Everything you’d hear about

Every Australian business has an ABN. The government’s ABN list shows if a business is still active, if it is registered for GST, and which trading names it uses. When one of those changes, the business has changed how it runs.

For you: You hear when a client’s ABN is cancelled, their GST registration starts or stops, or they add or drop a trading name, so you are not caught out at BAS or tax time.

For your client: Mistakes with GST or an ABN are cheaper to fix early. Your client gets a call from you before the tax office writes to them.

ORIC is the register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. It shows when a corporation is registered, changes size, or is deregistered.

For you: For clients that are Indigenous corporations, you hear about status and size changes that change what they must report.

For your client: The corporation gets help to stay on the right side of its reporting duties and keep operating.

The ACNC is the register of Australian charities. It shows when a charity is registered, changes size or details, or stops being a registered charity.

For you: For clients that are charities, or run one, you hear about changes to their charity status or size, which change their reporting rules.

For your client: A charity that loses its registration can lose its tax concessions. Early word gives time to respond.

ASIC keeps the official list of every Australian company. It shows when a company is registered, changes its name, or is being removed from the register (deregistered).

For you: You find out when a client company changes name or status, or is heading for deregistration, often before the client thinks to tell you.

For your client: A company that gets deregistered by mistake can lose its bank accounts and assets. Hearing early gives your client time to fix it.

A business name is the name a business trades under. ASIC’s list shows when a business name is registered or cancelled, and which ABN owns it.

For you: A new business name often means a new product, shop or side business. A cancelled one can mean something has closed. Either is a reason to check in.

For your client: Your client gets advice on setting up the new venture properly, or on winding the old one down cleanly, while it is still easy to do.

Some businesses need a licence from ASIC to give financial advice or offer credit. ASIC publishes who holds these licences and when they start, change or end.

For you: If a client’s financial services or credit licence changes or ends, you hear about it, because it changes what the business is allowed to do.

For your client: A lapsed or cancelled licence can stop a business earning money overnight. Early word gives your client time to act.

In Queensland, builders and trades need a QBCC licence. The register shows each company’s licence classes and its financial category, which is based on the size of its turnover.

For you: For builder and trade clients you hear when their licence classes or financial category change. The financial category is a turnover story in itself.

For your client: A builder whose licence changes may be limited in the jobs it can take. Early word gives time to fix it or plan around it.

The Tax Practitioners Board lists everyone registered to do tax or BAS work for others, and whether their registration is current, suspended or ended.

For you: You hear if a practice you work with, or a client that is a tax or BAS agent, has its registration changed or ended.

For your client: An agent without a current registration can’t lodge for their clients. Early word protects everyone involved.

The ACCC is the consumer and competition regulator. It publishes fines (infringement notices), court-enforceable promises (undertakings) and media releases about businesses.

For you: If a client is named by the ACCC, you hear about it early and can help before the costs and the headlines grow.

For your client: Your client gets support with fines, promises to the regulator and any hit to their reputation or cash flow.

ASIC puts out media releases when it takes action against a company, such as court cases, fines or warnings.

For you: If a client is named in an ASIC release, you hear it from us, not from the newspaper.

For your client: Your client gets support early when the regulator is involved, which is when good advice helps most.

ASIC keeps a short list of organisations it has banned or disqualified from certain work.

For you: You hear if a client, or a business your client deals with, is added to ASIC’s banned list.

For your client: Your client can get advice fast about what a ban means for their business and their customers.

The Department of Home Affairs lists businesses it has penalised for breaking the rules on sponsoring overseas workers.

For you: If a client that sponsors visa workers is penalised, you hear about it and can help with the fines and the staffing impact.

For your client: A business barred from sponsoring may lose staff it relies on. Early word gives time to plan.

The ACT Government publishes large invoices it has paid to businesses.

For you: You hear when a client is paid for government work in the ACT, a sign of new or growing government business.

For your client: Your client gets help to plan around the income and any extra work it brings.

AusTender lists every contract the federal government signs with a business, with the value and dates.

For you: You hear when a client wins a government contract, often a big change to their income, staff and insurance needs.

For your client: Your client gets help to plan cash flow, hiring and cover for the new work before it starts.

The federal government publishes every grant it gives out: who got it, how much, and what it is for.

For you: You hear when a client wins a federal grant, so you can plan the tax treatment, the reporting and the cash flow with them.

For your client: Grants come with rules. Your client gets help to meet them and not lose the money.

The Queensland Government publishes the businesses that received its small-business grants.

For you: You hear when a Queensland client receives a state grant, so you can treat it correctly for tax and reporting.

For your client: Your client gets help to use the grant well and meet its conditions.

The tax office publishes, once a year, which companies claimed the research and development tax incentive and how much they spent on R&D.

For you: You can see which clients are claiming R&D and the size of their spend, which is useful for planning and for spotting clients who could claim but don’t.

For your client: R&D claims can be worth a lot. Your client gets help to claim properly and keep good records.

The NSW Food Authority publishes food businesses that have been fined or prosecuted for breaking food safety rules.

For you: If a NSW food client is fined or prosecuted, you hear about it and can help with the costs.

For your client: A public food safety breach can hurt trade. Your client gets support early.

The National Pollutant Inventory lists businesses that must report the pollution they release, by site, each year.

For you: You see which clients have sites that report emissions, useful for environmental, insurance and funding conversations.

For your client: Your client gets help with reporting duties and with lenders and buyers who increasingly ask about emissions.

When a product is unsafe, the business that sells it must recall it. Recalls are published by the ACCC and, for food, by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

For you: A recall costs money and can lead to claims. You hear when a client has one, so you can help with the numbers and the insurance.

For your client: Your client gets help to plan for the cost of the recall and protect the business while it happens.

SafeWork NSW publishes the businesses it prosecutes for workplace safety failures, and the formal promises (enforceable undertakings) businesses make instead.

For you: If a client is prosecuted or signs an undertaking in NSW, you hear about it and can help plan for fines and costs.

For your client: Your client gets help with the money side of a safety case, and a nudge to check their insurance.

The Victorian EPA publishes environmental licences, permits and the notices it issues to businesses, such as orders to clean up.

For you: If a Victorian client gets an EPA notice or a licence change, you hear about it and can help with the costs.

For your client: Environmental orders can be expensive. Your client gets help to plan for them early.

Logan City Council publishes development applications (plans to build or change the use of land), including who applied and the decision.

For you: A development application usually means a big project and a big spend. You hear when a client lodges one or gets a decision.

For your client: Your client gets help with finance, tax and structure for the project before the money is committed.