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We're keeping card payments for our invoices after the 1 October surcharge changes and absorbing the cost. How to pay, and what changes for payment plans and trust.
From 1 October 2026, EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and UnionPay no longer allow surcharges on their cards. What's covered, what isn't, and what to fix now.
Before a buyer sees your business, your numbers need to tell a clean story. What to fix in your financials, add-backs and records before you go to market.
Asset sale or share sale, company, trust or sole trader: the structure you chose years ago quietly decides how much tax a business sale triggers.
Buying an existing business runs two due-diligence streams at once: what the contract says and what the numbers actually show. A practical checklist for both.
ABN, business name, ASIC registration, GST, insurance, contracts: what actually needs to be done before you take your first client, and in what order.
Moving from sole trader to company, or reworking a trust and company setup, can trigger capital gains tax and stamp duty if it's done the wrong way.
A spreadsheet works fine for a small business, until it doesn't. The signs a growing business has outgrown ad hoc bookkeeping and needs proper forecasting.
Award coverage, super, payroll tax, workers' compensation, the employment contract: what needs to be in place before your first employee's first day, not after.
Handing a business to a child or family member is a succession plan and a tax event at the same time. Why the will, the trust deed and the tax plan need to agree.
Supply goods on retention of title, lease equipment or place stock with another business? If your customer becomes insolvent, owning the goods may not be enough. Melbourne commercial lawyers.
Special conditions in a Victorian contract of sale usually take priority over the general conditions where the two conflict. What they can quietly change. Melbourne conveyancing lawyers.
A Section 32 vendor statement must disclose what's legally 'material' about a Victorian property, and that list is narrower than most buyers assume. PCA conveyancing lawyers.
Most business partnerships start on a handshake and a bank account. Almost none of the messy splits happen with a shareholders agreement in place. Melbourne commercial lawyers.
A Christmas party may take place outside the office and after hours, but employers may still be liable if an employee is harassed, injured or causes harm during the event. PCA employment lawyers.
Your retail or commercial lease gives you a right to renew, but only if you exercise it in writing, inside a specific window. Miss it by a day and the right is gone. Melbourne commercial lawyers.
Trust deed amendments, PAYG instalment variations and dividend declarations all carry hard deadlines. Review them before your business shuts down for the break. PCA accountants.
A $750,000 house in Victoria costs $40,070 in stamp duty. A first home buyer under $600,000 pays zero. Knowing which side of that line you're on matters. PCA conveyancing lawyers.
Closing over Christmas and expecting staff to use annual leave? Most awards require 28 days' written notice. December 1 is already late. PCA commercial lawyers.
The trustee resolution signed in June determines how a trust's income is taxed. If it doesn't match the deed, the ATO can tax it at the top rate anyway. PCA accountants.
You bought the property, planned the extension, then found a drainage easement running through the backyard. Easements and covenants run with the land, not the owner. PCA lawyers.
Settlement day arrives and the other side isn't ready. Penalty interest, rescission rights, and the notice to complete that protects your position. Melbourne conveyancing lawyers.
How property settlement works after separation in Victoria: the four-step process, the 12-month time limit after divorce, and what counts as an asset.
How de facto property settlement differs from married-couple settlement in Victoria: the 2-year time limit, how the relationship is proven, and how assets are divided.
How to apply for divorce in Australia: eligibility, sole vs joint applications, current fees, and when the divorce order actually takes effect.
What to do if your partner visa is refused: the strict Administrative Review Tribunal deadline, why partner visas are commonly refused, and how the review process works.
A guide for employers to the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa: the Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams, sponsor obligations, and the pathway to permanent residency.
Eligibility, the 4-year residence requirement, current fees, and common reasons Australian citizenship applications are refused or delayed.
Everything Melbourne and Victorian businesses need to know about AML/CTF Tranche 2 compliance: who's captured, the four core obligations, beneficial ownership, and the travel rule.
Payday Super mechanics, the EOFY superannuation timing trap, and the payroll and financial-visibility habits that keep a business compliant year-round.
How partnership, shareholder, and contract disputes actually start, and the legal tools that prevent or resolve them.
Contracts and disclosure, off-the-plan and construction risk, and the tax side of property, from CGT to ATO data matching, in one guide.
The ATO's published protocol for its property management data-matching program: what data is collected, from whom, for which financial years, and how it is used to identify compliance risks.
ATO guidance on when GST applies to the sale of new residential premises, including the margin scheme, GST at settlement obligations, and what "new residential premises" means under the law.
Trust or company? After the Bendel decision and with the 2028 trust tax approaching, the structure choice for Australian business owners has real consequences. A practical comparison.
A plain-language explanation of how the ATO collects data from third parties including state revenue offices, land title registries and financial institutions, and uses it to check tax returns.
Victorian law stops developers from using sunset clauses to cancel off-the-plan contracts and resell at higher prices. Your rights, the 28-day notice, and the consent requirement.
The ATO cross-references property data from land registries, revenue offices, and banks. Here is what it matches, how it works, and why good records are your defence.
Since April 2026, Victorian subcontractors can claim retention money and disputed variations through security of payment. What changed and how to recover what you're owed.
Victorian subcontractors have stronger payment rights than most realise, especially after the April 2026 reforms. The three-step process, the strict timeframes, and how to use them.
The 6-year rule can keep your former home CGT-free while you rent it out - but the partial exemption catches many investors. How it works and where people get it wrong.
A personal guarantee can put your home and savings on the line - even after you leave the business. All monies clauses, joint and several liability, and how to limit your risk.
The Domestic Building Contracts Act currently protects homeowners with implied warranties, deposit limits, and progress payment rules. Enacted 2025 reforms take effect by 1 December 2026. Melbourne building lawyers explain what applies now.
Your builder entered administration. What happens to your project, your payments, and your rights under Victoria's new Home Warranty scheme? A practical guide.
How business partnership and shareholder disputes arise, the remedies available under the Corporations Act, and how to resolve them without destroying the business. Melbourne lawyers.
A shareholder agreement sets out how decisions are made, what happens if someone wants to leave, and how a buyout is priced. Melbourne commercial lawyers.
The High Court ruled in June 2026 that a UPE is not a Division 7A loan. What changed, what didn't, and what the ATO's Decision Impact Statement means for your trust structure.
Three ways Australian company directors become personally liable for company debts: insolvent trading, director penalty notices, and personal guarantees. Melbourne law firm guide.
If passed, Victoria's Equal Opportunity Amendment (Work from Home) Bill 2026 would create a new statutory right to work from home. Here is what Melbourne and Victorian employers should know while the Bill is still before Parliament.
Your home is usually exempt from capital gains tax, but renting it out, running a business from it, or moving out for a while can change that. Here's how the main residence exemption actually works.
New owner-builder insurance rules started 1 July 2026. If you're selling a property with any DIY building work on it, here's what Melbourne vendors need to know before listing.
AI meeting bots and chat tools can quietly put legal privilege at risk. Here is what Melbourne and Victorian businesses need to know before using AI around legal advice.
Payday Super begins 1 July 2026. Melbourne and Victorian employers must pay super on payday, within 7 business days. Here is what changes and how to prepare.
From 1 July 2026, the AML/CTF travel rule may apply to property developers depending on how funds move through a transaction. Here is what it means, when it applies, and what to include in your program.
From 1 July 2026, we are required by law to verify client identity before starting certain matters. This article explains what we will ask for, why, and exactly how the process works.
Australia's expanded AML/CTF laws now apply to accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, and real estate agents. Here is what has changed, who is captured, and what the four core obligations require.
The 2026 Budget changes capital gains tax and negative gearing rules. If you own an investment property, are about to buy one, or have unrealised gains on shares or business assets, here is what actually changed.
The Government has confirmed it intends to exclude genuine testamentary trusts from the proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, though this is not yet settled law. Here is the current position and why a testamentary trust still belongs in most family estate plans.
New unfair contract laws in Australia now apply to more businesses and include penalties. Learn what has changed and why businesses in Footscray and Victoria should review their contracts.
Changes to contract terms in Australia can create risks for businesses in Footscray and Melbourne. Learn the early signs, legal risks, and what to do before problems escalate.
A complete guide for first home buyers in Victoria. Learn about contracts, Section 32, government grants, cooling off periods, deposits and settlement.
Understand how a section 27 statement works in Victoria, including early deposit release requirements and how to navigate the legal process.
Discover the crucial elements of a Section 32 Vendor Statement and why it is absolutely necessary before selling a property.
Ensure you are protected by learning the key clauses to look out for when signing a commercial lease agreement in Australia.
Learn the foundational steps to secure your family's future with a solid estate plan covering wills, trusts, and power of attorney.
The structure you started with may not be the right one now. Here is how Melbourne and Victorian business owners can assess whether their current structure still fits, and what the options are.
The new financial year is a reset point for Melbourne and Victorian business owners. Here is a practical, action-driven guide to what to put in place from 1 July to start FY26 on better ground.
Identifying beneficial owners is one of the least understood requirements of Australia's new AML/CTF rules. Here is what it means in practice for Melbourne and Victorian businesses.
Many Melbourne business owners lose their super deduction by paying on 28 or 29 June. Here is why super timing matters and how to get it right before 30 June.
Time-sensitive EOFY checklist for Melbourne and Victorian business owners. Super, deductions, write-offs, trust distributions and more. Here is what still needs to be done before 30 June.
From 1 July 2026, Phan Campbell & Associates is required to complete identity and compliance checks before providing certain services. We want you to know what to expect, why it matters, and how we are handling it.
Bookkeeping, business advisory, and forecasting work together to keep business owners in control of their numbers. A practical look at what each does and how they connect.
Many business owners make decisions without proper financial oversight. Learn the risks, the warning signs, and the steps to take.
What is a Binding Financial Agreement (BFA) in Victoria? A complete guide to what it covers, when to get one, and what makes it legally enforceable.
What Victorian family law says about business ownership, and the steps to take now to make sure what you have built is properly protected.
If you are facing a decision and would value a measured assessment, we invite you to speak with us.
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