Autumn Tax Tips: Make the Most of the Final Weeks Before Year-End

Caroline Gillies • May 25, 2025

As we step into the final week of autumn and feel winter’s chill approaching, it’s a natural time for reflection—and that includes taking stock of your financial and tax situation. The end of the year is closer than it seems, and a bit of preparation now can make a significant difference come tax season.

Here are a few things to consider as the leaves fall:

1. Review Your Income and Deductions
This is a good moment to check your income year-to-date and consider whether there are any deductions you can still take advantage of. Charitable donations or investment losses might help reduce your taxable income before year-end.

2. Maximise Super Concessional Contributions
If you haven’t yet maxed out your superannuation concessional contributions, there’s still time. Remember unused cap amounts carry forward for 5 years and the 2019-20 unused cap amount will expire 30 June 2025. These contributions not only help secure your future but can also offer tax benefits now.

3. Organise Your Records
Autumn’s slower pace is perfect for pulling together receipts, invoices, and financial documents. Getting organised now means less stress later when tax season begins in earnest.

4. Consider Tax-Loss Harvesting
If you’ve had investments that underperformed, selling them before the end of the year to offset gains can be a strategic move. Consult with us today to see if this makes sense for you.

5. Plan Ahead
Winter may bring holidays and downtime, but it's also a good window to consult with a tax professional. A quick meeting before year-end can reveal savings opportunities or help avoid surprises when you file.

So, as the days grow shorter and frost begins to settle in, use this time to bring clarity and warmth to your finances. 

Don’t be on the ATO’s naughty list in 2026

By Caroline Gillies • December 11, 2025
The ATO is cracking down on people who claim too many tax deductions for properties that they use both personally and as rentals — especially holiday homes. A new draft ruling says that if you use a property for both personal use and renting it out, you must split (apportion) the expenses in a fair and reasonable way. You can only claim deductions for the portion of time or space used to earn rental income. If the ATO thinks your property is really a holiday home — for example, you block out peak times for your own use and only rent it occasionally — they can classify it as a “leisure facility.” If that happens, you cannot claim big expenses like mortgage interest, council rates, land tax or maintenance. You’ll only be allowed to claim small costs like cleaning, advertising and platform/agent fees. The ATO says many owners of holiday homes have been claiming too much by showing “rental losses” every year. They are now looking more closely at cases where the owner keeps the property unavailable for rent during busy periods.  How do I stay off the ATO naughty list? If you mix personal use with rental use, be careful. Only claim the rental part of your expenses, or the ATO may deny most of your deductions.

ATO Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) Closure

By Caroline Gillies • October 17, 2025
From 1 October 2025, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) officially closed the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) to new users. Thanks to the efficiencies of Xero, this change does not impact Xero clients, as Xero includes its own built-in auto-super functionality. This means employers can make superannuation payments directly through Xero—without needing to access the ATO’s separate clearing house service. Key Dates and Details No new users: From 1 October 2025, the SBSCH stopped accepting new registrations. Full closure: The SBSCH will be fully decommissioned on 1 July 2026. Existing users: Businesses currently using the SBSCH can continue until 30 June 2026 but are encouraged to transition to an alternative solution before this date. At Clear Vision Accountancy Group, we highly recommend Xero as an efficient, streamlined, and ATO-compliant payroll and superannuation solution. If you’d like to discuss transitioning your business to Xero, call our team today on (07) 4688 2500 — we’re happy to help.

What Records to Keep for Your Rental Property

By Caroline Gillies • August 3, 2025
If you own a rental property or holiday home, keeping the right records is key to maximising your tax deductions and staying ATO-compliant. This week, we’re highlighting what the ATO expects you to keep when it comes to residential rental properties. Here’s a quick checklist of the documents you should hold onto: Purchase & Sale Documents – Contracts, settlement statements, and legal documents. Loan & Ownership Records – Loan statements, refinancing documents, land tax assessments. Rental Income – If you don’t have a rental statement you will need to document all rental income received, including bond money retained, insurance payouts, and any other reimbursements. Expenses & Repairs – Keep receipts and invoices for expenses like advertising for tenants, property agent fees, council rates, strata levies, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and interest on loans. Depreciation & Capital Works – Receipts for assets over $300, depreciation reports, and capital improvement records. Before and after photos of any capital works. Holiday Home Use – If your property is rented out part-time, you’ll need evidence of when it was genuinely available for rent (e.g. booking requests, advertising, availability calendars). How long to keep records: You’ll need to keep most records for at least 5 years after lodging your tax return, or longer if claiming capital works or carrying forward losses. Keeping detailed records ensures you claim everything you're entitled to—and makes things much easier in the event of an ATO audit.  Need help getting your documentation in order? Reach out to our team at Clear Vision Accountancy Group—we’re here to help. To read a more detailed list of items you need to keep for your rental property visit: Records for rental properties and holiday homes | Australian Taxation Office