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- Tax -
INCOME TAX: REMOVING THE UNCERTAINTY
Avoiding tax is as easy as avoiding death. Yet, just as with life, there are some things you can do to avoid meeting a gruesome end: good taxation planning can ensure that there are no nasty surprises and urgent phone calls to the bank manager a few days before payments are due.
With only a few processes in place, business owners can keep having a smooth ride of it all. Here are a few ideas:
1. Prepare annual budgets, forecasts and a tax plan.
‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’
 Prior to the start of each year prepare budgets and forecasts to map the business’ financial performance over the next twelve months. The operational budget will project the taxable profit from which the business’ tax liability can be calculated and inserted in the cash flow forecast for the ensuing year.
2. Use a suitable accounting software.
‘What you can measure you can manage.’
The business’ financial life needs to be accurately captured with regular reports produced to indicate the company’s profitability, cash flow and performance in critical operational areas. Don’t just run the monthly reports and file them, analyse them to ensure the business is performing in all facets and compare actual results to budget. Talk to us about your accounting system as we can help you with all popular accounting software, cloud or traditional.
 3. Update your tax plan.
‘If nothing changes, nothing changes.’
Businesses are dynamic. So too are the economy and the planet we all live on. World, national and local events can significantly change business profits, so the tax plan must evolve with the business’ financial performance. Re-evaluate the tax plan at least three times a year (around provisional tax due dates) to either increase or decrease your provision. This can reduce or even eliminate use-of-money interest charged in certain instances by Inland Revenue for short paid provisional tax and, conversely, reduce bank interest on tax you didn’t need to pay.
4. Seek Advice.
‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’
 Your accountant can help you with your budgets, forecasts and tax plans or prepare them for you (when they don't, they should be replaced with one who will). If you are considering a new business initiative come and talk to us so we can ensure you are using the right structure and allowing for the diverse range of taxes we can be encumbered with. Remember, taxes can be legally minimised and it’s our job to assist you to do so!
It’s important you talk to your accountant if you believe your income is going to be significantly higher or lower this income year. The first provisional tax instalment date for March balance dates has passed, but there is plenty of tax planning opportunity left in the year. Consider the following circumstances:
- Are your revenues up or down?
- Margins increased or decreased?
- Expenses up or down?
- Affected by removal of depreciation on buildings?
- Fixed interest loans maturing at lower rates?
- Unable to utilise company losses due to recent LAQC reforms?
- Any other anticipated events likely to affect income?
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