How much will it cost to do my tax?

Due to my reduced overheads and not paying rent on office space, I am able to offer competitive prices which, combined with my CPA qualification and years of experience mean you can relax about your accounting costs.

Besides basic individual tax returns, I generally avoid upfront quotes as no two businesses  or  their accounts are the same, however to assist in budgeting your accounting costs, the following estimates may be useful:

Accounting costs for Individuals & Sole Traders (without financial statements)

• Basic tax return with wages, work related deductions, interest $120 inc GST
• Rental Property Schedule $80 inc GST
• Depreciation Schedule $50 inc GST
• Simple Business Schedule from client figures in an individual return $150 inc GST

Accounting costs for Small Business Structures

Being a mobile CPA, I am able to review you records in person at your premises in order to provide a more accurate on the spot quote. This gives us an opportunity to meet and discuss your needs and see if we are a good fit for each other.

For budgeting purposes, business returns start from $440 inc GST and include financial statements.

Which areas do you service as a mobile CPA in Perth?

I have clients all over Perth, however most are within the southern suburbs, particularly Canning Vale, Gosnells, Kelmscott, Roleystone, Armadale, Byford, Serpentine and surrounding areas but I do travel  as far south as Mandurah, Jarrahdale and Pinjarra.

For clients not in these suburbs I still do visit but not as often and we make good use of the internet to save us both time.  This means you can send me information at any hour of the day or night and often after the initial year we can do a phone interview to save you time on travel.

Suburb Names

Armadale, Bedfordale, Wungong, Mount Nasura, Kelmscott, Mount Richon, Roleystone, Karragullen, Martin, Gosnells, Westfield, Huntingdale, Southern River, Camillo, Piara Waters, Harrisdale, Bletchley Park, Haynes, Brookdale, Seville Grove, Champion Lakes, Maddington, Canning vale, Ranford, Forrestdale, Cockburn, Byford, Cardup, Jarrahdale, Serpentine, Keysbrook, Mundijong, Banjup, Jandakot, Cockburn, Leeming, Bibra Lake, South Lake, Success, Atwell, Hammond Park, Aubin Grove, Wandi, Oakford, Anketell, Casuarina, Bertram, Yangebup Beeliar, Munster, Spearwood, Coogee, Murdoch Bull Creek North Lake, Willeton, Wattleup, Henderson, Naval Base, Hope Valley, Mandogalup, Kwinana, Parmelia, Leda, Rockingham, Safety Bay, Shoalwater, Waikiki, Warnbro, Baldivis, Port Kennedy, Secret Harbour, Oldbury, Whitby, Mardella, Orange Grove, Lesmurdie Kalamunda, Forrestfield, Parkwood.

Do you offer after hours appointments?

Yes I do after hours appointments two evenings a week and Saturdays by appointments.

Being a keen horse rider means I appreciate time off to ride my horse during the day and working in the evening instead.

Any other night besides Mondays are able to be booked.  If you want a particular night please call 2 weeks in advance as appointment times are subject to availability.

When is my BAS due?

Depending on how you have decided to lodge your business activity statements (monthly, quarterly)  they are due as follows:

 July 2018

• 23 Jul 2018 – June monthly BAS due – add to my calendar
• 30 Jul 2018 – June quarterly BAS due – add to my calendar

 August 2018

• 21 Aug 2018 – July monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

 September 2018

• 21 Sep 2018 – August monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

 October 2018

• 22 Oct 2018 – September monthly BAS due– add to my calendar
• 29 Oct 2018 – September quarterly BAS due– add to my calendar

 November 2018

• 21 Nov 2018 – October monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

 December 2018

• 21 Dec 2018 – November monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

 January 2019

• 21 Jan 2019 – December monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

 February 2019

• 21 Feb 2019 – January monthly BAS due– add to my calendar
• 28 Feb 2019 – December quarterly BAS due– add to my calendar
  The tax office extends this one from January to December to give business extra time every year – its your Xmas present from the ATO!

 March 2019

• 21 Mar 2019 – February monthly BAS due– add to my calendar

The pattern for monthly business activity statements is the 21^st of the following month.  So January is due 21^st February and so forth.  Monthly BAS are good for people who don’t like the big hit once a quarter and would prefer to get 3 smaller amounts.

Can you make the due dates?

When a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, you can lodge or pay on the next business day.

If you need help with your BAS lodgement, please get in touch 7 days before the due date, at the latest.

Are you struggling to get your BAS done in time ?

If you are struggling with your BAS lodgement date and are not normally late, we can negotiate extensions with the ATO on your behalf. You need to contact us before the due date.  Also talk to us about how a cloud accounting software package could ease the burden at BAS time and get you out of the office.

When is my tax (return) due?

It is not possible to say when your tax return is due.  However I can make some general observations;

If you lodged your own individual tax return through mygov and on time last year then this year will be due most likely on the 31^st October.

However if you register with a tax agent to do your tax this year  or used a registered tax agent last year and you have a good lodgement history your tax may be due as late as 15^th May after the tax year end. Yes that’s 10 months after the end of the year.

Beware putting off doing your tax with a new small business or when there are big variations between income in one year and the next.  You may delay the bill but because you have lodged months after the year end your PAYG instalments may jump up and  may encounter cash flow issues having to pay a tax bill PLUS increased instalments for the current year at the same time.

Talk to us about budgeting and tax planning to avoid this problem.

I’m making good money and have to pay all this tax, how come I don’t have any money in the bank?

It is not uncommon for small business to experience cash flow problems.

A good profit in your financial statements doesn’t always lead to an increasing bank balance.

Investment in equipment, PAYG instalments based on a boom year, not putting away money to cover tax as you go in the early years and increased personal expenses can all lead to cash flow problems.

We like to ensure our clients don’t just sign the tax return they also understand the financial statements, so questions like this are answered.

What is PAYG?

PAYG stands for pay as you go.  PAYG has two common types, both make sure you pay the tax as you go through the year.  People on wages have tax deducted each time they are paid, this is called payg withholding, because the employer withholds the amount and sends it directly to the tax office.

Small business in the first year don’t pay any tax as they go but at year end if they have made a profit they pay the tax.  The tax office then raises payg instalments.  Based on the last years tax return they estimate the tax for the current year and divide into instalments.  These PAYG instalments are just like the tax taken out of wages, they are paid through the year and then count as a credit towards your year end tax bill.

I got a phone call from the tax office saying pay or I could go to jail. What should I do?

I first started working in public practice in  1993, and whilst the tax office does send scary letters when you ignore their initial requests, I have never heard of a legitimate phone call that said pay now on the phone or you will go to jail.

However sadly I have calls every year from clients (particularly the elderly) who have been scared by calls supposedly from the tax office.  If you are in any doubt phone your accountant or the tax office.  Never give out your tax file number or credit card details to a stranger who rings you.