Family trusts have long been a popular structure for Australian families and businesses due to their flexibility, asset protection benefits and succession planning advantages. The Federal Government has proposed introducing a minimum 30% tax on discretionary (family) trust income from 1 July 2028 . The aim is to reduce income-splitting opportunities and better align trust taxation with the tax paid by employees. While some trusts & types of income would be exempt (including primary production income & testamentary trusts), the proposal could affect family groups that regularly use trusts to distribute income, particularly where corporate beneficiaries are involved. Under the proposed rules, distributions to companies may not receive a credit for tax already paid by the trust, potentially leading to higher overall tax outcomes. The Government has also proposed a three-year window from 1 July 2027 to allow affected groups to restructure into alternative entities, such as companies or fixed trusts, without immediate tax consequences. However, restructures can involve significant legal, financial and administrative considerations. Importantly, these changes are not yet law . The proposal is currently undergoing consultation, and the final legislation may differ from the announcement. For now, there is no need to rush into major structural changes. Family trusts will continue to offer important benefits beyond tax, including asset protection and succession planning. However, if your business or investment structure includes a discretionary trust, it would be worthwhile to understand how the proposed changes could affect you. If you'd like to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact our team.

You will likely pay tax twice in your first year. Don't stress, you're not being taxed twice on the same income. Here's what's happening. When you're self-employed, tax is generally not automatically withheld from your income like it is for employees receiving wages or salaries.  When you lodge your first tax return, the ATO may ask you to pay: The tax owing for the financial year that has just ended; and An advance payment towards the tax you'll likely owe in the current financial year. This is called ‘PAYG Instalments’. PAYG Instalments are advance payments made throughout the year towards your expected tax bill. This helps spread your tax payments over time rather than receiving one large bill at tax time. For a more detailed explanation, read our blog article: Understanding (PAYG) Pay as you Go Instalments . Generally, you'll only be placed on the PAYG Instalment system if your tax bill exceeds $1,000. Paid too much or not enough? PAYG Instalments are only estimates based on your previous income, so the final amount may differ from your actual tax liability. If your PAYG Instalments are more than your final tax bill, you'll receive a tax refund from the ATO. If your PAYG Instalments are less than your final tax bill, you'll simply pay the difference. Our tip Many new business owners are surprised by their first tax bill because they haven't set money aside for tax. A good habit is to regularly transfer a portion of your business income into a separate savings account, so funds are available when tax time arrives.

Selling or closing a business involves more than simply stopping work or making your final sale. Before you finish up, you need to properly deal with the business’s tax obligations, registrations, employees, assets, debts and legal affairs. The exact process will depend on what entity you operate in.  Steps that generally apply to every business Following is a list of tasks that need to be ticked off for most ceasing business: prepare final invoices and collect outstanding customer debts; pay suppliers, loans and other liabilities; deal with remaining stock, equipment, vehicles and other business assets; terminate or transfer leases, contracts, licences and insurance policies; make final employee payments, including wages, leave entitlements and superannuation; finalise Single Touch Payroll reporting and PAYG withholding obligations; lodge any outstanding business activity statements, tax returns, fringe benefits tax returns and taxable payments annual reports; and retain relevant business and tax records, generally for at least five years. Selling, transferring or personally retaining business assets may have GST, capital gains tax, depreciation and other tax consequences. These issues should be reviewed before assets are distributed or registrations are cancelled. Sole traders A sole trader normally reports the final business income, expenses and asset disposals in their individual income tax return. If you are permanently closing all business activities, your GST, PAYG withholding and other registrations may need to be cancelled, followed by your Australian Business Number. If you are only closing one activity but intend to continue operating another business as a sole trader, you may be able to retain your existing ABN and update the business details instead. Remember to cancel any business names, permits or industry licences that are no longer required. Partnerships A partnership will need to prepare final accounts and lodge a final partnership tax return. Each partner must then include their share of the partnership’s final income, deductions and capital gains in their own tax return. The partners should review the partnership agreement and document how the partnership will be dissolved. This may include a written dissolution agreement covering: the closure date; responsibility for outstanding debts; the collection of unpaid accounts; the sale or distribution of assets; and the division of remaining funds. State or Territory partnership laws may impose additional requirements. Legal advice should be obtained to ensure the partnership is properly dissolved and the partners are protected from future liabilities. Trusts Closing a trust usually requires more than lodging a final tax return. A legal process called ‘Vesting’ is the formal process for closing down a trust. This needs to be done by a legal professional. The trustee should review the trust deed, settle liabilities, deal with loans and distribute all remaining trust property in accordance with the deed. Trustee resolutions, asset valuations and distribution records should be prepared and retained. Transferring assets directly to beneficiaries or unitholders can result in capital gains tax, GST or stamp duty consequences, even where no cash changes hands. Do not distribute trust assets without first obtaining appropriate tax and legal advice! Once the trust has been fully wound up, a final trust tax return should be lodged. Beneficiaries must also report their share of the trust’s final income and capital gains. Companies A company continues to exist until it is formally deregistered or wound up. Merely ceasing to trade does not end its obligations. Until deregistration, the company must generally continue meeting ASIC requirements, including paying annual review fees, updating company details and passing required solvency resolutions. Voluntary deregistration may be available where all shareholders agree, the company is no longer conducting business, its assets are worth less than $1,000, it has no outstanding liabilities or legal proceedings, and all ASIC fees and penalties have been paid. All outstanding tax lodgments should be completed before deregistration. Once ASIC deregisters a company, it ceases to exist and can no longer lodge forms with the ATO. Company assets should also be transferred or disposed of before deregistration. Assets left in the company may vest in ASIC or the Commonwealth after deregistration. Where a company cannot pay its debts, directors should seek immediate advice from a registered liquidator and lawyer rather than applying for voluntary deregistration. Plan before you close The order in which you sell assets, pay liabilities, make distributions and cancel registrations can significantly affect the outcome. Speak with us early so we can assist with the tax and reporting requirements and coordinate with your lawyer or financial adviser where necessary. Important: This article provides general tax information only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice and does not take into account your individual circumstances. We are registered tax agents and can advise on taxation matters within the scope of our engagement. You should obtain advice from an appropriately qualified lawyer regarding legal documents, dissolution, deregistration, insolvency and other legal obligations, and from a licensed financial adviser where financial product advice is required.

Many business owners judge performance by a simple measure: "We've had a good year." The problem is that "good" can be difficult to define. Revenue may have increased, but so have costs. Profit may have improved, but cash flow could be under pressure. You may be working harder than ever, but not necessarily seeing the financial rewards for that effort.  This is where benchmarking becomes one of the most valuable tools available to business owners. The most successful businesses don't simply look at their own results. They compare their performance against industry standards, historical trends and leading businesses within their sector. Benchmarking helps answer a critical question: How does my business actually compare? What Is Benchmarking? Benchmarking is the process of comparing key business metrics against other businesses operating in similar industries and circumstances. These metrics may include: Gross profit margins Net profit margins Labour costs Inventory turnover Debtor days Return on assets Revenue per employee Machinery and equipment utilisation Working capital levels Looking at these figures in isolation provides some insight. Comparing them against industry benchmarks often reveals opportunities and risks that would otherwise go unnoticed. The Best Businesses Measure More Than Profit Profit is important, but it is rarely the only indicator of success. The businesses consistently outperforming their competitors are tracking several key performance measures at the same time. For example, they regularly monitor: Cash Flow Strong businesses understand exactly where cash is being generated and where it is being consumed. They know that profitability alone does not pay bills. Productivity Whether it is a farm, retail store, manufacturing operation or professional service firm, leading businesses continually seek ways to improve output without proportionally increasing costs. Efficiency The best operators are always looking for opportunities to remove waste, simplify processes and improve systems. Small improvements implemented consistently often produce significant long-term gains. They Understand Their Industry Benchmarks One of the most common conversations we have with clients begins with: "I thought we were doing alright, but I didn't realise our labour costs were so much higher than similar businesses." Or: "I didn't realise our profit margins were actually well above average." Benchmarking removes guesswork and replaces it with facts. It helps business owners understand: What is normal. What is exceptional. What requires attention. Where the greatest opportunities exist. Without comparison, even good financial results can be misleading. They Focus on the Numbers That Matter Most The best businesses are selective about what they measure. Rather than tracking dozens of reports, they focus on a handful of key indicators that genuinely influence profitability and long-term performance. These vary between industries. A farming business may focus on: Cost of production. Yield performance. Machinery efficiency. Debt servicing capacity. A retailer may focus on: Gross margins. Stock turnover. Average transaction values. Wage percentages. A professional services business may focus on: Utilisation rates. Recovery rates. Revenue per team member. Client retention. The secret is not measuring everything. It is measuring the right things. They Turn Information Into Action Collecting data alone achieves very little. What separates the best businesses is their willingness to act on the information they uncover. When benchmarking identifies: Excessive costs, Poor margins, Capital tied up in inventory, Inefficient work practices, they make changes. Many businesses collect reports every month without ever using them to make decisions. The highest-performing businesses use benchmarking as a practical management tool rather than a reporting exercise. They Review Performance Regularly Successful businesses do not wait until tax season to assess their performance. They review results throughout the year and make adjustments when required. This allows issues to be identified early and opportunities to be acted upon before they disappear. Regular review creates accountability and keeps business goals front of mind. Benchmarking Isn't Just for Large Businesses A common misconception is that benchmarking is only relevant for larger organisations. In reality, some of the greatest benefits are often achieved by smaller businesses. When margins are tight, even modest improvements can have a significant impact on profitability. An improvement of just a few percentage points in gross profit, labour efficiency or inventory management can translate into meaningful increases in business profit and cash flow. Final Thoughts The best businesses don't rely on instinct alone. They use information to guide decisions, identify opportunities and continually improve performance. Benchmarking helps remove assumptions and provides a clearer understanding of where a business stands today and where it can improve tomorrow. At Green Taylor Partners, we regularly work with clients to analyse performance, compare results and identify practical opportunities for improvement. Sometimes the most valuable insight isn't whether your business is profitable. It's understanding how your business compares to the businesses performing at the highest level.