I'll be honest, it's been a while. And the reason is a good one: we've been heads down building.
A lot has changed since the last newsletter. We've grown the team, launched new tools, and put some serious foundations in place that are going to make a real difference to how you work and grow your practice.
Also, remember that the deadline for many clients is 15th of May. That is just around the corner. To ensure you get them lodged on time, submit them now! We cannot guarantee that the returns will be lodged on time if you give them to us a week or 2 before that date.
Check out LodgeIQ to see what returns you have due and by when.
One more thing, we will be meeting in Perth on the 21st of May. I hope to see the WAs team then!
This update covers all of it. Let's get into it.
Meet The Team
It's long overdue, but I want to properly introduce the people working behind the scenes to support you. These aren't just names on an email, these are the people in your corner (I was trying to add pictures, but Hubspot won't let me).
Shane Burns | Tax Agent
Shane is the newest member of the team, but don't let that fool you, he's been in accounting since 2006 and brings nearly two decades of private practice experience with him. Shane is our tax agent on the ground, and his signature is on every tax return that goes out. You're in good hands.
My name is Shane Burns, and I've been working as an accountant in private practice since 2006. Over that time I built a strong foundation in delivering reliable, high-quality accounting services while developing long-term relationships with my clients. Around the COVID-19 period, the shift to working from home gave me the opportunity to reassess my direction — and in 2022 I made the decision to establish my own firm. I now provide comprehensive accounting services alongside Virtual CFO support to help businesses gain clarity, improve performance, and make confident financial decisions. Outside of work, I've been married for 21 years and have two kids and a Frenchie who keep life busy. On weekends you'll usually find us at the beach, working on the house, or getting involved in Excel Cup racing when we can.
Laura | Knowledge Management
Laura and I go back a long way. We built a firm together from the ground up (along with Armin), so I know exactly what she's capable of. She's a Chartered Accountant with deep expertise in accounting and CFO services, and she brings that same rigour to everything she does here. Laura is heading up our knowledge management, working through your support tickets, building out the courses, and making sure the knowledgebase actually answers the questions you're asking.
I'm Laura, Sydney-born and mum to 3 girls. Professionally, I'm a Chartered Accountant, Fractional CFO, and most recently a Tax Agent in Training! I've been working in finance for 15 years and my passion lies in supporting small businesses and their founders. I'm currently based in the UK with my family, which is why you'll sometimes get emails from me at odd hours (sorry!), but we're on a trajectory back home and I'm looking forward to meeting you all in person one day soon.
Armin | Reviewer
Most of you already know Armin, but she deserves a proper introduction. Armin and I have worked closely together for the past four years, and there are very few people I trust more when it comes to getting the detail right. She's the one reviewing your work, and if you've had feedback that's genuinely helped you improve, there's a good chance Armin was behind it.
I'm Armin, an accounting professional with over 22 years of experience across Australia, the Philippines, and Singapore. My background spans financial reporting, taxation compliance, audit, payroll, and management advisory services, with most of my career spent in senior roles reporting directly to business owners. I'm known for my attention to detail, my willingness to go beyond the brief, and my ability to adapt quickly to new environments and systems. I work across Xero, XPM, Hubdoc, Dext, and a range of other platforms, and I'm always adding to that list. What I enjoy most about this role is the combination of technical rigour and the opportunity to help practitioners grow. Getting a return right matters, and so does making sure the person who prepared it understands why.
Tax Return Due Dates
Lodgement Deferrals
We applied for a number of deferrals last year and many of them weren't submitted on time or haven't been submitted at all.
It is up to you to mange yourselves and your due dates. All returns must be submitted a minimum of 2 weeks before the due date in order for it to be lodged on time.
We will not approve half done work to meet a deadline so ensure all workpapers are completed fully and review points.
Returns submitted with incomplete workpapers, missing documentation, or unresolved review points will be returned without review.
Also remember its first come first serve, so if we get a lot of returns at the same time, we go from first to last.
If it is urgent, submit the return for review and book a time using this link. Urgency caused by late preparation, missing information, or poor planning will not be treated as urgent.
Returns will be prioritised based on due dates. Any returns that are overdue or approaching their due date must be lodged before other work is processed.
Due Dates Most returns are due 15 May 2026, with some falling between January and April. As a general rule, aim to have everything ready two weeks before the due date.
March 2026 Quarter – due 25 May 2026
Send for review by 7 May 2026.
IAS Lodgement Dates
April 2026 – due 21 May 2026 Send for review by 7 May 2026.
Super Payment Dates
March 2026 – due 28 April 2026 Pay by 25th April 2026. June 2026 – due 28 July 2026 Pay by 15th June 2026 to get the deduction in FY2026, otherwise by 25th July 2026.
Getting Help
To ensure requests are tracked and responded to efficiently, please follow the communication process below.
One of the things I've heard consistently is that it can be hard to keep track of where jobs are at: which returns are in review, which are waiting on client info, what's coming up next. That's about to get a lot easier.
We're launching the Job Management module called Tax Agent Hub, and I'm aiming to get it out to you this week.
When it goes live, I'll send out a short video walkthrough so you can see exactly how it works before you dive in. Keep an eye on your inbox.
The short version: This will replace the ticket submission for reviews and lodgements. It gives you a clear, live view of all your jobs, their status, and what needs to happen next. Less chasing, more doing.
Client Acquisition
Something we've been working on quietly in the background: client acquisition is now live, and leads are coming in.
We're currently in the testing phase, making sure the experience is right and the process works smoothly end to end. Once we've got that bedded down, we'll be rolling it out to those who want to be part of it.
More details to come on this soon.
Payments
I know the current payment process has its friction points, and I've been working on a solution that makes things significantly easier, including guaranteed weekly payments.
I wanted to give you the heads up that this is in the works and it's being built with your cash flow in mind.
In the meantime: business as usual, but watch this space.
Your Profile
I'm building a Meet Our Practitioners page on The Accounting Academy website and I want you on it.
Why should I do this?
Free marketing for your practice. The Accounting Academy gets between 300 and 1,000 website visitors every week, people actively searching for tax agents, BAS agents, and bookkeeping services. Your profile links directly to your website. That's warm traffic you don't have to pay for.
Instant credibility. Being listed as a Supervised Practitioner of a registered tax agent with 20+ years experience, Xero Platinum Partner status, and a TPB-registered practice tells prospective clients exactly what kind of professional you are. It does the selling for you.
It answers the question before it's asked. When potential clients Google you, they'll find your profile and see exactly who supervises your work and what that means. No more explaining the model from scratch.
What I need from you
All it takes is 2 minutes. Fill in this form and I'll take care of the rest.
LinkedIn: Add The Academy
While you're at it, please update your LinkedIn to reflect your role correctly. The title to use is:
Supervised Practitioner — The Accounting Academy
And add The Accounting Academy to your experience section. Here's a suggested description you can use or adapt:
Currently completing a structured supervision program with The Accounting Academy, a Chartered Accountant firm, registered Tax Agent, and Xero Platinum Partner. As part of the program I prepare and lodge tax returns and BAS statements under direct professional supervision, gaining the hands-on experience required by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) toward full registration. The Accounting Academy provides supervision, technical training, compliance frameworks, and access to a national community of 60+ practitioners across Australia.
This shows up in searches, adds credibility to your profile, and connects you to the broader network.
Wrapping Up
That's a lot in one newsletter, but it reflects a lot happening behind the scenes on your behalf.
The short version: the team is solid, new tools are coming, client acquisition is live, payments are about to get easier, and your online profile is worth five minutes of your time right now.
As always, if you get stuck, don't go quiet. Jump in the WhatsApp group, fire off an email, or book a session. We're here.
