Your Bookkeeping Angel

03/09/2026

We wanted to reminder you about upcoming changes to card surcharging regulations in Australia that may impact your billing setup.​

From 1 October 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will ban surcharges on debit, credit, and prepaid card payments across EFT, POS, Visa, and Mastercard. This means businesses will no longer be able to pass on card processing fees to clients as a separate surcharge at checkout.
What this means for you
If you currently apply credit card surcharges, you’ll need to update your pricing and billing workflows before the changes take effect. While surcharges will be removed, card processing costs will still apply — so many businesses are choosing to incorporate these costs into their service pricing instead.

26/06/2026

Application of July contributions with the Payday Super

A key transition issue addressed in draft LCR 2026/D4 is how contributions received during the period from 1 July 2026 to 28 July 2026 are applied where there is still an outstanding June quarter SG obligation.

A contribution received in July 2026 may be intended by the employer to satisfy a July Payday Super obligation. However, where there remains an outstanding SG obligation for the June 2026 quarter for the relevant employee, the transitional rules require the contribution to be applied first against that employee’s June quarter position. The employer’s intended allocation of the contribution does not determine its treatment for SG purposes; that treatment is determined by the transitional rules.

Importantly, this analysis is not purely an employer-level, aggregate exercise. SG obligations are employee-specific. A July contribution for one employee is not simply absorbed by the employer’s total June quarter balance; the relevant question is whether that employee has an outstanding June quarter position that affects how the July contribution is applied.

The question is therefore not just whether a contribution was received in July, but which employee’s obligation it is taken to satisfy.

04/05/2026

From 1 July 2026, subscription prices for Xero plans are increasing in Australia. This reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in a platform that powers Australian businesses.

Partner plan prices from 1 July 2026*:

Ledger plan increases by 7.7%
Cashbook plan increases by 10%
Business plan prices from 1 July 2026*:

Ignite plan increases to $37 per month
Grow plan increases to $78 per month
Comprehensive plan increases to $107 per month
Ultimate 10 plan increases to $143 per month
Ultimate 20 plan increases to $180 per month
Ultimate 50 plan increases to $250 per month
Ultimate 100 plan increases to $300 per month

26/11/2025

Are your aware of upcoming fee changes for Xero Australian clients using Stripe.

Xero is making three primary adjustments to ensure we can continue to invest in improving payment services for you and your clients, like more ways to pay and additional invoicing tools.

Domestic card fee increase: The fee for Australian domestic card transactions will increase from 1.7% + A$0.30 to 1.8% + A$0.30 per transaction (GST inclusive).
Instant Payout fee increase: The fee for Instant Payouts will increase from 1% to 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume (exclusive of GST).
Foreign exchange (FX) fee change: The FX fee is changing from 2% (exclusive of GST) to 2.2% (inclusive of GST). For GST-registered businesses, there will be approximately no change to their net cost. Their effective rate will be approximately 2% as the fee will be automatically adjusted to offset the GST component. Customers not registered for GST will see their effective fee increase from 2.0% to 2.2%.

I advised that they may want to update their settings in Xero to reflect the new rates.

If you have questions about their specific fees, please direct them to raise a case with Xero support.

24/11/2025

FBT Meal Entertainment Guide: What’s Deductible This Festive Season
As the festive season approaches, many businesses celebrate with client lunches, team dinners, and end-of-year parties. But before you raise a glass, it’s worth understanding how these events are treated for tax purposes.


FBT and Meal Entertainment: What Counts?
Meal entertainment includes:

Taking staff or clients out for a meal.
Hosting social functions like Christmas parties.
Providing food and drink that goes beyond simple sustenance.


If FBT (Fringe Benefits Tax) is paid, the cost of the meal is tax deductible and GST can be claimed. But if no FBT is paid, neither the deduction nor the GST credit is allowed.


Valuation and Consequences
Using the actual method, a $1,500 Christmas party could result in an FBT expense of $1,466.54. The gross-up rate and FBT rate significantly impact the final cost.


Sustenance vs Entertainment
Not all food is entertainment. Morning teas, meals during training, or meals while travelling are considered sustenance — not subject to FBT and fully deductible.


Exemptions to Know
Minor & Infrequent: If the meal costs less than $300 per person and isn’t a regular event, it may be exempt from FBT.
In-House Meals: Simple meals at the office are generally exempt, but if alcohol or multiple courses are involved, they may become entertainment.

17/10/2025

Reading the paper from last night awards and I found myself it in. Haha

17/10/2025

Going to the alibi awards.

01/10/2025

Payday super is on the way. The Federal Government has proposed that from 1 July 2026, you’ll need to pay your employee’s super at the same time as their salary and wages.

Are you ready for the impact this could have on your business and payroll process?

19/09/2025

Are you handyman or even a gardener. My networking is looking for you. We meet at See Restaurant 6.30. 8.30am Contact me for extra details. Especially if you rely on referral for your business

🌿✨ Visitor Day – 24th September ✨🧹🔧

If you’re a gardener, cleaner or handyman, you don’t want to miss our next Visitor Day!
BNI Northern Lights is all about building trusted referrals, and for trades and service businesses like yours, that means real opportunities and likely business.

📅 Wednesday, 24th September
⏰ 6:45am
📍 See Restaurant, Mooloolaba Wharf
🥓 Breakfast + coffee included ($30)

Come along, meet other local business owners, and discover how referrals can grow your business faster than advertising ever could.

04/09/2025

My favourite finalist catergory Perfessional Services for 2025. I will find out in October in Sydney who will be the winner!! Me of course HAHA