BUSINESS ADVICE • 27 APRIL 2023 • 6 MIN READ

Kickstart your financial year with these 7 tax tips

2 business owners starting the financial year off right

SECTIONS

1. Open a business bank account

2. Know your tax obligations

3. Plan ahead

4. Know your key dates

5. Keep all your records

6. Invest in software

7. Hire a professional

The start of the financial year is an exciting time. It can be a great opportunity to refresh, regroup and focus on your goals as a business owner. We've put together a list of seven tax tips to help you start the year on the right foot and set yourself up for success in the year to come.

1. Open a business bank account

If you’re a sole trader you don’t necessarily need a separate business bank account. However, if you’re operating your business through other structures (e.g., company, trust, or partnership), these are separate legal entities so will need to each have a bank account of their own.

For example, if you’re changing your business structure from a sole trader to a company in the new financial year - or if you’re starting a business via company, partnership, or trust structure - you need to open a business bank account. To learn more, check out our article on opening a business bank account.

2. Know your tax obligations

Your tax obligations are one of the most important things to stay aware of as a business owner. These can differ depending on your situation.

For companies

If you operate your business through a company structure, you’re responsible for:

Registering your company: if you want to start a new company or transition from a sole trader to a company you must register with the Companies Office - to do this you'll need to file a registration form and pay a registration fee. Your company must also have an IRD number which can be set up through the Companies Office, through the IRD website, or by contacting an accountant (we can help with this!).
GST: NZ companies with an annual turnover above $60,000 are required to register for GST and then charge GST on their sales. You're also required to file GST returns on a regular basis if you’re GST-registered. The filing frequency can be monthly, two-monthly, or six-monthly.
Filing income tax returns: Companies are required to file income tax returns annually. If you file your own income tax returns the deadline each year is the 7th of July. However, if you're working with an accountant, this deadline may be extended to the 31st of March the following year. Our ultimate fact sheet on New Zealand tax returns explains this in more detail.
Paying taxes on time: Be sure to file your company’s tax return and pay your company’s taxes on time to avoid late filing penalties and interest.

For sole traders

If you operate your business as a sole trader, you’re responsible for:

Filing and paying income tax: As a sole trader you're responsible for filing and paying income tax on your earnings. The tax rate depends on your total income for the year, and personal income tax rates apply.
GST: If your annual turnover is more than the $60,000 threshold you're required to register for GST and charge GST on your goods and services. You also need to file GST returns regularly.
ACC levies: Your income from self-employment is subjected to ACC levies. This blog explains how ACC works if you're self-employed.
Kiwisaver: Sole traders are not eligible for Kiwisaver employer employment contributions. However, you can still get contributions from the government if you make the minimum contributions yourself. You can learn more about how KiwiSaver works for self-employed Kiwis here.
Declaring other income: You’re required to declare any other income you receive in your tax return - such as rental income, dividends or interest.

If you’re not sure which business structure to choose, we have an article talking about common business structures in New Zealand. The start of the financial year is a good time to review your position and ask your accountant whether you should switch to another business structure.

3. Plan ahead

Review business structures

The business structure you set yourself up with will have a huge impact on how your business runs, and will likely be one of the first steps you take when starting out. Keep in mind you may benefit from other structure types as you scale up your business.

Your business structure can change along with your needs as a business owner. You can always discuss with your accountant if your business structure is optimal for your current situation.

Review GST position

You must register for GST if your turnover is (or is expected to be) over $60,000 within 12 months. You must register for GST as soon as you think you’ll earn more than $60,000 in twelve months. Review your GST position in the new financial year to see if you need to register for GST.

Claim business expenses

A key component of planning ahead is knowing what you can claim for tax. As a rule of thumb, you can claim only on an expense which is directly tied to generating income for your business. These may include:

Home office expenses
Vehicle expenses
Depreciation on assets
Travel expenses
Entertainment expenses

Setting money aside

To avoid problems with your cash flow you need to set money aside for taxes (such as GST and income tax). As there are so many variables to consider, it’s very difficult to provide a set percentage of the money you should save. It’s best to assess the situation with your accountant based on your marginal tax rates.

4. Know your key dates

Be sure to mark the following dates in your calendar:

31st March: End of the New Zealand tax year
7th July: Deadline for filing and income tax returns (if filing on your own).
31st March: Deadline for filing income tax returns for those who use a tax agent.

Our key dates calendar will help you stay on top of these dates (and avoid any late filing penalties or interest!).

5. Keep all your records

One of the most important (and often overlooked) tax tips we can give is to keep your records. The IRD requires you to retain your accounting records (such as invoices, receipts and bank statements) for at least 7 years in the event of an audit.

You can either store your records in a physical location or in a cloud-based software such as Google Drive or Xero. you can store your files online. Make sure they are easily accessible and understandable in the event of audits or tax inspections.

Maintaining good record-keeping practices can help you avoid costly mistakes or fines. You’ll also have a clearer understanding of your business's financial performance, helping you plan ahead.

6. Invest in software

Accounting software can be a game-changer for small businesses. It allows you to automate time-consuming and complex financial tasks, such as managing invoices to generating financial statements and tax reports. Cloud-based software allows you to work on your finances from anywhere, and collaborate with others in real time.

Investing in software helps to save money (and time) in the long run, as efficient management of your financial data means you’ll improve the accuracy of your information and have more insight into how you’re tracking.

Our pick of the bunch is Xero - learn more about how Xero enriches your business here.

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7. Hire a professional

Let’s face it - filing tax returns probably isn’t the reason you became a business owner. Hiring a finance professional can save you a lot of time and stress, freeing up your schedule to focus on your business or charge billable hours.

However, a good accountant can help with far more than helping you manage your taxes. At Beany, we’re not just there for you at the end of the tax year. Your dedicated accountant will work alongside you throughout the financial year providing you with all the services and support you need.

If you have happened to miss the deadline for filing your tax return, your accountant will be in touch to remind you to do so. They will be able to help with setting up a plan to get things sorted.

Put these tax tips to good use with Beany

Start your financial year in confidence with Beany. We have a dedicated team of certified accountants and a support team to take care of your business no matter where you are, so you can focus on growing your business. We take out the ‘fluff’, break down barriers and get things done. Looking out for you is what we are all about - get started for free today.