VES Insights, your go-to newsletter for the latest in bookkeeping, automation, AI, Xero tips, and essential ATO updates to keep you informed and on track. From simplifying your bookkeeping to harnessing the power of automation and AI, our newsletter is packed with valuable tools and reminders to help you stay ahead. Credit Card Surcharges Are Being Banned — What This Means for Your Business Before October 2026 From 1 October 2026, card surcharges on Visa, Mastercard and EFTPO

From 1 October 2026, businesses across Australia will no longer be allowed to charge surcharges on most card payments, including Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS. In-store or online, debit or credit, the rules apply across the board. Why Are Card Surcharges Being Removed? Card surcharges were originally designed to help businesses recover payment processing costs and nudge customers toward cheaper options like cash. But the way Australians pay has changed, a lot. Cash is rarely

Super is not the most exciting topic. We get it. But this change affects every employee in Australia, and understanding it now means you will know exactly what to look for when it kicks in. The good news? It is a positive change. More regular contributions, better visibility over your balance, and a system that works closer to real time. Here is what you need to know. So What's Actually Changing? Right now, most employers pay super every quarter. That means your contributio

Cyber threats are growing fast, and small businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs. Attackers know that most businesses are focused on running their operations, not managing IT security. That makes them an easier target than most people think. The good news is that a few simple changes, done consistently, can make your business significantly harder to attack. Most Passwords Are Not as Safe as You Think If your password is shorter than 12 characters, there is a good chanc

VES Insights, your go-to newsletter for the latest in bookkeeping, automation, AI, Xero tips, and essential ATO updates to keep you informed and on track. From simplifying your bookkeeping to harnessing the power of automation and AI, our newsletter is packed with valuable tools and reminders to help you stay ahead. Is Your Payroll Using a Super Fund That No Longer Exists? It might sound unlikely, but it is more common than you think. Recent award updates replaced outdated fu

There was a time when unpaid or late superannuation could sit quietly for months before anyone noticed. A quarterly due date would pass, a gap would appear, and if it got sorted before someone asked questions, it rarely became a serious issue. That window has effectively closed. The ATO's data matching program means super payment gaps are no longer something that gets discovered through audits or complaints. They're identified automatically, by cross-referencing data that's a

Single Touch Payroll has been part of the payroll landscape for a few years now. Most Australian businesses have it set up. Most are reporting. And most haven't heard a word from the ATO about it. That silence isn't the same as being compliant. The ATO has released updated guidance on STP compliance penalties, and it's a clear sign that "we've been getting away with it" is not a compliance strategy. Why the ATO Is Paying Closer Attention to STP Reporting STP was never just

It sounds like an unusual question, but for some businesses the answer could be yes. The Fair Work Commission has updated 125 modern awards after finding that several default super funds listed in those awards had merged, closed, or rebranded. If your payroll setup hasn't kept pace, you could be referencing a fund name that is no longer active. What the Change Involves Old fund names were removed Some default funds listed in awards no longer exist in their original form due

VES Insights, your go-to newsletter for the latest in bookkeeping, automation, AI, Xero tips, and essential ATO updates to keep you informed and on track. From simplifying your bookkeeping to harnessing the power of automation and AI, our newsletter is packed with valuable tools and reminders to help you stay ahead. Instant Asset Write-Off Made Simple: A Practical Checklist Planning to invest in equipment, tools or technology this year? The instant asset write-off has been ex

The instant asset write-off has been extended for the 2025–26 financial year, which is great news for small businesses planning to invest in equipment, tools or technology. If used correctly, it allows you to claim an immediate deduction rather than depreciating the asset over several years. But timing and eligibility matter. We’ve seen businesses miss out simply because one requirement wasn’t met. Before you make your next purchase, work through this simple checklist. Is Y