The Empire Blog

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the key criteria for qualifying for the FBT exemption, the costs that can be included, how to handle electricity expenses for charging, what you need to know about charging stations, and some common pitfalls to avoid as a business owner.

Easy Automated Sales is a brisbane based software business providing practical solutions for SME's.  We sat down with owner, Colin Feguson, to learn more about this product and how it can best help Brisbane small business.

Applications are now open for the Lord Mayor's Women in Business Grants for 2025.  Now in it's fourth year, the Lord Mayor's Women in Business Grant has supported the development of more than 250 women-led Brisbane businesses across a range of industries.  One of our valued clients, was one of these worthy recipients for the 2024 round and has kindly shared some words of her experience and the benefits she obtained from being a grant recipient.

Navigating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rules in Australia can be a tricky process for small business owners in the health sector. If you're a doctor, speech therapist, chiropractor, psychologist, or any other professional in the healthcare industry, it's crucial to understand how GST applies to your services. We have summarised the most common scenarios for GST treatments for health practitioners.

With the end of temporary full expenses, it is important to be aware of the updated rules for asset depreciation and the benefits of the instant asset write-off (IAWO) scheme. This breakdown of changes and guide will help you understand these changes and how they might affect you and your business.

It’s important to keep in mind that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has become more strict on these deductions, so it's crucial to understand the rules and keep accurate records. This guide is here to help you, understand what is required when you claim home office expenses on your tax returns. By following these tips, you can maximise your tax return and stay compliant with tax regulations!

As June 30th rapidly approaches, it's important to consider strategies that can help you minimise your tax liability for 2024. Whether you're a chippie, doctor, engineer, sales rep or architect, considering some of these tips below and whether they apply to your circumstances may save you paying more in tax than necessary.

The superannuation work test serves as a pivotal requirement for individuals navigating the landscape of voluntary contributions to their superannuation fund, especially as they approach and surpass the age of 67. But what exactly does this test entail, and why is it so crucial?

Australia's real estate market has long been considered a safe and lucrative investment avenue. With a stable economy and a consistently growing property market, it's no wonder that many Australians view property as a key component of their investment portfolio. One pain point we often hear from clients is the fact that their superannuation fund doesn’t directly invest into property. In this article we are going to explore the only legal way to borrow and acquire property in super which is via a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF).

GRAF-X Design Suite is a graphic design agency based out of Brisbane servicing clients anywhere and everywhere.  Their clients vary widely, both in size (micro and small businesses through to large multinationals) and across a huge range of industries

In the dynamic landscape of technology, the accounting profession has undergone significant transformations over the years. At Empire Accountants, we believe we must recognise the imperative need to evolve with emerging technologies. From its paper-based origins to the current era of cloud-based software, the need for Accountants to constantly adapt to this change is now more important than ever.

This article will explore why a not for profit organisation will want to consider technology as an integral part of their organisation to help maintain good quality records.

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and, for many businesses, increased activity. As you prepare to wrap up the year and embark on a well-deserved break, it's crucial not to overlook the importance of year-end bookkeeping. This guide aims to help you navigate financial management and bookkeeping considerations during the festive period, ensuring a smooth transition into the new year!

Accounting is the lifeblood of any business, big or small. Small business owners often wear many hats, including that of bookkeeper and accountant. 

The Talent Playbook is a specialist in human resources and recruitment, catering to a wide array of industries within Brisbane and Australia. Their forte lies in forging strategic partnerships with businesses in the Food and Beverage sector, delivering comprehensive recruitment solutions and unwavering support.

As the years pass by, it’s become more and more common for banks, mortgage lenders, and even rental agencies to request accountant’s letters. 

Understanding your tax residency status is of utmost importance when it comes to meeting your Australian tax obligations.

Empire Accountants are pleased to introduce Rise Landscapes for our client feature this month: Owner and operator Mark. 

As cryptocurrencies continue to soar in popularity, an increasing number of crypto-natives are eyeing the opportunity to bolster their portfolios.

Whether you’re an individual filing a tax return or a savvy business owner, updating your details is so important for good record keeping and compliance.

In this article, we’ll explore the ATO’s agenda items for 2023, highlighting the three hotspots subject to increased scrutiny: rental property.

Empire Accountants are pleased to introduce Erin Lightfoot Designs for our client feature this month.

Are you on the hunt for the best accountant in Brisbane for your established or small business? 

With the end of the tax year just around the corner, it’s time for those with a family or discretionary trust to start thinking about their trust resolutions.

We are about to enter that time of year that we work with many clients to get a handle on their tax position for the financial year that will come to an end this June.

It’s been a while between client feature’s and we are excited to bring you this one to kick off 2023 as it should get your taste buds drooling!

The area of tax law that addresses the tax impact of providing benefits is the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) regime.

Does stress impact your small business? Small business life can be known to be quite stressful. 

We’ve all heard the terms “tax offset” and “tax deductions.”  While many use these terms interchangeably, the reality is that they have two different meanings. As such, they have varying impacts on your tax result when it comes to completing your return! It’s true that both tax offsets and tax deductions can help you reduce […]

Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 was designed to require businesses to report additional information to the ATO each time payrun is filed. Therefore, every business in Australia with staff members are required to comply with STP reporting requirements. Notably, the government has provided businesses utilising Xero payroll an extension to 31 March 2023 to report […]

This blog has been prepared by one of our team who really wanted to share her experience from working at Empire and how she can see firsthand a happy employee translates to a happy workplace and ultimately better performance for the business. 

Here at Empire Accountants, we are committing to providing comprehensive accounting solutions that bypass traditional accounting services. We believe that knowing your numbers empowers you to grow your business profitably. As such, we have developed three superior solutions to help you streamline your progress in further developing and growing your thriving business. Our Empire Accountant […]

When business owners think of essential strategies to run a more successful enterprise, bookkeeping can sometimes be missed off that list.

As a company owner in Australia, it is important to be mindful of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) requirements. All companies established in Australia will be issued an Australian Company Number (ACN).  This will be advised to you upon setting up the company but is also publicly available online.  If you have an […]

When it comes to making contributions to your Superannuation, many people get lost in the many rules and stipulations that come with the territory. Although it can be quite confusing, making contributions and growing your super is a wonderful way to save for retirement. From business owners and doctors to mining workers and even engineers, […]

When asked about their gross profit margin (GPM), most business owners have some idea of how many products or services they need to sell in order to come out ahead. However, very few can share definite numbers to describe how much they need to make to break even and how much they need to make […]

Empire Accountants are pleased to introduce Jaxon from 1st Choice Fix for our client feature this month! 

The 2022-23 Federal Budget is a safe, ballot box friendly Budget as expected with a focus on cost of living, home ownership, and health. Key initiatives include: A 6 month, 50% reduction in fuel excise with effect from midnight Budget night $420 cost of living tax offset for low and middle income earners from 1 […]

It’s time! Starting in mid-April, Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 will be rolling out to make it easier for Australian businesses to ensure they are reporting accurate information to the Australia Tax Office (ATO). Businesses have already been using STP Phase 1 to help employees report their taxes and superannuation to the ATO. Now, […]

What do I Need to Know to Safely Withdraw Money From My Own Company? As a company director, it may seem like an open privilege to use your company’s card for personal expenses. After all, it is your company, right? While many new business owners take on this mindset, they fail to realize that they […]

As you progress through this journey called ‘entrepreneurship’, you will find that each stage of the business comes with different challenges and concerns. At the start-up phase, you were simply trying to get your minimum viable product to market. During the growth phase, you competed for market acceptance and gaining market share. With maturity, the […]

In the last 10 years of being an Accountant, hands down, this system is the one that trips clients up constantly. If there was a matrix of PAYG Instalments, I think it would look a little like this:                   Clients either understand it and pay it, don’t […]

Let’s face it! Running a small business in this day and age is challenging. Hiring processes, taxes, payroll, and time tracking are just a few workflows business owners have to face. With so many moving parts to keep track of, it’s no wonder many small businesses find themselves struggling before they really get started! Not […]

There’s no doubt that having a business cash flow or budget can have a significant positive impact on your business. In fact, according to Be the Budget, “budgeting is important because it helps you control your spending, track your expenses, and save more money”.  Generally, most people will consider having a household or personal budget […]

Important Announcement New rules have been introduced with effect from 1 November 2021 with regards to verifying your identity to act as a director in Australia. You need a director identification number (director ID) if you’re a director of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. What […]

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You! As you probably know, superannuation is highly legislated and one of the most strictly monitored responsibilities of the Australian Taxation Office. Although the regulations surrounding super obligations may seem over the top, there is a reason those rules and boundaries are put into place. Superannuation is “money put […]

It is no secret that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the consumer and business industries across the world. Most tragically, the pandemic has hindered the growth and even closed the doors of many small businesses. Those small businesses that were thriving pre-COVID, may now be fearing that continuous lockdowns […]

How do you define your business success? It could be an obvious measure like growth, hitting a certain profit margin, getting an ideal number of staff, or maybe just having a well-oiled machine that doesn’t rely on you to manage absolutely every aspect. In whatever way you measure your business success, the parts of the […]

Beth and the team at Empire Accountants have had the pleasure of working with Elli, owner at Poppy Rose since 2018. We LOVE Elli’s business, and what’s not to love when it comes to beautiful flowers, plants, and gifts with same day delivery!? Poppy Rose has experienced wonderful growth over the last few years, so […]

Happy New Financial Year! We know, a bit late but can you really blame us? It is tax season after all! Here we are, with a fresh P&L ready to make the 2022 year a focused, positive, and profitable one. 

Team Empire have had the pleasure of working with Tom Brown who is the Owner/Director of The Stoic Dog & Origin K9. After returning from serving in the Australian Army as a Specialist Operations Military Working Dog Handler, Tom started his own business in 2019 offering effective dog training solutions for Brisbane residents. To learn […]

On 1 July 2021, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate will rise from 9.5% to 10% – the first rise since 2014. It will then steadily increase each year until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025. The 0.5% increase does not mean that everyone gets an automatic pay increase, this will depend on your employment […]

The 2021-22 Federal Budget is a balancing act between a better than anticipated deficit ($106 bn), an impending election, and the need to invest in the long term. Key initiatives include: • Extension of temporary full expensing and loss-carry back providing immediate deductions for business investment in capital assets • Introduction of a ‘patent box’ […]

Team Empire have had the pleasure of working with Emily & Scott from Get Mentally Fit, assisting with their accounting requirements since their establishment in 2019. Get Mentally Fit have been doing some really important work with small businesses in the wellbeing and mental health space. To learn more about their business and get some […]

You can write-off SAY WHAT?! Now Last year the government changed the instant asset write-off about as many times as one changes their underwear so you wouldn’t be remiss for not knowing what the current instant asset write-off rules are. In amongst the changes, they also added some new language and terms in the mix […]

We have entered the time of year that we work with many clients to get a handle on their tax position for the 2022 financial year. Commonly referred to as tax planning, these strategy sessions allow us to estimate your tax position to help you make decisions, that could minimise your tax outcome before June […]

Let’s talk about business growth. Not only is it natural to focus on sales and marketing strategies to grow your business, it’s necessary. Why? Because more sales equals more growth, right? Well, sure. However, if the only thing you measure is your sales increase on your P&L, it won’t give you a holistic understanding of […]

As most small business owners run around frantically finishing off to-do lists, getting products out and completing the last jobs before Christmas, we would like to invite you to stop (just for a second), take a deep breath… and start a slow clap for yourself! 2020, you made it. What an achievement. Thank you for […]

The Brisbane City Council has released a Suburban Shopfront Improvement Grant to assist local businesses. The Council’s grant program has allocated $50,000 per annum over four years to assist eligible businesses in refreshing the façade of their shop, with the goal of improving customer appeal. What are the specifics? > this is a matched grant, […]

It’s beginning to look a lot like the silly season! Our offices are soon to be laden with tinsel, holiday cards and way too many sweets, we hope yours are too. If you’re buying your staff and clients a gift this year or throwing a party, it’s helpful to understand what’s deductible, what’s not and […]

It’s a fine art balancing the incoming and outgoing expenses in your business. Your business performance might seem like it fluctuates depending on what due date is next. Your next BAS lodgement, superannuation payable, project claim, finance repayment, incoming invoice and so on. At times it might look like you’ve got a lot of cash […]

The blame game! We all play it, even if we are not the instigator. Fun if you win, but not if you roll the dice and lose. And this is why statistically, Australia is one of the most litigious environments in the world. When you open your mailbox and you find that lovely statement of […]

Road to Recovery? The 2020-21 Federal Budget is a road to recovery paved with cash. Key initiatives include: – Personal income tax cuts from 1 July 2020 – A $4 billion ‘JobMaker’ Hiring Credit to encourage businesses to take on more employees aged 16-35 years old – $110 billion in infrastructure investment over 10 years […]

When do you take time to work on your business instead of in your business? Most days we are caught up in running our small business and organising life in general. Goals we set get pushed from one week to another and before we know it, another year has passed. This is where Empire can […]

Refocusing on what’s relevant in your business this financial year The reset button has been hit and we are now almost through the second month of the new financial year. This is the time to use some of that new year motivation, revisit your plans and make some goals for the months to come. Understandably, […]

What a contradiction! How can we prepare for the unknown? While you may never be fully prepared for unexpected circumstances in business, there are ways to soften the impact of a crisis should it arrive. Of course we’re not suggesting you should hoard toilet paper and Nespresso and start building a bunker in the basement…  […]

Have you missed paying any of your employees super over the past few years and haven’t got around to paying it back yet? We understand old liabilities can be overlooked and if you’ve been meaning to fix it up, now is the perfect time to do so with the ATO’s Super Guarantee Amnesty. What the […]

If you’re a small business owner we’re sure you’ve heard of the instant asset write-off increase that the Government announced as part of their first stimulus response package to COVID-19. If you haven’t… You may know that before COVID-19 the government had introduced an instant asset write-off incentive where business who turn over less than […]

Update (17.6.20): The Qld Government is extending the Small Business COVID-19 grant program. up to $100 million is being made available to deliver the second round of grants. This round will be equally divided between SEQ and regional Qld and will commence 1 July 2020. Further eligibility requirements for round 2: > Only 1 application […]

Over the past few weeks there have been changes, developments, enhancements and clarity provided by the ATO regarding JobKeeper. Some helpful, some to be desired, but all in all JobKeeper is certainly keeping us Accountants on our toes! Please see below update for those of you who are DIY’ing your JobKeeper applications. Here’s a quick […]

Updated: 15 June 2021 Due to COVID-19, many employees are still able to do their job working from home. The ATO has recognised that employees may incur additional expenses and as such have introduced a new method of claiming deductions at tax time. If you have been working from home at any time during the […]

$1,500 JobKeeper subsidy to keep staff employed What we know so far We have compiled a summary on what we know so far in relation to JobKeeper. Whilst the summary is countless pages long, we promise you, this is the short version! Few important dates to note > From 20 April 2020 – ATO Online […]

The Government is introducing a subsidy program to support employees and businesses. The JobKeeper Payment is designed to help businesses affected by the Coronavirus to cover the costs of their employees’ wages, so that more employees can retain their job and continue to earn an income. The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per employee […]

The Government released a second, far reaching $66.1 bn stimulus package that boosts income support payments, introduces targeted changes to the superannuation rules, provides cash flow support of up to $100,000 for small business employers, and relaxes corporate insolvency laws. The total $84 billion dollar stimulus package (including the first announced package) was passed without […]

Valued Client We recognise that COVID-19 is placing new and increasing challenges on our clients, our community and our economy. We understand these current events result in a significant level of uncertainty for our clients. The stimulus package is due to clear through parliament week of 23 March when the next sitting is scheduled. From […]

The Coalition have announced that they will be providing an assistance package worth billions of dollars targeted at stimulating the economy and fending off a recession in relation to the global pandemic, Coronavirus. Here’s what we know! > The instant asset write-off will immediately increase to $150,000 > Small and medium businesses can get up […]

It is common for business owners to do bookkeeping, but this is where most of them make mistakes. These mistakes might seem like no big deal, they can easily cost you a lot of effort, time, money, and even the business. If you have been thinking a lot about handling your books, then you don’t […]

If you’re about to replace your mobile phone this Christmas and have two-step authentication on it for your Xero file, it’s important to know that there are a couple of steps that need to be followed before you change devices. You can’t just download the authenticator app on your new phone and start using Xero […]

We’ve talked about the importance of having a cash-flow forecast for your business a LOT at Empire Accountants, and our reasoning is generally because it predicts the ebb and flow of cash in your business – Which sounds pretty important and straight forward right!? BUT it wasn’t until I was perched on our office beanbag […]

When you think of record keeping you might just think of filing away a fuel receipt in a folder or attaching an invoice to a bill in your online accounting software. And yes, in a nutshell, record keeping is the action of documenting your required records for the ATO and compliance purposes. But if we […]

At Empire Accountants, we take a holistic approach to structuring by analysing your personal circumstances to develop a tailored solution which best achieves your needs.

As a business owner you make hundreds of decisions on a daily basis… What task should you prioritise…? How should you respond to a particular email…? How can you increase your sales…? Is it wrong to take Christmas holidays in July…? The list is endless. Because we are frequently making these decisions, we don’t often […]

Empire Accountants has had the pleasure of working with Katie and Jess from Red Stockholm, assisting with their compliance, taxation and bookkeeping requirements since early 2018. Red Stockholm specialises in marketing services for small businesses in Brisbane, particularly in the hospitality, events and festivals space. Katie and Jess started their business in 2013 & have achieved […]

“Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in shorter supply than genius” ~ Peter Thiel. But you know what? You’ve already become one in a million; you’ve already mustered the courage to start your own business because you know that skill, that product or idea will make a difference. A difference to you, to your […]

The Problem with only one entity Now the problem with only having one entity in your business group is that you may be missing out on hitting one or more of the key considerations in my last article (see here if you missed it). Tax Minimisation With sole company in the business structure, yes it […]

What is Single Touch Payroll? Single Touch Payroll is the new way that small businesses report their employees’ tax and super information to the ATO. At present, businesses with less than 20 employees report this information to the ATO once a year. However, from the 1st of July 2019 all businesses will be required to […]

There are various situations for which you might want to share your space; property space I mean not personal ~ who would ever want to do that! And with the rise of the sharing economy, it seems a main theme with advisors is the recommendation that clients rent out a bit of their space to […]

Empire Accountants has had the pleasure of working with James from GRAF-X Design Suite, assisting with his compliance, taxation and bookkeeping requirements since 2018. GRAF-X specialises in branding and design for small business owners in Brisbane. If your business is in need of some branding help and you don’t quite know where to start, reading on […]

Bookkeeping; the strong beating heart of not only your business but the whole accounting industry! As accountants, we are solid advocates for keeping air tight financial records as it allows us to provide accurate and helpful advice that assists small business owners in understanding their numbers and identifying areas of opportunity. That being said, we […]

Download March Update Here

Are you always chasing your tail with the tax man? Behind on your taxation obligations? If lodging your business returns, paying the ATO and Super isn’t made a priority in your business, it’s easy to fall behind. The problem here, put simply, is that your business needs to be compliant with the ATO to continue […]

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Happy New Year! Said everyone three weeks ago… Whoops, I think we missed it. January has already been a whirlwind here at Empire Accountants, however we’ve got a hold of it with both hands now and we’re ready to take on 2019, full steam ahead. The motto of our office this month is ‘how can […]

Our client feature this quarter is the lovely Lori from Friends with Fur. Empire Accountants assisted Lori in the initial stages of her business with her company structure set up and have since been working together over the last few months, assisting with compliance requirements and watching her business grow. We sat down with Lori […]

In order for your small business to thrive, you need reliable staff in the best possible positions. It’s one thing to hire the best fit on paper, but when it comes to building your dream team, it’s important to find team members who not only have the right skill set, but are also the right […]

There are only a couple of weeks left until the Christmas Holidays arrive. The Holiday season brings with it the busiest time of the year. For the small business owner, this means increased professional demand, less time with the family and more time at the office. As small business owners have limited time but certainly […]

The ATO has announced a one-off opportunity for employers to “self-correct” noncompliance of super guarantee payments without penalty. After estimating that $2.85 billion is currently owed in late or missing super guarantee payments, the ATO are running a 12-month amnesty period where employers can voluntarily disclose undeclared super guarantee shortfalls or missing payments. Employers who […]

What is the ASIC Annual Statement? Why do you have to be registered with ASIC? For you to run your business through a company in Australia, that company has to be registered with ASIC by law. ASIC then charges a fee every year, basically to hold this company. Why do we send you something to […]

Generally GST doesn’t apply to the sale or purchase of a property which is used predominately for private accommodation. So in instances where you are selling your main residence or a rental property, you won’t lose 10% of your sales proceeds in tax. Winning! But don’t be caught out, there can be situations where you […]

Now the ATO may be claiming that their online lodgement program myTax is the best thing they’ve discovered since fire. But I’m here to set the record straight! Needless to say, the ATO’s primary function is to collect tax; not to help you save yours. So is it any wonder that they promote their own […]

Did you know, there are more than 426, 000 small businesses operating in Queensland? In fact, we’re the core of every industry, make up 97% of businesses statewide and employ 44% of private sector workers. When you look at the stats it’s easy to see how important small businesses are to Queensland. Yet owning and […]

June 30 is fast approaching and it’s time to start looking at your business finances to ensure that you are prepared for the end of the financial year aka Taxxxx tiiiiimmeeee! By ‘being prepared’ we mean that thing we like to call Tax Planning, which essentially is reviewing your business numbers for the year and […]

The ATO are cracking down on the cash economy in a bid to catch people out who are hiding their true wealth by trading in cash. The new data matching strategy is designed to catch out anyone from cash in hand tradies to organised crime gangs trying to legitimise their money by buying assets. Using […]

Xero recently released some small business insights highlighting the seasonal cashflow problems that small business in Australia can face. In January 2018 only 49.4% of Australian Small Businesses were cashflow positive and there was an average of 38.8 days for invoices with 30-day terms to be paid. These stats are important to explore as they […]

Do you want a simple strategy for growing your small business? We’ve created this short video to show you the Top 3 reason’s why your business needs a budget. Check it out and if you’d like to know more about how a budget can assist your business specifically – Just send us an email here.

Empire Accountants has had the pleasure of working with Karyn from Setting Up Shop, assisting with her compliance and taxation requirements. Karyn specialises in shop fitout project management for small business owners in Brisbane, and with the new financial year approaching, it’s the perfect time to feature this great Brisbane business for people looking to set […]

Update 4 February 2019: “Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged to increase the small business instant asset write-off to $25,000 from $20,000.”  Available until 30 June 2020. More information on the increase here. — Here’s our take on how to get the most value out of this incentive for your small business. Who gets this? […]

Why do we set business goals? It feels like we’re always carrying on about setting goals, planning and knowing your numbers as the key drivers in your business… and while this at times might sound like a broken record, there is a method to the madness as to why we loveeee talking about it. It’s […]