ABRT - Affiliation for Business Resilience & Turnaround

04/06/2026

Breaking - small business owners + their advisors

The taxman has been caught behaving badly. Not by a whistleblower. Not by a journalist.

By its own watchdog.

Ruth Owen CBE GAICD didn’t flinch. Her 144-page report named it plainly: bias, prejudicial conduct, actions contrary to procedural fairness — across multiple ATO teams.

Takes courage when you’re investigating the most powerful revenue authority in the country.

Not just one rogue officer. It’s a pattern.

All while the enforcement machine runs at full speed:

> 85,000 Director Penalty Notices last year - $5.5B in personal liability
> $50B in collectable debt - two thirds owed by small business
> Interest compounding daily, on approved payment plans, until the debt becomes unpayable

More pressure. Less fairness. No accountability.

A systemic investigation into ATO impartiality is now underway. July 2026.

Small business owners aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for an even playing field.

Right now, the evidence shows they’re not getting one.

What are you seeing with your clients?

See Nine report >>> https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/a-current-affair/report-finds-misconduct-spread-within-the-ato-20260603-p603pa.html

Tax Ombudsman Council of Small Business Organisations Australia

01/06/2026

ASIC published a warning 22 May 2026. Third-party operators sending unsolicited business name renewal and company review notices to Australian businesses (link in comments).

Predatory practices carrying on for decades. Target population is every business on ASIC and ABR register. Sole traders and new company registrations (directors) most exposed.

One word in ASIC’s own title highlights legal aspect that the warning doesn’t follow through on.

“Unsolicited.”

Precise trigger for Spam Act 2003 liability. ASIC uses it. No reference to the Spam Act. No referral to ACMA, the regulator with jurisdiction. That’s a notable gap with real consequences.

Two more worth noting:

ASIC tells recipients they can “choose to use” these providers “if comfortable.” Unsolicited commercial conduct with arguably misleading characteristics is not a neutral consumer choice. ACL ss 18, 29 and 21 sit with ACCC. ASIC’s framing doesn’t reflect that.

Response is reactive. Report after payment. By then, third-party notice has already landed.

Profession carrying the operational burden accountants and bookkeepers are already managing AML/CTF Tranche 2, Payday Super and the 2026-27 Budget simultaneously.

Will AML/CTF capture these operators? Will they need to register with AUSTRAC?

Who will take responsibility and prevent preying on vulnerable struggling business owners? ASIC, ACCC, ACMA?

AccountantsDaily coverage:

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/22495-third-party-notices-frustrating-accountants

22/05/2026

17/05/2026

Something went wrong at the ATO and it needs to be said.

A 97-year-old widow. Clean tax record her entire life. Tax agent arrangements disrupted after her husband died. Asked for a penalty remission.

Refused.

The ATO says discretion was considered. But if this is what discretion looks like, the process is broken.
This isn’t about bending the rules. Penalty remission exists precisely for situations like this. Bereavement. Disruption. A taxpayer who has done the right thing for decades.

There is already an independent report documenting that ATO remission decisions are inconsistent, poorly reasoned and producing unfair outcomes. This case is a real example of exactly that.

If automated systems are influencing these decisions without genuine human judgement being applied, that is a serious problem. Not just for a 97-year-old widow. For every small business owner who has ever had a rough year, lost a key person, or fallen behind through circumstances outside their control.

The system is supposed to have a Vulnerability Framework for cases like this.

Either it works, or it doesn’t.

This one suggests it doesn’t.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/accountantbrisbane_i-wonder-how-the-person-at-the-ato-who-wrote-activity-7460907202543996929-oUtd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAABHDlc8Br4r0tLXZ6PtovRZ2BPEYKxyXR5Q

04/05/2026

Running a business right now is genuinely hard. ATO letters, rising costs, super obligations, sleepless nights. If that's your reality, we want you to know something important:

You are not alone. And there is a way through.

ABRT was built for exactly this moment — expert business advisory for directors under pressure. We partner with Beyond Blue because we know business stress is real stress. One call could be the turning point. No judgement. No jargon. Just a clear path forward.

You are not alone — talk to someone today
Free, confidential, no obligation

30/04/2026

Small businesses are facing a convergence of pressures: rising costs, fuel volatility, high interest rates and upcoming regulatory changes.

A joint alliance of COSBOA is urging small businesses to actively engage their trusted advisers to help navigate this increasingly complex environment.

When decisions around pricing, staffing, cashflow and investment are interconnected, having access to the right advice at the right time can make a critical difference.

“A genuine trusted adviser – whether an accountant, bookkeeper or finance broker – is a member of a professional body, bound by a code of conduct, and will slow the conversation down.
They will present options, explain trade-offs and recommend what is in your best interest.”

Eddie Griffith, ABRT Chair

Accountants, bookkeepers and finance brokers can support businesses to:

• Manage rising costs and protect margins
• Prepare for changes like Payday Super
• Strengthen cashflow and access funding
• Navigate regulatory and payment changes

Early engagement can help avoid reactive decisions and build resilience for the months ahead.

Read the full statement by Council of Small Business Organisations Australia >

MEDIA STATEMENTWednesday, 29 April 2026

01/04/2026

Breaking: Temporary ATO relief announced for fuel-impacted businesses

Treasurer confirms targeted support measures, including:
• Payment plan flexibility
• Deferrals of tax obligations
• Remission of interest and penalties
• Reduced compliance and recovery activity

Timely intervention as fuel-driven cost pressures compress cashflow across transport, construction and supply-dependent sectors.

The operating window between viability and distress continues to narrow.
Working capital cycles are tightening.
Margins are being eroded in real time.

These measures provide short-term breathing space. They do not alter underlying cost structures or trading viability.

Section 588GA directors safe harbour from insolvent trading personal liability becomes increasingly relevant in this environment - as a structured pathway for directors to assess viability and act on better outcomes.

Credit to Council of Small Business Organisations Australia for sustained advocacy in bringing these issues forward at a policy level.

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/22294-treasurer-announces-temporary-relief-for-businesses-impacted-by-fuel-crisis?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsflash&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2026-04-01&utm_emailID=6b79e6a4deda2d8327ca68a1a611645814e036c9b9ea17e0b3560c5e87eeaf45&fbclid=IwdGRleAQ5brpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe-rPSetaKXSLW0f_ChUjCuKRqJMQ3DDrSp0NG8i_NkwfQf82eNrHXXMR0T14_aem_S6dYbH0wzyUO6w8DKbzNSQ

Skye Cappuccio 👍

30/03/2026

Feeling overwhelmed managing ATO Debts?

You are not alone.

When ATO obligations build, it can feel overwhelming. Many business directors experience this... and support IS available. Don't just throw in the towel and liquidate.

The ABRT helps explore options, find practical solutions, and keep you in control. ABRT provides small business owners with free independent support and advice.

Reach out if you are experiencing:
- Rising ATO Debt
- Garnishee notices
- Directors Penalty Notices
- ATO Credit Default Notices
- Difficulty arranging payment plans
- Escalating recovery action.

Contact us today to maximise your options, before it's too late.

We provide a confidential conversation, clear advice, judgment-free liaison, a supportive plan, and access to the free Beyond Blue NASBO Program.

27/03/2026

PAYDAY SUPER CASHFLOW CRISIS LOOMS

Fuel up.
Rates higher for longer.
Now super moves to payday.

Cash is leaving faster than it comes in.

Quarterly buffers disappear.
Working capital tightens.
Compliance risk increases.

This is not a profit issue.
It is timing.

Section 588GA safe harbour makes sense - now more than ever.

A structured path to act early, stabilise and pursue a better outcome.

When cashflow breaks, everything follows.
And for many, the family home sits behind it.

Even mainstream media is reporting on this cliff ~ https://amp.9news.com.au/article/4d66bf51-443a-461e-b659-178caa209571

27/03/2026

Price freezes. ATO debt. Super arrears. Personal liability.

As a director of an NDIS provider company, financial failure carries personal consequences. NDIS key person requirements mean personal bankruptcy risks your registration, your business and your livelihood.

ABRT specialises in NDIS provider restructuring, cashflow management and sustainable recovery. Initial consultations are free and completely confidential.

Don’t wait until the pressure becomes a crisis. Talk to an ABRT specialist now.

Check eligibility for your free Situation Report today.