Blog

Mar04

Contribution Caps increase from July

Flor- Hanly - Monday, March 04, 2024

Contribution caps to increase from 1 July 2024

Following the release of the latest Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) index, the expected increase to the contribution caps from 1 July 2024 has been confirmed.

As a result, from 1 July 2024:

  • The standard Concessional contribution cap will increase from $27,500 to $30,0001.
  • The Non-concessional contribution cap, which is expressed as 4 times the standard concessional contribution cap, will increase from $110,000 to $120,0002.
  • The maximum Non-concessional cap available, under the Non-concessional contribution bring-forward provisions, will increase from $330,000 to $360,0003.
  • The Total Superannuation Balance Thresholds, used to determine the maximum amount of bring-forward Non-concessional contributions available to an individual, will also be adjusted.

The Non-concessional contribution caps and thresholds are summarised in the table below:

TSB at 30 June 2024

Maximum available NCC Cap

Maximum available NCC Period

< $1.66 Million

$360,000

3 Years

$1.66 – < $1.78 Million

$240,000

2 Years

$1.78 – < $1.9 Million

$120,000

1 Year

$1.9 Million (and above)

$0

N/A

 

In addition to the adjusted contribution caps and thresholds outlined above, several other thresholds will also be impacted including:

  • the eligibility thresholds for the Superannuation Government Co-Contribution
  • the CGT Contribution cap (which applies following the sale of eligible small business assets)
  • the Low-Rate Cap (which applies to the tax treatment of superannuation withdrawals)
  • Redundancy tax-free thresholds, and
  • The Superannuation Guarantee maximum contribution base.

The General Transfer Balance Cap, which is indexed according to movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), had already been confirmed as remaining set to $1.9 Million for the 2024-25 financial year.

Source: SMSF Association



Feb09

QLD Rural Economic Development Grants Round 6

Flor- Hanly - Friday, February 09, 2024

$3.3M boost for ag sector in new round of Rural Economic Development Grants

Expressions of interest open for round six of Rural Economic Development Grants

Rural businesses across Queensland’s primary production sector can now submit an expression of interest (EOI) for round six of the Government’s successful Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants scheme.

The co-contribution grants of up to $200,000 will continue to strengthen primary production sectors and bolster jobs in rural and regional communities.

Grant funding may be used for activities such as capital expenditure on buildings, plant and equipment, as well as consumables used for the project.

It may also be used for training costs and technical support for specific projects, as well as salary and on-costs for staff and professionals working on activities for the funded project.

EOIs for the sixth round of the RED Grant scheme will close on 28 March 2024. Successful EOIs will be advised by 17 May 2024 and then be invited to submit a full application by 21 June, with final grants awarded from 16 August 2024.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The new round, worth $3.3 million, will generate jobs, expand agricultural supply chains and provide economic benefit to rural areas.

Source: QLD Government



Jan30

Register for fuel tax credits

Flor- Hanly - Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Check if you can claim for fuel tax credits

You can claim credits for the fuel tax (excise or customs duty) included in the price of fuel used in business activities.

You can claim for taxable fuel that you purchase, manufacture or import. Just make sure it’s used in your business. Taxable fuels include liquid fuels, fuel blends and gaseous fuels.

Check what activities you can claim for

You can claim for business activities in:

  •  machinery
  •  plant
  •  equipment
  •  heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes
  •  light vehicles on private roads (not on public roads)

To be able to claim, you must be registered for goods and services tax (GST) and fuel tax credits.

Register for fuel tax credits (and other taxes)

Register for fuel tax credits through the Business Registration Service. You can use the same form to register for other taxes at the same time.

Before you apply:

  • check if your business activity is eligible by using the Fuel tax credit eligibility tool
  • make sure you’re registered for GST

If your business uses fuel, you may be able to claim credits for the fuel tax included in the price of fuel. Find out if you’re eligible to register for fuel tax credits by contacting Flor-Hanly's accountants in Mackay on 07 4963 4800.

Oct16

Qld Workforce Connect Fund

Flor- Hanly - Monday, October 16, 2023

Queensland Workforce Strategy: Workforce Connect Fund

Through the Workforce Connect Fund, small businesses can apply for an HR Support Grant of up to $5,000 (subject to available funding) to implement new and innovative HR solutions to address an immediate need.

Speak to an Industry Workforce Advisor about accessing the grant and enhancing your HR strategy today.

Learn more about the Workforce Connect Fund initiative here.

Having trouble retaining employees?

Building strong and productive working relationships is integral to the success of any business, but what do employees want? Sometimes the answer to that question is not so easy to find!

That’s why the Back to Work team has released the Harrison Tool for Retention — to help employers retain staff within their business.

Using the tool, employers can start conversations with their employees about what motivates them, their strengths and how they can work together.

Learn more about the Harrison Tool for Retention or the other support available through Back to Work here.



Aug28

Another $2.5M in grants for QLD small businesses

Flor- Hanly - Monday, August 28, 2023

Business Boost Grants Program Queensland

Key points

  • Business Boost grants of up to $20,000 to help Queensland businesses are up for grabs
  • $2.5 million will be available in this round
  • For more information go to business.qld.gov.au/businessboost
  • Applications close 12 September 2023.

The Business Boost grants program provides support to businesses to improve their efficiency and productivity through organisational development.

The grants can be used for activities that will create growth, such as strategic business planning, design and implementation of sophisticated cloud platforms and online management systems, and, planning and systems for staff management and development.

The Business Boost Grants Guidelines have been updated for this round and are available online now and businesses will be able to register their interest from 9am on 6 September 2023 until 5pm on Friday 12 September 2023.

Business Boost Grants are a pillar of the Queensland Government’s Big Plan for Small Business Strategy 2021-23. Business Boost grants have already helped 379 businesses which have shared in more than $4.7 million.

Flor-Hanly operates throughout Mackay, Clermont and Central Queensland. Our accounting team works with you to help you determine, focus on and achieve your personal and business goals. Contact us on 07 4963 4800.

Source: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/grants/business-boost 



Jul21

New Paid DV Leave Arrives for SMB Employees starts 1 August

Flor- Hanly - Friday, July 21, 2023

Paid domestic violence leave entitlements for small business employees

Small businesses across Australia are facing a new challenge as they prepare for the implementation of paid domestic violence leave entitlements starting 1 August 2023.

This new policy grants employees up to ten paid days off during a twelve-month period to address family and domestic violence issues.

Key points about the new entitlement

  • From 1 August, small businesses employees will have the right to avail themselves of ten days of paid domestic or family violence leave within a twelve-month period
  • This leave will be compensated at the employee's regular pay rate, based on the hours they would have worked if they were not on leave
  • The new paid DV leave entitlement builds upon the previous provision of five days of unpaid leave as outlined in the National Employment Standards.

Which businesses are covered?

Small businesses, defined as those with fewer than 15 employees, will be subject to this new entitlement. Larger businesses have already offered this benefit to their employees since February of this year.

Which employees are covered?

The DV paid leave allowance applies to all employees operating under the Fair Work system, including part-time and casual workers.

Paid domestic violence leave can be taken by employees when they need to address the impact of family and domestic violence, and it is not feasible for them to handle these matters outside their work hours. This may include making safety arrangements for themselves or close relatives, attending court hearings, accessing police services, attending counselling sessions, or meeting with medical, financial or legal professionals.

The leave is applicable if an employee is subject to coercion, control, harm or fear instigated by a close relative, current or former intimate partner or a member of their household who acts in a violent, threatening or abusive manner.

When can employees take paid family and domestic violence leave?

  • Employees are not required to accumulate or accrue this leave
  • All ten days are available to them from their first day of employment
  • The ten-day leave allowance will renew on their work anniversary.

For existing employees when the entitlement takes effect, they can access the full ten days on the relevant start date, and the leave will renew on the anniversary of their employment commencement, not on the anniversary of the start date of the entitlement.

How should employees inform employers?

  • Employees should inform their employers about their intention to take paid domestic violence leave as soon as practicable, even if this happens after they have already begun taking their leave
  • Employers can request evidence from the employee to verify that the leave is being used to address family or domestic violence issues, as described above.

Employers can only use this information to ensure the employee's entitlement to family and domestic violence leave, except for specific situations where the employee consents to the employer sharing the information, when the employer is legally obligated to share the information, or when sharing the information is essential to protect the life, health, or safety of the employee or another person. Importantly, information disclosed to the employer cannot be used against the employee in any adverse action.

Are workers still entitled to unpaid family and domestic violence leave?

Starting from 1 August 2023, the new DV entitlement will replace the previous five-day unpaid leave allowance. However, until that date, small business employees can still claim the existing unpaid leave entitlement.

How is DV paid leave noted on payslips?

  • To ensure the employee's safety and privacy, there are specific rules about how employers should record the use of paid family and domestic violence leave
  • It should not be mentioned as such on the payslip and should be recorded as ordinary hours worked or labeled as an allowance, bonus or overtime payment
  • If an employee requests it, the leave can be listed as another kind of leave, such as paid annual leave.

Support for small businesses during the transition

The Fair Work Ombudsman has prepared a comprehensive guide to help small businesses navigate the new entitlements. Businesses can access this guide for further assistance and understanding.

As the implementation date nears, small businesses need to ensure they are ready to comply with the new paid domestic violence leave entitlements and provide much-needed support to employees facing family and domestic violence challenges.

For help with any of these changes, contact the team at Flor-Hanly in Mackay on 07 4963 4800.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, or domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit the 1800 Respect website.

For information about local services, download the free Daisy App. 

Accessible information and support is available via the free Sunny App which has been developed for and by women with disability. 

For Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1800 019 123.

For legal information, visit the Family Violence Law Help website.

In an emergency, call 000.



Jul12

Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme

Flor- Hanly - Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Round 2 now open

The Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme offers co-contribution grants of up to $100,000 to support projects which result in the trialling and adoption of digital technologies into supply chains within agricultural, fishery or forestry industries in Queensland.

Key dates

  • Applications open 7 July 2023
  • Applications to apply close 18 August 2023
  • Applicants will be notified of applications outcomes by 29 September 2023

Apply online here »

Program information

The Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme aims to improve the resilience of the agribusiness sector or primary production industries by supporting industry organisations to implement digital technologies and systems that increase preparedness for future disruptions and risks related to biosecurity, climate and food safety. 

Co-contribution grants of up to $100,000 are available on a competitive basis to industry organisations and other entities established to advance or promote the economic development of the agribusiness sector, a primary production industry or part of a primary production industry. 

An amount of $1.3 million has been made available to fund grants under Round Two of the Scheme. Grants are subject to the availability of funding and applying for a grant is no guarantee funding will be approved.

QRIDA administers the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Project eligibility criteria

To be eligible for funding projects must:

  • implement a digital solution that will provide benefit to the agribusiness sector, a primary production industry or part of a primary production industry within Queensland; 
  • improve the resilience of the agribusiness sector or primary production industries in Queensland; and
  • allow for the benefits or lessons of the project to be shared across the agribusiness sector or a primary production industry. 

For further details on eligibility please refer to the Scheme guidelines



Jun29

1 July changes

Flor- Hanly - Thursday, June 29, 2023

What you need to know

There are legal, financial, and other changes your business will have to be across very soon. Not sure what they are or what to do? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

It’s been a big year for changes in areas like people management, pay and tax. Here’s a rundown of some key changes that will come into effect 1 July and what they mean for your business and your employees.

1. SUPER GUARANTEE INCREASES

If you haven’t already, then it’s time to get your payroll systems sorted as the superannuation guarantee increases to 11% from 1 July. The super guarantees for the current quarter will stay at 10.5%.

Also, make sure you’re across the gradual increases, which will see the super guarantee reach 12% by July 2025.

To work out how this will impact employees’ pay, have a look at whether their contract states their salary is inclusive of superannuation or not.

2. WAGES GO UP

Employees should also be aware that from 1 July, wage increases will come into effect following a ruling from the Fair Work Commission.

For employees who aren’t covered by an award, the minimum wage will go up from 1 July to $882.80 per week, or $23.23 per hour, and will apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2023.

For employees covered by an award, minimum award wages will increase by 5.75%, also applying to the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2023.

3. FAIR WORK COMMISSION CHANGES

From 1 July 2023, the application fee will increase to $83.30. The fee applies to dismissal, general protections, bullying, and sexual harassment at work applications made under sections 365, 372, 394, 773, and 789FC of the Fair Work Act 2009.

There is no fee to make an application to deal with a sexual harassment dispute under section 527F of the Fair Work Act.

Also effective from 1 July, the high-income threshold in unfair dismissal cases will increase to $167,500 and the compensation limit will be $83,750 for dismissals occurring on or after 1 July 2023.

4. PAID PARENTAL LEAVE CHANGES

From 1 July, amendments to the Paid Parental Leave Scheme will come into effect.

Notably, the Dad and Partner Pay (DAPP) scheme, which currently provides up to two weeks of paid leave, will now be combined with the 18-week paid parental leave scheme. This means eligible parent couples or single parents can share their 20 weeks of leave – aimed at greater gender equity in parental caring responsibilities.

There are other changes, too, such as the whole 20 weeks of leave of instalments can be received flexibly in multiple blocks within 24 months of the child’s birth or adoption date, removing the previous requirement of 12 weeks in one continuous period.

Also, note that employees now have greater rights to request an additional 12 months of leave (24 in total) – and employers need to show reasonable business grounds on which to refuse.

5. CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES

For those who employ parents with young children, it’s worth noting that childcare rebates will change from 1 July. They should result in any employees with a family income of less than $530,000 getting a higher level of subsidy for the cost of childcare.

For example, families earning up to $80,000 will get an increased maximum Child Care Subsidy (CCS) amount, from 85% to 90%. If they earn over $80,000, they may get a subsidy starting from 90%, but it will go down by 1% for each $5,000 of income the family earns.

While these changes are applied automatically, it is worth being aware that they are coming.

6. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEAVE INTRODUCED

From 1 February, employers with 15 or more employees were required to provide their employees with 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave (FDVL) per year. 

For smaller employers who employ less than 15 employees, this entitlement will operate from 1 August 2023.

Paid family and domestic violence leave is quite a sensitive topic, and there need to be procedures in place – on everything from how the HR or manager handles requests to the privacy issues around how it gets recorded on a pay slip.

7. PENSION AGE AND ELIGIBILITY INCREASES

For those businesses employing older Australians, it’s worth noting that from 1 July, the pension age will be raised to 67 for those born on or after 1 January 1957.

Not only that but asset and income eligibility tests will also be revamped, which means singles can earn $204 a fortnight and couples $360 a fortnight, before losing their full pension.

8. ENERGY BILL RELIEF ON ITS WAY

With soaring power bills contributing significantly to business operating costs, $650 in bill relief is on its way from July.

The total amount of bill relief will vary by state. To be eligible, your business must be on a separately metered business tariff with your electricity retailer – so if you run a business from home, you probably won’t qualify.

If you need help with any of these changes, contact the team at Flor-Hanly in Mackay on 07 4963 4800.

Source: MyBusiness


 

Jun26

July changes to fuel tax credit rates

Flor- Hanly - Monday, June 26, 2023

Fuel tax credit rates for business

Fuel tax credit rates change regularly, so it's important to check and apply the correct rate.

They are indexed twice a year – in February and August – based on the upward movement of the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI indexation factor for rates from 1 February 2023 is 1.037.

Fuel tax credit rates may also change for fuel used in a heavy vehicle for travelling on a public road. This is due to changes in the road user charge.

The heavy vehicle road user charge will increase by 6% over 3 years from 28.8 cents per litre for petrol and diesel in 2023–24, to 30.5 cents per litre in 2024–25 and to 32.4 cents per litre in 2025–26.

The road user charge rate for gaseous fuels per kilogram rate will increase from 38.5 cents per kilogram in 2023-24, to 40.8 cents per kilogram in 2024–25, to 43.2 cents per kilogram in 2025–26. Currently, the road user charge reduces fuel tax credits for gaseous fuels to nil.

In July 2023, rates will change for biodiesel (B100) due to an annual increase in excise duty rates.

From 29 September 2022, the rates changed due to the end of the temporary reduction of fuel excise duty. The reduction, which was in place from 30 March to 28 September, applied to excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates for petrol, diesel and all other fuel and petroleum-based products (except aviation fuels). This affected the fuel tax credit rates during this period.

For current fuel tax rates, see From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 (includes rates from 1 July 2023) or contact Flor-Hanly's accountants in North Mackay on 07 4963 4800.

Source: ATO


 

May24

New free app helps sugar growers plan and increase yields

Flor- Hanly - Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Harvest Mate app

Optimised harvesting could add $44 million to Queensland grower revenue.

A ground-breaking new decision support tool that helps sugarcane growers make more profitable decisions at harvest time has been launched in Queensland.

The Harvest Mate app, developed through a collaboration between the State Government and Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is designed to help growers capture additional sugar yield from their paddocks.

Research shows that optimised harvester settings have the potential to add $44 million to annual grower revenue across Queensland for green-harvested sugarcane.

The decision support tool uses data collected by SRA from years of trials across the sugar industry and is supported by detailed economic data collected and analysed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

Harvest Mate is designed to use growers’ block and crop information in addition to harvester, haul-out and labour details and harvest conditions to predict optimal harvester settings.

Growers can download the app for free from the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

Flor-Hanly services primary producers across Central and Northern Queensland and beyond. From the CQ coast to Longreach. From Charters Towers to Roma. Contact our team in Mackay on 4963 4800 or visit our website.

Source: QLD Government


 

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