Answers
30 tax questions, answered straight
The questions Brisbane clients actually ask, answered in a paragraph each — with a link to the detail if you want it.
Can't find your question?
Call 0422 026 728 or send it through the form at the bottom of this page. We answer questions from non-clients too — it costs us fifteen minutes and it's how most of our clients first got in touch.
- Answered by CPA-qualified staff
- Reply within one business day
- No obligation, no sales script
- Free 15-minute consultation
Questions
Cost and fees
How much does a tax accountant cost in Brisbane?
Individual returns from $150, sole traders from $350, companies and trusts from $900, and ongoing business packages from $220 a month. Our full schedule is published on the fees page — fixed and quoted in writing before work starts.
Is an accountant's fee tax deductible?
Yes. Fees for managing your tax affairs are generally deductible in the year you pay them, so a $350 fee reduces next year's taxable income by $350 — an effective cost closer to $236 at a 32.5% marginal rate.
Can I pay your fee from my refund?
For individual returns, usually yes — the fee is deducted from your ATO refund before it reaches you. There's a small administration cost and it isn't available if you have an ATO debt.
Why is my quote higher than the starting fee?
Rental properties, share or crypto disposals, multiple income sources, foreign income, prior-year catch-up and poor records all add work. For businesses, bookkeeping quality is the single biggest driver.
Do you charge for phone calls?
Not on monthly business packages — ad-hoc questions are included. Clients who hesitate to call their accountant make expensive decisions alone, and we'd rather take the call.
Questions
Deadlines and lodgement
When is my tax return due?
31 October if you lodge yourself. Engage a registered agent before that date and your due date generally moves to as late as 15 May the following year — provided prior returns are up to date.
What if I miss the 31 October deadline?
Lodge as soon as possible. Failure-to-lodge penalties accrue per 28-day period, but they can often be remitted where there's a reasonable explanation, especially on voluntary disclosure.
How long does a refund take?
Around 10–14 business days after electronic lodgement, subject to ATO checks and any existing debts. We prepare most individual returns within 48 hours of receiving documents.
What are the quarterly BAS dates?
28 October, 28 February, 28 April and 28 July, with roughly four extra weeks through a registered agent — except the December quarter, which already carries an extended date.
Can I get an extension on super?
No. Superannuation guarantee must reach the fund by the quarterly due date. There are no agent concessions, and late super is not deductible.
Questions
Deductions
What can I claim without receipts?
Up to $300 in total work-related expenses, provided you actually incurred them and can explain the basis. Once the total exceeds $300, written evidence is required for the whole amount.
How much can I claim for working from home?
70 cents per hour under the fixed rate, or the apportioned actual cost of energy, internet and phone. You need a record of actual hours for the full year either way.
Can I claim my drive to work?
Generally no. Travel between two workplaces in a day, to a client site, or carrying bulky tools that can't be stored securely can be claimable — ordinary commuting isn't.
Can I claim my phone and internet?
Yes, at a work-use percentage you can support — typically from a representative four-week period. Under the WFH fixed rate they're already covered, so you can't claim them twice.
What deductions apply to my job specifically?
Different occupations have very different claimable patterns. We publish checklists for nurses, teachers, tradies, truck drivers and others.
Questions
Business and structure
When is it worth setting up a company?
Once profits consistently exceed what you draw, or liability exposure grows, or partners are involved. Below that, the compliance cost usually outweighs the benefit — our calculator shows the difference at your numbers.
When do I have to register for GST?
At $75,000 of GST turnover on a rolling 12-month basis, forwards or backwards — or from the first dollar for ride-sourcing. Registration is backdated to when the requirement arose, not when you notice.
Does super apply to contractor invoices?
Often yes. Where a contract is wholly or principally for a person's labour, super applies even against an ABN invoice.
What is Division 7A?
Money taken out of your company other than as wages or a franked dividend is a loan, and without a complying loan agreement it can become an unfranked deemed dividend taxed at your full marginal rate.
Do I need to resolve trust distributions before 30 June?
Yes — in writing, dated on or before 30 June. Miss it and the trustee can be assessed at the top marginal rate, or default beneficiaries take the income.
Questions
Property, shares and crypto
What can I claim on a rental property?
Interest on the portion borrowed for the property, rates, water, insurance, body corporate, agent fees, repairs, land tax and depreciation including capital works at 2.5% a year.
Do I pay tax if I only swapped one crypto for another?
Yes — crypto-to-crypto swaps are CGT events measured in AUD at the time of the swap. This is the most common misunderstanding we correct.
How is CGT calculated when I sell property?
Proceeds less the cost base, with a 50% discount for individuals holding over 12 months. The contract date sets the income year, and non-residents generally lose the main residence exemption.
Is a quantity surveyor report worth the cost?
For property built after 1987 or substantially renovated, almost always — the report costs $600–$800, is deductible, and commonly unlocks several thousand dollars in the first year.
Does the ATO know about my crypto and shares?
Assume yes. Exchanges, brokers, share registries and property records all report to the ATO, and much of it appears in prefill.
Questions
Working with us
How do I change accountants?
You sign an engagement letter, we request your records with a professional clearance letter, and we verify opening balances. One to three weeks, and you don't need to have an awkward conversation.
Do I have to come to your office?
No. Most clients work with us entirely by phone, email and secure video, with returns signed electronically. The Wakerley office is there if you'd prefer to sit down.
What if I haven't lodged for years?
We reconstruct each year from ATO data and your records, lodge in sequence, request penalty remission and arrange payment if there's tax owing. It's routine work.
What happens if the ATO reviews my return?
We handle the correspondence as your registered agent. Because claims are substantiated when made, a review is usually a matter of forwarding what we already hold.
Are you registered, and how do I check?
We're CPA Australia members registered with the Tax Practitioners Board as Tax and BAS Agents. Any Australian agent can be verified on the TPB public register — we encourage you to check.
Ready when you are
Talk to a Brisbane tax accountant.
Free 15-minute consultation. No obligation — just clear advice on what you need, what it costs, and what you could be saving.