Blog

Further developments with digital services tax and collection of the International Visitor Levy were announced and the Government remains committed to modernising and simplifying the tax system. Pre-Budget The major announcement pre-Budget was that Capital Gains Tax is now off the table and that has pretty much overshadowed any tax announcement since. The Government also […]

Whanganui ChronicleRussell Bell There are few things better in my world than helping a new business get off the launching pad. It is exciting to see entrepreneurs young and old turn their passions into viable businesses – particularly when it is easy to see that the business founders have developed something special. Such is the […]

Preparing for your return You’ll need to ensure that your business accounts for the 2019 tax year have been settled before you file your return. We can provide a guide to preparing for your income tax return, or contact us today for more information. Filing your return When you file your return, you will need […]

Overwhelmed with paperwork? Wading through administrative tasks? or needing more time for key staff communications? As life gets more frenetic, it’s worth looking at utilising the tools to help improve workflows and productivity. In an ‘always on’ digital world, it’s time to get the technology working for you. But with so many out there, which […]

On the global stage, New Zealand’s economy has obvious vulnerabilities: its reliance on export, uncertainties affecting major markets and political instability across many regions, complicated by a lack of coherent global action on climate change. This Budget has focused on climate change, land use and national infrastructure. With a capital boost of over $3b, the […]

Innovation is seen as the key to assist New Zealand industries in the transition to an economy high in productivity but low in emissions. The challenge is for businesses to be more innovative and New Zealanders to adapt to changing job markets. The R & D legislation born out of last year’s budget has passed […]

The lead-up to the Wellbeing Budget has been well signposted even if the track’s been somewhat muddied by drama. It’s a bold step to try and quantify progress in other than strictly financial terms. The brief is to implement change and manage the country’s finances. The focus is on 5 priority areas: taking mental health […]

The money we spend each day tends to be invisible. When was the last time you withdrew your cash for the week and used it to make purchases? Rather than dealing in notes and coins, we tend to reach for our cards or shop seamlessly online. It’s entirely possible to spend money without even reaching […]

Whanganui Chronicle – By Russell Bell I grew up with a love of statistics and mathematics. So much so that as a child I used to while many hours away creating my own sports leagues – cricket, football and rugby – and with dice I would pit each team against each other in matches and […]

Are you aware that legislation is before parliament that will deny taxpayers the ability to claim rental losses against other sources of their income? If you would like to learn more about the proposed application of  this law, please contact Craig McKinnon on (06) 3481324 or email craig@balanceonline.co.nz

Soft skills are the personal qualities that make people easy to work with and they’re key for business success. Here are five important soft skills and the best open-ended interview questions you can ask to help find out whether a candidate is right for your business. Communication: Give me an example of when you had to […]

Six ways to ‘do good’ by your staff Celebrate! Write down one thing you’ll do in the next six months to reward your team. Book in staff performance meetings now because setting and revisiting KPIs ensures everyone’s on track. Lock in 30-minutes to revisit your strategic plan this month. List three things you can do […]

With the way the world is developing, these days, if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get less than what you’ve always got. This is why creating a Business Plan, and remaining accountable to it, is one of the most important things you can do for your business. Do you have a plan? If […]

Tax pooling is an IRD – approved service offered by a commercial provider such as Tax Traders.  It primarily allows taxpayers to  pay income tax at a time or in manner that suits them, at a lower interest cost than what IRD charges for unpaid tax without incurring late payment penalties. If you would like […]

More than 200,000 New Zealanders and their families will benefit from the minimum wage going up to $17.70 an hour on 1 April 2019 – an increase of $1.20. The starting-out and training minimum wage rates will increase from $13.20 to $14.16 per hour (remaining at 80% of the adult minimum wage) and the Government […]

Payday filing We have mentioned this in the past, but don’t forget payday filing for employers is compulsory from 1 April 2019. Please contact us if you need any help with complying with the new process and rules. No more cheques for IRD Do you send post-dated cheques for tax payments? It’s time to go […]

Fill your drawers: Can you stock up on stationery, postage and courier bags before 31 March? Claim now and save. Staff expenses: If you owe employees holiday pay, bonuses, long service leave or redundancy payments, you can claim for these now – as long as they are paid within 63 days of the balance date […]

Hundreds of Kiwi business owners are enjoying the benefits of payday filing – are you? If not, you’ll need to be by 1 April when payday filing becomes compulsory. Now’s the time to work out how you’re going to integrate it into your payroll processes and save time on your tax obligations. Payday filing means […]

Delivering a high-quality, efficient compliance service is just a part of that. Helping you to develop, improve and grow your business is the next step. As a valued client, you can have one Complimentary Client Review (CCR) per year. A CCR stimulates strategic discussion and identifies burning issues, opportunities and challenges so that you can […]

Do your Christmas housekeeping! Chase up unpaid invoices to encourage payment before Christmas to get cashflow off to a good start for the New Year. Make sure your voicemail message and website mention closing date info and emergency contact details. Who’s responding to work related emails while you’re on holiday? Is payroll all set up […]