Women's Network August 2019 | Page 50

NF New Financial Year - New Financial You Happy New Year – a financial year that is. Yes, it’s a play on a theme but it is a very relevant time of year. Why? Because any business owner or contractor should be aware of where they are financially at any given time. This is a fact often overlooked by many. A Financial Year is not only about paying taxation, although many people think this. Here are a couple of different examples when you need to besavvy about your financial position at any one time. + If you are applying for any borrowings and you’re self-employed for example, the banks will also work on financial year income not calendar year. They will want to know your incomings and outgoings, write backs, spending habits as well as paying habits. + If you are applying for income protection or salary continuance insurance the underwriters may want confirmation of your earned income by way of copies of 50 Women’s Network Magazine tax returns or financials. If you’re lucky your Book Keeper or Accountant can give confirmation immediately if you have kept them updated, otherwise they will have to prepare interim statements and to do this you will need to provide them with details of transactions and cashflow movement. + If your Accountant wants you to contribute to superannuation or apply for tax variations, due to contributions to super, this too will also be calculated for the financial year, not a calendar year. You will need a record of what has already been paid and what type of contribution/s it was. You would normally then have to call your financial adviser or the actual superannuation fund to confirm this since statements are only issued one a year and that is usually after the tax year has ended already. Do you manage your Cashflow at work and at home so you know where the $’s earned are going? Do you have everything easily categorized so you know you are on a budget in those areas? Do you even have a budget forvarious categories? Business wise or even simply personally wise wouldn’t it be great to have all this information easily at your fingertips at any given time AND IMPORTANTLY ALL IN THE ONE PLACE! In this day and age of ever-improving technology, there are various programs and apps that allow this. Say goodbye to spreadsheets and hello to the various “portals” available.