Scam calls pretending to be from the ATO ramp up every year around tax time. The ATO received almost 7,500 impersonation scam reports in July 2025 alone. They have now released a feature that lets you confirm in real time whether a caller is the ATO. 

How verify call works 

The verify call feature was launched on 2 April 2026 and sits inside the free ATO app. If you get a call from someone claiming to be the ATO: 

1. Open the ATO app and log in. 

1. Tap “Verify call”. 

1. Within 30 seconds you should get a notification confirming the call is genuine. If you don’t, hang up. 

You need to have downloaded the ATO app and registered your device on it for this to work. 

Strengthen your myID at the same time 

While you are in the app, check that your myID is set to the highest identity strength (called “Strong”). This makes it harder for anyone else to access your tax or super information online and is the most secure way to log into ATO services. 

If you have a tax agent 

If you have a tax agent and the ATO calls you directly, ask the representative to call your agent instead, unless the matter is one that can only be discussed with you. Most ATO matters can be handled through your agent, which adds another layer of verification and saves you sorting it out yourself. 

Key takeaway 

Set up the ATO app and the verify call feature before tax time. If you ever get a call, SMS or email claiming to be from the ATO and you are not sure, contact your dedicated team at Inspire first and we will check it through official channels for you. 

Since 1 November 2021, if you hire a new employee and they don’t pick a super fund, you cannot just default them into your usual employer fund. You need to ask the ATO whether the employee already has a “stapled” super fund and pay their super into that one. 

What a stapled super fund is 

A stapled super fund is an existing super account linked to the employee. It follows them from job to job, so they do not end up with a new account (and a new set of fees) every time they change employers. 

When you need to request stapled details 

You need to request stapled super fund details from the ATO when: 

• You are about to pay super for a new employee, and 

• They have not given you a choice of fund. 

This applies to employees, and to independent contractors who are treated as employees for super purposes. 

How to request it 

The request is made through ATO Online Services for Business. You need to have an employment relationship established first, which usually means either a TFN declaration or an STP pay event has been lodged. The result comes back within minutes in most cases. 

Your registered tax or BAS agent can also make the request on your behalf through Online Services for Agents. 

Full steps from the ATO are here: Stapled super funds for employers

If the employee chooses a fund of their own after you have already requested stapled details, you have 2 months to switch contributions over to their chosen fund. 

What happens if you get it wrong 

If you pay super into a fund the employee did not choose, without requesting their stapled fund first, you are exposed to the choice shortfall penalty. 

For super relating to quarters up until 30 June 2026 

The choice shortfall penalty is 25% of the SG shortfall, capped at $500 per employee per notice period. 

For super relating to periods from 1 July 2026 (under payday super) 

The choice shortfall penalty is 25% of the non-compliant contributions, capped at $1,200 per employee per notice period. 

Key takeaway 

If you are onboarding new staff, build the stapled super fund check into your process before the first super payment is due.

The Federal Budget was handed down on 12 May 2026. Some of the proposals are the biggest rework of personal and small business tax in nearly 30 years. None of it is law yet. 

Here’s what’s on the table and how the Coalition has responded. 

Property investors and trusts 

Labor: 

• 50% CGT discount replaced with cost base indexation plus 30% minimum tax on real gains, from 1 July 2027. Gains accrued before that date grandfathered. 

• Negative gearing losses on established residential property bought after 12 May 2026 can only be deducted against rental or residential capital gains income. Existing properties grandfathered. 

• 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028. Three-year rollover relief from 1 July 2027 for restructures. 

Coalition: Fight to block these in Parliament. Repeal them if elected at the next election. 

Small business 

Labor: $20,000 instant asset write-off made permanent for businesses with turnover up to $10m, from 1 July 2026. Loss carry-back reinstated for companies with turnover up to $1bn. 

Coalition: $50,000 instant asset write-off, permanent, for businesses with turnover under $10m. 

Individuals 

Labor: $1,000 flat work-related deduction without itemising, from 2026-27. $250 Working Australians Tax Offset, from 2027-28. 

Coalition: Index the bottom two income tax thresholds to inflation from 2028-29. Index all four thresholds from 2031-32. 

Other Coalition proposals 

• End tax breaks for electric vehicles. 

• Rewrite and simplify key laws (Corporations Act, Tax Act, Competition Act). 

Key takeaway 

These are proposals, not law. They will go through consultation with professional bodies and changes are likely before anything is legislated. No need to panic or rush to restructure yet. Once we see the legislation, we will be in touch about what it means for you. 

For a deeper walk-through of the Budget and what it could mean, watch our Budget debrief webinar here: Annual Federal Budget Debrief 2026

If you have customers who are not going to pay, writing off those debts before 30 June brings the deduction into the 2026 year. 

What you need to have in place 

• The debt must be genuinely bad, not just overdue or in dispute. You need to have taken reasonable steps to recover it and reached the view it won’t be paid. 

• The write-off entry must be made in your accounts before 30 June. 

• The amount must have been included in your assessable income in a prior year. Cash basis businesses generally cannot use this. 

Key takeaway 

Go through your debtors list before 30 June.  

Let your accountant or bookkeeper know so they can reflect it in your books.  

Making a personal super contribution before 30 June can be one of the most tax-effective moves available to individuals before year end. 

Concessional contributions 

The concessional contributions cap for 2025-26 is $30,000, including any employer contributions made during the year. If you are self-employed or your employer doesn’t contribute at a rate that uses your full cap, you can make a personal contribution and claim a tax deduction. 

To claim the deduction you must lodge a notice of intent to claim with your super fund before you lodge your tax return. This step is not automatic. Missing it means losing the deduction. 

Catch-up contributions 

If your total super balance was below $500,000 on 30 June 2025, you may be able to use unused cap space carried forward from earlier years going back to 2019-20. This can allow a larger deductible contribution in a year where your income is higher than usual. 

Key takeaway 

Check where your concessional contributions are sitting for the year and talk to your accountant about whether topping up before 30 June makes sense for your situation.

Many business owners run their business from home. What most do not realise is that if you have been claiming occupancy expenses, selling your home may not be fully tax-free. 

How the main residence exemption is affected 

If you have been claiming a portion of mortgage interest and rates as a business expense, the main residence exemption only applies partially when you sell. The business-use portion of any capital gain is not exempt. 

The calculation is based on floor area. The same percentage you used for occupancy expense claims is the percentage that falls outside the exemption. 

What does this mean for you? 

If you have a home office or a room set aside for the business and have been claiming occupancy expenses, a portion of the gain on sale will be taxable. The larger the business use percentage and the bigger the gain, the more significant the tax impact. 

There may be CGT concessions that can be applied to minimise the tax but these can be complex and need to be preplanned with your accountant.  

Key takeaway 

If you run a business from home and are thinking about selling, speak to your accountant to understand your exposure to capital gains and whether any CGT concessions are worth applying. Every situation is different. Sometimes the taxable portion of the gain is small enough that the cost of applying concessions outweighs the benefit. Other times it can make a significant difference.

The ATO has published a new guideline (titled PCG 2025/5), targeting Personal Services Business (PSB) structures that lack genuine commercial substance.

PSI and PSB: The Basics 

Personal Services Income (PSI) = income mainly from your personal skills and effort (e.g. financial professionals, engineers, consultants, IT professionals, medical practitioners, lawyers etc). 

The PSI rules restrict income splitting and deductions UNLESS you meet one of four PSB tests.  

Personal Services Business (PSB) = if you pass one of four tests, the PSI rules don’t apply.  

Most people pass the “unrelated clients test” (2+ clients) and no more than 80% percent generated by one client OR “results test” (paid for outcomes, not time).

What’s changed? 

The ATO published a guideline that highlights their approach to applying Part IVA (general anti-avoidance rules) to PSB arrangements that are artificial even if the PSI rules do not apply. 

Follow this guideline in good faith and the Commissioner will administer the law accordingly. Structure your arrangements as low-risk and the ATO won’t review them.

How the ATO will assess your risk 

Examples of low-risk arrangements (ATO review likelihood is low): 

• Net PSI distributed to the individual who earned it, taxed at their rate 

• Associates paid market rates for genuine work 

• Intention to temporary profit retention for genuine commercial purposes (e.g. to buy a business asset, hire new employees, working capital). Ensuring that intention is carried out. 

 Examples of higher-risk arrangements (ATO likely to review and consider Part IVA): 

• Individual receives less than commensurate remuneration 

• Income split to family members not performing equivalent work 

• Profits retained without clear commercial purpose 

• Retained profits used for personal purposes such loans made to related parties.

The fringe benefits tax (FBT) year ends on 31 March 2026. If your business provides non-cash benefits to employees or their associates, you may have an FBT obligation for the year. 

What counts as a fringe benefit? 

Common examples include: 

• Cars made available for private use 

• Car parking 

• Entertainment (meals, events, recreational activities) 

• Expense payments (gym memberships, school fees, private health insurance) 

• Low-interest or interest-free loans 

What you need to do now 

To prepare your FBT return, gather the following before we get started: 

• Logbooks and odometer records for any cars provided to employees 

• Details of any entertainment expenses paid during the year (including who attended and the occasion) 

• Records of any other benefits provided to employees or their family members 

• Declarations from employees where required  

Key dates 

The FBT return for the year ending 31 March 2026 is due 21 May 2026 if you lodge yourself, or 25 June 2026 if we lodge on your behalf. 

Tip: Not everything attracts FBT. Common exempt benefits include: 

• Cars with no or extremely limited private use (e.g. Ute or Van) 

• Minor and infrequent benefits valued under $300 per employee per occasion 

• Gift cards valued under $300 per employee (including GST and transaction fees) 

• Light meals and refreshments consumed on business premises during work hours (e.g. pizza to celebrate a promotion, birthday cake, pastries for staff) 

• Meals and drinks consumed by employees while travelling for work (e.g. a Brisbane-based employee dining in Sydney while attending a conference) 

If you think FBT may apply to your business, reach out to your Inspire accountant now so we have enough time to gather what we need before the lodgement deadline. 

Get ready for 2026FY Tax Planning with Inspire

Tax planning for the 2026 financial year will kick off in April. Inspire’s proactive tax planning aims to help you legally minimise tax, stay compliant and make better informed financial decisions.  

1. Maximising your savings – Identify key deductions and strategies to minimise tax liability. 
2. Compliance ready – Develop a clear plan to meet compliance requirements such as Division 7A, trust distribution, issuing dividends and FBT obligations. 
3. Timing matters – Set up or update required structures before 30 June. 
4. Gain a strategic advantage – Get clear on your tax position so you can make informed financial decisions and plan for future growth. 
5. Peace of mind & clarity – Early preparation and organisation during tax planning will aid in the preparation of your 2026FY financial statements & tax returns and ease the pressure of lodgement deadlines. 

 To ensure a smooth tax planning process with your accountant, consider the following: 

• Reconcile your Xero (or accounting software) file up until 31 March 2026 or up until the end of the last month. 

•  Assess your business performance for the months leading up to 30 June, including projected sales, expected expenses, and any significant changes in cash flow.  

• Let your Accountant know if you are planning a major purchase in the next 12 months (this can be a car, a home, an investment property etc.) 

• Review your accounts receivable (people who owe you money) for any old debts that are unlikely to be paid. 

Learn more about 2026FY Tax Planning from our recent Webinar: