GFM December 2025 Newsletter
30 November 2025
“Less than one month of 2025 to go — Let’s Make It Count”
Dear Valued Clients,
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to extend our warmest thanks for your trust and partnership throughout the year. It has been our privilege to support you in navigating financial goals, compliance requirements, and business decisions during a year full of change and opportunity.
This festive season, we’d like to share a few updates, reminders, and holiday well-wishes as we prepare to step into 2026.
Stronger advisory support: We expanded our business advisory and tax-planning services to help clients respond to new regulations and economic shifts.
Holiday office hours: Our office will be closed from Tuesday 23rd December 2025 reopening on Thursday 8th January 2026 Urgent matters can still be emailed to your dedicated Accountant
Looking Ahead to 2026
We are excited for the year to come and committed to helping you achieve financial clarity, stability, and growth. Expect new resources and enhanced support services designed to make your accounting experience even smoother.
From our entire team, thank you again for your continued partnership. We wish you and your family a joyous Christmas, a relaxing holiday season, and a prosperous New Year.
Warm regards,
ATO have started processing the government’s 20% reduction of student debts
The 20% reduction to all study and training support loans that existed on 1 June 2025 is now law.
The 20% reduction will be backdated to your loan as at 1 June 2025, before indexation was applied. Indexation will be re-calculated on the reduced loan amount, and any excess indexation credited back to your loan.
ATO aim to reduce the majority of eligible student and training support debts by the end of December 2025. If the reduction puts the account in credit, the ATO will issue refunds separately. Most refunds will be processed by the end of January 2026.
We encourage you to check that your bank account details are up to date.
If you are unable to check or confirm your bank details via your MyGov please telephone our office on 03 9374 2422 and we can check this for you after confirming your “proof of identity”.
Please note this cannot be done via email.
A Timely Reminder: Prevention Protects What Matters Most.
Recently, one of our clients was unexpectedly hospitalised with shortness of breath and ultimately required triple bypass surgery. Thankfully, he is recovering well. But his experience serves as a powerful reminder: in both life and business, prevention is priceless.
Too often we tell ourselves, “It can wait.” But whether it’s a health screening or a business compliance review, delays can allow small risks to grow into serious problems. Prevention isn’t just about avoiding harm—it’s about protecting what matters most before it’s too late.
As we near the end of the year—when workloads are at their peak, fatigue sets in, and things get pushed aside—we encourage you to pause and reflect:
👉 Have you booked your personal health check?
👉 And just as importantly, is your business due for its own health check?
Taking action today can make all the difference tomorrow.
Please complete our Financial Health Check Form or contact Darren West or Brent Vickery if you would like to discuss your business health further.
ATO rental data matching
The ATO is launching a rental data matching program to ensure taxpayers have correctly reported rental income.
Affected clients will receive a letter if the data suggests they have overdue tax returns with rental income or have omitted rental income in lodged tax returns.
Payday Super is now law – get ready today
Payday Super is a major change to Australia’s superannuation system designed to ensure employees receive their super contributions more regularly. Instead of employers paying super quarterly, they will be required to pay super at the same time as wages—”payday”. This reform aims to strengthen retirement outcomes, reduce unpaid super, and give workers greater visibility over their entitlements.
When Does Payday Super Start?
The Australian Government has confirmed that payday super will commence from 1 July 2026. Employers will need to adjust payroll systems to ensure super contributions are paid on or before each payday.
Why Is Payday Super Being Introduced?
- Reduce Unpaid Super: Late or unpaid super is a significant issue affecting workers across Australia.
- Improve Retirement Savings: More frequent contributions mean more consistent compounding of investment returns.
- Greater Transparency: Employees can track super in real time, reducing discrepancies and errors.
- Fairer Outcomes: Supports workers in industries with variable or irregular work patterns.
What This Means for Employers
Employers will need to:
- Update payroll systems to automate super payments each payday.
- Review cash flow management due to more frequent contribution cycles.
- Ensure compliance to avoid penalties or super guarantee charges.
- Engage with payroll providers and software platforms ahead of implementation.
Tip: Start planning early—review existing processes and ensure your software will be compatible with payday super requirements.
What This Means for Employees
Employees will benefit through:
- More regular super payments, allowing savings to grow sooner.
- Improved monitoring, with contributions appearing in funds shortly after payday.
- Less risk of unpaid or missing super, especially in industries prone to compliance issues.
ATO’s Role Under Payday Super
The ATO will strengthen real-time reporting and data-matching. Employers will report both wage and super information more frequently, helping the ATO identify non-compliance faster.
How to Prepare Now
For Employers
- Review payroll systems and speak with your software provider.
- Assess cash flow and budgeting adjustments needed.
- Train HR and payroll staff on upcoming requirements.
For Employees
- Check your current super fund details are correct.
- Monitor employer contributions through your fund’s online portal.
- Understand your super guarantee entitlements.
Final Thoughts
Payday Super represents a significant shift in the administration of Australia’s superannuation system, aimed at creating more secure and transparent outcomes. Whether you’re an employer preparing for new compliance obligations or an employee looking to protect your retirement savings, now is the time to understand and get ready for the change.
If you need any assistance with any of the above, please let us know!
Vacant residential land tax
VRLT applies to residential land across all of Victoria if it is vacant for more than 6 months in the preceding calendar year. For example, if your property was vacant in 2025, you may need to pay VRLT in 2026.
From 1 January 2026, VRLT is extending to land in metropolitan Melbourne that has remained undeveloped for a continuous period of 5 years or more and is capable of residential development.
If you own residential land that was vacant in 2025, you must notify SRO by 15 February 2026.
Some land may be exempt. Even if you believe your land is exempt, you still need to make a notification to apply for an exemption.
NOTE exemptions lodged in January 2025 are still valid unless the circumstances of the property has changed, you have purchased new property or undeveloped land now caught up.
Keep on top of your payroll governance to meet your employer obligations.
When you employ staff, it’s important to have good payroll governance so that you can meet your employer tax, reporting and super obligations, including:
- Pay As You Go (PAYG) Withholding
- Single Touch Payroll (STP)
- Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT)
- Super Guarantee (SG)
If you need assistance with you payroll obligations please contact us.
Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO)
The government is boosting the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO) to provide additional support to low income workers to help build their retirement savings.
From 1 July 2027, the LISTO threshold will increase from $37,000 to $45,000 to match the top of the second income tax bracket. The maximum payment will also increase to $810 to account for recent increases in the Superannuation Guarantee rate.
These changes will make sure LISTO achieves its policy intent of providing low income workers a tax concession on their superannuation contributions to support income in retirement.
Key Dates
- Lodge and Pay October 2025 Monthly BAS/IAS – 21st November 2025
- Lodge and Pay November 2025 Payroll Tax – 8th December 2025
- Lodge and Pay November 2025 Monthly BAS/IAS – 22nd December 2025
- Lodge and Pay December 2025 Quarter Super Guarantee Contributions – 28th January 2026
- Lodge and Pay December 2025 Payroll Tax – 14th January 2026
- Lodge and Pay December 2025 Quarterly BAS – 28th February 2026
