Tax Season 2026
Business Owners & Sole Traders
Local First.
Virtual When It Suits You.
We're big believers in starting with a proper conversation. Whether it's over a coffee in our Nedlands office or a quick video call, that first face-to-face meeting means we get to know you, your situation, your goals, and what you actually need — before we touch a single number.
After that? We're as flexible as you need us to be. Most of our clients manage everything remotely through our secure client portal, email, and phone. No need to come in for every question or document. Life's busy, we get it.
So, if you're just around the corner in Claremont or Subiaco, come in and say hello. And if you're across town or just prefer to work online, we've got you covered there too.
Book Your Free Initial Consultation →
Running a Business in Perth? Let's Sort Your Tax Season.
Tax season looks very different when you're running your own show. There's your personal return, your business return, BAS obligations, payroll wrap-up, and ATO compliance — all landing at once, right when you're busiest.
At Atramentum, we specialise in taking all of that off your plate. We're a local Perth accounting team based in Nedlands on Stirling Highway, and we work with sole traders, small businesses, companies, and trusts right across the metro area.
What We Take Care of at Tax Season
Here's what our business clients typically need handled every year-end — and what we cover:
| Obligation | What It Involves | We Handle It |
|---|---|---|
| Business Tax Return | Annual company/trust/partnership return lodged with ATO | ✅ |
| Financial Statements | Annual accounts, P&L, balance sheet | ✅ |
| BAS / IAS | Quarterly or monthly activity statements | ✅ |
| Payroll Finalisation (STP) | End-of-year Single Touch Payroll submission | ✅ (Business Pro) |
| Personal Tax Return | Director/owner individual return | ✅ (included in packages) |
| ASIC Compliance | Annual review, minutes & resolutions | ✅ (Advanced & Pro) |
| ATO Debt Management | Negotiating payment plans, managing notices | ✅ |
| Tax Planning | Minimising your tax position before 30 June | ✅ (Advanced & Pro) |
Our Business Packages — At a Glance
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For small businesses needing solid annual compliance.
✅ Annual/Quarterly BAS
✅ Annual accounting reconciliation
✅ Annual Tax Return & Financial Statements
✅ Annual Minutes & Resolution
✅ +1 Personal Tax Return
✅ Lodgement reminders
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For businesses wanting quarterly oversight and full company compliance.
Everything in Essentials, plus:
✅ Quarterly accounting reconciliation
✅ Company/Trust compliance
✅ Unlimited email support
✅ Annual Tax Planning session
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Business Pro — from $385/month
For growing businesses that want proactive advice, not just compliance.
Everything in Business+, plus:
✅ Monthly accounting reconciliation
✅ +2 Personal Tax Returns
✅ Unlimited phone & email support
✅ Quarterly Tax Planning
✅ Annual Payroll (STP) Finalisation
Compare Packages & Book a Free Consultation →
What to Have Ready for Your Business Tax Appointment
Getting organised upfront means a faster turnaround and lower fees. Here's what to pull together:
✅ Access to your accounting software (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks) — or your bank statements if you're not using software yet
✅ All sales invoices and receipts for income
✅ All expense receipts — including vehicle, equipment, subscriptions, and subcontractors
✅ Bank and credit card statements for the full financial year
✅ Payroll records and super contribution receipts
✅ Loan statements (business loans, equipment finance)
✅ Asset purchases or disposals during the year
✅ Prior year tax return and financials (if you're a new client)
✅ Any ATO correspondence, payment plans, or notices
Not on Xero yet? We're a Xero Certified Partner and can migrate you as part of your onboarding — making future year-ends far faster and cheaper.
What Perth Business Owners Need to Know for 2026
The ATO Is Watching Closely This Year
The ATO has flagged several priority areas for 2026 that directly affect Perth small businesses:
Cash Transactions Businesses operating in cash — trades, hospitality, retail — are under heightened scrutiny. If your declared income doesn't match your lifestyle or industry benchmarks, expect questions.
Home-Based Business Expenses If you work from home, the rules have tightened around what you can claim. The ATO now requires contemporaneous records (not estimates) for home office hours and expenses.
Motor Vehicle Claims Vehicle deductions remain one of the most commonly audited areas for sole traders. A logbook covering at least 12 consecutive weeks is essential if you're claiming more than the 5,000km flat rate.
Employee vs. Contractor Classification The ATO has issued updated guidance on the distinction between employees and contractors. If you pay workers under ABN, review your arrangements — misclassification carries significant back-pay and superannuation obligations.
Division 7A (Company/Trust Clients) If you've taken loans or payments from your company, Division 7A compliance is non-negotiable. The ATO is running data-matching specifically in this area.
Key Dates for Perth Business Owners — 2026 Tax Season
| Date | What’s Due |
|---|---|
| 28 July 2026 | Q4 BAS due (if quarterly) |
| 31 October 2026 | Business tax returns due if self-lodging |
| February 2027 | Most business tax returns due via registered agent |
| May 2027 | Extended lodgement deadline for registered agent clients |
Lodging through us gives you access to extended deadlines — and eliminates the stress of managing ATO due dates yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
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DescriptioSole traders file a personal return with a business schedule attached — so you don't necessarily need a monthly package. Our sole trader return (from $420/year) covers both. If you want ongoing quarterly BAS management and bookkeeping support, we'd recommend looking at the Business Essentials package.
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Yes — this is one of the most common situations we deal with. We'll work through it with you. It may take longer (and cost a little more) to get things in order, but we'll get there.
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The ATO charges penalties and interest for late BAS. In many cases we can negotiate remission of penalties, especially if you engage proactively. Don't ignore overdue lodgements — contact us and we'll manage it.
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No. Most of our work is done remotely via our secure client portal, email, and phone. You're welcome to come in, but it's entirely optional.
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Primarily Xero — we're a certified Xero partner and it's what we recommend. We can also work with MYOB and QuickBooks if you're already set up on those.
Ready to Get Your Business Tax Sorted?
Book a Free Business Tax Consultation →
Or go straight to your request form:
Sole Trader Tax Return →
Business Tax Return →
Business Group / Multi-Entity →
Hospitality & Tourism →
(08) 9200-3465 | office@atramentum.com.au
136 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands WA 6009 (The Spaces Building)
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Who This Page Is For
Hospitality & Tourism We've Worked Your Floor. We Know Your Numbers.
Most accountants understand hospitality from the outside. We understand it from the inside.
Between our team, we bring over 100 years of hands-on experience in front of house, back of house, venue management, and events. We've run the floor, managed the rosters, handled the suppliers, and navigated the chaos of a Saturday night service. We know what your business actually looks like — not just what it looks like on a spreadsheet.
That experience changes everything about how we work with hospitality and tourism businesses. We don't need it explained to us. We already know the pressure points: irregular cash flow, award wage complexity, tipping, split shifts, high staff turnover, supplier terms, and a tax calendar that doesn't care how busy your venue is.
What we cover for hospitality & tourism businesses:
Business tax return and annual financial statements
BAS and GST — including cash vs. accruals considerations for seasonal businesses
Payroll and Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation — including award wage compliance
TPAR lodgement for contract labour
Cash handling and income reconciliation
Tips, allowances, and staff meal policies — declared and managed correctly
ATO benchmarking Understanding where your business sits and why it matters
Tax planning around your busiest and quietest seasons
Venue and equipment depreciation schedules
Business structure advice for growing operators
The ATO benchmarks hospitality businesses closely. If your gross profit margins or declared income fall outside industry norms, you're on their radar — whether you've done anything wrong or not. We know the benchmarks, we know the industry, and we make sure your numbers tell the right story.
Request Hospitality & Tourism Services →
Cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels, event venues, catering companies, tourism operators — if you're in the hospitality world, we speak your language. Book a free consultation
Sole Traders — Your Business Is You
As a sole trader, there's no separate company tax return. Your business and personal finances are legally the same — which is both simple and easy to get wrong.
Your business income, expenses, and deductions all flow into a single individual return with a business schedule attached. Done well, this is an opportunity to legitimately reduce your tax. Done poorly — or done yourself without proper advice — it's one of the most common areas the ATO reviews.
We work with sole traders across Perth's western suburbs and beyond, handling the full picture: your business schedule and your personal return, optimised together.
What we cover:
Individual tax return with business income & expense schedule
Separation of business and private expenses (critical for ATO compliance)
Vehicle and travel deductions
Home office and equipment claims
Subcontractor payments and any associated Taxable Payments Annual Report (TPAR) obligations
GST registration advice and BAS lodgement
Personal super contributions and the associated tax deduction
Not yet on accounting software? We can help you get set up on Xero so next year's return is far quicker — and your records are ATO-ready year-round.
From $420/year | Request Sole Trader Tax Services →
Small Businesses
Company, Trust & Partnership
When your business operates through a company, trust, or partnership, your tax obligations step up significantly. You're no longer just lodging a personal return — you have a separate entity with its own return, its own compliance requirements, and its own relationship with the ATO.
Done well, a properly structured business entity can protect your assets, minimise your tax, and set you up to grow. Done poorly — or managed reactively rather than proactively — it creates compliance risk, unexpected tax bills, and personal liability you may not have seen coming.
At Atramentum, we work with small business owners across Perth who are running companies, family trusts, and partnerships. We handle the full compliance picture, and we connect it to your personal return so nothing is missed and nothing is duplicated.
What we cover:
Company, trust, or partnership tax return and annual financial statements
Director/trustee/partner personal tax returns (included in our packages)
BAS and activity statement lodgement — quarterly or monthly
PAYG withholding and Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation
ASIC compliance — annual review, minutes and resolutions
Division 7A — loans and payments from your company, managed correctly
Trust distribution minutes and resolutions before 30 June
ATO debt management and payment plan negotiation
Annual and quarterly tax planning to reduce what you pay — legally
Not sure whether your current structure is still the right one? Business structures should be reviewed as your business grows. We regularly work with clients who've outgrown their setup — or who are carrying unnecessary risk because of it. A free consultation is the right place to start.
Business Essentials from $250/month | Request Business Tax Services →
Running multiple entities or a group structure? Request Business Group Services →