BHT Partners

October is a busy month for ATO deadlines.

Here are the key dates to keep on your radar:

📆 21 October
• Pay your annual PAYG instalment notice (Form N)
• Lodge and pay your September 2026 BAS/IAS
• Lodge and pay Q1 PAYG instalment activity statement for head companies of consolidated groups

📆 28 October
• Lodge and pay Q1 Activity Statement (paper lodgers)
• Pay Q1 instalment notice
• Lodge and pay Annual Activity Statement for TFN withholding for closely held trusts, if required

📆 31 October
• Address tax return obligations if you had outstanding prior-year returns at 30 June 2026
• Lodge and pay SMSF annual return if the ATO advised a 31 October due date
• Lodge Q1 TFN report for closely held trusts, if required
• Lodge the NFP self-review return for eligible non-charitable not-for-profits

⚠️ October includes additional specialised reporting and lodgment obligations that are not listed here. Check the full ATO schedule or speak with your accountant to confirm which deadlines apply to you.

🔔 Follow BHT Partners for monthly ATO reminders and practical tax updates.

Who will run your business the day you stop?

For many business owners, that plan lives mostly in their head. Succession planning is how you turn those ideas into a clear plan your family, your team and a future buyer can rely on. It is not just for people about to retire, or something to think about only once you've decided to sell or hand over your business.

Our latest blog breaks down how to build one:

🔹 Selling, passing the business to family, or bringing a successor through
🔹 Getting the business ready so it does not depend on you
🔹 Reviewing your structure, tax position and CGT concessions before an exit
🔹 Why starting years ahead gives you more options than starting months ahead

Whether you plan to sell your business, pass it on to family, or hand it over to a key employee, starting early gives you more options.

📘 Read the full guide, "How to Develop a Small Business Succession Plan in Australia", here: https://bhtpartners.com.au/how-to-develop-a-small-business-succession-plan-in-australia/

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲?

When you run a pay run, the ATO already has the details. Single Touch Payroll sends wages, PAYG withholding and super liabilities to the ATO, where the figures can be compared with your BAS, super fund payment data and contractor reporting.

So mismatches are now easier to identify. This could include late super, PAYG withholding that does not match your BAS, or wages that do not reconcile.

The good news? Most issues can be identified and corrected before they become bigger compliance problems.

📘 In our latest article, we explain what has changed, where payroll mismatches commonly occur, and what your business can do to stay on top of payroll compliance.

👉 Read it here:
https://bhtpartners.com.au/stp-ato-data-matching-payroll-compliance

If payroll compliance is one of those things on the never-quite-done list, we are happy to help.

September is one of the quieter months on the tax calendar, but there are still a couple of dates worth having on your radar. 📅

📆 21 September
• Lodge and pay your August monthly BAS/IAS

📆 30 September
• Lodge your PAYG withholding payment summary annual report, if a registered agent prepares it (not large withholders with annual withholding over $1 million)
• Lodge your 2026 Annual TFN withholding report, if your closely held trust has had to withhold from payments to beneficiaries

✅ A lighter month is a good chance to get your paperwork sorted before October gets busy.

⚠️ Additional reporting obligations may apply depending on your circumstances. Check the ATO website or speak with your accountant to confirm which deadlines apply to you.

Follow BHT Partners for monthly ATO reminders and practical tax updates.

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀?

Your business could be eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive.

Many SMEs don't realise that eligible R&D isn't limited to technology companies. Manufacturers, engineers, builders, and other businesses solving technical challenges may also qualify.

The key is understanding the eligibility rules before you make a claim.

👉 Swipe through our carousel to learn who can claim, what activities qualify, and the records you'll need.

📘 For more information, read our article "R&D Tax Incentive Eligibility Australia: What Are the Criteria?" here: https://buff.ly/PaNCzWE

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿?

As tax rules evolve, a structure that once worked well may need to be reviewed.

A recent High Court decision (Bendel) changed how unpaid trust distributions to corporate beneficiaries are treated, prompting the ATO to update its long-standing position.

While this is good news in some situations, it doesn't mean every family trust arrangement is risk-free. Division 7A can still apply if company profits are accessed in the wrong way.

That's why it's worth reviewing your trust and company structure before small issues become unexpected tax problems.

📘 In our article "How Does Division 7A Impact Family Trusts?", we explain what changed, what it means for family businesses, and the practical steps you can take to help protect your business and family wealth.

👉 Read it here: https://buff.ly/fewgmtp

Australia is expected to see more than $3.5 trillion in family wealth transferred over the next 20 years.

Yet many family businesses and asset-owning families still don't have a formal succession plan.

With proposed capital gains tax (CGT) changes expected from 1 July 2027, passing wealth to the next generation could become more expensive and more complicated.

For example:
🔹 Future beneficiaries may face higher tax bills when inherited assets are eventually sold
🔹 Some succession and family wealth structures may become less tax-effective
🔹 Dividing assets fairly between family members may become more challenging

This is why succession planning is about much more than deciding who gets what.

It's about protecting your business, your family, and your legacy while helping the next generation avoid unnecessary tax and complexity.

If you're considering passing on a business, investment property, or other significant assets, now may be the right time to review your succession plans.

At BHT Partners, we help family businesses and business owners navigate succession planning, CGT considerations, business structures, and long-term wealth protection.