Don’t want to pay Mortgage Lender’s Insurance? Check out the 95% First Home Buyer Scheme

Under an Australian government-backed initiative, eligible first home buyers can purchase a property with as little as a 5% deposit and without paying Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI), which can add tens of thousands of dollars to the upfront cost of buying a home.

Why is there no need to pay LMI?

The 95% First Home Buyer Scheme was introduced to enable the government to guarantee up to 15% of a home loan, thereby reducing the lender’s risk and enabling first home buyers to avoid paying LMI.

To qualify, first home buyers must meet specific eligibility criteria, including property price threshold, and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The scheme is generally limited to those people who will purchase new and existing properties as owner-occupiers.

Thinking about buying your first home?

Speak to us to see if you’re eligible and how this scheme could work for you by calling us on (02) 8383 4466 and requesting a callback or making an appointment with the YML Finance Team.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Finance Team today to see how YML Group can assist you with your first property purchase. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4466 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Instant Asset Write-Off – a most valuable Tax Concession for your Business before 1 July 2026 Threshold Change

For Australian small business owners, the Instant Asset Write-Off concession, used strategically, provides an opportunity to both claim a tax deduction and, equally, invest in their businesses.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) allows eligible Australian small businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of an asset under $20,000, rather than depreciating it over many years. This amount applies to each asset claimed, meaning unlimited multiple purchases may be written off in the same year. However, there are stipulations to follow to ensure compliance under the law.

To access the Instant Asset Write-Off, an Australian business must:

• Be actively carrying on a business, not just holding an ABN
• Have total aggregated turnover under $10 million
• Purchase new and or second-hand assets costing less than $20,000 each, GST-exclusive if registered for GST
• Ensure an asset is installed and in use by 30 June 2026
• Use an asset for a taxable business purpose, as only the business-use portion is claimable

Timing is Critical

The Instant Asset Write-Off threshold of $20,000 is currently legislated until 30 June 2026 with an expected significant drop to $1000 from 1 July 2026, unless the Australian government legislates an extension. Therefore, timing is critical for businesses who want to claim the write-off of their business asset purchases this financial year.

IMPORTANT!

Review planned assets for the next 12 months, bring forward any necessary purchases that align with your business’s needs, allow time for delivery and installation before 30 June 2026, and confirm your business’s eligibility to access the Instant Asset Write-Off concession.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Chartered Accountants today to see how YML Group can assist you with your Instant Asset Write-Off claims. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4400 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

$100,000-plus Tax Deduction? Three Superannuation Strategies to implement NOW before 1 July 2026 Rule Changes

As 30 June 2026 approaches, you can take advantage of superannuation strategies still available under current rules that are due to change on 1 July 2026. This is the final year to use some deduction-friendly tactics and with some well-timed contributions before end-of-financial-year (EOFY), you can strengthen your retirement savings and receive some EOFY tax benefits.

These strategies must be implemented before 30 June 2026 to ensure that your contributions are received before the superannuation funds close off for the year, so early- to mid-June is your cut-off.

Maximise Concessional (Tax-Deductible) Contributions

People who use their concessional (tax-deductible) superannuation contributions up to the annual cap and follow the catch-up rule whereby the unused portions of the annual caps from the past five financial years can be added together, could claim $100,000-plus in tax deductions. If you have a starting balance of no more than $500,000 total in your superannuation account, you can effectively claim a consequential tax deduction using this concessional contribution strategy.

Therefore, if your total super balance is below the relevant threshold and you have not fully used some or all your concessional annual caps from the past five years, you may be able to make a larger tax-deductible contribution this year.

Concessional contributions are generally taxed at 15% with your superannuation fund which is much lower than most personal marginal taxation rates.

If you contributed, for example, $10,000 in a year when the annual cap was $27,500, you would have $17,500 unused, giving you the opportunity to contribute more than the standard annual cap this year ($30,000) and thus claim a larger tax deduction.

Factors including age eligibility, work test criteria, and lodgement of notices of intent must be met for this strategy to be implemented successfully. However, it remains one of the most tax-effective strategies for retirement savings growth.

Make Non-Concessional (After-Tax) Contributions

Considering making superannuation contributions from after-tax income can make a powerful impact on long-term wealth building.

Currently, superannuation rules allow an individual to contribute up to $120,000 per annum of after-tax income, which will increase to $130,000 from 1 July 2026, and up to three future years’ worth of contributions can be made at one time under the bring-forward rule.

For couples, this can mean contributing, if structured correctly and eligibility criteria is met, over $1 million of after-tax income into their superannuation accounts.

Co-Contribution Schemes

For people earning below $62,488 gross per annum, and who meet the eligibility criteria, the Australian government contributes up to $500 on up to $1000 of non-concessional (after-tax) contributions made by an individual into a superannuation account.

Additionally, if your spouse earns below $40,000 gross per annum, and eligibility conditions are met, an offset amount of up to $540 is claimable when you pay up to $3000 into your spouse’s superannuation account.

Downsizer Contribution Concession

If you have sold your owner-occupied, for at least 10 years, home and are aged over 55 years, you may be allowed to boost your superannuation account by an extra $300,000 in addition to any other contributions. This could be $600,000 for couples. It is worth seeking professional financial advice to ensure you follow the rules for this concession.

ACT NOW

This financial year is unlike any other in recent years due to the major superannuation reforms to commence on 1 July 2026. This is your last chance to use several contribution strategies to boost your retirement savings.

If you are unsure how much you can contribute or which strategy is right for you, seek advice from YML Group. Acting now can deliver both immediate tax-deductions and long-term financial growth.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Super Solutions Team today to see how YML Group can assist you with your superannuation contributions. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4444 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

The Invisible Bill: 5 surprising Truths about your Land Tax Valuation

Land tax is a significant cost to Australian property owners, yet few people understand how their land valuation is calculated for the purpose of land tax. Land tax assessments are undertaken by the Australian government, specifically by each state’s Valuer-General, using large-scale valuation systems.

Historically, property-based taxation was based on valuation systems that were surprisingly transparent to property owners, such as counting chimneys for the Hearth Tax or windows for the Window Tax. Today’s methods are less visible due to the digital age of fact-finding.

We outline five truths about the assessment process used to determine your land value:

Land Valuation Notice – What to do NEXT

If you have received a land valuation notice, it would be prudent to review the details of it carefully. Because the burden of proof lies with you, the property owner, you must decide if you have identified if the Valuer-General has truly understood your property in their assessment of it. If you want to have their assessment reviewed, do you have evidence?

YML Group can review your Land Tax assessment and help you determine whether lodging an objection application with Revenue NSW might be a worthwhile step for you to take to mitigate your Land Tax obligation.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Chartered Accountants today to see how YML Group can assist you with your Land Tax obligation. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4400 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Payday Super from 1 July 2026: What Businesses Need to Know

Australia’s superannuation system, notably the current quarterly payment cycle, will change for employers and employees from 1 July 2026. Employers’ superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions will need to align directly with the payroll cycle, meaning that the SG will be paid at the same time as wages and salaries. This change is known as ‘Payday Super’.

Changing the SG payment cycle gives regulators a way to tackle the growing issue of unpaid or underpaid SG by providing clearer visibility of employer compliance.

How does Payday Super benefit employees?

This reform aims to improve transparency for employees. It will ensure that SG is received sooner than quarterly, more consistently, and help boost retirement savings outcomes.

What are the implications for businesses?

Payday Super represents a significant shift in payroll and cash flow management for many businesses. Specifically, businesses will no longer have the flexibility to hold SG contributions until the end of the quarter.

Under the new rule, starting on 1 July 2026, employers will be required to:

• Calculate SG on or before each payday
• Pay SG at the same time as wages and salaries, be it weekly, fortnightly or monthly
• Ensure payroll systems are configured to process SG automatically with wages and salaries

This shift to more frequent SG payments will see the need for:

• Cash flow management to be adjusted more frequently
• Payroll processes and systems to be updated, if needed, to ensure real-time calculations and reporting of the SG
• SG payment error identification and corrections to be made more readily, thus mitigating the risk of late or missed payment penalties

Preparing your Business early will be key to successfully transitioning to Payday Super

YML Group can support you with the approaching introduction of Payday Super. NOW is the ideal time for you to review your payroll system and cash flow management.

Our YML Business Services Team has the expertise to assist you with:

• Reviewing and possibly updating your payroll setup to accommodate the alignment of SG payments with earnings payments
• Assessing the impact of Payday Super on your cash flow
• Planning for more frequent SG outflows from your cash flow
• Ongoing maintenance of your payroll setup to avoid unnecessary disruption to your business as the new rule comes into effect on 1 July 2026

Contact YML Group today to discuss how we can make the introduction of Payday Super an easier transition for your business and you.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Business Services Team today to see how YML Group can assist you with your SG obligations. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4455 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Did you know you can buy an investment property using home loan interest rates?

If you’re interested and would like to explore whether this option could work for your situation, please feel free to give us a call. We’re more than happy to discuss the details and answer any questions you may have.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Finance Team today to see how YML Group can assist you with SMSF property purchases. For more for more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4466 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Beyond ChatGPT: Why Custom AI Agents Are the Next Evolution in Workflow Automation

From Conversation to Action: How YML Group is Deploying AI That Seamlessly Integrates Within Your Systems

If your team is using ChatGPT, Claude, or other LLM tools, you've likely experienced the productivity boost they provide. But you've also probably hit their limitations: copying and pasting between systems, manually transferring information, and watching AI-generated insights sit unused because they're disconnected from your actual workflows.

At YML Group, we're moving beyond conversational AI to deploy custom AI agents that integrate seamlessly into business operations – and we're implementing them internally first.

The Difference Between AI Tools and AI Agents

Out-of-the-box LLM subscriptions are powerful for:

• Drafting content and emails
• Answering questions
• Analysing data you manually provide
• Ideation and brainstorming

Custom AI agents integrated within business processes extend these capabilities by:

• Connecting directly to your data ecosystem — integrating with internal and external data sources including CRM platforms, databases, knowledge bases, and core business systems to access real-time information
• Making smarter decisions over time — analysing data patterns, learning from outcomes, and progressively improving recommendations and actions based on your business results
• Taking action without manual intervention — executing tasks autonomously on your behalf through secure API integrations, from updating records to triggering workflows
• Embedding into your existing processes — operating as a native part of your workflows rather than requiring you to switch between tools or manually transfer information
• Adapting to your unique operations — learning from your specific business context, industry terminology, compliance requirements, and operational rules to deliver tailored results
• Orchestrating complex workflows — automating entire multi-step processes end-to-end, coordinating tasks across systems and team members without human oversight

Think of a custom AI agent as a tireless team member who inherently understands your systems, has instant access to your data, operates with your business logic, and executes tasks autonomously while you focus on strategic work.

Walking the Walk: YML's Internal AI Implementation

At YML, we practice what we preach. We've examined multiple accounting operations that drive our business and are building AI agents to improve internal operations, reduce manual errors, and increase the quality of services we deliver to you.

Use cases we're currently implementing:

Improving Process Efficiency

• Automate job workflow management by intelligently routing tasks and tracking status
• Optimise delivery schedules by analysing workload balance, proactively identifying bottlenecks, and devising mitigation strategies to reduce risk
• Handle document collection and ingestion by monitoring email inboxes, extracting relevant financial documents, categorizing them by client and type, and preparing them for processing

Reducing Errors

• Pre-process financial data by analysing documentation, extracting key information, and structuring it for review

Improving Customer Interaction

• Generate draft communications to clients regarding missing documentation, status updates, and routine inquiries based on current job status

These use cases represent the kind of transformation we see as possible across professional services: turning hours of manual coordination and data entry into automated processing, freeing teams to focus on higher-value advisory work and complex problem-solving.

Our Approach: Built for Your Business

1. Understand your business-specific pain points and overall aspirations
2. Define specific, tangible objectives aligned to your organizational roadmap (ensuring adoption)
3. Approve use cases and sequence of implementation
4. Assess your systems landscape and align a solution architecture that fits your technology stack
5. Design and approve the solution
6. Integrate data sources securely
7. Develop and train the AI agent
8. Test thoroughly in controlled environments
9. Manage change through education, training, and clear communication
10. Deploy in a phased approach
11. Continuously improve by monitoring performance, refining training, innovating, and deploying enhancements

Ready to Explore What's Possible?

If your team is ready to move to AI agent-enabled workflows, we'd love to discuss your current challenges and future aspirations.

We're building this future for ourselves at YML Group, and we're ready to build it with you.

Want to learn more? We're offering complimentary workflow assessments to explore where AI automation could deliver the most value for your organization.

Contact us to schedule your assessment and discover how custom AI agents can transform your operations.

How can YML help?

• Avi Sharabi
• CEO – YML AI
• M: 0410 348 297 ·
• E: Avi.Sharabi@ymlgroup.com.au
• W: www.ymlgroup.com.au

Could you purchase a Property for your SMSF?

A SMSF with around $250,000 could potentially give you enough to cover your setup and ongoing compliance costs, provide a deposit for a property and maintain liquidity for fees and future diversification.

Buying a property for your SMSF has its pros and cons. We outline them here:

PROS

Tax advantages:

• Rental income is generally taxed at 15% which is often lower than your personal marginal tax rate
• Capital gains tax (CGT) on property held longer than 12 months is effectively 10%
• Once you enter pension phase, both rental income and CGT can become tax-free

Borrowing leverage:

• SMSFs can use Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to buy property, enabling you to buy a larger asset than your SMSF balance alone would allow

Rental income boosts your SMSF:

• Rent paid by tenants goes directly into your SMSF
• Commercial property can be leased to your own business at market rates

Long-term capital growth:

• Growth of a property asset inside a SMSF is magnified by concessional tax treatment

CONS

Tight Australian Taxation Office (ATO) compliance:

• Mistakes can be costly

Less flexibility:

• Property ties up a large part of your SMSF, making diversification harder

Loan restrictions:

• SMSF loans often have higher interest rates and stricter conditions

No personal use:

• Your family and you may not live in or use a property bought for your SMSF

Learn more about how we can help you by calling us on (02) 8383 4466 and requesting a callback or making an appointment with the YML Finance Team.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Finance Team today to see how YML Group can assist you with SMSF property purchases. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4466 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Challenging the Valuer-General’s Valuation of your Land

Australian landowners often assume a land valuation is final, but many assessments can be successfully disputed. Land Tax is one of the key property-related obligations in Australia, and it is based on a valuation undertaken by the Valuer-General who does not typically visit every property to ascertain unique features. Therefore, you might have cause to challenge the Valuer-General’s assessment.

The Valuer-General relies heavily on a mass-appraisal method, which prioritises efficiency over site-specific accuracy. This Mass Valuation model often means that individual blocks of land are not assessed with consideration for a block’s attributes and constraints.

Mass-appraisal uses the recent sales of chosen ‘benchmark’ properties – based on location, zoning and land use – to calculate a one-size-fits-all percentage change in valuation; and assumes a valuation of vacant land at its ‘highest and best use’.

This method is efficient – it assumes your property is identical to the ‘benchmark’, but it does not reflect those attributes – easements, environmental factors such as contamination, topography such as steep slopes, restrictive overlays such as heritage limitations, among others – which are not shared by grouped ‘benchmark’ properties.

What this means for you

Mass Valuation could give you valid grounds for an objection to a land tax liability that you deem to exceed your land’s individual valuation. However, to succeed, an objection must show a quantifiable error such as:

•  Incorrect market value (at the valuation date)
•  Wrong land size, boundaries, or zoning restrictions
•  Incorrect parcel apportionment
•  Failure to consider constraints (including limited ‘highest and best use’ for vacant land)

How to build a strong objection

You may not object simply because your Land Tax liability has increased. You may object if there is a mathematical error.

Strong objections use legal discovery to report errors, and ensure the following:

• Comparable sales evidence – at least three (3) similar sales around the valuation date and adjusted to reflect land-only value
• Documented site-specific disadvantages – constraints identified that the mass-appraisal missed
• Timely lodgement of objection – within 60 days from the date of notice

Examples of successful challenges

Australian courts have repeatedly overturned Valuer-General-assessed valuations when assumptions under the mass-appraisal method fail.

Here are some recent Australian court decisions which show how land valuations can be dramatically reduced when constraints are considered, instead of ignored or misinterpreted:

•  Hammock Investments (NSW):
  o Environmental limits reduced value from $8M to $810k
  
  
•  Perisher Blue (NSW):
  o National Park lease restrictions cut value from $39M to $14M
  
  
• WSTI Properties (VIC):
  o Heritage overlay reduced value from $6.2M to $2.925M
  
  
• Goldmate Property (NSW):
  o Compulsory acquisition value increased from $0 to $9.5M after zoning errors were corrected

Lodging an objection and requesting a reassessment can result in significant savings for Australian landowners.

It is important to seek property valuation advice and prepare evidence for an appeal, but an objection can be an effective strategy for paying less Land Tax.

Next Steps

YML Group can review your Land Tax liability and help you determine whether lodging a dispute with Revenue NSW might be a worthwhile step for you to take to mitigate your Land Tax obligation.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Chartered Accountants today to see how YML Group can assist you in your Land Tax obligation. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4400 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.

Introducing YML Group’s New Live Q&A Online Feature

YML Group’s new Live Q&A online assistant is driving the next step in our digital transformation. We are moving confidently into the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, committed to strengthening our AI offering to you and enhancing your online experience with YML Group.

Introducing our Live Q&A online assistant on our YML Group website, you will find this intelligent, AI-powered tool is designed to provide you with instant answers, streamlined interaction with us and a more intuitive, responsive digital experience.

You will engage with our smart virtual assistant through a conversational, easy-to-use interface, whether you are looking for information about our services, have a question, or simply want to explore and browse our offers. Our virtual assistant is available anytime to guide you, and is a faster, more convenient way to connect with us.

We have a mission to remain at the forefront of technology and to continue to modernise how we serve you and our broader community.

Our Invitation to You

We invite you to now visit our website – www.ymlgroup.com.au/ai – and try out our new Live Q&A online feature. Please enjoy this dynamic and fresh digital enhancement to our important and valued customer service.

How can YML help?

Talk to our YML Chartered Accountants today to see how YML Group can assist you with our new Live Q&A. For more information, view our website and contact us on (02) 8383 4400 or by using our Contact Us page on our website.