Tax & Accounting

Stapleton Tax and Accounting offers a comprehensive range of taxation and accounting solutions for both businesses and the individual. Let us help you take control of your financial future. Our team are devoted to offerng the highest level of service and would love the opportunity to work with you.

So you can concentrate on running your business and let us take care of all your business taxation requirements:

• Business & company tax returns
• Taxation - GST & PAYE advice
• BAS preparation
• Stapleton can liaise with the ATO on your behalf
• Audit advice & audit insurance
• Regular meetings – we listen to your needs.

We also complete tax returns for individuals. They can be complex and there are allowable tax deductions and expense claims that can be made that you may not be aware of. We can help you minimise your payable tax and potentially increase your tax return and make sure your tax return is lodged on time. We also offer advice on:

• Investment properties, tax and negative gearing
• Tax & share investments
• HELP (higher education loans) debts
• Late tax returns – we can help.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Business Services

What ever stage you are in your business, whether it is at start-up, or established we will provide you with knowledge and support with the correct business structure that best suits you and your goals.

There are four main business structures commonly used by small businesses in Australia and we can help you with them all:

Sole trader: an individual operating as the sole person legally responsible for all aspects of the business.

Partnership: an association of people or entities running a business together, but not as a company. A partnership is relatively inexpensive to set up and operate.

Company: a legal entity that is separate from its shareholders.

Trust: an entity that holds property or income for the benefit of others. Trusts require a formal trust deed that outlines how the trust operates, requires the trustee to undertake formal yearly administrative tasks and if you operate your business as a trust, the trustee is legally responsible for its operations. A trustee of a trust can be a company, providing some asset protection.

It is important to note that you can change your business structure throughout the life of your business.

We can help with the following:

• Corporate Structures
• Updating your business plan
• Business value maximisation
• Systems review
• Sustainability
• Strategic planning
• Financial diagnostic analysis
• Cash flow and profitability
• Corporate compliance
• Formation of trusts and new company registrations
• Provision of registered office services for service of notices
• Attending to ASIC returns and regular filings on your behalf
• Business name registrations and maintenance
• Preparing minutes and drafting resolutions.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Self-Managed Superannuation Fund

Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) offer an alternative strategy option for many individuals, families and small business owners to build tax effective wealth and protect assets over time. SMSFs are becoming popular for those who are ready to take control of their own super investments as they give you ultimate control and flexibility to manage your retirement benefits.

It must be noted though, that you will have increased responsibilities as a trustee of the fund. As a SMSF Trustee, you need to keep up to date with all required SMSF regulations and be aware of changes occurring in financial markets.

We can work with you to understand your personal financial situation and decide whether a SMSF structure is appropriate for you. We will also help you to invest your assets in the most effective way to maximise your retirement benefits, whilst complying with your fund’s investment strategy.

It is generally agreed that there are a number of benefits of an SMSF, but it is important that you also understand that an SMSF may not suit your situation. Outlined below are some of the reasons why a SMSF needs to be considered carefully before establishment:

Benefits:

• Control - trustees make the investment decisions;
• Asset allocation – trustees are in control of asset allocation decisions, as well as issues related to borrowing;
• Tax strategies – trustees have control of tax strategies and other planning options;
• Transparency – your SMSF provides you transparency concerning investments and visibility and control of taxation treatment as a result of investment decisions taken within the fund;
• Cost – expenses of running and administering a SMSF fund are not based on a percentage of the value of the fund, but more on the time needed to prepare reports and address relevant compliance matters;

Disadvantages:

Running and managing a SMSF may not be suitable to everyone. Many of the advantages are also a disadvantage:

• Costs may be relatively high where the asset balance in the fund is insufficient to generate economies of scale due to the fixed costs of running the fund.
• There can be too much flexibility for prudent investing and the fund’s assets must remain within its Investment Strategy.
• Remaining on top of trustee responsibilities is complex and will require an investment of your time.
• Poor personal knowledge of the investment landscape can have serious consequences.

Should you wish to consider establishing a SMSF then we can help with:

• Portfolio creation, providing research and recommendations on investments for the fund.
• Ongoing Portfolio Reporting Services, assisting with ongoing investment management of the fund, including corporate actions and share purchase plans.
• Referrals to professionals who can assist with the accounting and audit requirements of the fund, providing support with the compliance burden on you as Trustee.
• Asset sales and contribution strategies to maximise the benefit you achieve through the fund.
• Pension advice including reference to the legislative requirements helping you meet your obligations as a Trustee and manage the fund effectively on an ongoing basis.
• Superannuation contribution and ongoing strategy support, utilising legislation to build a solid retirement benefit.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Bookkeeping

Having trouble reconciling your accounts? Not enough hours in the day to balance the books? Outgrown your existing bookkeeper or have they recently left? Then our in-house bookkeeping services can provide accurate and timely reporting for any business. You can focus on running your business while Stapleton Group reconciles your accounts and attends to the processing of your financial transactions.

Our in-house bookkeeping services can:

• Accounting software
• Payroll (and related aspects of superannuation, workcover and PAYGWH)
• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• General ledger
• BAS/IAS
• Inventory
• Document management.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Software Resellers

More small to medium-sized businesses are moving to cloud accounting and using cloud based applications for their bookkeeping and accounting needs through desktop and mobile apps. All businesses need to keep track of their accounts, and cloud accounting allows businesses to make invoicing and cashflow management decisions based on more up to date information. It also provides for other business efficiencies including payroll for off premises workers. The cloud revolution is propelled by fast, reliable internet, cheaper servers and widely-used open-standards for interchanging data and instructions between software. Moving to the cloud does not increase data risk if good password policies and back-up strategies are in place. Businesses should ensure staff understand modern security risks and complete training when moving to cloud accounting or using any service that provides remote access.

Contact us to discuss your circumstances so we can help determine the most appropriate solution for you based on functionality, ease of use and cost.

The main cloud accounting players in Australia are:

Reckon – Intuit (the global company) created QuickBooks software and Reckon (the Australian company) now continues to provide this cloud-based accounting software in a variety of formats including desktop, hosted and online cloud versions.

Quickbooks Online – Provides a cloud based version of their previous product, QuickBooks.

MYOB – An Australian company originally offering desktop accounting software, now offers several subscription-based cloud accounting products, including both desktop and cloud versions of their product.

Xero – A New Zealand based software company that offers cloud-based accounting software for small to medium-sized businesses.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Company Corporate Services

Helping our clients grow, strengthen and develop their businesses is our main aim. Whether small, medium or large receiving expert help in areas such as strategy development, management accounting, cost analysis and budgeting is very important to attaining a business’s short and long objectives.

Our aim is to enable you and your business to maximise potential and profitability. We do this by providing the highest level of technical and commercial solutions to resolve issues that might impair the attainment of these outcomes.

We also have particular expertise in advising our private clients with family succession strategies that allows for the effective transfer of wealth to future generations.

Our expertise and time will help you attain your goals.

We specialise in the following:

• Corporate Structure
• Strategy development and facilitation
• Strategic board and management reporting
• Budget preparation and review
• Updating your business plan
• Business value maximisation
• Systems review
• Sustainability
• Financial diagnostic analysis
• Cash flow and profitability
• Business succession planning and implementation
• Business valuations for acquisition or sale
• Estate planning
• Asset protection structuring

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Finance

Are You Confused By The Multitude of Mortgage Choices?

The word mortgage come from a French word ‘mort’ meaning ‘death’ and ‘gage’ meaning ‘pledge or agreement’ so ‘agreement till death’. For most of us mortgages are a necessary debt which we seem a life time to pay. The cost of owning a house for most Australians steals away their dream for a good retirement. Unfortunately most of us are married to our mortgages and have no solution as to how to pay it off faster.

We have been conditioned to focus on the interest rate rather than being educated on how to pay less in interest. A good broker is one who is proactive and can tell you how much can on ‘leverage’ to maximise your current position. Unfortunately with mortgages, there is no one size fit all.

The Finance Right Now team is dedicated to find you the best solution. We pride ourselves on our industry knowledge as we ourselves have mortgages, investments and can advise you with personal experience. Our experience ranges from residential mortgages to chattel lending and our team is confident that we will find you a solution for you. Unlike most business we are not jack of all trade as we engage other independent mortgage broker to keep up with industry knowledge and product range.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

Individual Tax Returns

We also complete tax returns for individuals. They can be complex and there are allowable tax deductions and expense claims that can be made that you may not be aware of. We can help you minimise your payable tax and potentially increase your tax return and make sure your tax return is lodged on time.

We also offer advice on:

• Investment properties, tax and negative gearing.
• Tax & share investments.
• HELP (higher education loans) debts
• Superannuation advice
• Advice on setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF)
• Late tax returns – we can help.

Contact Stapleton Tax & Accounting today to discuss how we can work together: (03) 9760 7800 or email us at info@stapletongroup.com.au.

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