Tax planning isn't just about reducing this year's bill—it's about structuring your business to minimize tax over the long term while maintaining compliance. We coordinate tax planning across your bookkeeping, payroll, and business structure, ensuring every element works together. This requires close partnership with your accountant and proactive planning throughout the year, not reactive adjustments at tax time.
The Challenge
You're paying tax based on last year's structure and don't know if it's still optimal
You're surprised by your tax bill at year-end and wish you'd known sooner
You're unsure whether to take income as salary or dividend given your personal situation
You've made large profits and want to reduce tax but don't know what's legal
You have multiple entities or investments and don't know how to coordinate tax across them
What's Included
A written tax plan for the year showing expected position, planning opportunities, and recommendations. Updated quarterly as your actual results come in.
Updated forecast each quarter showing expected year-end tax position and options to adjust. Allows you to make proactive decisions before results are locked in.
Analysis of your current structure (company, trust, sole trader) and whether changes would improve tax efficiency. Includes cost/benefit of restructure.
Detailed analysis of optimal salary/dividend mix given your profit, personal tax rate, superannuation contributions, and franking credit use.
When you're considering significant decisions (acquisition, major capital investment, business restructure), we analyze tax implications and compare options.
Why It Matters
Tax planning for SMEs is often overlooked—owners focus on operations and assume their accountant handles tax. But reactive tax at year-end loses most planning opportunities. We take a proactive approach: understanding your business goals, forecasting where you'll end the year, and making adjustments throughout the year so tax is optimized. For a $1M profit business, the difference between 30% tax (poor planning) and 22% tax (good planning) is $80,000—worth serious attention. Tax planning starts with understanding your business structure. Are you in a company, trust, or sole trader? What's your personal tax rate? Do you have losses or franking credits? Then we look at decisions within your control: how much to pay yourself as salary vs. dividend, when to recognize income and deductions, whether to invest in assets that get accelerated depreciation, whether to make charitable donations that are deductible. Finally, we coordinate with major business decisions: acquisitions, loans, significant capital investment—all have tax implications worth considering in advance.
Year-round tax planning, not just year-end calculations
Coordination across entities, payroll, and investment decisions
Proactive structure optimization based on business performance
Alignment with major decisions (hiring, investment, acquisition)
Documentation and contemporaneous evidence for aggressive positions
Maximized tax-effective outcomes within compliance boundaries
The Process
Annual tax planning meeting to discuss goals, expected performance, and major decisions
Quarterly reviews of actual results vs. forecast with tax adjustments as needed
Entity and structure review to optimize tax efficiency given your business model
Payroll optimization coordinated with company profit and dividend strategy
Expense capitalization and timing coordinated for maximum tax benefit
Year-end position reviewed and adjusted before final tax position finalizes
Best For
Profitable business owners who want to reduce tax while remaining compliant
Owners of structured entities (companies, trusts, partnerships) with complex income allocation
Growing businesses expecting significant profit increases
Business owners considering major decisions (acquisition, capital investment, restructure) with tax implications
Complementary Services
BAS preparation from fully reconciled, current financial data ensures every figure is verifiable, defensible, and audit-ready. We calculate GST, PAYG, and other obligations from your actual records, then provide the BAS ready for your review and lodgement.
Financial strategy translates business vision into financial reality. We develop 3-5 year financial plans aligned with your growth ambitions, identify capital requirements, plan for profitability milestones, and ensure financial decisions support strategic goals. This bridges the gap between business strategy and financial execution.
For companies with boards or advisory councils, professional reporting is essential for informed decision-making. We prepare comprehensive board papers including financial statements, commentary, strategic metrics, and recommendations. Reporting is customized to board composition (independent directors, investors, family shareholders) and board priorities.
FAQ
Tax planning is using legitimate tax rules to minimize your tax liability. Tax evasion is lying about facts or concealing income. We focus purely on legal tax planning: using loss carry-forwards, timing of income and expenses, entity structure optimization, and legitimate deductions. Everything is defensible and documented.
Yes, but differently. Trusts allow income distribution flexibility. Companies have franking credit benefits but double taxation on distributions. We analyze your structure and propose optimizations.
Sometimes. Salary is deductible for the company and concessional income for you. Dividends are distributed profit with franking. The optimal mix depends on your marginal tax rate and profit level.
Yes. Non-capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely if you maintain continuity of ownership. Capital losses can only be offset against capital gains. We track and manage loss positions carefully.
Not necessarily. Most benefit comes from managing your current structure optimally: timing of expenses, income allocation, optimal salary/dividend mix. Changing structure involves costs and should be carefully evaluated.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Get in touch
We can help you implement tax planning coordination and start seeing results. Book a consultation to discuss your specific needs and explore how this service can transform your business.