A written business plan is essential to help you start and grow your business.

This warning is new, but the reason for forgetting to renew a domain name isn’t.

An online store collects personal information constantly, and most of it arrives without anyone deciding to collect it.

The privacy commissioner has launched their first-ever compliance sweep in January 2026.

A foreign investor was fined $370,000 for land banking practices as the ATO tightens its screws on those who breach foreign investment rules.

Through every tech shift, from the personal computer to cloud computing, I’ve watched the same pattern repeat, writes John Munden.

Accounting bodies have called on the government to address the nation’s waning productivity growth, income tax reliance and ageing population for the purpose of future generations.

If the business is no longer profitable, and is unlikely to be profitable in the future, your best option may be to close your business.

Terms and conditions bind your customers only where they actively accept them, so a tick box at checkout holds up where a footer link often does not.

From July 2026, the new Paid Parental Leave Superannuation Contribution (PPLSC) has started. This is a government-funded super payment for eligible parents who receive Paid Parental Leave (PLP) for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2025.

Picking up a second job, holding multiple part-time roles, or doing gig work is now part of everyday life. But the way tax is withheld across multiple payers can lead to a surprise when you lodge your tax return.

Div 296 tax is now in legislation and levied directly on the individual with balances over $3m in super fund. The assessment is issued by the ATO, and payment is generally due within 84 days of the notice. Div 296 tax is in addition to the (up to) 15% tax that super funds pay on fund earnings in the accumulation phase.

The initial legislation was rushed into law despite widespread concerns raised by advisers, professional bodies and taxpayers. There is little evidence that this feedback in any way influenced the final outcome.

In a recent update, the ATO has urged contractors to verify their pre-fill information against their own records and declare all their business income, including income not reported through a taxable payments annual report (TPAR).

Following an application for a refund of nearly $94,000, the Administrative Review Tribunal has set aside an application for the remission of a 50 per cent penalty assessment.

One insolvency specialist has emphasised the importance of small businesses engaging their accountants to stay on top of their tax debts in light of increased ATO scrutiny of the SME market.

Compliance with new anti-money laundering (AML) laws may subject your small business to additional privacy obligations it did not face before.

Picking up a second job, holding multiple part-time roles, or doing gig work is now part of everyday life. But the way tax is withheld across multiple payers can lead to a surprise when you lodge your tax return.

Rising operating costs and persistent inflation are placing renewed pressure on businesses worldwide, despite signs that confidence is beginning to recover.

The ATO has a clear message this year: slow down and get it right. Early lodgers are far more likely to make mistakes.