It is certainly true that regardless of the size of a business, the increasing complexity of payroll systems – managing wages, taxation, annual leave, PAYG, different state jurisdictions and superannuation – means that specialist knowledge is required for these functions to be carried out properly.

Medium to large businesses have for many years understood the benefits of using specialist payroll companies to manage their payroll requirements. What is becoming evident, however, is the growing need for small business payroll services as well.

Those businesses, whether large companies or SMEs, that have taken the step to outsource payroll services, have based their decision on these realisations, and have not looked back:

1. Payroll Australia differs from many other countries in that regulations and requirements can change between states. If you have a national workforce, in-house payroll management can be extremely time-consuming.

2. While there are some impressive payroll software solutions available, by outsourcing payroll functions, the need to rely on a dedicated staff member to perform payroll services is eliminated. There is no interruption to the payroll function when staff members are on leave.

3. They see outsourcing payroll functions as part of their risk management plan, because the provider ensures that the client meets all requirements for governance and compliance.

4. Professional payroll companies are able to clearly define the separation of duties, providing transparency and an audit trail if needed.

5. There is no need for them to update systems and software and retrain staff if and when laws and regulations change.

6. Payroll companies are able to quickly adjust to meet the evolving demands of a business. Whether these changes are integration, downsizing, physical and geographical expansion a quality payroll services will have the flexibility to match these needs.

7. Quality payroll services provide their clients’ with online access to leave application and expenses processing, further eliminating the need for ancillary staff to manage these functions.

Successful businesses recognise that ability to do away with internal payroll systems has a measurable cost/benefit ratio. However, the peace of mind that results from knowing that this important function is being managed professionally is immeasurable!

There is a lot to do when you have a family. Through the day-to-day endeavors of caring for your home, your spouse, and your children, tax issues can easily be relegated to the bottom of the list

Save all of your receipts through the course of the year. Even if you are pretty sure that you won’t get a tax benefit from a purchase, save the receipt. Too much is better than too few when it comes to tax receipts. Keep them in a special folder in a filing cabinet or desk drawer so your receipts are easy to find when it is time to prepare your taxes. You can sort out which ones are applicable when you actually do your filing.

Stay up on changes in the tax code. Some things that happen in June or July can affect your taxes in April. This goes for all times of the year. Know about tax changes when they happen. Don’t wait until April 14 to catch up.

The college tax credit has been extended. If you have children attending college, they are now eligible for a maximum credit of $2500, which can now be claimed for four years.

You can contribute up to $2000 per year to an Educational Savings Account. While the contribution is after-tax, the funds that are withdrawn are untaxed as long as they are used for college education expenses.

If your family’s medical bills surpass 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income, they are tax deductible. This is particularly helpful if you have a sick family member or a recent newborn.

If you run your own business, you might want to think about hiring one of your minor children. A minor can earn up to $5000 per year without being subject to income tax.

According to the IRS, 25% of families that qualify for the earned income tax credit do not apply for it. To find out if your family qualifies for the EITC, go to the IRS website and find out.

The best way to avoid income tax problems is to be prepared. Review your financial status and accounts periodically throughout the year. Sit down with your spouse and compare opinions when making decisions about deposits into IRAs, educational savings accounts, and so on. By making smart decisions about your investments, savings, and income during the year, you can avoid confusion and trouble at tax time.