What a difference timing makes. A recent case before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is a reminder about the tax impact of the
timing of employment income.
When the job ended, the taxpayer moved to Australia and became a resident. Once in Australia, the former employer
honoured the performance bonus and paid it as a series of instalments.
The dispute between the ATO and the taxpayer started when the Commissioner issued amended assessments taxing the bonus payments received.
The dispute focused on when the bonus was derived. Had the bonus been derived while the taxpayer was still a non-resident then it would not
have been taxed in Australia.
This is because non-residents are normally only taxed in Australia on Australian sourced income. Employment income is typically sourced
in the place where the work is performed (although there can be exceptions to this).
Australian tax case law says that employment income is normally derived on receipt. In the taxpayer’s case, this was when he received the
payments from his former employer, not when he became entitled to the bonus. Because the taxpayer received the bonus when he was a tax
resident of Australia, the bonus was subject to tax.
The difference for the taxpayer was quite dramatic. Had he been paid the bonus when it was due, he would have paid no
tax as Kuwait does not impose income tax.
Please call us if you are concerned about tax residency or managing overseas income. We want our people to be the best they can be.
After overwhelming demand and sold-out sessions in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Mornington in 2025, we’re inviting expressions of interest for 2026. If you missed out earlier or are ready to dive into hands-on automation training, we’re considering additional sessions in various locations across Australia in 2026.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - MELBOURNE CBD
15 & 16 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - SYDNEY
11 & 12 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - ADELAIDE CBD
8 & 9 December 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance
professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and
optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
Guyrobb Electrics’ success story shows how structure, visibility, and partnership can transform the way a business operates. With the right systems, advice, and regular strategic review, Jon has been able to grow confidently.
As a relatively new business owner, Sharyn was looking for an advisor who could go beyond compliance — someone who could translate financial data into strategy, build her confidence with numbers, and help her align her team around a clear business vision.
When progress stalls, most business owners assume they need to work harder. But in our experience, the problem isn’t effort—it’s visibility. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
Every business wants to grow. But growth without clarity can be just as risky as stagnation. Many business owners pursue expansion based on instinct or inspiration—launching new services, hiring more staff, or investing in marketing—without fully understanding what the numbers are saying. The result? Busyness without progress. Revenue may rise, but profit and control often fall behind.
The truth is, most business stress doesn’t come from the work itself. It comes from the lack of structure behind it. Without systems, your business relies on memory, goodwill, and constant firefighting. That’s exhausting—and it’s unsustainable.
Even profitable businesses can run into cashflow trouble. Revenue looks healthy on paper, yet the bank balance tells a different story. The culprit? Hidden leaks in profit and cashflow that quietly drain resources, reduce margins, and create constant pressure on working capital.
What happens when a trusted employee of 15+ years claims they’re owed over $20K in backpay? For one small business owner, it meant stress, legal letters — and a powerful reminder of why investing in the right accounting and bookkeeping partner pays off.
Regional Australia remains an attractive option for capital city residents, with 26 per cent more people relocating to regional areas.
Running a business is rewarding—but it also brings financial challenges. Whether you’re facing a shortage of cash during slower months or reveling in a boom and worried about the tax bill that follows, one thing remains constant: you need a clear plan.
Traditionally, a 20% deposit is considered the safe minimum by lenders because it reduces their risk. Borrowers with less than 20% usually need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Learn how expert business consulting can improve cashflow, profit and team performance, and how Smart turns strategy into sustainable success.
The scheme enables eligible buyers to purchase a home with as little as a 5% deposit, while avoiding lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI).
Equipment finance can be a huge boost for business growth, especially in certain industries. However, managing the world of equipment loans isn't always straightforward.
Choosing the right business loan for you and your business can be complex, especially when juggling multiple providers, structures, and repayment options.
When this Australian manufacturer of retail products first came to us, they were in trouble. The financials showed a loss exceeding $300,000. Despite healthy sales activity and a reat product, profit was nowhere to be found.
According to latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre report, Melbourne's live IT capacity has reached 337.1MW, marking a 25.4% year-on-year increase.
New research shows that four of Australia’s six major capital cities have recorded substantial improvements in their CBD retail vacancy rates over the past year.
Australia's commercial property market has delivered strong evidence of a recovery with total returns surging to 4.94 per cent in Q2 2025.
There’s a quiet shift happening within the ATO, and it’s catching a lot of businesses off guard. The ATO is using its newly enhanced Risk Engine, now powered by artificial intelligence, to comb through business financials with greater speed, accuracy, and scrutiny than ever before.
LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - MORNINGTON
29 & 30 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
SOLD OUT - LIVE 2-DAY COURSE - SYDNEY
25 & 26 September 2025
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals,
bookkeepers and small business owners, this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA
scripts, and deploy robust automation solutions independently.
Smart Private Wealth, part of the Smart Business Solutions Group, has been honoured as a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Barry Lambert Award, recognising exceptional community fundraising and volunteer work within the Count Financial network.
What happens when a trusted employee of 15+ years claims they’re owed over $20K in backpay? For one small business owner, it meant stress, legal letters — and a powerful reminder of why investing in the right accounting and bookkeeping partner pays off.
Running a business is rewarding—but it also brings financial challenges. Whether you’re facing a shortage of cash during slower months or reveling in a boom and worried about the tax bill that follows, one thing remains constant: you need a clear plan.
