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Declare all cash Jobs

Declare it all. Or risk everything. Tradies who do undeclared cash jobs can be hit with tax penalties, or criminal convictions that could lead to prison – costing them their business and their income.Doing jobs for cash or for your mates is okay - as long as you record them and declare the income when you're filing your annual tax return.Make sure that:you record every job, no matter how big or small. Find out more about keeping good business recordsif you're registered for GST you charge...

GST on imports rule

On 1 December 2019, the new “low-value goods” regime will begin imposing GST at 15% on goods acquired by New Zealand consumers from offshore suppliers. The new regime will apply to goods with individual values of NZ$1,000 or less. What does this mean for us Kiwis buying online from overseas?  It is expected that prices will increase by the amount of GST content, as overseas suppliers may have to return GST on their sales to NZ, so if you are planning on Christmas shopping online it...

Payroll Team Update

Have you worked out your team’s Leave Management Plan? If your business traditionally shuts down over the festive season you need to plan closing and opening days, check if anyone needs to work during the closedown, get your team sending in their leave requests, and start organising!  Check out People in Mind’s excellent article on ‘Planning Leave for the festive season’: https://www.peopleinmind.co.nz/planning-for-the-festive-season/...

Accounting 101: GST

In New Zealand, goods and services tax (GST) is added to the price of most products and services. If your business is GST registered, you collect GST from customers (by adding 15% to your sale price) and you pay this to the government, less any GST that your business has paid on goods or services purchased. Not sure whether to register your small business? If your turnover (sales) was more than $60,000 over the past 12 months, or if you expect your turnover in the next 12 months to be more than ...

Xero Assistance Programme

We all experience tough times in life but the good news is getting help is now easy. We’ve been invited by Xero to a free and 100% confidential support programme offering face-to-face, live chat, online and telephone counselling. Help is available for anything from work, financial or family challenges to depression, drug and alcohol or social problems. No issue is too big or small. If you have a Starter, Standard or Premium Xero subscription then contact xap@xero.com to find out more and how y...

Xero Tip

To easily access your most used reports and favourite settings in your Xero file, why not try marking these features as your favourite. That way you can access these from wherever you are within your Xero file. To do this select the star next to the feature or settings that you'd like to include in the drop down menu. If a star is next to an option then this can be included. Once the item is 'starred' you can access this item from the drop down menu that it sits under. This only needs to be done...

Get to Know: Samantha Ratcliffe

Sam joined Accounted4 in September 2019 working in Grant Calvert’s team as an Intermediate Accountant. Originally from a small town in Devon, South West UK, she made the move to New Zealand in 2017 with her husband, Steve. Prior to living in New Zealand she studied and worked in a small Chartered Accountancy firm for 4 years. She moved to the other side of the world for the lifestyle New Zealand provides and the warmer climate.  In her spare time she loves spending time with family and fr...

In the Office

Welcome to the A4 Team Samantha. Sam joined A4 team in September and is working as an intermediate accountant in Grant Calverts Team. Check out our 'Get to know' section in the November Newsletter to get to know Sam better....

Featured Partner

Green Mouse Computing – The Clever Computing Experts Green Mouse started as Cambridge Computer Services in 1972. We have been providing home and business computing services to Cambridge and the surrounding areas for nearly 50 years. It has been under its current ownership since 2001. Computing has changed quite a bit during this time, but our client-based focus has not. We pride ourselves on tailoring solutions to the specific and complete needs of our clients. We believe we are unique in bein...

Featured Client

The Body Performance Clinic is a sports, musculoskeletal physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic.  Specialising in client focused, evidence based, quality treatment and rehabilitation.  We treat a varied patient demographic including elite athletes, recreational sports enthusiasts , people new to exercise and non - exercisers.  We offer a tailored approach to your recovery and well-being and aim for you to feel body positive.  We know healthy looks different on every bod...

Xero Roadshow

On the 22nd October the A4 team headed to the Claudelands Events Centre. The Xero Roadshow is a great way to mix and mingle with other firms in our area and to see and hear about all things Xero. By spending a day out of the office learning about industry leaders, it helps us to be able to be leaders for all our clients. Everyone gets something out of the Roadshow and it is great seeing the team that did attend thinking about what they learnt and implementing it within the firm....

Keeping on top of overdue Accounts

How long do your customers take to pay you?A Xero Small Business Insights report showed that late payments to small businesses are improving. But overall, payments often still arrive after due date.Keeping on top of overdue accounts is vital for cashflow. There are some easy things you can put in place today to reduce the payment time-frame in your business.Send your invoices straight away - give your customer the ability to pay you promptly.Include all the details your customers need, in o...

Company Culture is vital from day one

Your company culture is founded on the norms, values and working environment you create within your business – and a positive culture can directly drive your bottom line.Companies with an effective culture perform 20-30% better than ‘culturally unremarkable’ competitors, according to research by Harvard Business School professor and writer, James Hecket. Why? Because in these companies employees were happier, more productive and (as a direct result) less likely to leave.So, if a vibrant an...

Xero for Beginners

Join us. Join the Revolution. Accounted4 is excited to present the popular Xero for Beginners Workshop for the second time this year! You will learn;  How to match up invoices and code correctlyHow to complete and finalise GST returns Brief overview of features in XeroAny other topics requested When: Thursday 10th October 2019, 5.30 - 7:00pm Venue: Cambridge High School Staff Room Cost: Complimentary Come along to this Xero for Beginners Workshop to find out how Xero can assist...

Cheques no more!

From March 2020 the Inland Revenue will no longer be accepting payment by cheques, or cheques dated after 1 March 2020 from customers who are able to pay another way. Talk to us today if this affects you and we can come up with an alternative option for your IR payments. A summary of other payment options includes: myIROnline bankingMoney TransferCredit or debit card via our websiteWestpac Visit the IR website here for more information on payment options....

Payroll Team Update

Sick LeaveIt’s that time of the year again when winter bugs can hammer a small business’s productivity! It pays to help your staff stay healthy. Encourage your team members to stay home when they are sick; encourage good health habits – drinking plenty of water, washing your hands regularly, keeping fit, eating well and getting outside will all help.Most employees get five paid days of sick leave per year to care for themselves or their dependants after 6 months continuous employment. Chec...

Xero Tip

An important Xero tip to make your day to day accounting a little more fun!When you go to create a new invoice, in the Description write unicorn! then hit tab....

Featured Client

Inspirit Gallery first opened its doors in 2007 and is now one of the Waikato’s most popular destination galleries attracting local and international visitors all year round. The amazing entrance to the gallery features New Zealand rocks, native plants and sculptures. Jenny Scown, a photographic artist, is the owner and curator of this spacious purpose built art gallery and sculpture garden set in a stunning rural location between Hamilton and Cambridge. This unique art gallery exhibits an am...

Featured Partner

iPayroll was established in 2001 and is New Zealand’s leading provider of cloud-based payroll solutions. iPayroll’s solution is suitable for a small business with a few employees, a group of businesses, a franchise, or an enterprise business with several hundred employees, in any industry. They provide an easy-to-use, feature-rich solution so you can focus on your business. iPayroll make it simple for you to run each pay and manage leave, tax, and employee records. They also make it easy for...

Get to Know: Steff McNamara

Steff joined Accounted4 in January 2017 taking up  the front of house position as Receptionist. She is very much a people person and loves the interaction (ie. Lots of chat and laughter) she has with Accounted4 clients and staff. Steff moved to Cambridge (from Auckland – don’t hold that against her) 25 years ago wanting a smaller more community minded environment for the family to grow up in. She has three adult sons, three grandsons (14, 12 & 10yrs) and a 10 month old granddaughter. Lo...

In the office

Ruby Verhoeven Ruby joins our Client Services Team and is our Client Services / Reception Assistant. You will see Ruby at reception when you pop in so make sure you say hi!...

In the Industry

Every year quad bikes are a major cause of death and serious injury in rural workplaces with many incidents associated with accidental rollovers. On average each year five people die, and ACC receives over 1,000 claims for work-related quad bikes accidents, costing $12 million. A new policy clarification from WorkSafe was issued in June 2019, strongly recommending that CPDs are installed on all quad bikes used for work. ACC has collaborated with WorkSafe to design a workplace injury p...

Accounting 101: Financial Statements

Essentially, the financial statements tell a story about money. They show where an entity’s money came from and where it went over a specific time period, which is usually over a year. They also show where the money is at the end of that period. In NZ, the standard financial year starts 1st April, and ends 31 March the following year. We’ll have a look at three main statements: Statement of Financial Performance. Sometimes referred to as a Statement of Profit & Loss (P&L) or Income Statement...

Print Volume

We have been making a big effort here at A4 to reduce our environmental footprint and reduce our paper usage and the proof is in the stats.Check out our printing stats which have HALVED over the past 2 years.We are really proud of the continued effort our team and clients make in our efforts to be more sustainable in a historically paper based industry....

Part-time Admin Position

Who are we Accounted4 (A4) is a successful, forward-thinking Chartered Accountancy Firm located in the heart of beautiful Cambridge. At A4, our 33 strong team are 100% focused on our clients and our people. Our vibrant culture is reflected in our team values; authenticity, excellence, innovation, energy and solidarity. What’s the role We are looking for a person who can step reliably and confidently into this part-time position in our Payroll and Tax Administration Team. You will be responsibl...