At a glance
- Superannuation changes require client education and planning.
- Poor inventory management can distort financial reporting for product businesses.
- Smart EOFY preparation separates advisory practices from compliance processors.
Every June, you hope this EOFY will be different. Better organised clients, smoother processes and fewer last-minute panics. Yet here we are again, facing some familiar (and some new) employer compliance deadlines. The superannuation guarantee rate reaches 12% on 1 July, affecting budget calculations, while the Payday Super consultation signals major system changes ahead for 2026. Plus, clients are demanding a more efficient service.
Four priorities will help you avoid the annual scramble and set yourself up for the months ahead: smart planning strategies, inventory issues, client communication and looking ahead to advisory work.
1. Smart tax planning strategies
Nicola Beswick, founder of White Rabbit Advisory, says accountants often miss trust distribution resolutions before 30 June, fail to review asset depreciation schedules in detail and overlook small business CGT concessions.
“It’s also important to remind clients to check their Division 7A loan agreements and ensure minimum repayments are made,” she says.
Most clients know about asset write-offs but may not consider income timing.
Clients expecting high income next year may defer equipment purchases, while those eligible for immediate write-offs up to $20,000 for small businesses may want to buy before 30 June. The threshold is due to drop to $1,000 from 1 July, making this year’s window particularly valuable.
Beswick also advises financial professionals to manage concessional contributions carefully.
“The concessional contributions cap has increased to $30,000 for the 2024–25 financial year (up from $27,500).
Also, don’t forget the carry-forward rule: unused concessional contributions from previous years, dating back to 2018–19, may still be available. Since the 2018–19 unused amounts drop off after 1 July 2025 (due to the five-year rolling window), now could be a good opportunity for eligible clients to top up and manage tax liabilities more efficiently,” she says.
2. Don’t forget about inventory
Product-based businesses face unique EOFY headaches that most accountants underestimate.
eCommerce specialist Bec Laut says poor inventory management can distort financial reporting, inflate profit margins, and create compliance risks extending well beyond tax time.
She advises accountants working with product clients to:
- Encourage an EOFY stock take that aligns with what’s actually in the accounting file.
- Audit inventory systems not just for stock levels, but also for how data flows between sales, inventory and accounting platforms.
- Look at margin reporting, not just total sales, because profit keeps the lights on, not revenue.
- Help clients distinguish shrinkage, write-offs and promotions from operational errors so that future decisions aren’t based on faulty data.
3. Smooth client communication
An annual cycle of document requests, follow-ups, and last-minute scrambles reflects poor communication design, not difficult clients.
Laetitia Boden, founder of Gatheroo, says it’s easy for accountants to blame tax changes, staffing pressures and slow clients for chaos at the end of the financial year.
“The real problem is the communication flow,” she says.
“Clients are busy. To them, tax time is another distraction, another task in a long list of to-dos. The key isn’t more reminders, more spreadsheets, or more chasing. It’s making the process easier for them. When you break the overwhelming task of responding into smaller, clearer steps, everything happens faster and more smoothly.”
Steps to streamline workflows include:
- Standardised request templates that break complex requirements into smaller tasks.
- Client portals with automated workflows that trigger task-specific reminders based on completion status.
- Cloud accounting platforms like MYOB or Xero provide real-time client data access, reducing manual document requests.
- ATO pre-fill that automatically populates tax returns with government-held information.
- Mobile-responsive platforms that let clients upload documents instantly rather than waiting to get back to their computers.
4. Turn EOFY into an advisory opportunity
Tax return conversations can develop into more in-depth client engagement. Instead of just processing numbers at EOFY, asking more strategic questions about future opportunities or expansion plans could open up advisory entry points.
Regulatory changes create natural conversation starters. The superannuation rate increase opens budget planning discussions, while upcoming Payday Super requirements could lead to payroll system conversations that reveal broader operational challenges.
Follow up with specific proposals: monthly cash flow forecasting, quarterly business performance analysis, or annual strategic planning sessions.
The goal is to demonstrate that you understand their business beyond compliance requirements, positioning EOFY as the foundation for ongoing advisory relationships.
More information on IPA’s tax roadshows across the country can be found here.
