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. Payday Super Has Started: What the ATO's First-Year Approach Really Means for Your Business The ATO's first year of Payday Super is forgiving for employers who pa

The pay rise landed on 1 July 2026, and if you employ staff, you've likely updated your payroll and moved on. It's worth a second look, because “the increase” is two different numbers, and which one applies depends on how each person is paid. The Fair Work Commission lifted modern award minimum rates by 4.75% and the national minimum wage by close to 6%, both from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Payroll software will have updated the headline rates

Payday Super began on 1 July 2026, and a lot of employers are asking the same practical question. If a super payment lands a few days late while we get our systems sorted, are we in trouble? And is it alright to keep paying quarterly for a bit longer? The ATO has said the first year of Payday Super is a facilitative period for employers who are genuinely making the move and fixing problems quickly. What it is not is an extra window to keep paying quarterly. The difference com

When the card surcharge ban was announced, we wrote about what it would mean for businesses. It's now close enough to be worth a second look. From 1 October 2026, surcharges on most card payments end, and that's roughly two months away. If you currently add a card fee at the checkout, this is a good time to have your plan in place rather than sorting it out in the last week of September. A quick refresher on what's changing From 1 October 2026, you won't be able to add a surc

Most small business owners have heard the term. Very few have thought much about it. It sounds like an accounting technicality. Something that gets set up once when you start using Xero or MYOB, and then quietly sits there in the background doing whatever it does. Here is the thing though. Your chart of accounts is not a background detail. It is the structure that determines whether your financial reports tell you anything useful or just confirm that money came in and money w

With 1 July 2026 almost here, the conversation has shifted. Most of our clients understand the rule. What they're now working through is the day-to-day reality: approvals, cash flow timing, and what July is going to look like. Here's what to get clear on before the month begins. Who Does It Apply To? Whatever approach applies to you, a record of the hours you worked from home is the foundation. Payday Super applies wherever superannuation is currently required. That includes

If you work from home, even part of the time, you have probably wondered what you can do with those costs at tax time. The honest answer is it depends on your situation, and your registered tax agent is the right person to walk you through what applies to you. What we can tell you is what records to keep so that when that conversation happens, you have something to support it. Start with your hours Whatever approach applies to you, a record of the hours you worked from home

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