The holiday season could mean a busy time for your business and you may need an extra set of hands to see you in to the new year. Whether this means hiring someone for a few days or a couple of weeks, you’ll need to work out if they’re employees or contractors to get their tax and super right.

The fact is both employees and contractors can be hired for:

• casual, temporary, on call and infrequent work
• busy periods
• short jobs, specific tasks and projects.

How do you work it out?

Use [the ATO's] Employee/contractor decision tool to get a quick and reliable answer. Based on your answers to some simple questions, the tool will give you certainty about whether your short-term workers are employees or contractors and what this means for your business.

• You need to be paying and reporting super electronically using the new SuperStream format by 28 October 2016.

If you're currently using cheque or direct deposit, you need to make the switch now.

Even if you're already paying by EFT or BPAY directly to super funds, you may still need to make some changes to your reporting to get across the line.

Get help with our SuperStream webinar - sign up today!

We're running free webinars designed to help you understand SuperStream and the steps you need to take to implement SuperStream.

Next webinars:

• Wednesday 5 October 2016 10:00am AEST
• Saturday 22 October 2016 11:00am AEST.

Small Business Superannuation Clearing House
A free service that distributes super contributions to employees’ nominated funds in one transaction. You will meet SuperStream standards when you use the clearing house service.

Find out about:

• SuperStream employer checklist
• Using the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House

Register for Xero Auto Super if your subscription is Business Standard or higher

Using Xero Auto Super 

Send us an email or give us a call to discuss setting this up - we are always here to assist :)

You may think that your workers are contractors because they invoice you – but this is a myth.

​Receiving an invoice from a worker is not a deciding factor on whether they’re an employee or contractor. You need to consider the whole working arrangement so that you are clear on your tax and super responsibilities for them.

So how do you get it right with your workers?

• Employee/contractor decision tool 

Use the ATO's Employee/contractor decision tool to get a quick and reliable answer. The tool will tell you if your worker is an employee or contractor for tax and super purposes and what this means for your business.

• Webinar

Register for the ATO's free Employee or contractor webinar to help you understand your obligations in more detail – the sessions are interactive if you have questions you’d like to ask.

Find out about:
Employee or contractor

With the end of financial year fast approaching, this one-hour webinar is a timely reminder for employers about your end of year tax obligations.

You can find out about:

• getting ready
• key dates
• tips to help get it right.

Booking your spot is easy. Find the session you’re interested in and click on your preferred date and time. You’ll be taken to our service provider page (Redback) to finalise your booking.

​Click here to find a day and time that suits you.

With Easter approaching you may be looking at hiring extra workers. Be sure to avoid myths that can leave you exposed to problems for your business.

Even if you’re hiring someone for a few hours or a couple of days at a time, you need to work out whether they’re employees or contractors to get their tax and super requirements right.

Both employees and contractors can be hired for:
casual, temporary, on call and infrequent work
busy periods
short jobs, specific tasks and projects.

So how do you work it out?

An easy way to get an answer that you can rely on is by using our employee/contractor decision tool. The tool will tell you if your worker is an employee or contractor and you’ll be clear on your tax and super responsibilities for them.

You can also register for our free Employee or contractor webinar to help you understand your working arrangements in more detail.

For more details please click here.

For a direct link to the decision tool please click here.​

To register for a webinar in regard to this subject the direct link is here.

Please keep in mind there is just over 15 weeks left of this financial year. If you need to have maintained a logbook for the 2015/16 year then you only have 15 weeks left for a 12 week logbook.

Keeping in mind you can only claim cents-per-kilometre or logbook method from the 2015/16 financial year.

Are you new to business or thinking of  starting a business?

You’re invited to the following free ATO presented sessions at Springfield Lakes:

• Tax Essentials for small business 2nd March 2016
• Small business record keeping workshop 9th March 2016

These short sessions will be held in March at the Spring Lake Hotel, 1/1 Springfield Lakes Boulevard, Springfield Lakes.

Go to the event registration page for each session to view a session outline and register.

Regards,
 
Small Business Engagement and Support Team
Australian Taxation Office

​For more information click here

Did you know you can now enrol your voiceprint and use your voice to verify your identity using the ATO app? So logging in to manage your BAS and PAYG instalments through our Online services for individuals and sole traders is now faster and easier than ever before.

Using your voiceprint saves you time, with:

• a quick and easy spoken phrase to log in
• no need to type your myGov login details into the app
• no more security questions when you phone us.

Enrolling your voiceprint is easy. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Download the latest version of the ATO app
2. Select ‘Individuals’
3. Go to Online services
4. Log into your myGov account
5. Follow the prompts.

The next time you log into our Online services for individuals and sole traders via the app or phone us, you simply speak a phrase to verify your identity using your voice.

Voice authentication is a secure way to protect your information. We analyse up to 120 characteristics such as pitch and tone when we verify a voiceprint – so it works even if you have a cold.

Download the ATO app and enrol your voiceprint today.

Get it done:
The ATO app is available from Google Play, the Windows Phone Store or the Apple App Store.
​
Find out more:
Download the ATO app
Sole trader business structure.

​For further details please click here.

Knowing how the tax system applies to your business can save you hassles down the track and even help you to avoid unexpected debt.

If you‘ve just started a new business or you’re thinking about setting one up, our Tax basics for small business webinar series can give you a head start on understanding your tax and super responsibilities.

The series is made up of 12 sessions that run for about 45 minutes each. The sessions cover useful topics like:

• budgeting and record keeping
• income and deductions
• how to complete an activity statement
• your responsibilities as an employer (including superannuation obligations).

Registering is easy and the sessions are interactive.

Don’t stay in the dark – we’re here to help so come along and get your questions answered!

Next step:

• Check session availability and register for our Small business webinars.

​If you would like further details please click here.

Do you know one of the easiest ways to help your business is to lodge your BAS on time, every time?

This includes lodging your BAS by the due date even if you can’t pay on time or you have nothing to report.

Not only can you avoid late lodgment penalties of $180 or more, you can also better manage your payments and keep your debt from growing.

Here are some handy tips to help you lodge and pay your BAS on time:

• set yourself due date reminders using our key dates tools in the ATO app or the Small business newsroom
• lodge your quarterly BAS online to gain a two week deferral of your due date
• work out how much you’ll owe early on so you have more time to set aside your payment
• pre-pay amounts towards your expected tax bill or pay early if you know you’ll be away on the due date.

If you need support with your payments you can phone us on 13 28 66. We’ll work with you to find the best possible solution for your situation.

Make the right move for your business and start 2016 on the right track. Lodge your BAS on time, every time this year.

Next step:
Download the key dates relevant to you from the Small business newsroom calendar or get the ATO app to use the key dates tool on the go.

​For further details please click here.