cybersecurity

ATO Make cyber security a priority for 2023

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It’s critical to safeguard your business and client information from cyber incidents.

Recent cyber attacks have shown how important it is to have robust cyber security practices in place to protect both your business and customer information.

Business owners hold the keys to their customers’ lives on their devices and are responsible for keeping that information safe from cybercriminals.

Application control

Put simply, application control involves you putting together a list of computer apps and/or downloadable programs that are ‘authorised’ as being legitimate and safe to use. You then add these authorised apps to your computer’s application control feature. These features act as your computer’s security guard, ensuring that you can only download and use the approved list of apps can be on your computer.

Doing this can minimise the risk of malicious code (also known as malware) being downloaded onto your systems, which can then disrupt, damage, or even gain unauthorised access to your computer systems.

It’s important that you regularly review the list of approved apps and remove any you no longer need. It’s also crucial that you test the application control to make sure it works. Simply try and download an app that isn’t on your authorised list and make sure your system blocks the download.

Source: ATO

payroll

Expanding Single Touch Payroll Phase 2

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Single Touch Payroll Phase 2

Streamlined reporting information about employees to government agencies.

What is Single Touch Payroll Phase 2?

In the 2019–20 Budget, the government announced that Single Touch Payroll (STP) would be expanded to include additional information.

The expansion of STP, also known as STP Phase 2, reduces the reporting burden for employers who need to report information about their employees to multiple government agencies. It helps Services Australia’s customers, who may be your employees, get the right payment at the right time.

Flexible approach to STP Phase 2

To support employers, the approach to STP Phase 2 is flexible, reasonable and pragmatic based on your business readiness and individual circumstances.

Digital service providers (DSPs) who need more time to make the changes and update their solutions to support STP 2 can apply for a deferral for their customers. If your DSP has a deferral, they will let you know.

If you can start reporting by your DSP’s deferral date, you don’t need to apply for more time.

Requesting more time to transition

If you need more time to transition to STP Phase 2 reporting, you can:

  • apply for more time past your DSP’s deferral date
  • have your registered agent apply for more time on your behalf.

For more information about applying for a delayed transition, see STP expansion (Phase 2) delayed transitions.

There won’t be penalties for genuine mistakes in your first year of STP Phase 2 reporting.

Benefits of STP Phase 2

Benefits for employers
  • STP Phase 2 information will be used to streamline employer interactions
  • Payroll information you report will also be shared in near real-time with Services Australia. They’ll use it to streamline requests
  • You may no longer need to provide separation certificates when your employees leave — the date and reason an employee leaves will be in your STP report
  • You can also voluntarily report child support deductions or garnishees (or both) through STP — this reduces the need to send separate remittance advices to the Child Support Registrar.
Benefits for employees

Some changes under Phase 2 help streamline interactions for employees, such as:

  • Making it easier for employees at tax time now with better visibility of the types of income received and where it should be pre-filled on their individual income tax return
  • Over time, the new information reported will allow the ATO to tell employees if they’ve provided you with incorrect information that may lead to them getting a tax bill
  • STP information will also be shared with Services Australia so they can streamline interactions with their customers.

What isn’t changing

While you’ll need to report additional information in your STP report, there are many things that will stay the same, such as:

  • the way you lodge
  • the due date
  • the types of payments that are needed
  • tax and super obligations
  • end-of-year finalisation requirements.

Most of the additional information you need to report should already be captured in your current payroll software.

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Related reading

STP Phase 2 reporting

energy efficieny

Energy Efficiency Grants for SMBs

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Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises — Round 1

Funding to purchase energy-efficient equipment upgrades for small and medium businesses now available.

The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Round 1 will support businesses to upgrade or replace inefficient equipment to improve their energy efficiency. These upgrades will enable industries to reduce their energy use and manage energy cost volatility in the long term. This will contribute to Australia’s target of a 43% reduction on 2005 emission levels by 2030. 

Key points:

  • This grant opportunity is for small and medium-sized businesses with an employee headcount of 1 to 199 employees
  • The grant provides small and medium businesses up to $25,000 to replace or upgrade existing equipment to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs
  • Grant funding will be distributed between states and territories based on the distribution of small and medium-sized businesses nationally
  • Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding is exhausted in each jurisdiction
  • Applications will be checked to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria in order of application receipt.

When the online form is available, you must submit your application through the online portal here. You’ll need to set up an account when you first log into the portal. The portal allows you to apply for and manage a grant or service in a secure online environment.

Grant objectives

  • improve energy efficiency practices and increase the uptake of energy-efficient technologies
  • assist small and medium businesses to manage their energy usage and costs
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

  • increased awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and help businesses to save energy
  • reduced power bills for small and medium businesses
  • emissions abatement to contribute to Australia reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Check if you can apply

You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who can be considered for this grant. You can apply if you:

  • are an eligible entity
  • have an eligible project
  • have eligible expenditure.

The rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines. If you enter a grant agreement under the Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Enterprises program you cannot receive other funding for the same activities from other Commonwealth, state or territory programs. Funding includes, but is not limited to, grants, rebates, contributions, certifications and certificates that have a value and any other form of financial assistance.

Check if you’re ready to apply for a grant

Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process to get funding. The application process can take time and effort. Understanding the entire process will help you be grant ready and may improve your chances of getting funding.

Use this checklist to find out what it takes to apply for a grant.

Source: Australian Govt