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In the Industry

IRD are rolling out other changes to how New Zealanders file and manage their GST as part of ongoing business transformation. More than half NZ's businesses now file their GST through Inland Revenue's secure online service myIR, or direct from their accounting software. If this includes your business, you may have noticed there's a new myGST tab on your myIR account. This will provide access to all your GST information. Taxpayers are now able to use this to register for GST, register as a prep...

Accounts Team Update

Changes proposed for motor vehicles Currently close companies (such as LTCs and QCs) providing a motor vehicle for the private use of shareholder-employees must pay FBT on the value of the benefit provided. This value is based on the availability of the vehicle rather than its actual private use and this means higher FBT compliance costs for close companies. New option for close companies The recently introduced legislation changes this for the 2018 tax year (i.e. from 1 April 2017 for stand...

In the Community

We recently held a Networking over Coffee event at our office as part of our involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. This year it was held on the 14th February – Valentines Day! It seemed fitting to have our theme for the day as 'Love what you do'. We hosted 52 members from the Chamber and our team members Katie Jones and Ben Langton-Burnell spoke about strategies for a great work life balance and how to stay motivated....

Xero for Beginners Workshop

We are holding a Xero for Beginners Workshop. This interactive workshop will include a brief overview of features in Xero, how to match up invoices and code correctly and help with completing and finalising GST returns. This is going to be a great workshop and will cover all the basics needed to make your time using Xero better for you and your business! Register by calling or emailing events@accounted4.co.nz When: Wednesday 15th March 5.30-7pm Where: Resthaven Village Centre, Views on Vogel,...

Good to Great Seminar with Phil Wicks

If you want to understand and make sense of how 'soft' but strategic concepts like personal vision, business vision, strategy, culture and structure are critical to creating organisational and personal focus, helping to manage change and deliver a real increase in business performance and value, then this is the right workshop for you! Where: Te Awamutu i-SITE Visitor information centre When: Wednesday March 15th, 9am - 12pm Cost: $50 for any A4 client (normally $120) Register today to get...

Xero for beginners Workshop

Join us. Join the revolution. When: Wednesday 15th March, 5.30-7pm Venue: Accounted4 Office Presenters: Jamie Fisher and Geoff Hurst Cost: Complimentary How to match up invoices and code correctly Help with completing and finalising GST returns Brief overview of features in Xero Any other topics requested Come along to this Xero workshop for beginners to assist you with your day to day running of your business. If you have any specific topics/queries you would like us to cover please ...

Introduction to new Team Members

We welcomed three new people to our team in the first few weeks of 2017; Steff McNamara is our new 'Face of the Company' and sits proudly in the receptionist position at our front desk. Steff has a very bubbly friendly personality and has fitted into our team like a glove. Amanda James joined our Support Services Team as a Client Services Assistant and will also assist Steff on reception. Amanda comes to us from Te Awamutu Medical Centre and we are delighted to have her in our team. Ben Cal...

Claim back your School Donations

Hundreds of thousands, potentially even millions of dollars worth of unclaimed tax rebates from school donations are going unclaimed each year. Many parents are unaware they can claim a rebate from the Inland Revenue Department of up to one third of what they donated to the school their children attended. And many schools don't tell parents they can claim a rebate on school donations. Many parents still think they're paying a fee, rather than a donation. The number of parents claiming back mo...

Turning Complaints into Opportunities!

Dealing with customer complaints can be both gruelling and rewarding. But being able to turn the situation around so your customer is happy with the outcome can strengthen their loyalty to your brand and inspire some gold standard word of mouth marketing. Communication and attitude are as vital as expert product knowledge. Listen and empathise Let the customer tell their story. Ask questions to clarify. Let them know you want to understand. Let your custom...

Building Your Dream Team

In order for your business to be a success, you need to be surrounded by like-minded people with good core skills and values, aiming for the same end goal. In essence, this is your dream team. But how do you ensure you're recruiting the right team players? Be clear What are the qualities you require from employees? Think, plan and be specific so that the right applicants come forward from the beginning. Provide clear instruction during the initial screening ...

Merry Christmas and Thank You for a great year from the A4 Team!

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Ho Ho Ho! Knowing what's deductible

Do your plans for the festive season include functions to celebrate with clients and the team? What about gifts? If they do, here are some tips on the tax implications. When you're entertaining clients or colleagues, some entertainment expenses are tax deductible while others aren't. It can be tricky working out what's deductible as a business expense and what isn't. The basic idea is that an expense is business-related if you spend the money to help your business earn income. Most business-...

In the Office

Unfortunately we say farewell to Paula Kilgour, our receptionist, who is relocating to Taupo, and Sonia Treblico, a member of our Accounting Team. We wish you both all the best. ...

Featured Client

Dr Katherine Tozer is a senior scientist for AgResearch in Hamilton and Dr Peter Tribe a GP in Te Awamutu. They are grateful clients of Accounted4. Katherine has met many wonderful farming people in the 11 years she has lived in New Zealand. She has written 3 books Tales from the Back Country. They tell wonderful stories both recent and old, about life in NZ's rural areas. With their permission she has written these stories down for all to enjoy and accompanied them with amazing relevant scenery...

Featured Partner

Cloudland is a leading cloud services provider and stands apart due to its customer service, technology capability and commitment to delivery. Cloudland customers have seen the removal of significant amounts of IT hassle, savings in cashflow and the freedom to return to their core business. Cloudland has unique solutions for customers seeking to buy their ICT services using a utility model of delivery. Like power and water, Cloudland can provide your company with ICT on a pay-as-you-use basis, a...

In the Industry

In the race to have everything done before the Christmas closedown, make sure you take some time to look at your cashflow and plan for the new year. January is a month with some key tax dates, with a lot of things falling due on 15 January in particular. As well as the usual PAYE return dates, GST returns for both November and December are due in January. And for many, January and February can be big months for provisional tax. Plan ahead to make sure you're covered. Contact us if you think c...

Payroll Team Update

We often hear our clients say they are 'doing the wages' or 'paying the wages'. Anyone involved in payrolls know there is a heck of a lot more to it than that! You are the Payroll Manager of your business and keeping informed and aware of your obligations is a big responsibility. Good staff are one of your biggest assets, so before the festive season kicks in, put your Payroll Manager hat on and let's have a refresh on your obligations in regards to Holiday Pay and Entitlements. Holiday pay ...

Accounts Team Update

If you are giving gifts to your team you may also be liable for fringe benefits tax. There's a $300 exemption from paying FBT per employee per quarter so if the value of the gift is less than $300 you may be exempt. However, if the value of total benefits for an employee goes over $300 for the quarter year (and provided the total value of all benefits doesn't exceed $22,500 for the year), the full value of the benefits is subject to FBT. As for entertainment events, if you invite your team to ...

Business Advisory Update

Inland Revenue's business transformation is an end-to-end business change to bring New Zealand's tax administration into the modern world. Transformation is far more than updating a computer system - it will re-shape the way Inland Revenue works with customers, including improvements to policy and legislative settings. The transformation has three primary aims: •Grow voluntary compliance by making it easier for people to get it right •Reduce compliance costs •Make Government policy ...

In the Community

Accounted4 sponsored several prizes for students first in their classes at the 2016 Senior Prizegiving. Congratulations to those students who won the following: First in Class, Year 11 Accounting – Cale Budd First in Class, Year 11 Economics – Joel Bartrum First in Class, Year 11 Mathematics – Joel Bartrum First in Class, Year 12 Mathematics – Keren Tao First in Class, Year 12 Accounting – Clarissa van den Berg First in Class, Year 13 Accounting – Austin Wong ...

Payroll - Special Rules at Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching we thought it was timely to share some important payroll information from the NZ Government's website regarding "Special Rules at Christmas" You can read it here: https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work-2/special-rules-at-christmas/ ...

Find Us On Facebook

'LIKE' us on Facebook! We have joined the world of Facebook! 'Like' our page Accounted4 Ltd to keep up to date with what's going on in the office and in the Accounting Profession. Click HERE to see our page! ...

Team Vacancy - Receptionist - Fulltime

An outstanding opportunity has come up to join our successful 30 strong team in this very important 'Face of the Company' position. Based centrally in the beautiful charming town of Cambridge we consider this opportunity to be very unique. To be considered for this role you need to have customer service and administration skills that are second to none. You will be our front line ambassador who is professional, well presented, friendly and enjoys meeting and relating to people of all ages. ...

Accounted4 Seminar - XERO Tips and Tricks

Back by popular demand Accounted4 presents an interactive seminar: XERO TIPS & TRICKS When: Tuesday 29th November, 5:30pm – 7:00pm Venue: Accounted4 office, 30 Duke Street, Cambridge Facilitators: David Faville, Jamie Fisher, Geoff Hurst Cost: Complimentary Do you struggle with completing and finalising GST returns? Do you know how the file upload and email functions work? How do you match up invoices and code correctly? What are batch payments? Benefit: This seminar will ...

How Do You Know What To Insure?

It's a bit of a Murphy's Law principle that businesses often don't really come to grips with their risk management plan (or the lack of one) till some random accident takes out a key manager or lead hand and it hits everyone what it will mean for the business. No one can plan for everything but every business should have a sound grasp of the kinds of risks that might hit them hard. And every business should put strategies in place to minimize risk and deal with it, if the ...