Monthly Archives: September 2019

Understanding your numbers

Understanding your numbers? If you are using an accounting package alone, then it is very difficult to understand much about your business.

Why? Because traditional accounting packages, even those in the cloud, only really report on what has happened. They simply tally numbers and throw them into columns. Too many just accept this and continue under the mistaken belief that clumps of numbers for this year and last year is all there is to know.

Far from it.

Any trend could start and/or stop and you wouldn’t know what the impact was. Nor would you be in a position to do something about it.

Trends only become clear when you look at performance ratios, solvency ratios and other KPIs (key performance indicators). We actively use such reports with our clients.

But we do more than that.

We also use other unique software which:-

Identifies issues from a high level look.
Predicts the outcome of changing drivers of those weakened area.

In the last week, this tool has enabled us to discuss a matters with our clients such as:-

A price increase of 4.65% was required to get back to last year’s trading profit.
How many customers would have to be lost for a 10% price increase and yet still make the same profit (*).
That a $136,453 increase in sales only added $50,346 to trading profit at last year’s trading margin. See the image below to see the graph and introductory commentary.
In retail where sales are harder to find, that a 1% reduction in overheads was going to save $2,853.
That savings overheads of $2,853 would equate to extra sales of $9,086 (at last year’s margin).
We separately quantified and discussed the effect of not achieving last year’s margin.
For customers paying on average one day early, $2,918 would be added to the bank balance. We also discussed ways to achieve this.
For a new client. Setting the cost of goods section correctly in their accounting ledger so they actually know what they make form each sale.

(*) This is the most stunning tool I have ever used with clients. Time and time it both removes fear of the unknown (in this case losing customers) and the conviction to make key changes to the business.

We also presented clients a one page action plan of the steps and the outcome from achieving them. We will catch up every month by Zoom or Skype to monitor and discuss their progress.

If your accountant just drops a set of financials and Tax Returns on your lap and says sign here, then consider what the cost to you of that myopic service is.

Not understanding your numbers? We would welcome the opportunity to discuss your business and the ways in which we can help you. The meeting will be free of cost or obligation, so you have nothing to lose (as against staying where you are).

Income splitting

Income splitting refers to ensuring income is legally earned by a partner or family member and taxed at their lower tax rate.

In respect of share investments, we often find that new clients have done that.

It often surprises me though, indeed just as it is with a new client, how often the high income earner has all the bank accounts and term deposits earning interest in their own name. Having such accounts in joint names is half as bad. The tax burden would be a lot less if held in the name of the spouse name on the lower marginal tax rate (and almost always will still be treated as a joint asset for family law purposes). Same income, better tax result.

Negatively geared properties however require detailed consideration. Negative gearing refers to the situation where the interest and other expenses incurred on an investment exceed the income from that investment. The tax break on negative gearing often dictates that the investment be made in the name of the high income earner. That said, with the 10 year bond yield under 1%, interest aren’t going up in a hurry – which means that properties become more quickly positively geared than they have in recent years. In other words, getting a tax break doesn’t last for that long and actually becomes a tax problem relatively quickly.

The other factor for consideration is when will the property be sold.

If in retirement, the tax burden may be low; if whilst working the tax could be eye watering.

We welcome any tax question you may have.

ATO threatening SMSFs

Last week the ATO wrote to 17,700 self managed super funds (SMSFs) and threatened fines of up to $4,200. That’s one in every 33 SMSFs! The threat was issued to trustees where their SMSF had more than 90% of its assets in one asset class.

But that in itself is not a breach.

As all SMSF trustees will know:-

Their fund must have an investment strategy, and
An investment strategy must consider investments, providing retirement benefits, risk and diversification, and
That SMSFs are audited (and the ATO have already audited the auditors).

You might well therefore ask why the threat. And more to the point, why threaten trustees and do so with significant fines.

Whilst this approach seems unnecessary, some funds may need to better evidence their decisions.

There is nothing wrong with having the bulk of your SMSF assets in just one class. You just need to make sure your investment strategy evidences that and the reasons why.

If there is an issue it remains in respect of property owned by a fund in, or largely in, pension mode. There comes a point for some SMSFs paying pensions that the rate of return (i.e. net rent) is below minimum pension levels. Pension payments are based off market values, so in time cash reserves can be drained (noting that the minimum pension rate is 6% of asset values from age 75, 7% from age 80 with escalating increases thereafter). The problem escalates if the property becomes untenanted.

In closing, I’d like to make three points:-

Investment strategies are not set and forget documents. They were introduced to force trustees to evaluate and monitor all investments.
Measuring SMSFs investment mix/percentages based off numbers as they are 30^th June is prone to error. Accumulation funds are often flushed with cash at 30^th June with last minute contributions (although not so true today with such low concessional contribution caps). Conversely, pension funds are typically low on cash at 30^th June as many SMSFs only pay pensions in the back end of June.
This is again a reminder of the many reasons as to why the trustee of a super fund should be a company and not individuals. If the ATO is successful in fining the corporate trustee of a SMSF over this matter then the fine will be $4,200. If individuals are trustees, the fine will be $4,200 per trustee. Four trustees means the ATO will pocket $16,800! And remember that such fines must be paid personally; the fund can’t pay it on the trustees behalf.

We will be contacting our SMSF trustees who may receive such letters. If you do though have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Monthly Archives: September 2019

It’s an important distinction as it can make a world of difference.

So are you a share trader?

Not sure where you sit?

We also use other unique software which:-

In the last week, this tool has enabled us to discuss a matters with our clients such as:-

The other factor for consideration is when will the property be sold.

As all SMSF trustees will know:-

In closing, I’d like to make three points:-