At the recent IPA National Congress, the ATO made one thing very clear: they’re tightening their approach to small business compliance. With a reported $27.2 billion small business tax gap, the ATO says it’s time for businesses to get back on track with timely lodgements, accurate reporting and consistent engagement. 

​​The ATO has issued a draft Taxation Ruling TR 2025/D1  that provides guidance for individuals who earn income  from their rental property, including short-term rentals or letting out a room of their home etc. 

For years, businesses have been moving away from cash and for good reason. Digital payments are quick, traceable, and cut down on the risk of theft or counting errors. But that tap-and-go world might soon have to make room again for notes and coins.

Running, or deciding to set up a self-managed super fund (SMSF) gives you control, but it also brings legal responsibilities. The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) contains detailed rules on trustee duties, investments, borrowing, payments and recordkeeping. Simply put, you cannot identify or avoid breaches you don’t know exist. For trustees, this should mean education is not optional but rather, is essential for risk management.

If you run a business, you already know the juggling act that comes with managing the payroll process, paying staff on time, managing cash flow, and staying compliant. From 1 July 2026, there’s a major change coming that will reshape how you handle superannuation contributions for staff.

It’s called Payday Super, and it became law on 4 November 2025. The new rules are designed to close Australia’s $6.25 billion unpaid super gap and make sure employees — especially casual and part-time workers — get their retirement savings when they get paid.

In business, staying ahead of the game often means keeping an eye on potential changes to tax laws and legislation. Being prepared is smart, but there is a fine line between preparation and over-preparation. The recent Div 296 superannuation tax proposal in Australia is a perfect example.