Tax Planning Strategies Before 30 June (2026 Guide for Australian Business Owners)

Tax planning isn’t about doing anything aggressive or risky—it’s about being proactive. And the earlier you start, the more options you have.

As we head towards 30 June, it’s the perfect time to pause, review your numbers, and make a few strategic decisions that could legitimately reduce your tax bill.

Before we dive in—this is a very high-level overview only.
Every business and individual situation is different, and there are often more advanced and tailored strategies available depending on your structure, income levels, and goals. We strongly recommend speaking with your tax professional before implementing anything.

Here are some key tax planning strategies to consider before EOFY

 1. Review Your Profit Position Early

The first step is understanding where you’re at.

• Are you tracking for a profit or loss?

• Has your income increased compared to last year?

• Are there any large one-off transactions?

This helps determine whether you should be:

• Bringing forward deductions, or

• Deferring income where possible

 If you don’t know your numbers, it’s very hard to plan.

2. Prepay Expenses (Bring Forward Deductions)

If your cash flow allows, you may be able to bring forward deductions into this financial year by prepaying certain expenses.

Common examples:

• Rent or lease payments

• Insurance premiums

• Subscriptions

• Interest on loans

Small businesses can often prepay up to 12 months in advance and claim the deduction this year.

3. Instant Asset Write-Off & Depreciation

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing equipment, tools, or assets for your business—timing matters.

Depending on current ATO rules:

• You may be able to claim an immediate deduction for eligible assets

• Or use accelerated depreciation

Examples:

• Laptop, phone, tools

• Office equipment

• Vehicles (subject to limits)

 The key is: the asset must be installed and ready for use before 30 June.

4. Super Contributions (One of the Most Powerful Strategies)

Making additional super contributions can be a very effective tax strategy.

• Concessional contributions are generally taxed at 15% in super

• Compared to your marginal tax rate (which may be much higher)

For 2026:

• Concessional cap: typically $30,000 (including employer SG)

• You may also be able to use carry-forward unused caps

Contributions must be received by the fund before 30 June (not just processed).

 5. Write Off Bad Debts & Review Debtors

If you have invoices that are unlikely to be paid:

• You may be able to write them off as bad debts

• This reduces your taxable income

Also:

• Review your receivables

• Clean up old balances in your accounting system

6. Stocktake & Write Down Obsolete Stock

If you hold stock:

• Conduct a stocktake before 30 June

• Identify slow-moving or obsolete stock

You may be able to:

• Write down stock to a lower value

• Or write it off completely

7. Trust Distributions (If Applicable)

If you operate through a family trust, this is a critical area.

Before 30 June:

• Review expected profit

• Consider who income should be distributed to

This can help:

• Optimise tax across family members

• Avoid higher marginal tax rates

⚠️ Trust minutes must be completed before 30 June.

8. Review Motor Vehicle & Work-Related Claims

Make sure your records are up to date:

• Logbooks (if using logbook method)

• Business vs private use

• Running costs

Also consider:

• Whether a vehicle purchase before EOFY makes sense

• Or whether to delay until next year

9. Consider Deferring Income (Where Possible)

In some cases, it may be beneficial to defer income into the next financial year.

Examples:

• Delaying invoicing (where commercially appropriate)

• Deferring contracts or work

This needs to be done carefully and commercially—not artificially.

10. Don’t Forget Your Obligations

EOFY isn’t just about saving tax—it’s also about staying compliant.

Make sure you are on top of:

• BAS / IAS lodgements

• Super payments

• Payroll reporting (STP)

Why Tax Planning Matters

The biggest mistake we see?
👉 Clients waiting until after 30 June.

By then, most strategies are no longer available.

Even a simple 30–60 minute tax planning session can:

• Identify savings opportunities

• Improve cash flow

• Give you clarity and confidence going into the new financial year

📞 Let’s Get Ahead of 30 June

If you haven’t done tax planning yet—now is the time.

At Katalyst Accounting, we work with business owners to:

• Estimate your tax position

• Identify practical strategies

• Help you feel in control of your numbers

👉 Reach out if you’d like to chat before EOFY—we’d love to help.

Disclaimer

This article is general in nature and provides only a basic overview of potential tax planning strategies. It does not take into account your personal circumstances. More comprehensive and tailored strategies may be available to you, so we strongly recommend seeking professional advice before taking action.