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"Keeping the busy professional informed" Welcome to our first 2010 issue of The Quintessential Brief. With almost a quarter of the year over already, we hope that you had a chance for a little rest and relaxation over the break and spent some well earned time with family and friends. The New Year has brought with it some new additions to The Quinn Group. Stephanie Svourenos has come on board as our Marketing and Client Services Co-ordinator, Julia Che is our newest Assistant Accountant and our new Receptionist is Amy Underwood. Welcome aboard girls! In March 2010, The Quintessential Brief includes information on a range of topical legal and tax issues. Firstly, the National Employment Standards came into effect on 1 January 2010 consequently we have included some important information on how these new changes may affect employers and employees. Next, with Fringe Benefits Tax payable by 21 May 2010, we have provided some general questions to help determine if you may be liable for Fringe Benefits Tax this year. We also explain some of the different types of trust structures that are available and how each can be suited to individual situations. Finally this edition also includes information on the complex range of courts and tribunals in NSW and we introduce four of our new dedicated websites, designed to provide you with detailed information on some important legal and accounting topics. We feature contributions from Clarity Marketing on the importance of first impressions and scratch the surface of the complex world of Search Engine Optimisation. Susan from Balance at Work asks you if you are ready for the upturn? Check out page 4 for all the festivities of the Quinns Christmas party and we put the spotlight on our client Joe Dwyer and Itech Corporation. We hope that you find this newsletter beneficial. If there are any legal, accounting, tax or financial planning issues that you would like us to address in future editions, please contact us on 1300 QUINNS (784 667) or visit our website www.quinns.com.au and submit an online enquiry. You can also register online to receive the latest legal, accounting, tax and financial news updates via our Weekly Client Alert. On behalf of all of us at Quinns, we hope that your year is off to a great start and we wish you all the best for a fantastic 2010!
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Trusts - What options are there for you? There are many complex trust structures available and it can be hard to decide which one is right for your needs. We provide an outline of the most common trust structures, which may help you to determine which one is right for your situation. |
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Do you have an FBT liability this year? It is a common practice for employers to provide additional items on top of an employee’s salary or wage. Some of these items could include providing cars for employee's personal use or providing entertainment by the way of food, drink or recreation to them. These scenarios along with many others could make you liable to pay FBT. |
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Going to Court? Make sure your lawyer has the expertise. Within Australia, there are many courts and tribunals that exist for different types of cases and it can sometimes be confusing as to how and in which court you need to be represented. Not all lawyers can represent clients in the more specific and dedicated courts. With such a range of courts and tribunals in our legal system it is important for your legal representative to have experience and up-to-date knowledge of how each of them operates. |
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Changes to Employment Law and NES - know your rights and responsibilities. The Fair Work Act 2009 sets out 10 minimum conditions of employment. These National Employment Standards (NES) were effective as of 1 January 2010 and will replace the existing Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard. Together with modern awards, the NES will constitute the government’s new employment safety net. |
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Clarity Marketing Website owners can implement a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy to achieve a high listing in the organic section of the search page, that is that section of the page that is not paid advertising. Now whilst it doesn’t cost website owners each time someone clicks on an organic listing, significant costs can occur if you pay for experts or consultants to administer this campaign for you. |
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Clarity Marketing When meeting a client for the first time it is critical you make the right impression. How well you do during this first meeting reflects how well prepared you are, how professional you are and how much you value your meeting. |
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Susan Rochester Balance at Work Pty Ltd A recognised early effect of improved economic conditions is a significant increase in the mobility of employees. Usually, highly skilled employees who are confident in their employability will jump first. This has implications for employers in two main areas, retention and recruitment. You have skilled and experienced staff who are an asset to your business. Don't give them any reason to start looking elsewhere! |
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Let your loved ones know your wishes Your Will is arguably the most important legal document you will ever sign. It should be updated every few years or as soon as your situation changes. Your Will contains instructions in regards to the essential legal matters of your estate. Often issues that arise after one’s death, or through the inability to express your personal wishes, can be deeply troubling for those having to make decisions on your behalf. For this reason we have created the ‘To Those That I Love’ booklet as a way to accurately detail your personal wishes and life’s achievements along with other personal and estate information. The ‘To Those That I Love’ booklet, whilst not a legal document is designed to compliment your specific wishes in more detail, particularly those things that are most important to you personally such as funeral wishes, personal notes to your loved ones and items of value. This allows you to create a comprehensive and easy-to-access guide for your loved ones at a time when you are not there to guide them. Upon preparation of your will Quinn Lawyers offer our ‘To Those That I Love’ booklet to you as an additional, free-of-charge service. Once completed by you, we are happy to hold it with your Will in Safe Custody readily available and can be passed on along. The Quinn Group is able to assist you with all the legal aspects of creating and finalising your Will according to your wishes. You can contact us on 1300 QUINNS (784 667) for more information or to arrange an appointment. Visit www.quinns.com.au and our dedicated website www.willsandestates.com.au. |
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Quinns Christmas Party For our most recent team event, “The Staff Christmas Party”, we spent an afternoon at Michael and Deborah’s house for a barbeque and a few drinks before the holidays began. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t really on our side on the day, so what was planned as a pool party and barbeque became more of an inside affair as the rain came down outside. A lovely December day! We exchanged our Kris Kringle gifts with a “summer fun” theme, popped a bottle of champagne and sat down for a barbeque lunch and enjoyed the chance to catch-up out of the office. It wouldn’t have been a proper Christmas without the Aussie Pavlova made by Deb. Mmmm!
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Itech Corporation Pty Ltd
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Disclaimer: The contents of this document titled "The Quintessential Brief" (the "Material") are provided as general information only. It is not intended to be given as advice and should not be relied upon as such. If you are concerned about any issue raised by the Material then you should seek your own professional advice. No warranty is given in relation to the accuracy, currency or completeness of the Material. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without first obtaining specific professional advice. Where applicable, liability is limited by the NSW Solicitors Scheme under the Professional Standards Act 1994 (NSW), and other relevant state legislation. The Quinn Group respects your privacy. Should you not wish to receive this newsletter in the future please contact us on 1300 784 667.