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Frequently Asked Questions

Plain-English answers to common Xero, BAS, GST, payroll and bookkeeping questions. General information only, not advice about your situation. For that, book a time with Colleen.

Xero
BAS
GST
Payroll and Payday Super
Working with Colleen

Xero questions

In Xero, go to Settings, then Users, and select Invite a user. Enter xero@cloudscribe.com.au, give Colleen adviser access, and send the invite. Colleen will accept it and let you know once she’s connected.

It depends on how many transactions you have and whether you run payroll. Every Cloudscribe package includes a Xero subscription: Ignite with Essentials, Grow with Business Plus, and Comprehensive with Complete Business. See the Pricing page.

Yes. Colleen can set up a new Xero organisation (from $550) or convert your existing accounting software to Xero (from $950), including your chart of accounts and bank feeds.

Bank feeds bring your bank and credit card transactions into Xero automatically, so nothing needs to be typed in. They’re strongly recommended. The account holder authorises each feed with their own bank login.

Yes. Colleen is a qualified Trainer and Assessor and offers one-on-one Xero training online for $110 per hour.

BAS questions

A Business Activity Statement (BAS) is the form businesses lodge with the ATO to report and pay tax obligations such as GST, PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments.

Quarterly BAS is usually due on the 28th of the month after the quarter ends (28 February for the October–December quarter). BAS agents who lodge electronically can often get extra time. Monthly BAS is due on the 21st of the following month. Check ato.gov.au for exact dates.

Most small businesses lodge quarterly. Businesses with GST turnover of $20 million or more must report GST monthly, and some businesses choose monthly reporting.

You can lodge your own BAS. But only a registered BAS agent or tax agent can be paid to prepare and lodge it for you or advise you on BAS matters. Colleen Goodacre is a registered BAS agent (RAN 24609598).

In the ATO’s Online services for business, go to Profile, then Agent details, then Agent nominations, and select Add. Search for Registered Agent Number 24609598 and submit. Then email hello@cloudscribe.com.au. See the full Client-Agent Linking guide.

Lodge on time even if you can’t pay, then contact the ATO about a payment plan. Colleen offers ATO payment plan assistance for a fixed fee of $150.

GST questions

Businesses generally must register for GST once their GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year ($150,000 for non-profit organisations). You can choose to register earlier. Colleen can handle GST registration for a fixed fee of $200.

Businesses with an aggregated turnover under $10 million can choose to account for GST on a cash basis, reporting GST when payments are actually received and made. Larger businesses generally use accruals. Colleen can help you set up the right method in Xero.

Not always. Some sales are GST-free (for example most basic food, some health and education services, and exports) and some are input-taxed (such as residential rent and financial supplies). Ask Colleen if you’re unsure how GST applies to what you sell.

For business purchases over $82.50 (including GST), you need a valid tax invoice before you can claim the GST credit. Keep invoices with your records in Xero.

Businesses generally need to keep tax and business records for five years.

Payroll and Payday Super questions

STP sends your payroll information, such as wages, PAYG withholding and super, to the ATO each time you pay employees, through software such as Xero.

From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super each payday. It must reach the employee’s super fund within 7 business days after payday (20 business days for a new employee’s first contribution). Read News & Insights for more.

The super guarantee rate is 12%. Under Payday Super it’s calculated on each employee’s qualifying earnings.

Sometimes. If a contractor is paid mainly for their labour, they may count as an employee for super purposes. The ATO has a tool to help you check, or ask Colleen.

PAYG withholding is the tax you take out of employees’ pay and send to the ATO. It’s reported through STP and on your BAS.

Working with Colleen questions

A bookkeeper records and organises your business’s day-to-day financial transactions, such as sales, expenses, bank transactions, payroll and GST, so your accounts are accurate and ready for BAS and tax time.

You invite Colleen to your Xero file (xero@cloudscribe.com.au), bank feeds bring in your transactions, and you send receipts and invoices digitally. Colleen keeps everything up to date online, and you can see the same live numbers in Xero at any time.

No. Everything is done online, with catch-ups by video call booked through Calendly, so there’s no need for face-to-face meetings wherever you are in Australia.

Monthly packages start at $300 including GST and a Xero subscription, and one-off services have fixed fees. See the Pricing page, or ask Colleen for a custom quote.

Book a time with Colleen to talk through what your business needs. She’ll recommend a package, then you invite her to your Xero file and nominate her as your BAS agent if needed.

Email hello@cloudscribe.com.au or book a time at calendly.com/colleen-cloudscribe. Cloudscribe works by email and online booking only and doesn’t take phone enquiries.

Still have a question?

Colleen works by email and online booking only, so there is no phone line. Email hello@cloudscribe.com.au or book a time that suits you.

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