Information Centre

Why I love my Accountant

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:44:00 GMT

Some nice feedback from Matt (who runs out website)..

By Matt McFedries - Tuesday, February 14, 2012

What do your clients say to their friends & associates about you?

If I think about it, if someone were to ask me about my Accountant I would say:

"He does a good job of the tax stuff so I'm not in trouble with the tax man, but the best bit is that each month we have a Skype call to review progress towards my goals. He gives me great advice and is really making a difference to the bottom line of my business, in fact the growth we've experienced over the last 6 months is largely attributed to his regular advice & insight. Oh and by the way we pay a fixed fee each month (so there's no surprises) and we use Xero Accounting Software which makes everything much easier, and almost fun."

New Addresses

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:58:00 GMT

Just a quick one to let you know we have moved offices in both Auckland and Chch.

In Christchurch we are now based at 12 St Albans St Merivale. Just 50 metres from the mall and some great coffee and beer outlets.

In Auckland we are now based at 1 Gibraltar Cres, Parnell. Again nicely situated near cafes and bars!

Look forward to seeing you there soon.

Cheers

Dave

Small Business Seminar (Evening event)

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:28:00 GMT

Christchurch business owners

Lock this date in your diaries. On the 14th December 2011 - 5:30pm, Bishop Collyer & Leadbetter Business Advisors, Arise Cloud IT, Smart Payroll and DJCA are presenting a FREE session on how to use inexpensive online technology to make a real difference in your business. We're covering Xero, Workflow Maxand the Google suite.

Please register by clicking here.

After a successful first seminar we are introducing a new and improved as well as interactive Small Business Seminar! Please feel free to bring your laptop or iPad to interact with our software and be part of an opportunity to learn from our consultants.
Experts from DJCA (Accountancy Practice), Bishop Collyer Leadbetter (Business Advisors), Arise (Cloud Business Solutions) and SmartPayroll (Payroll Software) will take you on a tour of some of the leading new tools that you can use in your business today to boost productivity and the bottom line.

This workshop is designed for administrators, bookkeepers and octopus style business owners who have their hands on everything!

17:40-18:00:Andy Collyer, BCLBA:
Welcome, and overview of the cloud-based software model and how it can help small businesses be more productive. Lessons from the earthquake.

18:05-18:30: Dave Jessep, DJCA:
Introduction to Xero Accounting System, how it integrates with other cloud software (eg WorkflowMax)

18:30-18:40: Short Intermission

18:40-19:05: Rob Laidlaw, Arise Business Solutions:
Introduction to Google Apps for Email, Calendars, Docs, Single Sign on. Overview of other Cloud Solutions we use: WorkflowMax, Zoho / Capsule CRM, Box.net. Google Apps Marketplace. Demonstrate Xero / Google Apps single sign on in passing

19:05-19:30: SmartPayroll: Managing your payroll in the Cloud

19:30-20:00: Q&A, networking, drinks and nibbles
(An open bar will be available and complimentary nibbles)

We would love to have you come along. This event is completely free so you have everything to gain and nothing to lose and will benefit your business especially now in the changing Canterbury business climate.

Please register by clicking here.

Westpac Hub

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:45:00 GMT

Have you guys been to visit the Westpac Hub lately?

You should head down when you are next in the area as there is loads of hot desks and meeting rooms plus it is all free!

http://www.westpacbusinesshub.co.nz/

Great to see new ACC Rate Changes

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:10:00 GMT

Just received advice from ACC that they have got their house in order and are proposing to reduce the average levy from $1.47 to $1.15 per $100 of liable earnings.

IRD Email Scam

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:02:00 GMT

Hey guys - looks like another IRD email scam is doing the rounds. Same old thing in that they say you are due a refund then when you click through they ask for your bank account log in.

Please ignore....

EQ Excess on Commercial Property

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:20:00 GMT

You may be aware that the EQ excess on any commercial property claim is now 5% of the sum insured.

So if you own a building worth $500,000 then you have to pay the first $25,000 of any earthquake related insurance claim.

We had a client get in touch with us because the building they own is in a body corporate. Their building was fine but one of the buildings was damaged in a recent quake. As the insurance policy was owned by the whole body corporate the excess on this claim was $250,000 and even though our clients property wasn't damaged they were being asked to contribute their share towards this excess (in this case approx $15k).

If you own a building in a similar structure then we would recommend trying to insure yourself so that you only have to pay an excess if your property is damaged. Otherwise you could be up for a big contribution every time there is a quake!

EQ Update

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:43:00 GMT

Hi all

DJCA team are all well and have survived the quakes yesterday.

We hope all our clients are also doing well during this difficult time.

Cheers

Dave

Xero Webinar Update

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:38:00 GMT

We sat in on a Xero Webinar this morning with Matt and news from HQ is:

You can now attach your invoices when adding payable invoices into Xero! - Simply scan and upload into Xero and you can go paperless!

Xero now have linked into NZ Post to so that when you add a Street address of a contact Xero will automatically find the address for you. PO Boxes work too.

All credit cards - feeds for these are coming soon as can only get BNZ right now.

Great work Xero!

Company Tax Rate drop

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:02:00 GMT

The Company tax rate dropped from 30% to 28% on 1 April 2011.

The reason was to align with Australia who will also drop their Company tax rate to 28%.

While this sounds great it doesn't help NZ small businesses too much as we still need to get income out into the shareholders hands at some point.

So at the end of the day the key tax rates for small business is the personal tax rates.

NZ rates (including ACC) top out at 35c at $70k - while the Australian rate is 37c over $80k. - however in Australia you can deduct all types of things against your income, which is good from a tax perspective but pretty complex as well.

The other thing to consider is the GST rate which is 10% in Australia but 15% here but again over the ditch they charge GST only on certain items.

I think I prefer our model which is simple and relatively easy to use.

LAQC - LTC Update

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:55:00 GMT

Transition into LTC rules

Existing QCs and LAQCs may transition to become an LTC during their first income year starting on or after 1 April 2011.

To transition, all the shareholders of the QC or LAQC must make an LTC election within 6 months of the start of that income year. Making this LTC election revokes the previous QC and LAQC elections, with effect for, and from the beginning of, the first income year starting on or after 1 April 2011. For most companies this means they have until 30 September 2011 to elect to become an LTC.

Govt Business Support Package

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:03:00 GMT

The government has committed $6.85m in a targeted way to help fund needs identified by local businesses – and this is added to by significant business to business donations.

The mechanism for administering it is already mostly in place

The package is as follows:

$2.5m through the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust Fund – run by the Recover Canterbury operation (CECC/CDC) – this will generally support businesses.

$1.7m to extend the support available through Recovery Co-ordinators to help ensure the above cash is delivered effectively and provide effective business advice

$2.0m to support visits to international markets – for those already exporting– will cover 75% of travel expenses – run through NZTE

$0.65m to support training and business coaching (details still to be announced)

What must you do to access support

For Business Recovery Trust Fund monies:

Go on-line to http://www.recovercanterbury.co.nz/ and click on the red button “Apply for funds”. All this requires is some basic information and a summary of what sort of help you need. For some this may be no more than assistance with the costs of having had to relocate; for others it could be far more significant in terms of needing ongoing assistance to meet costs and retain staff while trade is slowly resumed. You should summarise your current situation and urgency of need as well.

Do it NOW – you are unlikely to see anything happen until 1 April – but they need to know as soon as possible what needs are out there

The support kicks in from 1 April after which you should be contacted by a Business Recovery Co-ordinator. However I understand there will be a whole assessment process to identify support needed and to confirm this.

Phone 0800 505 096 for more details.

For the international travel support visit www.nzte.govt.nz/canterbury

New Offices

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:07:00 GMT

Hi All

2 new offices in one week?

Yes we have moved to our new office in Christchurch well away from the traffic chaos that is central Christchurch. Come and visit us at 7 Willowview Drive, Redwood.

We have also started today in our new office in Auckland - Level 7, 5-7 Kingdon Street, Newmarket!

Look forward to catching up with you at either office soon.

New DJCA Office

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:07:00 GMT

Hi All

We hope you are all well and coping with the events of last week. We learned today that our office in the CBD has been "Red Stickered" and it is on a lean!

Essentially this means we are moving - or have moved! We are working from my home for 2 weeks temporarily and then we will head to a new single story premises in the north of the city - up in Redwood.

Luckily being an internet based business we have all our data intact and are already working on finalising GST returns and accounts. We are also now able to help all our clients with a range of services such as EQ claims and cash-flow planning to help get us through the next 6 months.

Please do not hesitate to email or call (we have diverted our phone so ring 377 0700) so we can help you now.

Best regards,

Dave

EQ Support

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:13:00 GMT

Civil Defence Payments

These payments are to meet the immediate needs of people who are affected by the Civil Defence Emergency. Civil Defence payments can cover the following costs:

payments to hosts for billeting evacuees (private homes, marae or community centres)
accommodation costs for evacuees in tourist accommodation (motels, hotels or temporary rental accommodation)
loss of livelihood (where evacuees cannot work and lose income due to the emergency, eg if you can’t get to work, your workplace is closed or you need to remain with your family/whanau)food, clothing and bedding (immediate needs up to a maximum amount).

If you are unsure whether the costs or your immediate needs will be covered by insurance, an initial payment to meet your immediate needs may be made. Note: should your insurance subsequently cover any payments made by the Civil Defence payment, you will be required to refund the amount paid.

Rates of Payment

Payments are available dependent on individual circumstances and are detailed on the attached page. The following payment arrangements apply:

payments for people billeting evacuees and for evacuees in tourist accommodation are to be made directly to the accommodation provide
payments for loss of livelihood are to be made to the applicant
payments for food, clothing and bedding should generally be made to the supplier, however, as this is an exceptional circumstance payment can be made directly to you.

No stand-down period applies to payments for loss of livelihood. Payments can commence from the day following the date payment of wages or salary stopped.Other Support

Special Needs Grants

This payment can help with urgent things that you don’t have any other way to pay for, like bedding and emergency dental or medical care. You won’t usually have to pay this back.

Recoverable Assistance Payments

This is for people not already receiving a Work and Income benefit. If you need something but can’t afford to pay for it right now, (like rent or appliances) you may be able to get this assistance. This payment is recoverable and will need to be paid back.

Other

Work and Income also administers a range of other assistance, eg Unemployment Benefit, Sickness Benefit, Domestic Purposes Benefit, Working for Families assistance, Temporary Additional Support and Emergency Benefit. Everyone’s situation is different, so what you may qualify for depends on your situation.

How to contact WINZ

You can visit them at a welfare centre, or you can call on 0800 559 009 to make an appointment at your local Work and Income service centre. For more information visit www.workandincome.govt.nz