What can still be done, sensibly and legitimately, before year-end?

While the best tax planning is rarely left to the final days of June, there is still value in understanding the most common levers available and whether they are commercially appropriate for your business.

A simple principle is worth keeping in view throughout:

Tax planning should support good business decisions — not distort them.

The ideas below work best when they align with actions your business already intends to take.

Think of this as a practical EOFY checklist rather than a list of shortcuts.



Key Takeaway

The most effective EOFY tax planning usually comes from aligning legitimate tax opportunities with decisions your business already needs to make — not from rushing into spending purely for a deduction.


 

At a Glance

  • Delay deriving income where commercially appropriate
  • Write off genuinely unrecoverable debts
  • Review stock and work in progress
  • Remove obsolete assets
  • Prepay eligible expenses
  • Ensure staff super clears before year-end
  • Review personal concessional super opportunities
  • Purchase equipment only if genuinely needed
  • Consider trust distributions carefully
  • Seek advice before using a bucket company
 

 

At a Glance

  • Delay deriving income where commercially appropriate
  • Write off genuinely unrecoverable debts
  • Review stock and work in progress
  • Remove obsolete assets
  • Prepay eligible expenses
  • Ensure staff super clears before year-end
  • Review personal concessional super opportunities
  • Purchase equipment only if genuinely needed
  • Consider trust distributions carefully
  • Seek advice before using a bucket company
 

1. Delay Deriving Income

Where it genuinely fits the work, income may move into the next financial year by adjusting:

  • Timing of invoicing
  • Completion of projects
  • Contract milestones
Example

Hold off invoicing a completed job until early July and the income may fall into next year.

Important: This should reflect commercial reality — not artificial tax avoidance.


2. Write Off Bad Debts

If a debt is genuinely unrecoverable and formally written off before 30 June, it may become deductible this year.

Document:

  • Collection efforts
  • Why recovery is unlikely
  • Internal write-off approval

A deduction should always stand up to review.


3. Review Stock & Work in Progress

Closing stock may be valued at:

  • Cost
  • Market value
  • Replacement value

Slow-moving or obsolete inventory may justify a lower valuation.

Worked Example

Original stock value → $10,000
Current value → $6,000
Potential deduction→ $4,000

Sometimes deductions are sitting quietly in storage.


4. Remove Obsolete Assets

Assets no longer suitable for business use may be scrapped and removed from the books.

Worked Example

Equipment written-down value → $3,000

Scrapped before 30 June → $3,000 deduction

Ensure disposal records are retained.


5. Prepay Eligible Expenses

Eligible small businesses may prepay up to 12 months of certain expenses and claim deductions now.

Examples:

  • Rent
  • Insurance
  • Subscriptions
Reminder

You are still spending real cash to save only part of it in tax.

Prepayments work best when the expense already makes commercial sense.


6. Pay Staff Super Before EOFY

Super is deductible only when paid and received.

Worked Example

June quarter SG → $15,000

Paid and cleared by 30 June → deductible this year.

⚠️ Clearing house timing matters.

Funds often need to reach the super account — not simply leave yours.


7. Maximise Personal Super Opportunities
Concessional Contributions Cap

Contribute up to $30,000 (including employer and salary sacrifice contributions).

Carry-Forward Opportunities

Unused concessional caps from the previous five years may still be available if eligibility conditions apply.

This area contains detailed rules — professional advice is recommended.


8. Buy Needed Equipment

Buy equipment because the business needs it.

Tax outcomes should be secondary.

Instant Asset Write-Off
Asset Value (net GST)Tax Treatment
Under $20,000Immediate deduction
$20,000+Small business depreciation pool

Assets over the threshold still receive deductions — simply over time.


9. Tax-Efficient Trust Distributions

Trustees generally need to determine distributions before 30 June.

Where appropriate, distributing income across beneficiaries on lower marginal rates may improve outcomes.

However:

  • ATO monitoring remains high
  • Anti-avoidance rules may apply

This is best approached with advice.


10. Consider a Bucket Company

A corporate beneficiary may cap tax at company rates.

Comparison

25% Company Rate vs 47% Top Personal Marginal Rate

Proper implementation matters.

Rules such as Division 7A and Section 100A can affect outcomes.

Advice before implementation is strongly recommended.


Final Word

None of these strategies are especially exotic.

They are familiar EOFY levers available to many businesses.

The value lies in selecting the right ones, in the right order, and applying them to your circumstances — ideally before the final days of June.