Funds small businesses to help spark a new revenue stream or just make life a little easier. BizGiver is BizCover's way of giving back to the small business community who fuel the economy. For too long, small businesses have been ignored, and now it's your turn to shine. Every six months, BizCover will grant a $5,000 wish to one deserving business owner. And this year, they are rewarding even more small business heroes. The top three finalists, winner included, will receive up to $250 off their next BizCover policy. More than just a prize, it’s their way of recognising the dedication, sacrifice, and commitment that small business owners invest in their dreams. Since 2014, BizCover has awarded almost $100,000 in grants, including SEO packages, advertising, hardware, and training. If your wish can help your business grow and can be invoiced, it can become a reality. So, share that dream and let us help you bring it to life. Eligibility: Entry into the competition is open to registered Small Business entities in Australia who have a valid ABN Small Business is defined as a business having less than 20 employees and a turnover of less than $2 million AUD per year Entries can only be made in the business owner’s name, on behalf of their business only Entrants must be over 18 years of age. Click here to view full funding guidelines on the provider's website. Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions, our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155.

Invests in community-driven projects that support efforts to create long-term economic growth and job sustainability in WA's regions. Applications for round 8 are now open, closing 12 pm (AWST) 9 January 2026. The Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants Program is a State Government initiative investing $55.85 million over ten years (2018-19 to 2026-27) in local projects to stimulate economic growth and development in regional Western Australia. Delivered locally by your local Regional Development Commission (RDC), up to $250,000 is available for individual projects that promote sustainable jobs and workforce solutions, productivity, skills and capability building, as well as stimulating new investment and industry diversification across the region. The grants boost investment in regional projects that contribute to economic growth initiatives and innovative pilots, and importantly, are driven by the community. Applications for funding are assessed on a competitive basis, considering their alignment with the GEDC’s strategic regional priorities and clear demonstration of economic diversification and employment outcomes, including the following REDs objectives: Sustainable jobs Expanding or diversifying industry Developing skills or capabilities Attracting new investment in the region Increasing productivity. Click here to view full funding guidelines on the provider's website. For applications from the Great Southern region, visit the Great Southern Regional Development Commission for more information. Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions, our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155.

If you're carrying an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) debt there is a good chance that it will cost you even more from 1 July 2025 onwards. This is because from 1 July 2025 two types of interest charges imposed by the ATO are no longer deductible. What are the interest charges? There are two main types of interest that are charged by the ATO. These are: General Interest Charge (GIC): This applies when you pay your tax liability late. The ATO applies GIC to encourage tax liabilities to be paid on time and ensure taxpayers who pay late don’t have an unfair advantage over taxpayers who pay on time. GIC is calculated on a daily compounding basis on the overdue amount. The GIC annual rate for the July – September 2025 quarter is 10.78%. Shortfall Interest Charge (SIC): This is applied when there is a shortfall in tax paid because of an amendment or correction to your tax assessment. SIC is also calculated on a daily compounding basis. The SIC annual rate for the July – September 2025 quarter is 6.78%. The ATO applies SIC to the tax shortfall amount for the period between when it would have been due and when the assessment is corrected. What’s changing? Historically, both GIC and SIC amounts could be claimed as a deduction. This has meant that the net after-tax cost of the interest charges has been reduced for taxpayers who have a positive income tax liability for the relevant income year. However, the Government has passed legislation to ensure that GIC and SIC amounts incurred on or after 1 July 2025 are no longer deductible, even if the interest relates to a tax debt that arose before this date. As these interest charges are no longer deductible, this means that the after-tax impact of the charges is higher for many taxpayers. The impact becomes greater as your tax rate increases. For example, let’s take a look at two individuals who have the same level of tax debt owed to the ATO and the same level of tax debt owed to the ATO and the same GIC liability of $1,000 for a particular income year: Sally is a high income earner and subject to a 45% marginal tax rate (ignoring the Medicare levy). Under the old rules the net cost of the interest charge was only $550 because she could claim a deduction for the GIC amount and this reduced her income tax liability by $450. Under the new rules no deduction is available and the full cost to Sally will be $1,000. Adam is subject to a 30% marginal tax rate (again, ignoring the Medicare levy). Under the old rules the net cost of the interest charge was $700 because he could reduce his income tax liability by $300 by claiming a deduction for the GIC amount. As with Sally, under the new rules no deduction is available for the GIC and the full cost to Adam is $1,000. What can I do to minimise the impact of this change? The simple answer is to pay down ATO debt as quickly as possible. As you can see, the GIC rate is relatively high and continues to accrue on a daily basis until the debt is paid off. What’s the problem? Many finfluencers make money by promoting financial products on behalf of companies, which means that they don’t necessarily have your best interests in mind when sharing information or insights. Finfluencers aren’t always qualified to provide advice on tax or financial products. You just can’t expect to receive solid, reliable or tailored guidance. Unfortunately, we’re seeing some influences share tax hacks that are either completely false or apply only in extremely limited situations. The ATO and some of the accounting professional bodies have sounded the alarm on some recent false claims, including: Claiming your pet as a work related guard dog Writing off luxury handbags as laptop bags Deducting fuel costs without any documentation Trying to claim swimwear as a work uniform These kinds of suggestions might sound plausible but following them could get you into serious trouble. The ATO uses sophisticated data matching tools to detect suspicious or inflated claims. If your deductions don’t meet the legal criteria, this could trigger an audit and if mistakes are found, the consequences can include: An increased tax liability Interest charges Fines A criminal record and, in the most serious cases, imprisonment Here’s how to stay safe and tax smart: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Dodgy deduction tips on social media are best ignored, at least until they can be verified. Stick to trusted sources. For official tax guidance, visit ato.gov.au. Don’t risk your business or personal reputation for a quick deduction. If you aren’t sure, please reach out to us , and we can help you stay compliant, no filters or hashtags!

Provides support for livestock transport businesses to transition to other transport-related activities. The grant can be used for a range of planning, professional and technical advice, training and co-funded investment in asset modification and acquisition. This program will provide support for livestock transport businesses, including those who have made investments in transportation of sheep and the delivery of essential export related goods such as feed, bedding, water systems, veterinary supplies and handling equipment specifically for the live sheep export by sea trade, to transition to other transport-related activities which may require further investment. Grant funding of up to $40,000 per eligible applicant will be available to applicants to contribute to the future costs associated with the transition to other transport-related activities. Co-funding of 1-1 is required for applications submitted under this program, and the applicant must match the dollar value of the grant funding approved. In-kind contributions will not be counted towards matched funding. To be eligible, you must: Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) Be registered for the purposes of GST Be a resident of Australia for operational and tax purposes Have an account with an Australian financial institution Be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract with the Australian Government. Also, you must be one of the following entity types: Company Cooperative Incorporated Association Indigenous Corporation Person Sole Trader. Click here to view full funding guidelines on the provider's website. Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions, our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155.

Aims to increase the uptake of alternative farming systems and practices. The grant can be used for a range of planning, professional and technical advice, application of research and development innovations and extension activities, and investment in on-farm infrastructure and improvements to increase the uptake of alternative farming systems and practices. Grant funding of up to $75,000 per eligible applicant will be available to applicants to contribute to the future costs associated with the transition. Co-funding of 1-1 is required for applications submitted under this program, and the applicant must match the dollar value of the grant funding approved. In-kind contributions will not be counted towards matched funding. To be eligible, you must: Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) Be registered for the purposes of GST Be a resident of Australia for operational and tax purposes Have an account with an Australian financial institution, and Be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract with the Australian Government. Provide approved evidentiary documentation demonstrating you have actively participated in the live sheep exports by sea industry in at least 1 of the past 3 financial years. Also, you must be one of the following entity types: Company Cooperative Incorporated Association Indigenous Corporation Person Sole Trader. Click here to view full funding guidelines on the provider's website. Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions, our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155.

Assists Western Australian innovators in bridging the gap between commercialised innovation and a sustainable business. The CBG is administered by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification and targets innovation-driven small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Western Australia, to provide them with support to bridge the funding gap between early start commercialisation and ‘break through growth’ to assist them in becoming sustainable, profitable and scalable businesses. The CBG is designed to assist businesses to: Strengthen their commercialised product or service, such that it can become a sustainable, profitable and scalable business Build a globally-focussed, innovative business that is based in WA Create jobs, develop new industries and assist in the diversification of the WA economy. Intended outcomes of the program are that: Startups with commercialised ideas build the capabilities necessary to scale their innovation. Startups and small businesses can address a technical problem and develop their product or service More innovation-driven startups can scale into global businesses with sustainable revenue Innovators can access the capital they need to strengthen, grow and further advance their commercialised innovation More innovators overcome barriers to securing investment to develop, test and commercialise their technologies/products. Matched funding requirements for successful applicants in targeted cohorts have been reduced from 50% to 25% to encourage applications from: Businesses headquartered in regional WA First Nations founded businesses, and Female-founded businesses. Click here to view full funding guidelines on the provider's website. Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions, our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155. 

Macquarie bulk payments have changed. Knight can no longer process withdrawals, find out what this means for you.

Learn the do’s and don’ts of holding rental property in an SMSF. Stay compliant with ATO rules, protect tax concessions, and avoid costly penalties.

WA sheep producers and processors can apply for grants up to $5M under the Supply Chain Capacity Program 2025. Applications close 22 October 2025.