Accounting Update September 2026
Three Things Business Owners Should Be Reviewing Now
We are already well into the 2026–27 financial year, and for business owners this is an important time to look forward rather than simply focus on last year’s tax return. The businesses that generally get the best outcomes are the ones that plan early—particularly around tax, cash flow, investment and major decisions.
Here are three areas we believe every business owner should be reviewing now.
1. Do you know what your tax bill is likely to be?
By this point in the year, we can start building a meaningful picture of how your business is tracking.
That means looking at more than just your bank balance. We want to understand:
year-to-date profitability
expected income tax
GST and PAYG obligations
upcoming superannuation commitments
debt repayments
planned dividends or distributions
major expenditure expected over the next 6–12 months.
One of the most common issues we see is a profitable business that has not adequately provided for its future tax obligations.
A proactive tax and cash-flow forecast can help avoid surprises and, importantly, give you time to make decisions while there are still options available.
If you do not currently know what your expected tax position looks like for this financial year, now is a good time to find out.
2. Is your business structure still right for where you are going?
Businesses change. Revenue increases, new shareholders come in, property is acquired, staff become more senior, owners begin thinking about succession, and personal wealth starts to grow outside the business.
The structure that worked five years ago may not necessarily be the right structure today.
This is a good time to review areas such as:
company and trust structures
how profits are being distributed
asset protection
business and personal debt
retained earnings
succession or future sale plans
how wealth is moving from the company balance sheet to your family balance sheet.
These decisions are often significantly easier to manage when they are considered before a transaction, sale or major investment occurs.
3. What major decisions are you likely to make before 30 June?
Tax planning is most effective when it starts months before year-end.
If you are considering any of the following, it is worth discussing the decision with your accountant before committing:
purchasing new equipment or vehicles
acquiring another business
selling a business or major asset
employing additional staff
paying bonuses
making significant superannuation contributions
restructuring debt
buying commercial property
bringing family members or key employees into the business.
For eligible small businesses, the $20,000 instant asset write-off is now permanent, while changes such as Payday Super have also altered the timing of employer cash-flow obligations.
There are also broader tax changes coming over the next few years that may make early planning around business structures, trusts and succession increasingly important.
Don’t wait until June
A good accountant should not just tell you what happened last year. They should help you understand where your business is heading, what your future tax position looks like and what decisions you can make now to improve the outcome.
Over the next few months, the Future Wealth Partners accounting team will be proactively meeting with clients to review their business, tax and cash-flow position.
If you have experienced strong growth, your circumstances have changed, or you have a major business or investment decision coming up, we encourage you to book a planning meeting with your accountant now.
A 60-minute conversation today can often identify opportunities—or potential issues—well before 30 June.
BOOK YOUR BUSINESS & TAX PLANNING REVIEW
Contact your Future Wealth Partners accountant to arrange a meeting.
General information only. This article does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances and applicable law.
