OC Grant Accountants and Advisory | Tax + Super | March 2026
March 2026. This overview reflects the original newsletter. Tax and superannuation rules may have changed since publication.
Our March newsletter covers payday super preparation, changes affecting the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and a detailed 2025–26 FBT checklist.
Preparing your business for payday super
The March issue leads with an employer checklist for the transition to payday super. It brings payroll systems, cash flow, employee fund details and payment processing into one practical preparation plan.
The original checklist was organised around the lead-up to 1 July 2026. It covered checking software readiness, correcting rejected payments, understanding qualifying earnings and reviewing reporting through Single Touch Payroll.
Clearing house records and the changeover
The newsletter also highlighted the closure of the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House and the need to arrange an alternative payment service. Retaining transaction records was an important part of that transition.
For businesses reviewing their processes now, the article provides a useful record of the original implementation checklist. Its April and July payment dates relate to the 2026 changeover, rather than a new set of upcoming deadlines.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: the role of deeming
For self-funded retirees, the March edition discusses the deeming rate changes reported for 20 March 2026 and their potential effect on Commonwealth Seniors Health Card eligibility.
The article explains the relationship between adjusted taxable income, deemed income from relevant account-based pensions and the card’s income test. It encourages readers close to the thresholds to review their individual position rather than rely on actual investment returns alone.
Bringing the right information together
Records of benefits provided to employees and their associates can make an FBT review more effective. Vehicle arrangements, reimbursements, entertainment expenses and supporting declarations are among the matters covered in the downloadable checklist.
Use the full newsletter when reviewing the 2025–26 FBT year, and speak with OC Grant about the rules and reporting requirements relevant to your business today.
A detailed FBT checklist for 2025–26
The second half of the newsletter contains a six-page fringe benefits tax checklist. It is designed to help employers identify benefits that may not be obvious from bookkeeping records alone.
The checklist covers cars and parking, loans and debt waivers, expense payments, accommodation, living-away-from-home allowances, entertainment, property and residual benefits. It also includes questions about exemptions, declarations, employee contributions and rebates.
Talk to OC Grant
If a topic in this issue relates to your business, property or retirement plans, contact OC Grant Accountants and Advisory on (07) 3522 2400 or email [email protected] to discuss your circumstances.
Adapted from the OC Grant March 2026 client newsletter. © Content in partnership with the Institute of Financial Professionals Australia.
General information only. This content has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider its appropriateness for your circumstances and seek professional advice.
