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In the Community

We recently had a Networking over Coffee event at our office as part of our involvement with the Chamber of Commerce. It was great to have about 40 local business people together to mix and mingle. We decided to do something a little different this year. After all, it's not just about the numbers! We decided to be a little innovative and have some challenging activities for our guests! This involved tasks like writing instructions on how to tie a shoelace, and to build a tower with skewers ...

In the Industry

There are some basics that businesses need to get right to make sure they meet their tax responsibilities. Inland Revenue focus on making it easy to understand what you need to do to get these basics right. They do this by providing information, tools, services and reminders for people who need them. 1) Your responsibilities as an employer Your main responsibilities to Inland Revenue are making the correct deductions from your employees' salaries (eg, PAYE, KiwiSaver), filing your employer mo...

Business Advisory team update

Accountants talk of budgeting. This is putting dollar amounts to a business plan. What is a business plan? It's anything you like! Why do we urge you to plan? Because you'll get better profits if your plan is a success. It doesn't matter how small your business is, planning should make it bigger. For small businesses best results are likely if you focus on boosting sales – but NOT at cut prices. Don't think of a number and say: "That's my target." Do think of a number and think about how yo...

Featured Client

Hamilton based Grasshopper Rock wine company has become one of Central Otago's most successful Pinot Noir labels. Established in 2003 and dedicated exclusively to Pinot Noir the company's wine is now sold in New Zealand, Australia, UK, USA and parts of Asia. Managing Director and ex-rural banker, Phil Handford, says the five founding families all have agriculture backgrounds and mostly met when they worked at The Rural Bank. "We believed if we found the right site we could grow some of the world...

Featured Partner

In 2013 the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants voted overwhelmingly in favour of amalgamating the two organisations. From 2015 the trans-Tasman organisation is known as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. They are made up of over 100,000 diverse, talented and financially astute professionals who utilise their skills every day to make a difference for businesses the world over. Members are known for professional int...

Accounts Team Update

As usual, when the end of the financial year is approaching it's a good idea to make sure everything's in good order. Take a look at: How much stock you are carrying at the end of the year. Dispose of any obsolete lines or write the stock down to its net realisable value Planned dividend payments and the company's imputation credit account balance. We will be reviewing these in March. Be aware that some DWT may be payable in April for this! Debtors: If you have taken reasonable steps to...

Payroll team update

Minimum Wage Increase The adult minimum wage is going up by another 50c effective from 1st April 2015 to $14.75 per hour. This rate applies to all workers 18 years and over. The 'training' and 'starting out' hourly minimum wage will also rise to $11.80 per hour; these rates are 80% of the adult minimum wage. This rate can be paid to 16 and 17 year olds for the first 200 hours or three months of employment then the adult minimum wage applies. The rates are gross before tax and holiday pay mus...

2015 Seminar Programme

Education, training and growth is important to the team at Accounted4. From our recent Client Feedback Survey, we found that our clients are interested in a wide range of topics. We have devised a seminar programme for 2015 which provides clients the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge. Thursday 26th February - Health & Safety Regulations Tuesday 24th March - Succession and Exit Planning Wednesday 22nd April - Xero training Thursday 28th May - HR for farmers Wednesday 2...

Happy New Year!

The New Year always brings new resolutions, some that will last a lifetime and others that will have to be taken again next year. At the beginning of a new year it is a great time to not only detox your body (after the excesses of Christmas and the New Year), but is also a good time to look at your business and finances – what positive changes could be made? We look forward to working with you to create a great year of business ahead....

For your office

Paying Holiday Pay Calculating and paying holiday pay is easy when you know what your obligations are, and Inland Revenue has a calculator to help you work it out. How to calculate holiday pay Holiday pay is pay for an employee's annual leave and pay for statutory holidays. You need to include holiday pay as earnings in the period you pay your employee. If you don't have a payroll package or a payroll provider, there are two ways you can work it out: Use your employee's annual entitlemen...

In the Community

Salvation Army donation (in lieu of giving gifts to clients) Accounted4 have again this year made a $1000 donation to the Salvation Army in Cambridge. This donation is done "in the spirit of Christmas" to support the work the organisation does in our local town. Senior Prizegiving Cambridge High School Senior Prizegiving was held on 4th November and the recipients of the Accounted4 Ltd Year 11, 12 and 13 Prizes were: Hamish Martin – Accounted4 Ltd Prize Year 11 Accounting Christian ...

In the Industry - 'Merry Christmas' says IRD

By Geoff Hurst CA For the past few years Inland Revenue has been releasing an annual Compliance Focus Document, which advises what their areas of concern are and where they will be putting their time and effort over the next year. You can read the document online here The document starts with the "basics that everyone needs to get right", so pretty key things to remember – Get an IRD number and keep it safe, use the right tax code, tell IRD when your details change, pay tax on all you...

In the Office

10 year anniversary We recently celebrated Anne Bland's 10th year with us. A great achievement - well done Anne! It was also Martyn Steffert's 10 year anniversary earlier this year. Congratulations Martyn! Celebrations have been deferred to a date sometime in the future! Team Changes On the 7th November we said goodbye to Raewyn (Ra) Garrett who sadly leaves us for her overseas adventure. Ra has been with Accounted4 for 10 years and has been a valuable employee. Ra has really enjoyed ...

Closing down for the holidays?

A closedown period is when an employer closes business operations for a certain length of time, often doing so during off-peak times of the year. Many businesses tend to do this over the Christmas break and many employees are happy to take this time to enjoy summer holidays with family. But there are some rules that employers need to be aware of before shutting up shop: There may only be one closedown period per year, although employers can shut down different business sectors at different ...

Business Advisory team update

By Jon Broadley – Business Advisory Service Manager It is the time of the year where we are all trying to bring the year to close in a well-ordered and methodical manner. In reality everything is going crazy and we are trying to juggle Christmas shopping, school graduations and planning holidays along with doing our day jobs! Given all those distractions it is easy to forget those that have helped you manage your busy lives and kept your business profitable this year – your family, friends...

Featured Partner - Allsew Embroidery & Graphics 2014

The new owners (Lynette and Amy Redmond) of Allsew Embroidery & Graphics 2014 bring fresh eyes and enthusiasm to the creation of branded team wear. The company's motto 'Your Image, Your Way' says it all. Allsew Embroidery & Graphics believe that by listening to customers and working with them to create their image is the way to maintain customer satisfaction. Exceeding customer expectations is also a goal. The owners believe that one secret to a successful company is having good staff...

Featured Client - Achievement House

Achievement House was first started in 1979 by a small group of local people who were interested in setting up a facility in Cambridge rather than have people with disabilities travel into Hamilton. Achievement House is a purpose built workshop in Wilson Street with a special environment which offers varied and appropriate work to develop employment skills for clients who are capable of moving towards temporary or permanent open employment. Their mission is for people with disabilities confide...

Useful Information

In 1906 Pareto, an Italian, noticed 80% of the wealth in his country was in the hands of 20% of the people. Others later noted the 80:20 rule applied widely. Thus 20% of something is always responsible for 80% of the results. Twenty percent of your stock will take up 80% of your shelf space or storage; 20% of your suppliers will provide 80% of your stock; 20% of your staff will cause 80% of your headaches. Knowing this principle can help your business. If you know the 80% part, look for the ...

Christmas is coming!

Wow – where did the year go??? It is that time of year again where December has come and with it, all the excitement of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts under the tree, rushing around like a mad chicken for last minute things, stockings hanging in the living room, planning huge feasts which result in belly-aches for the next couple of days, reuniting with long-lost family and friends? The special tradition that happens in your home will hopefully help creat...

Client Feedback Survey

At Accounted 4, we want to know that we are giving you the best possible service that we can. Feedback is essential in this process and we encourage you to participate in this quick (anonymous if you wish) client feedback survey. THANK YOU if you have already participated. If you haven't yet and would like to be included in the draw for a $100 supermarket voucher please complete by 10am this Friday - 28th November To start the survey, click here Thank you for your co-operation. We value...

Important Changes in Payment Services to IRD

Customers will no longer be able to make cheque payments or drop off returns or forms at any Westpac bank. Any cheque payments, returns and forms will need to be posted directly to Inland Revenue. Customers can continue to make cash and eftpos payments at Westpac branches.  Online banking, credit and debit cards and international money transfers are also accepted payment methods. Payments posted to Inland Revenue need to be received by Inland Revenue on or before the due date to a...

Change can be a good thing!

By Karen CarrollOften when you hear the word ‘change’, one of the two things will happen: You try and avoid it You adopt it and “carry on” We are often resistant to change and yet change itself is constant.  Although it is sometimes better to stay within your comfort zones, by looking outside the square you welcome opportunities to learn and grow.  However, there needs to be a plan for change in any organisational structure because “if you fail to plan – you ...

Useful Information

Commencing from 1 July 2015 (or earlier if the Governor General decides) New Zealand registered companies must have at least one resident director either here or in an “enforcement country”. A list of these countries will be supplied. It is likely to include Australia, the UK and USA. The date and place of birth for each director will need to be included on all future application forms to form a company and for existing companies on a date commencing as stated above...

Succession and Exit Planning: Work to Live rather than Living to Work

by Jon Broadley – Business Advisory Service ManagerHow does one address the sensitive subject of life after business?  If you believe the old adage from Benjamin Franklin that 'the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes', and that avoiding both is somewhat difficult, then we should plan for them.  Tax planning is something you need to do regularly with your Accountant to ensure your changing personal and business circumstances are being taken into acco...

Featured Partner - People in Mind

Employing people comes with challenges, from the initial recruitment phase, through the induction and development stage, and sometimes unfortunately the disciplinary process. People in Mind is a little different from many HR companies. They’ve studied “people”. Employee behaviour is their specialty and, coupled with expertise in employment practices, they are a very strong employer advocate. The team have all owned or still own a business and that makes a difference to the way they ap...