Small Business Solutions

06/09/2026

GST Is Not Your Business's Money.

GST collected is not income. It is tax collected from customers on behalf of the Government and must be paid to Inland Revenue by the due date.

Using GST funds to pay wages, suppliers, rent, or other operating expenses does not remove the obligation to pay that GST. The debt remains payable to Inland Revenue regardless of how the money was spent.

Likewise, closing a company or walking away from it does not automatically make unpaid GST disappear. While directors are not personally liable for every company debt, personal liability can arise in certain circumstances, particularly where directors breach their duties under the Companies Act 1993.
Examples include:

Reckless trading (section 135)
Directors must not allow a company to operate in a manner that creates a substantial risk of serious loss to creditors, including Inland Revenue.

Incurring obligations (section 136)
Directors must not agree to the company incurring an obligation unless they reasonably believe the company will be able to meet that obligation when it falls due.

Court-ordered contribution (section 301)
Following liquidation, a liquidator may apply to the court for an order requiring a director to contribute compensation where a breach of duty is established.

The message is simple: set GST aside, file returns on time, and pay GST when it is due.

If your business is struggling to meet its tax obligations, do not ignore the problem or continue accumulating debt without professional advice.
Contact Inland Revenue and seek assistance from your accountant as early as possible.

GST is not working capital. It is money held on behalf of the Government and should be treated accordingly.

12/08/2026

21/07/2026

Business Planning

What would happen if your biggest customer walked away tomorrow? Or a key supplier suddenly became unavailable? Or new regulations disrupted your industry?

Would your business be ready?

If your answer is, "We'd probably work it out," or "We have a rough idea," then now is the time to close that gap before the end of 2026.

Here are three practical steps you can take today:

1. Identify your business essentials.
Determine the minimum cash flow, staffing levels, and operational capacity needed to keep your business running under any circumstances.

2. Develop three financial scenarios.
Create an optimistic forecast, a realistic (base case) forecast, and a worst-case scenario. More importantly, define the actions you'll take for each scenario so decisions have already been made before they're needed.

3. Turn contingency planning into action.
A contingency plan shouldn't sit on a shelf. Test it. Run through realistic scenarios with your team so everyone knows what to do if the unexpected happens.

The objective isn't to predict the future—it's to ensure you're not making your most important decisions for the first time in the middle of a crisis.

Ask yourself: What's the one scenario your business is least prepared to handle right now?

20/05/2026

Running a business is demanding, and staying on top of your numbers can feel overwhelming without the right support.

Our Quarterly Business Review Meetings help accounting clients step back, review performance, and plan ahead with confidence.

Here is what we cover every 90 days:
• 📊 Review Financial Performance: Understand what your numbers are really telling you.

• 💸 Manage Cash Flow: Identify risks early and make better financial decisions.

• 🧾 Plan Ahead: Prepare for tax obligations, key deadlines, and upcoming business goals.

• ✅ Stay Accountable: Turn financial insights into clear actions for the next quarter.

If you want more clarity, better planning, and stronger control over your business finances, let’s talk.

17/05/2026

One of the biggest surprises for new business owners is the tax bill that can hit in year two.
I talk about this in almost every new client meeting: provisional tax isn’t an extra tax, but it does mean you need to start setting money aside early. If you don’t, year two can come with a real sting.

That’s because many growing businesses end up facing a double bill — terminal tax for the first year, plus provisional tax for the second year, often due around the same time.

A little planning early on can make a huge difference and save a lot of stress later.

If you’re not sure what you should be setting aside, let’s talk before the deadlines creep up on you.

29/04/2026

Receipts aren’t “nice to have” — they’re a legal obligation.

You need to keep records for seven years, and if IRD reviews your return, the burden of proof is on you.

No paperwork means no deduction.

With IRD stepping up audits, now’s the time to make sure your documentation is solid.

30/03/2026

Payroll Updates Effective 1 April 2026

Please ensure your payroll system is updated to reflect the following changes effective from the first pay run on or after 1 April 2026:

• Minimum wage increases to $23.95 per hour
• Starting out and training wage increases to $19.16 per hour
• KiwiSaver minimum contributions increase to 3.5% (employee and employer)

We suggest you carefully review your first pay run dated after the 31st March to ensure these changes have been made.