Question 1

What does a tax planning engagement actually deliver?

Accepted Answer

A written tax planning document covering: your current-year projected position, the structures and entities you currently use, scenarios for the decisions in front of you (sale, restructure, super contribution, property purchase), pre-30 June action items with dates, and documentation of the position for each decision so it is defensible if reviewed.

Question 2

When is the best time of year to do tax planning?

Accepted Answer

For pre-30 June planning the practical window is April–May — late enough that we have most of the year's actuals, early enough to execute super contributions, asset purchases, prepayments and structure changes before year-end. For mid-year planning (a sale, a refinance, a new business) we engage as soon as the decision is on the table.

Question 3

Can tax planning lower my tax this year?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes — through legitimate deductions, super contributions, structure changes and timing. We plan, review and document positions; we do not promise specific outcomes because ATO results depend on individual circumstances and current law. Where a position is borderline we tell you and document the reasoning so the return is defensible.

Question 4

How does tax planning interact with my home or investment loan?

Accepted Answer

Closely. Negative gearing implications, deductibility of interest, debt recycling, redraw vs offset positioning, refinance timing relative to CGT events, and trust or company borrowing for investment all sit at the intersection of tax and lending. Because the same practitioner handles both, the plans never contradict each other.

Question 5

What is Division 7A and why does it appear in tax planning?

Accepted Answer

Division 7A can treat certain payments or loans from a private company to a shareholder or associate as deemed dividends — taxable in the recipient's hands. If you operate through a Pty Ltd, the loan account between you and the company is a planning consideration every year: minimum yearly repayments and the ATO benchmark interest rate (which is set each income year), and the timing of any new drawings. We apply the rules current for the relevant income year and document the position and the actions required before year-end.

Question 6

Do you work with my existing accountant or do you need to do my returns too?

Accepted Answer

Both arrangements work. Some clients engage us only for forward-looking planning and keep their existing compliance accountant for the annual returns. Others move both. The planning document is portable either way — it is written for the client, not the next professional.

Question 7

How is the planning engagement priced?

Accepted Answer

A planning engagement is priced as a fixed fee based on the scope: number of entities, complexity of decisions, lending interaction, and the level of documentation you need. We quote in writing after a scoping call. Typical engagements cost less than the tax saved or risk avoided — but we do not lead with that promise.

Question 8

Will tax planning create issues with the ATO?

Accepted Answer

Legitimate planning — claiming deductions you are entitled to, using available concessions, structuring within the law and documenting positions — is the explicit framework the ATO expects. We avoid aggressive positions where the Part IVA general anti-avoidance provision could apply, and we document every position so it can be defended if reviewed.

Tax Planning & Strategy

A documented tax plan, not a one-line tip.

When tax planning earns its fee.

Business owners and directors

Property investors

Self-employed and contractors

High-income individuals

From scoping to a written plan — typically 2–4 weeks.

Scoping & data

Review & modelling

Draft plan

Review meeting

Execution support

Annual review

Tax planning — common questions.

Where this fits in the bigger picture

Individual tax return

Company tax return

Investment property loans

Property investor mortgage & tax strategy

How One Roof works