Welcome back!

We hope everyone had a good break over the festive season and are ready for 2018 – we sure are.  We have a few exciting things planned for the year and look forward to working with you all again.

Things to remember in January

Since some of us are possibly still in holiday mode, lucky enough to still be away from the office or just rolled over playing dead, we have compiled a short list of must-do things for January to help you get back into it.

1.  Payroll tax – If you are involved with pawroll tax you have until 7 January to lodge and pay for the month of December. However, if you are in NSW the Office of State Revenue has extended this date to 15 January 2018.

2.  BAS – December BAS is due on the 28 February if you lodge quarterly and use a tax agent, or 21 January if you lodge monthly and prepare the return yourself.

3.  Superannuation – Superannuation payments for December or December quarter are due before 28 January.

4. Benchmarking reports – If you are a quarterly or bi-annual benchmarking client you will need to have your December figures ready as soon as possible to enable us to prepare your reports.  We are eagerly waiting with tails wagging.

Pawtect your identity

There has been some talk around the dog parks lately about identity theft and how to protect your identity.  As this doesn’t necessarily mean marking your territory so others know that place is yours, we have decided to summarise this for you:

Don’t click on links in emails that ask for your log in information for anything.  Go directly to a web page and key in the address yourself and go from there.

Never give out your personal information over the phone or by email even if they beg, unless you are familiar with the person.  This includes your tax file number, date of birth, bank details, credit card number, microchip ID password or favourite treat.

Look after your passwords.  Don’t have a generic password (or scent) for all of your applications.  Each user should have their own password (or scent) for software and this should be updated or changed when a staff member leaves or joins your pack.  No one should ever smell the same as anyone else.  If they do, something is obviously up.

Know who owns your client data base (or treat bag) especially if you are using cloud based software.  Is it shared, given or sold to anyone else?

Basically, if you wouldn’t give out the information to a random stranger in the street, you shouldn’t give it to anyone online or over the phone without knowing who it is that you are speaking to, confirming why they require the information, and giving them a good sniff to discount shenanigans.

Situations that can arise from identity theft (Source:  ATO website):

– access your bank account and shop using your credit card

– stealing your super

– applying for a Government benefit

– selling your house

– create fake businesses and commit fraud in your name

– take over your business and submit adjustments for BAS that you have lodged before

– take over existing AUSkeys or create new AUSkeys in your name and commit fraud

– sell your identity to national or international organised crime groups

– stealing your dog

– stealing your treats

Not only are these things a dog gone inconvenience, but if a criminal steals your identity it can take a long time to fix.  It may be difficult for you to get a job or a loan, set up a new company, rent a house, apply for a mortgage, apply for government services or benefits among other situations.  Especially if you are a dog.

Dog tales

While Studel and Chica recover from their paddling adventures and sleep off the holidays I have been left in charge of newsletters, security, passwords, and protecting identities at APL HQ.

Until next month,

Stella XX

Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the informations applicability to their particular circumstances. In particular, please note that the APL dogs who often prepare this newsletter do not have opposable thumbs so have to type with their noses.