Here comes Winter!

In Southwest Victoria, especially here in Warrnambool, you can nearly predict quite accurately what the weather will be when the Annual May Racing Carnival arrives - cold, wet and windy!

The weather for this year's national attraction hasn’t disappointed 

We have been very spoilt with above-average warmer weather leading up to the May Races, though, and the farmers are very optimistic of a good start to Spring with the ground being warmer and the recent good rains.

Au Revoir Rocel & Welcome Irene!

Just like the Seasons change, so do businesses and Team Members!

Last month, we said farewell to Rocel Pacres, who has been with our Team for 6 years. Rocel was a wonderful team member, rewarded with a trip to our Warrnambool office after 3 years of loyal service and was instrumental in keeping our compliance deadlines on track.

We wish her well as she chases her dream!

And this month, we welcome Irene Lucero to the Ceebeks Team. Irene joins our accounting and bookkeeping experience and comes with a solid background of accounting with a strong focus on detail and accuracy. Irene is a high-level technician who understands the critical importance of 100% accuracy in sensitive financial environments.Irene is a "highly process-oriented" professional who doesn't just follow existing workflows—she improves them.

We look forward to Irene bringing her level of expertise and talent to our compliance team!

Hopefully, by now, you have your plans for 2026 implemented and are working hard to achieve them. If you are still struggling to get started, please give us a call or check out January's edition of Taking Care of Your Business to see how we do it to get some ideas.

Do You Know the 2026 Rules for Claiming Home Office Expenses?

For the 2025–26 income year, Australians working from home can claim a fixed rate of 70 cents per hour to cover electricity, internet, phone, and stationery, or use the actual cost method. This rate includes the decline in value for equipment, though large items (e.g., desks/chairs) can be claimed separately. 

Key Home Office Tax Rules (2025-26 Financial Year)

• Fixed Rate Method (70¢ per hour):

  • Covers energy, phone, internet, stationery, and computer consumables.

  • Allows separate claims for the decline in value of furniture and major equipment.

  • Requirement: A record of total hours worked (e.g., timesheet, calendar, diary) is essential.

• Actual Cost Method:

  • Allows claiming the actual percentage of costs for utilities and cleaning.

  • Requires detailed, comprehensive records and receipts.

• Equipment & Furniture: Assets costing more than $300 must be depreciated over several years.

• Documentation: You must keep records that show you spent the money and how you calculated your claim.

Please contact our office if you require assistance regarding the above. We have a home office expense template that you can use to record your time working from home

2026 Tax Planning Meetings

Our tax planning meeting schedules are now well underway.

Your 2026 tax planning meeting will be scheduled as soon as the March 2026 BAS has been completed.

Our team will be sending you an email with the information we will require from you before that meeting, so we have time to prepare and update your tax planning data.

Yearly Theme

Building on the foundations set in our January 2026 Newsletter, where we will be focusing on the 4 Ways to Grow a Business:

So that’s:

1. Increase the number of customers (of the type you want);

2. Increase the number of times they deal with you.

3. Increase your average sale or ‘transaction value,’ and

4. Improve the effectiveness and processes within your business

to ensure the achievement of the first 3!

We will be focusing this quarter on the 2nd way:

Increase the number of times they deal with you

Follow Chris Beks on Facebook - The Business Apiarist!

Are You Foraging or Farming? The Secret to a Heavier Harvest

In the world of beekeeping, a colony doesn’t thrive because the bees flew to a thousand different fields once. It thrives because they found a reliable, nutrient-rich source and returned to it again, and again, and again.

As a business owner, you’ve likely heard that there are four ways to grow. But today, let’s talk about the one most "Dream Chasers" overlook: Increasing the number of times your customers deal with you.

The "One-and-Done" Flower vs. The Perennial Garden

Too many businesses treat their customers like a single-bloom wildflower. You work hard to attract them, they "sip" your service once, and then they fly off into the horizon. You’re constantly back at square one, hunting for the next lead. That’s not a business; that’s a frantic forage.

If you want to move into your Golden Era, you have to stop looking for new flowers and start planting a garden that keeps them coming back.

Why They Aren't Returning to the Hive

If your "pollinators" (customers) aren't returning, it’s usually for one of three reasons:

1. The Nectar Ran Dry: You solved one problem, but didn’t anticipate the next one they’d face.

2. The Path is Overgrown: Your systems are clunky. If it’s hard to work with you a second time, they won't bother.

3. They Forgot Where the Hive Is: In the buzz of daily life, even the best customers need a "Waggle Dance" (consistent communication) to lead them back to you.

Tend the Relationship, Reap the Reward

In my 43 years as a CPA, I’ve seen that the most stable, profitable "hives" are those that build continuity.

• Anticipate the Seasons: If you’ve helped a client with their tax structure (The Harvest), are you also checking in on their team dynamics (The Hive)?

• Create a Subscription to Success: Just as a keeper provides a steady supply of sugar water during a lean winter, provide ongoing value that makes you indispensable.

• The "Proactive" Pollination: Reach out before they realise they need you. A "how’s the garden growing?" check-in can trigger the next stage of growth.

The Bottom Line

It is five times more expensive to find a new bee than it is to keep one coming back to your hive. When you increase transaction frequency, you aren't just "selling" more; you are deepening the relationship. You are moving from a vendor to a Steward of their success.

The Keeper’s Question: Look at your customer list today. Who hasn't "visited the hive" in a while, and what "nectar" can you offer to bring them back?

Check out our calculator to see for yourself what the impact could be if you focus on these 4 areas:

Be sure to check out our daily blogs and weekly podcasts for tips, strategies and ideas to help you achieve success more quickly.

Top three questions before requesting lodgment deferrals

There may be circumstances where a tax agent needs to request additional time to lodge their client's obligations. The ATO wants them to ask themselves the following questions before they apply for lodgment deferrals.

1. Are the circumstances exceptional or unforeseen?

Lodgment deferrals can help if the tax agent or their client experiences exceptional or unforeseen circumstances that affect their ability to lodge by a due date. For example, a serious illness, unexpected staff absences, natural or other disasters.

Tax agents should not request lodgment deferrals if their customers simply have not provided information with enough time for the tax agent to prepare and lodge the return by the due date.

When applying for lodgment deferrals, the tax agent needs to include full details of what exceptional or unforeseen circumstances they or their customers are experiencing, when those circumstances occurred, how those circumstances affect their ability to lodge on time and (if applicable) why they are requesting deferrals after the due date.

2. Does the customer have a 15 May due date?

Tax agents do not need to request deferrals for tax returns due on 15 May if their customers are eligible for the 5 June concession date.

The concession allows individual, partnership and trust tax returns to be lodged by 5 June without penalty, provided that any payment required is also made by this date.

For companies and super funds (excluding large and medium taxpayers and head companies of consolidated groups), the concession applies where both the prior year and the current year return will be non-taxable or result in a refund.

3. Does the tax agent need help to get their lodgment program back on track?

A 'supported lodgment program' may be a better option than lodgment deferrals if the unforeseen circumstances affect the tax agent's whole practice, and they need tailored support to get their lodgment program 'back on track'.

The ATO says it will work with tax agents to tailor solutions based on their circumstances. This may include identifying and prioritising overdue and upcoming lodgments, applying lodgment deferrals, or, in some instances, suspending lodgment compliance action.

Reach out to the Team on 03-55612643 today.

Do you need some accountability, extra motivation and guidance in 2026?

If so, reach out, and we can make you part of our new monthly Accountability Group of like-minded business owners who want to succeed and excel. We can also show you how our business coaching program - Chasers Getting Results^TM - works if you really want to take your business to the next level!.

Looking to start a business?
Get a copy of our latest book before you do to fast-track your success.

Or looking to grow your business in these tougher economic times?

Both books are for any aspiring entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and to understand what to look out for and avoid when they start their business, too!

The next Chasers Mastermind for 2026 commences on Friday 10th of July for those business owners who want to build a better business and be held accountable for the critical tasks that they want to implement to move forward and closer to achieving greater success.

Learn all of the essential components that make a successful business to to really takeoff! 

Your investment in this program will be $100 plus GST per week. You will be able to focus on specific areas for your business that need attention, collaborate on ideas and strategies in a group learning environment and share what’s working.

If you have not yet left a review for us on our Google Reviews, then now is the chance to do this and get 12 chances of winning a luxury 3-night holiday in Tropical Mackay in North Queensland. That’s right! By simply scanning this QR Code and following the instructions we will enter you in the monthly draw to win.

The winners so far in 2025/26 were:

• Jul - Brent Moir

• Aug - Michael Welch

• Sep - Maria Scott

• Oct - Renee Lane

• Nov - Gemma Wylie

• Dec - Sara & Dale McDonnell

• Jan - Jeffrey McLean

• Feb- Linton Dumesny

• March- Paola Karamallis
  

April's winner was:

If you are not successful in previous months, you will be automatically re-entered for the following month giving you up to 12 possible chances of winning this awesome holiday. As soon as you leave a review our Team will be notified and will enter your name in the draw. - Good luck!

The latest edition of our National Award-Winning Magazine – No. 23 - is now published and available for you to read. It features heaps of educational tips and ideas on how to create highly productive teams by delegating, an inspiring story about our featured Chaser’s is new entrepreneur Jolanda O’Keefe from Willow & Saige, and an interesting article from our very own CEO and Founder, Chris Beks, shedding some light on an innovative idea using your junk mail!

Don’t forget to check out our latest podcast episodes on The Chasers Channel. The most recent episode 109 features a discussion about Your Company Work Ute is Not Exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax.

We release a new episode every Sunday, so make sure you follow our podcast to get the latest news, tips and strategies for bringing you closer to achieving the dreams you are chasing.

Key Dates in May 2026

Lodge 2025 tax returns for all entities that did not have to lodge earlier (including all remaining consolidated groups) and are not eligible for the 5 June concession.

Due date for companies and super funds to pay if required.

Note: Individuals and trusts in this category pay as advised on their notice of assessment.

Lodge and pay April 2026 monthly business activity statement.

Final date to add new FBT customers to your client list to ensure they receive the lodgment and payment concessions for their fringe benefits tax returns.

Lodge and pay Fringe benefits tax annual return if lodging by paper.

Lodge and pay eligible quarter 3, 2025–26 activity statements if you lodge electronically.

Lodge and pay quarter 3, 2025–26 Superannuation guarantee charge statement if the employer did not pay enough contributions on time.

Note: Employers who lodge a Superannuation guarantee charge statement can choose to offset contributions they paid late to a fund against their super guarantee charge for the quarter. They still have to pay the remaining super guarantee charge.

Late payment offset for super will soon no longer be available

Currently, employers who make a late super guarantee ('SG') payment can lodge a super guarantee charge ('SGC') statement and use the late payment offset ('LPO') to reduce their SGC liability for amounts paid late to a fund.

With Payday Super being introduced, this will no longer be available. The last time employers can use the LPO is for the quarter ending 31 March 2026. Super for this quarter is due by 28 April 2026, and employers can claim LPO when lodging an SGC statement for any late payments made up to and including 30 June 2026.

On 1 July 2026, Payday Super starts, and employers will then effectively be required to pay super for each payday. If an employer has an SG shortfall for the quarter ending 30 June 2026, SG payments made between 1 July and 28 July 2026 will first be used to reduce this shortfall before being applied to Payday Super amountUnder Payday Super, late payments will automatically be applied under the law to the 'oldest' outstanding Payday Super amount.

Employers can refer to 'Missed and late super guarantee payments' (QC 33750) on the ATO's website for further information in this regard.

Ref: ATO website, Small Business Newsroom, 6 March 2026