Before You Get Stuck Into the Eggnog, a Quick Checklist for Business Owners

As another year draws to a close, the Christmas decorations come out, Brisbane’s summer heat reminds us (again) why air-conditioning is essential infrastructure, and many business owners finally get a moment to pause and take stock.

For our clients, 2025 has been another busy year, managing staff, rising costs, cash flow pressures, and the occasional curveball from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), who remain impressively consistent in not taking holidays. While the festive season is a well-earned break, it’s also a good time to reflect and do a little light planning for the year ahead.

Below are some key Australian tax updates and practical planning reminders particularly relevant to SMEs, along with a few things worth keeping in mind as we head into 2026.

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James Hoeftm+h Private
GST – The Lurky Tax

Why property developers can’t afford to take GST lightly in 2025

It’s been called “the lurky tax” for good reason. GST often hides quietly in the background until it suddenly pops up and catches you off guard.

For property developers, GST is rarely straightforward. Between the margin scheme, residential vs commercial classification, and the timing of sales and purchases, it can become one of the most misunderstood and costly taxes in the business.

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Top 5 Tax Structuring Mistakes Property Developers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Property development in Australia can be incredibly rewarding — but it’s also a magnet for complex tax rules, entity choices, and ATO scrutiny.

At m+h Private, we’ve seen countless developers build great projects only to lose a chunk of their profits to poor structuring or tax decisions. Most of these mistakes aren’t about intent - they’re about timing. Developers are busy finding sites, negotiating finance, and managing trades, so tax planning gets pushed to “later.”

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James Hoeftm+h Private
Employment entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies

Natural disasters such as cyclone “Alf” can significantly impact workplaces, leading to challenges in employee attendance and business operations. Fair Work Australia provides guidance on managing employee payments and office closures during such events.

An employee may have entitlements under their award or agreement that should be reviewed and applied in the first instance.

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James Hoeft
Using Your SMSF for Property Development or Investment: Strategies for Smart Structuring

A common question we hear is ‘How can I access the cash in my super fund?’

The typical response? Not until you're older, possibly greying, and perhaps more interested in bingo than property deals.

But let’s challenge that thinking—there are strategic (and legal!) ways to make your Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) work for you before retirement. One of the most popular options? Property.

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James Hoeftm+h Private
Stage 3 Tax Cuts Summed Up

Alright, buckle up mates! The Aussie government is doing a little tax tango, shaking things up with the Stage 3 tax cuts. It's like a sequel to a blockbuster - more twists, more drama, more broken promises and more cash in your pocket come July 1, 2024.

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James HoeftMH Private
FUN-B-TAX

Fun BS Tax, officially known as Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), was a tax introduced to kill the vibe. It specifically taxes long lunches, expensive gifts, parties, corporate boxes, and motor vehicles.

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James Hoeftm+h Private
$5,000 Small Business Grant

From 9am on Wednesday 4th May 2022, the next round of Business Basic grants program will be open for applications.

These grants offer $5,000 to eligible new or emerging businesses to improve their operations, such as upgrading websites, improving skills or adopting best practice.

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James Hoeftm+h Private
TFNs, ABNs, DINs… oh my!

The list of identification numbers to remember has just become longer if you’re a director of an Australian company as part of the ATO’s Modernising Business Registers plan.

A Director identification number (director ID) is a unique identifier that all Company Directors will need to apply for once and will be attached to a director permanently, even if they cease to be a director, change their name, or move interstate or overseas.

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James Hoeft
Lockdown Funding

In light of the recent lockdown affecting most of the SEQ corner, the government (both federal and state) have announced various funding packages to assist business + employees.

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James Hoeft
WHAT. A. YEAR!

Whilst Santa is busy getting his Covid-19 quarantine clearances for border travel, we’ve been working tirelessly with his elves to make sure you have a few Xmas gifts under the tree …

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James Hoeft
2021 Budget Best Bits

With the Spring Carnival well and truly at the pointy end, Scomo and Junior Burger have put Kirribilli House on you to spend like there is no tomorrow (as they will), after the announcement of the 2021 Federal Budget.

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James Hoeftm+h Private