Talking Concepts
March 2026
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Dates to Remember
31st March 2026 – FBT. Look out for detailed correspondence sent to you prior to end of March and article below
25th April 2026 – ANZAC Day
28th April 2026 – Super Guarantee Contribution
15th May 2026 – Last day for Income Tax Returns lodgements
26th May 2026 – March BAS Due (if ELS lodged with C&R)
30th June 2026 – End of Financial Year
Quarterly Super Due Dates – Super contributions must be received by the employee’s super fund by the following deadlines:
1 January – 31 March → Due by 28 April.
Starting INTEREST RATES
RBA Increases rates by 0.25%!
5.38% p/a Fixed Rate
5.72% p/a Comparison Rate
Based on our lender panel, Bank Australia Variable Rate. Interest rates are correct as at 30/03/2026 and subject to change at anytime. The comparison rate is based on a loan amount of $500,000, over a 30 year term.
WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees and other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply and your full financial situation would need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product.
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Secure Identity Verification
Easy, Online, and Legally Required for Your Protection
At Concepts & Results, verifying your identity is a legal requirement before we provide tax or BAS services. We use BGLiD so you can complete the check securely online—no documents are stored by our office. This keeps your information accurate and protects both you and our practice.
Staff updates
We’re excited to welcome two new team members to the crew! 🎉
Eleni has joined our Loans Department, bringing fresh energy and support to help our clients achieve their financial goals.
Amy has come on board in Bookkeeping, strengthening our team with her skills and attention to detail.
Client Success Stories:
First Home Success 🏡
The Challenge
As first home buyers, C&H had done an incredible job building a strong financial foundation, with a share portfolio of approximately $130,000 and $16,000 in savings.
Their strategy was clear and well thought out:
- Sell down $100,000 of their shares to contribute toward the purchase
- Retain approximately $30,000 in shares to help fund renovations after settlement
- Keep their $16,000 in savings untouched as a buffer
They were planning to purchase under the First Home Guarantee Scheme (FHGS). However, the challenge was that most lenders place restrictions on how much funds can be retained post-settlement – typically capping this at around $15,000–$20,000 for established properties.
This meant their plan to keep a larger buffer for renovations and financial comfort didn’t fit within standard policy.
Our Approach
We conducted detailed research across lenders participating in the FHGS, with a focus on:
- Flexibility around retaining funds post-settlement
- Acceptance of both savings and share portfolio towards genuine savings
- Flexible policies around self-employed income and overtime
- Certainty of approval through a fully assessed pre-approval
After carefully reviewing the options, we recommended proceeding with National Australia Bank (NAB).
In addition to being an approved FHGS lender, NAB offered two key advantages:
- Fully assessed pre-approvals, providing greater certainty prior to purchase
- A more flexible policy on retained funds, allowing C&H to keep approximately $46,000 post-settlement across their savings and shares
This meant we could structure the loan to meet FHGS requirements while still protecting their financial position and renovation plans.
The Outcome
Formal approval was obtained within a short timeframe, supported by NAB’s efficient turnaround times. This allowed us to meet the finance due date without requiring any extensions, with settlement following shortly after.
An incredible result to kick off the new year – C&H are now proud first home owners, with renovation plans ready to go and, importantly, a strong financial buffer still in place.
It’s a great example of how the right structure – not just the right rate – can make all the difference.
Protect Your Business
Plan now to keep your business running smoothly
When Tony passed away unexpectedly, his business came to a standstill — bank accounts were frozen, payroll was missed and projects stalled — because no Successor Director had been appointed, costing over $180,000. A simple Successor Director strategy ensures someone you trust can step in immediately and keep your business running without disruption.
🏡 Trusted Real Estate Support for Our Clients
We’re pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Carbery & Co Residential.
Having worked closely together over many years, Renee Carbery has consistently delivered excellent outcomes for our clients across both property sales and property management. Renee’s approach is built on trust, strong communication, and achieving the best possible results.
Recently, Renee has launched her own agency, Carbery & Co Residential, which operates primarily through referrals, something we believe speaks volumes about the quality of Renee’s service.
If you are:
Thinking of buying or selling property
Looking for property management services
Wanting expert advice on the current market
We would be more than happy to connect you.
As always, we only refer professionals we trust, and we’re confident you’ll be well looked after.
PAYDAY SUPER IS COMING
Starting 1 July 2026
What You Need to Know
From 1 July 2026, the way superannuation is paid is changing.
Super must now be paid at the same time as each pay run.
What’s Changing?
❌ Quarterly super payments
✅ Super paid every payday
❌ Delayed contributions
✅ Real-time super payments
What This Means for Your Business
- You must have funds available for wages + super on each pay run
- Super will be processed every payroll cycle
- Increased focus on timely and accurate payroll processing
Why This Matters
- Helps employees receive their super sooner
- Reduces risk of unpaid super liabilities
- Ensures compliance with ATO requirements
How We Support You
✔ Manage super calculations each pay run
✔ Process and lodge super payments
✔ Ensure ATO and STP compliance
✔ Monitor payment status and clearing house submissions
What You Need To Do Now
✔ Ensure sufficient cash flow for payroll + super
✔ Keep employee super details up to date
✔ Be prepared for changes to payroll timing
Important
Failure to comply may result in ATO penalties and charges.
ATO Tightens Focus on Work-Related Expense Claims
✍️Australian Taxation Office – Compliance Program Update 2026
The Australian Taxation Office has recently increased scrutiny on work-related expense claims, highlighting widespread errors across millions of tax returns.
According to recent reporting, over 9 million Australians claimed approximately $28 billion in deductions, with an average claim of around $3,000. However, the ATO has identified a growing number of incorrect or exaggerated claims, particularly relating to working from home and personal expenses incorrectly categorised as work-related.
Examples of rejected claims include items such as home gym equipment, kitchen appliances, and even personal purchases disguised as business expenses. These cases highlight a key issue: many taxpayers misunderstand what is genuinely deductible.
The ATO continues to emphasise its “three golden rules”:
- You must have paid for the expense yourself
- It must directly relate to earning income
- You must have records to prove it
With enhanced data-matching technology, the ATO is now cross-checking claims against employer data, industry benchmarks, and prior-year returns. This significantly increases the likelihood of incorrect claims being flagged.
Additionally, upcoming changes such as the proposed $1,000 standard deduction aim to simplify smaller claims—but may also reduce scrutiny on low-value deductions while increasing focus on larger ones.
What this means for clients:
Accuracy and documentation are more important than ever. Reviewing deductions carefully before lodging can help avoid audits, amendments, or penalties.
Is Your Will Up to Date?
Protect Your Family & Assets Today
Over 50% of Australians don’t have a valid Will. Without one, your assets may not go where you want, and your loved ones could face legal and financial stress. Concepts & Results, with Abbott and Mourly, can help you set up a legally sound Will and Power of Attorney quickly and easily using their Lightyear Doc’s platform. For the next 14 days, book a simple online meeting with Phillip, complete your documents, and get peace of mind for you and your family, don’t leave it to chance!
ATO Urges Businesses to Strengthen Record-Keeping in 2026
The Australian Taxation Office has recently urged small businesses to take proactive steps to avoid compliance action in 2026, with a clear focus on improving bookkeeping practices.
The ATO has identified several common issues affecting businesses:
- Poor record-keeping
- Inaccurate BAS reporting
- Late or incorrect payroll submissions
- Failure to reconcile accounts regularly
As digital reporting becomes standard, the ATO is increasingly relying on real-time data collection and automated systems. This means inconsistencies in bookkeeping are more likely to be detected quickly.
The shift toward Single Touch Payroll (STP) and cloud accounting platforms has improved transparency—but it also places greater responsibility on businesses to ensure their systems are set up correctly.
Importantly, the ATO has stressed that businesses should not wait until year-end to fix issues. Instead, maintaining accurate, up-to-date records throughout the year is essential to staying compliant.
What this means for clients:
Good bookkeeping is no longer just administrative—it’s a critical compliance tool. Businesses that stay organised and proactive are far less likely to face ATO intervention.
Financial Advice Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission and broader industry regulators have continued to increase oversight of financial advice providers, particularly around compliance, governance, and client outcomes.
Recent developments, including issues surrounding licensee groups such as Interprac, have prompted many advisory firms to reassess their structures and affiliations.
The industry is moving toward:
- Stronger compliance frameworks
- Greater transparency in advice
- Improved accountability of licensees
- Enhanced client protection standards
This shift reflects a broader regulatory trend aimed at restoring trust in the financial advice sector following years of scrutiny and reform.
As a result, many firms are choosing to transition to more robust licensing arrangements that better align with best-practice standards.
What this means for clients:
Changes like these are designed to improve the quality, reliability, and transparency of financial advice—ensuring clients receive guidance they can trust long-term.
Insights & Expertise: Explore Our Latest Resources
We believe that informed clients make the best financial decisions. That’s why we’ve curated a collection of free resources to help you understand the lending process, mortgage strategies, and financial planning.
Refinancing Wave Builds as Fixed Loans Roll Off
A significant number of Australian borrowers are currently transitioning off historically low fixed-rate loans, leading to a sharp increase in refinancing activity.
As interest rates remain elevated, many households are facing substantial increases in mortgage repayments, prompting them to explore alternative lending options.
Lenders are responding with:
- Competitive refinancing offers
- Cashback incentives
- Flexible loan structures
- Revised serviceability assessments
At the same time, regulators and lenders are closely monitoring household debt levels, ensuring borrowers remain capable of managing higher repayments.
This environment has created both challenges and opportunities—while costs are rising, competition between lenders is providing borrowers with more choice than ever.
What this means for clients:
Now is an ideal time to review your loan. Refinancing or restructuring may significantly reduce repayments or improve long-term financial outcomes.
ATO Increases Pressure on SMSF Compliance
The Australian Taxation Office has increased its focus on SMSF compliance, particularly targeting funds with late or missing lodgements.
Failure to meet reporting obligations can result in:
- Financial penalties
- Loss of compliance status
- Increased ATO scrutiny
The ATO has also highlighted ongoing issues with:
- Poor record-keeping
- Breaches of contribution caps
- Incorrect asset valuations
- Failure to meet the sole purpose test
With SMSFs continuing to grow in popularity, regulators are placing greater emphasis on ensuring trustees understand and meet their responsibilities.
What this means for clients:
Timely lodgements and accurate records are essential. Staying compliant not only avoids penalties but also protects the long-term viability of your fund.
Rental Property Owners Under Increased ATO Scrutiny
Rental property investors are facing increased attention from the Australian Taxation Office, particularly around income reporting and deduction claims.
The ATO has found that up to 90% of rental property owners make errors in their tax returns, with common issues including:
- Incorrectly claiming repairs vs capital improvements
- Overstating deductions
- Failing to declare all rental income
- Copying prior-year claims without review
With rising rental income across Australia, the ATO is paying closer attention to ensure taxpayers are not inflating deductions to offset higher earnings.
Short-term rental platforms (such as Airbnb) are also under increased monitoring, with data-sharing arrangements allowing the ATO to verify income more accurately.
What this means for clients:
Property investors should carefully review their claims each year and ensure all income is declared. Getting this right can prevent costly audits and adjustments.
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DISCLAIMER: Whilst all care is taken in the preparation of the material in this newsletter, the information provided is of a general nature and individuals should seek advice as to their own specific needs. Accordingly, no responsibility for errors or omissions is accepted by Concepts & Results group of companies or any member or employee.