Clear Vision Bulletin – October 2014

Clear Vision • October 5, 2014

Help our “Mo Bros” raise some money for Movember!

The “Mo Bros” of Clear Vision – Justin, Paul and Phil will be growing a moustache this November to support “Movember”. The Movember Foundation aims to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression by asking men to sport a moustache in November.
If you would like to support this worthy cause head to our Mo Space page and enter Clear Vision Accountancy Group – the link is below:
http://au.movember.com/donate

We will keep you posted on their progress!

Free Marketing Seminar

Did you know most small businesses are unaware of how to effectively utilise online advertising, search engine optimisation & social media.

Join us as John from John Gray Marketing presents an informative seminar on the online marketing options available including online advertising, search engine optimisation, social media & others.

When : Thursday 23 October
Where : 2A Taylor Street
Time : 5:30pm
RSVP : Nicole at Nicole@cvaccountancy.com.au or phone 4688 2500 by Tuesday 21 October.

Rental Property Expenses

Recently the ATO announced they will be focusing on incorrect rental property claims. They have listed some common errors made by property owners and they include some of the below:

  • Overstating deduction claims for the interest on loans taken out to purchase, renovate or maintain a property.
  • Incorrectly claiming structural improvement costs as repairs when they are capital works deductions, such as re-modeling a bathroom or building a deck.
  • Claiming rental deductions for properties not genuinely available for rent.
  • Incorrectly claiming deductions for properties only available for rent part of the year such as holiday homes.
Do You Need Bootcamp?

Has winter been unkind to your waistline? Are you as fit as you used to be?
High NRG Personal Training are running 45 min bootcamps at Picnic Point on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday’s. Cost for 2 sessions per week is $30 and $35 for 3 sessions per week.
45 mins of cardio, body weight, & equipment based exercises will see you sweating, burning calories and having a blast!
For more information call Suz on 0458 120 933 or email her on suze@highnrg.com.au.

Business Development Camp

Don’t forget about the Business Development Camp to be held on the Gold Coast for 3 days on the 23rd March 2015. This camp gives us and our business clients the opportunity to work together to build the skills, expertise and plans to ensure strong business growth. Together we can take your business to the next level!
For more information contact Justin today.

By Caroline Gillies March 26, 2026
More data doesn’t mean better decisions. Many business owners are drowning in numbers but starving for direction, tracking everything and understanding nothing. The result? Decisions based on gut feel, cash flow surprises, and growth that looks good on paper but doesn’t actually strengthen the business. Vanity metrics can be misleading. Total revenue, website traffic, or social media likes might feel positive, but they don’t always reflect real performance or profitability.  Real KPIs tell a different story. They give you clarity, control, and confidence in your decisions. While every business is different and the right KPIs will vary, here are some examples of powerful KPIs businesses often track: • Profit Margin – Are you actually making money? • Cash Flow – Do you have enough cash to operate and grow? • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) – What does it cost to win a new customer? • Debtor Days – How quickly are you getting paid? • Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) – How much is each customer worth over time? If you’re not tracking the right numbers for your business, you’re essentially flying blind. Because success isn’t about more data—it’s about the right data.
By Caroline Gillies March 1, 2026
From 1 July 2026, the Federal Government will introduce one of the most significant changes to superannuation administration in recent years: “Payday Super.” These reforms fundamentally shift how and when employers meet their Superannuation Guarantee (SG) obligations. What’s Changing? Under the new rules, SG contributions must be paid at the same time as salary and wages and received by the employee’s super fund within seven business days of payday. This replaces the current quarterly payment system. The changes apply to all eligible employees, including those captured under the expanded definition of “employee,” and extend to salary sacrifice amounts and other qualifying earnings (QE). Employers will calculate SG at the legislated 12% rate on QE, which includes ordinary time earnings and relevant additional payments. Contributions remain subject to the Maximum Contribution Base, limiting employer liability to approximately $30,000 per employee per financial year. Employers will also be required to report QE and SG liabilities through Single Touch Payroll (STP), enabling the ATO to monitor compliance more closely and identify underpayments earlier. Operational Impact for Employers The shift to payday reporting and payment means payroll systems must be updated to calculate, process, and remit super contributions each pay cycle. Businesses will need to ensure their software can manage QE calculations and facilitate timely electronic payments to super funds. Cash flow management will also require attention, particularly for small businesses accustomed to quarterly payments. Super will become a real-time obligation rather than a periodic liability. Importantly, failure to meet the new deadlines will trigger the revised Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), including penalties and interest. While late contributions and SGC amounts remain tax deductible, interest and penalties do not. Employers currently using the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House must transition to alternative payment solutions before its closure on 30 June 2026. Preparing Now Although implementation begins in 2026, early preparation is essential. Reviewing payroll systems, assessing cash flow impact, and updating internal processes will help ensure a smooth transition and minimise compliance risk. Payday Super represents a move toward greater transparency and timeliness, but it also demands proactive planning from employers. If you would like assistance preparing your business for Payday Super, our team at Clear Vision Accountancy Group is here to help. Please contact us on 4688 2500 to discuss how we can support your transition and ensure you remain compliant. We drew inspiration for this article from the ATO
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.