As the character of Darryl Kerrigan in The Castle said, “it’s not a house. It’s a home,” and the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO)
interpretation of a main residence is not fundamentally different.
A home is generally considered to be your main residence if:
Family home tax free? Get in touch.
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Fundraising Evening // 9 October, 2026 - 5:30 - 7:30pm
$35pp includes a welcome drink & nibbles
An evening of networking, meaningful conversation and fundraising with Wayne Holdsworth, supporting the vital work of SmackTalk and helping
create safer online communities.
LIVE INFORMATION EVENING
Wednesday 7 October, 5:30-7:30pm
Most families don't start thinking about retirement living or aged care until they're forced to make decisions quickly. Join us for an informative evening covering retirement living, future care planning, downsizing considerations, aged care costs, estate
preservation and strategies to help families make informed decisions before they become urgent. Designed for retirees, adult children and families looking to better understand their options and plan ahead with confidence.
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Lunch & Learn Workshop // 18 September, 2026 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
$35pp includes lunch
Many business owners believe growth comes from more sales. But in reality, the strongest and most profitable
businesses grow by improving how the business works, not just by selling more. This session is designed to change that. The
5-Critical Financial Metrics
is a practical workshop that shows you where small, targeted changes can create disproportionately big improvements in profit, cashflow and
sustainability.
Hiring entertainers, promotional staff or event contractors for your Christmas function could create superannuation obligations you didn't expect.
Helping a family member buy a property may seem straightforward, but the way ownership is structured today could have significant tax consequences years down the track.
Working from home could have tax implications long after you've stopped claiming deductions. Here's what every business owner should know.
ASIC's director ID data matching is set to expose outdated company records. A quick review now could save you time, stress and unnecessary penalties later.
Just announced this week, draft legislation and explanatory materials with 15 DAY Consultation period!! Enough to give you a headache! These are NOT BETTER FOR YOU. It proposes an alternative to restructuring that would allow existing discretionary trusts to avoid the 30% minimum tax by fixing beneficiaries’ entitlements to income and capital, an apparently simple election with potentially significant long-term consequences.
Darwin has become Australia's standout property market, recording house price growth of around 16 per cent and unit price growth of around 13 per cent
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MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Friday 31 August, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Join our practical,
educational workshop designed to help business owners understand the lending process and in preparation for funding conversations, learn how lending decisions are really made and what banks actually look for.
The start of a new financial year is an ideal moment to review your existing equipment finance commitments.
Our annual compliance guide highlights key accounting, tax and business obligations throughout the financial year, including BAS, IAS, WorkCover, payroll, tax return and EOFY planning dates.
The auction environment is deliberately designed to create competition and momentum. Bidding can move quickly, and it is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment.
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MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Tuesday 25 August, 10:00am-12:00pm
This practical, confidence-building session is designed to give business owners control. Know Your Numbers is a hands-on workshop created specifically for non-financial business owners who want clarity and confidence in their decision-making.
Understanding this before you apply helps set realistic expectations and makes it easier to compare what different lenders are offering you rather than what they advertise.
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MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Monday 24 August, 5:30-7:30pm
This practical, education-first session helps business owners cut through the confusion and take back control of their business insurance
decisions.
Financing an older vehicle is a common goal, but it comes with a set of challenges that do not apply in the same way to newer cars.
Spring is consistently the busiest period of the year for Australian property, with more listings, open homes and competition than at any other time.
As income grows, it's easy for spending to grow with it. This article explores practical strategies to help you make the most of your strongest earning years and build greater financial freedom for the future.
B.I.T.E. Business Conference 2026 brought together business owners, leaders and innovators for a day of inspiration, learning and connection. Take a look back at the highlights from another successful event.
Many SMSF members assume their Will determines who receives their super. However, without the right SMSF arrangements in place, the outcome may not be what you intended.
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MP SHIRE SMALL BUSINESS FESTIVAL / LIVE WORKSHOP
Monday 10 August, 5:30-7:30pm
This practical session, in collaboration with the Mornington Peninsula Shire as part of the Small Business Festival, helps small business
owners understand AI and automation and shows how small businesses can use smarter tools to reduce manual work, improve accuracy and
create more capacity for growth.
The ATO has updated its approach to holiday homes and short-term rentals, potentially affecting deductions claimed by some property owners. Understanding how your property is used could help you avoid surprises at tax time.
If family overseas is planning to send you money, it's important to have the right records in place. A recent court case highlights how difficult things can become when documentation is missing
| Borrowing through a family trust can be effective, but the wrong structure could put valuable interest deductions at risk. |
Conference // 5 August, 2026 - ALL DAY EVENT
The B.I.T.E. Business Conference 2026 is the Mornington Peninsula’s premier event for bold business owners ready to rethink what’s
possible, reinvent how they operate, and reignite their growth. Hear from global keynote speakers including Grant Hackett, Andrew Griffiths
and Kate Christie plus local business innovators.
| Received an ASIC renewal or company review notice in the mail? Before you pay, here's how to spot third-party correspondence and avoid unnecessary costs. |
| Planning to buy property through your SMSF? A key rule change from 10 August 2026 could impact your options. Understanding the deadline now may help you avoid missing an important opportunity. |
| Working more than one job this year? You could end up paying less tax throughout the year and more at tax time. Here's why it happens and how to avoid an unexpected bill. |
The headlines say negative gearing is "gone." For most investors, that is not what the new law does.
From 1 July 2027, the 50% CGT discount will be replaced — for individuals, trusts and partnerships — by two mechanisms working together: indexation of the asset's cost base, and a minimum 30% tax on the resulting net gain.
Since the beginning of 2025, 62 per cent of occupiers leasing more than 1,000 square metres have either expanded or maintained their footprint.
Darwin's commercial property sector is strengthening with rising rents.
| SMART Business Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Josh Underhill as Partner, recognising his outstanding contribution to the firm and the clients he supports every day. |
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Smart Business Solutions is proud to announce that Ryan Smit, an accounting student at RMIT University and Assistant Accountant at SMART Business Solutions, has been named Accounting Student of the Year, recognised for his forward-thinking approach to the profession and his commitment to integrating AI, intelligent workflows and technology into modern accounting practice.
For many business owners, superannuation is something that gets attention in June — when tax planning comes into focus. But the real opportunity lies in planning your super contributions at the start of the financial year, not the end.
The new financial year has officially clicked over – and with it comes the trio of mid-year obligations every employer needs on the radar: Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation, WorkCover declarations, and Payroll Tax annual reconciliation.
On 26 June 2026, the Federal Government passed a significant change to how Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) can invest in residential property. New Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to purchase residential property inside an SMSF will be banned from approximately 10 August 2026 — 45 days after Royal Assent.
Grant Hackett joins Shannon Smit to share what it takes to perform at the highest level - from Olympic success to leading an ASX-listed business. This episode unpacks the mindset, discipline and leadership habits that drive long-term success, including key lessons on consistency, blind spots and building sustainable high performance.
The First Home Guarantee allows eligible buyers to purchase with a 5 per cent deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
The 2026 Federal Budget proposed the most significant changes to residential property tax settings in a generation.
How a business crosses the 30 June line matters more than many owners realise
From 1 July 2025, interest charges on business tax debt were also deemed non-deductible by the ATO, increasing the real cost of carrying that debt.
Commercial property investors are increasingly focused on asset quality over broad sector performance.
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AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in MELBOURNE with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using cutting-edge
Agentic AI tools including Chat GPT, Claude, CoPilot and Gemini. This workshop is built for accountants,
bookkeepers, finance teams, and business owners who want to move beyond basic prompts and turn AI into a reliable, ethical, and practical
system for everyday work.
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AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in BRISBANE with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using cutting-edge Agentic
AI tools including Chat GPT, Claude, CoPilot and Gemini. This workshop is built for accountants, bookkeepers, finance teams,
and business owners who want to move beyond basic prompts and turn AI into a reliable, ethical, and practical system for everyday work.
A caravan loan can make the upfront cost manageable, but it’s the ongoing expenses that can catch first-time owners off guard.
Fixing your rate can offer certainty, but it also involves trade-offs that are worth understanding before making a decision.
Lenders calculate how much you can borrow based on your income, existing debts, living expenses and other financial commitments.
Hiring entertainers, promotional staff or event contractors for your Christmas function could create superannuation obligations you didn't expect.
Helping a family member buy a property may seem straightforward, but the way ownership is structured today could have significant tax consequences years down the track.
