TaxSmart Cafe - Wyndham

🍷 Local gem alert: Shadowfax Winery, Werribee Park

Just 30 km from Melbourne, Shadowfax has been crafting premium, regionally focused wines since 2000. Think handcrafted Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir from their high-altitude Little Hampton vineyard in the Macedon Ranges, plus their Minnow range grown right here in Werribee.

Drop by the cellar door for a tasting (the team will happily recommend the perfect food pairing), then stay for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch: antipasto, cheese plates, wood-fired pizzas and desserts made to go with every glass. 🍕🧀

Weekends come with live music from local bands too. 🎶

Who's adding this to their weekend plans? 👇

Growing a business takes more than hard work. It requires smart financial management. From bookkeeping and payroll to tax planning and business advisory services, TaxSmart Cafe helps you make confident decisions backed by accurate financial information. When you understand your numbers, you gain the confidence to grow your business with purpose.

📅 Book your appointment with TaxSmart Cafe today.

Small steps, big impact.

This month, we're also challenging ourselves as a team to walk virtually in support of Black Dog Institute and the important work they do in mental health research.

Every step counts, and so does every dollar. Support the TaxSmart Cafe team by visiting the link below.

Architects, building designers, and drafting professionals have a rich set of work-related deductions available that reflect the knowledge-intensive and creative nature of their work. Whether you're employed at a firm or running your own practice, here's what the ATO allows.

Professional registration and membership: AHIA (Australian Institute of Architects) membership, state registration board fees, and professional practising certificates are all fully deductible. CPD requirements for maintaining registration are also deductible.

Design tools and software: AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, ArchiCAD, and other design software licences used at home for professional work are deductible for the professional-use proportion. Physical drawing tools, models, and presentation materials purchased personally for work projects are also claimable.

Professional development: architecture conferences, technical training, international study tours with a dominant professional development purpose, and architectural literature subscriptions.

For self-employed architects: the scope expands significantly to include practice costs, professional indemnity insurance (significant for architects), home studio costs, vehicle use between sites, and client development costs.

Site visits: travel to construction sites, client meetings, and project locations during the working day is deductible. Keep a travel diary noting dates, destinations, and work purposes.

The combination of high income and significant work-related expenses makes professional tax advice particularly valuable for architects. TaxSmart Cafe works with architectural professionals to maximise every legitimate deduction.

Some of the strongest people we know are the ones quietly struggling. They show up, get the job done, crack a joke and head home, and nobody thinks to ask.

So ask. Not the quick "how ya going?" in passing, but the real one: "How are you, really?" Then give them space to answer honestly, without rushing to fix anything.

You don't need to be an expert or have the perfect words. Listening, staying curious and simply being there can make a bigger difference than you'll ever know.

If you or someone you know needs support, Lifeline is available 24/7.

Today is September 30, the last day of the first quarter of the 2026–27 financial year. This is a significant milestone: three months of the new year are now behind you, and nine months remain before the June 30 close.

For businesses: close off Q1 in your accounting system and run your management accounts. How does Q1 2026–27 compare to Q1 2025–26? Revenue, gross margin, operating costs, and net profit is the business on track for the year? Are there any trends that need to be addressed in Q2?

For individuals: review your income for the quarter. If you've been receiving investment income, freelance income, or other non-employment income, is your tax provision on track? Have you been setting aside enough to cover your expected tax liability? If you've received a PAYG instalment notice for the September quarter, it's due in late October ensure you have the funds available.

For investors: Q1 is the time to review portfolio performance and check for any significant capital events, shares sold, dividends received, distributions from managed funds. Keep records current.

For super: confirm that all three months of Payday Super contributions have been received correctly. Under the new system, super should arrive every single payday check your fund's transaction history.

TaxSmart Cafe offers Q1 financial reviews for all clients; individual, business, and investor. This proactive touchpoint helps you start Q2 with confidence.