recent release of a self-managed super fund final ruling prov...

40. Entrepreneurs cash-in on aged-care action

The trend of an ageing population has lined the pockets of those entrepreneurs who moved into the aged-care sector early. But now many of these first movers are selling out. By JAMES THOMSONSmartCompany's new weekly look at how the wealthy are making, and losing, money.By James Thomson

41. Bluestone Construction goes under and warns subcontractors a

Another Sydney construction company has collapsed, with Bluestone Construction appointing Jirsch Sutherland as administrators. The owner of the construction company, which employed 25 staff, says outstanding money owed by contractors and the tough construction environment are to blame for the collapse. Bruce Oaklands, principal supervisor and licence holder for Bluestone Construction, told SmartCompany the company's problems began last July when it completed work as...

42. The pros and cons of a SMSF

Do you think you could have beaten the negative returns that the vast majority of heavyweight super funds recorded over the past year? If your answer is a resounding “yes”, you are far from alone.   Recep Peker, a senior analyst with specialist researcher Investment Trends, says his firm’s research shows that when mar...

43. Charitable donations on the rise

The number of gifts claimed as tax deductions for donations totalled $1.8 million in 2007, a massive 21.1% increase from $1.5 million in the previous year, according to charity research firm Givewell. New figures from the firm also show that t...

44. Negative gearing changes are inevitable

Be warned. Negative gearing rules for residential properties are going to change — and sooner than you think. There is a lot of confusion surrounding “home affordability”. The real iss...

45. The best performing investments of the last decade

What is the best investment? Should you put your money into property or shares? Or maybe you should buy gold bullion or tip some extra money into your superannuation? This is the type of debate the media loves to sink its teeth into and recently Your Money took a look at which investments ...

46. How rich is really rich?

It's one of the great Australian dreams. Every Saturday night, thousands of Australians try their luck on lotto, hoping their numbers will come up and they will become an instant millionaire. For many Australians, winning $1 million dollars would make many of their problems go away. But does $1 million really make you rich?...

47. Regulations that matter

The top 19 things you must do!   The following list is general, but needs to be completed before starting most businesses, although of course each business will have its own requirements.   Business premises   Know the business address. Sounds obvious, but if it is to be leased, negotiate the

48. Beware the contractor tax trap

SMEs provide employment for approximately 30% of the Australian workforce, with an increasing number of people being hired on a contractual basis.  While some employers may think hiring individuals as contractors will mean they are no longer responsible for employee tax obligations such as PAYG withholding, superannuation, WorkCover and payroll tax, then they’ve just received a wake-up call...

49. New Year’s new laws for employers

Every New Year brings its own challenges for small and medium sized employers.  One of those challenges is the prospect of more new laws, and the compliance obligations that follow from them.  Here are a selection of legal changes in store for 2011 – keep on top of them and stay out of trouble. Small business unfair dismissal Remember how the unfair dismissal provisions of ...

50. Tax debt is a problem, and it won’t just go away

Like any business, the tax office is keen to be paid any money it is owed – but unlike us, the taxman has more regulation on his side. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Legal & Regulatory. By Terry HayesSmall-business ta...