March 2026 ATO Updates for Australian Small Businesses

Welcome to the Connectt March 2026 update — your monthly round-up of ATO news and small business tax updates that matter for Australian business owners. This month there is plenty to keep on your radar, from an important BAS deadline to big changes coming in payroll superannuation.

February Activity Statements Due 23 March 2026

February Activity Statements are due 23 March 2026! Keep an eye on your inbox — emails are being sent out for review and signature. Submitting your BAS on time helps you avoid late penalties and keeps your accounts up to date. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Connectt team.

$20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off Extended to 30 June 2026

Good news for small businesses — the $20,000 instant asset write-off has been extended to 30 June 2026. If your business has an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million, you may be able to immediately deduct the full business cost of eligible assets purchased and first used before 30 June 2026. The $20,000 limit applies per asset, so multiple purchases can qualify.

Unless a further extension is announced, the threshold reverts to $1,000 from 1 July 2026 — so if you have been putting off equipment purchases, now is the time to act. For full details, visit the ATO Instant Asset Write-Off for Eligible Businesses page.

ATO Data Matching: Is Your Bookkeeping in Order?

A friendly reminder that the ATO is getting even better at data matching. Bank fees, payroll records, and GST data are now being compared automatically — and inconsistencies are triggering ATO queries faster than before.

If you still have receipts, reconciliations, or payroll records floating around, now is the perfect time to get them organised and passed on to your bookkeeper. Staying on top of your records not only reduces your audit risk — it makes the whole BAS process smoother every quarter.

Payday Super Starts 1 July 2026 — Are You Ready?

One of the biggest payroll changes in years is on the horizon. From 1 July 2026, the Payday Super system requires employers to pay superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions every pay run — not quarterly. Contributions must arrive at the super fund within seven business days of each pay day.

If your payroll processes are not set up for this, now is the time to review your systems. The ATO has published checklists and guidance tools to help businesses prepare. For more details, visit the ATO Payday Super guidance page.

Connectt Team Raises $33,000 for Country Hope

On 15 February, the sun was shining and the pigs were squealing as the Connectt team joined the local community to support Thommo's Country Hope Annual Pig Races at Anna Bay Tavern.

Giving back to the community is something the Connectt team truly believes in, and we are proud to have played a part in raising $33,000 to help provide financial and emotional support to country families with a child diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. We also walked away with a trophy — not bad for a Sunday afternoon!