Tax Season 2026
Sole Traders

Atramentum Tradies
Atramentum Consultants Sole trader
Atramentum Contractor Sole Trader
Atramentum Contractors Sole Trader

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 ReturnAnnual company/trust/partnership return lodged with ATO✅
Financial StatementsAnnual accounts, P&L, balance sheet✅
BAS / IASQuarterly or monthly activity statements✅
Payroll Finalisation (STP)End-of-year Single Touch Payroll submission✅ (Business Pro)
Personal Tax ReturnDirector/owner individual return✅ (included in packages)
ASIC ComplianceAnnual review, minutes & resolutions✅ (Advanced & Pro)
ATO Debt ManagementNegotiating payment plans, managing notices✅
Tax PlanningMinimising your tax position before 30 June✅ (Advanced & Pro)

Our Business Packages — At a Glance

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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:

(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.

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.

Ask a Question about your situation

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

Thinking about upgrading to a company structure? We can advise on that too.