With Interest

Cyber fraud is not going to stop overnight. It will continue to become more sophisticated and pervasive as time goes on. Which means this third episode in the tax time 2026 series is even more relevant today as it focuses on fraud risks and how you can protect your financial data. With guest expertise from Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO's fraud and criminal behaviours business line, and hosted by CPA Australia's tax lead Jenny Wong, deep dive into the ATO's counter-fraud program, emerging scam trends and the practical tools now available to strengthen digital security across the tax system ahead of tax time 2026. Additionally, explore new features in the ATO app that give taxpayers more control over their accounts to the steps agents can take to protect their clients and their own practices from new threats. In this episode, you will also gain expert information on: why identity theft and frauds are becoming more sophisticated what tax agents can do to protect clients and their own practices the most common fraud and cyber-attack techniques targeting the sector why strong myID settings and multifactor authentication matter how phishing, malware and credential stuffing attacks are evolving what happens when a taxpayer's account is compromised. Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Jade Hawkins, assistant commissioner in the ATO's fraud and criminal behaviours business line For more, head to CPA Australia's tax time tools and resources page. Additionally, you can head to the ATO website or download the ATO app. The ATO also has online services and you can go on the ATO website to verify or report a scam or learn how to stay scam safe. And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 Fraud Prevention Urgency: ATO, Tax Agents and Evolving Scam Risks 00:22 Intro - Jenny Wong - Tax Time 2026 00:39 Jade Hawkins (ATO) on the Counter Fraud Program Overview 01:08 What Is the ATO Counter Fraud Program? $187M Investment Explained 01:17 Proactive Fraud Detection: Real-Time Data, Analytics and System Protections (ATO) 03:20 ATO App Security Updates: How Taxpayers Can Stay Safe with myID 03:30 Real-Time Alerts, Account Locking and Fraud Prevention via ATO App 04:01 Case Study: Stopping Tax Refund Fraud Using ATO App Notifications 05:49 ATO "Verify Call" Feature: Detecting Scam Calls and Social Engineering 06:14 ATO App Tools for Taxpayers: myDeductions, Pre-Fill Data, Refund Tracking 07:25 How Tax Agents Can Protect Clients: myID, ATO App and Fraud Awareness 08:21 Cybersecurity Best Practices: MFA, Strong Passphrases, Software Updates 10:23 ATO Resources and Training: Tax Fraud Hub and Cybersecurity Modules 11:03 Current Scam Trends: PII Data Breaches and Identity Theft Risks (ATO Insights) 11:40 Fraud Targeting Tax Agents: Phishing, Malware and Credential Stuffing 13:48 What Happens If a Taxpayer Is Compromised? ATO Safeguards Explained 15:54 Final Advice from Jade Hawkins: Vigilance, ATO App and Strong Access Controls 16:23 Conclusion: Tax Time 2026 Fraud Risks and Key Takeaways for Agents

Tax time can add to the stress of small business. So, to help reduce that worry, this episode is devoted entirely to small business issues for tax time 2026. With high-level expertise from the ATO's Angela Allen, assistant commissioner responsible for small business experience, in the studio with CPA Australia's tax lead Jenny Wong, explore the most common tax issues affecting small business, and how you can stay compliant. In this episode, you'll gain valuable information on: The most common tax time mistakes made by small businesses Why accurate record keeping is still critical for compliance The ATO's key focus areas for small business audits and reviews How data matching is changing tax reporting and enforcement What businesses need to know about Payday Super changes How the instant asset write-off applies this financial year Why cashflow management is essential for meeting obligations The support tools and learning resources available for business owners How the ATO is addressing shadow economy activity and tax evasion Why early engagement with advisers and the ATO can prevent bigger problems Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Angela Allen, assistant commissioner at the ATO, responsible for small business experience For more, head to CPA Australia's tax time tools and resources page. And of course, you can head to the ATO website or you can download the ATO app. The ATO also has online services and you can go to the ATO website and search verify or report a scam or how to stay scam safe for more information. And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 Cash Flow Pressure for Small Businesses and When to Contact the ATO 00:16 Tax Time 2026 Overview with Angela Allen, Australian Taxation Office 01:00 Common Small Business Tax Time Mistakes and Record‑Keeping Errors 02:06 ATO Record‑Keeping Tools: Recordkeeping Evaluation and myDeductions App 02:38 ATO Small Business Compliance Focus Areas for 2026 02:58 ATO Small Business Compliance Risks: Income Reporting, Employer Super Obligations, and Cash‑in‑Hand Payments 04:08 ATO Small Business Tax Time Toolkit and Online Learning Resources 05:27 Managing Cash Flow Stress and Early Engagement with the ATO 05:51 Tax Time 2026 Changes: TPAR Reporting and Pre‑Fill Data 06:37 Instant Asset Write‑Off Rules for Small Businesses 06:56 Payday Super Starting 1 July and Employer Readiness 07:18 Staying Compliant Year‑Round Using Digital Tax Tools 08:15 GST, PAYG Withholding, Superannuation, and Cash Flow Planning 09:05 ATO Priorities on the Shadow Economy and Cash‑in‑Hand Payments 10:26 Episode Wrap‑Up and CPA Australia Resources #taxtime #smallbusiness #smallbusinesstax #compliance #ATO

Tax time 2026 is upon us. And in this first episode, unpack the ATO's major focus areas. Also, for tax agents and taxpayers, gain practical insights ahead of lodgement season. Key learnings: The ATO's biggest priorities for tax time 2026 Why misinformation and AI-generated advice are growing risks Common errors in work-related and car expense claims What taxpayers often miss in income reporting How to manage work-from-home deductions correctly Why accurate record keeping matters more than ever What agents should know about trust reporting updates How to identify increasingly sophisticated tax scams Why trusted advice and official sources are still critical Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Anita Challen, assistant commissioner, ATO. For more, head to CPA Australia's tax time tools and resources page. And of course, you can head to the ATO website or you can download the ATO app. The ATO also has online services and you can go on the ATO website and search verify or report a scam or how to stay scam safe for more information. And you can phone the ATO on 1800 008 540. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 Episode opening 00:14 Introduction to CPA Australia's With Interest podcast Tax Time episode 1 01:01 What is the ATO focusing on this tax time? 02:17 Tax time 2026 updates agents need to know 03:24 ATO toolkits, rental property checklists and trust return pre-fill 04:32 How the ATO is using AI and automation 05:39 The biggest tax mistakes taxpayers still make 06:00 Why record keeping and substantiation matter 07:03 Work-related expenses under ATO scrutiny 07:12 Car expense claims: what you can and cannot claim 08:43 Self-education deductions: what qualifies and what does not 09:24 Working from home deductions: records, rates and receipts 11:07 Income reporting mistakes that trip people up 12:49 Do cash jobs need to be declared? 13:03 Good record keeping habits for tax time 13:59 How to spot tax misinformation online 15:09 Tax scams: warning signs and how to stay safe 16:09 How to verify ATO contact using the ATO app 17:45 Final advice for agents and clients heading into tax time 2026 18:37 Episode wrap-up and key takeaways

In this special Federal Budget 2026–27 episode, hear expert analysis of the measures announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in last night's budget. CPA Australia's business and tax policy experts break down what Budget 2026–27 means for the issues that matter most to businesses and Australians. Analysis and commentary include: Overall reaction: Did the budget deliver? Who were the winners and losers? The tax measures examined, including CGT and negative gearing Building wealth and investor confidence analysed What the budget means for entrepreneurs The impact on businesses, trusts and intergenerational equity Revenues and WATO (Working Australians Tax Offset) explained Productivity and regulation initiatives assessed Tune in for a practical, expert-led breakdown of the budget measures announced in Canberra last night and what they could mean for you and the future of business in Australia. Host: Elinor Kasapidis, chief of policy, Standards and External Affairs Policy, CPA Australia Guests: Gavan Ord, business investment and international lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia, and Jenny Wong, tax lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia. For more, head to the Federal Budget 2026-27 page on the CPA Australia website, which has comprehensive coverage of last night's announcement, including CPA Australia's pre-budget submission. And on YouTube later today (May 13), tune into the webinar with CPA Australia's policy experts, who discuss and distil the key announcements from the 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget. This event will have a 1 CPD-hour learning outcome. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your favourite podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]

Tax reform. It's one of the most hotly debated issues around the world. And as global tax expert Viva Hammer notes, the biggest barrier to tax reform in Australia is not policy – it is the pursuit of perfection. In this episode of With Interest, she brings a global perspective shaped by her work on significant tax reforms in recent US history. Her message is clear: progress comes from doing something better, not waiting for something perfect. Main learnings include: lessons from US tax reform and what Australia can apply why "better, not perfect" is critical for improving tax reform how predictability drives investment more than headline tax rates how to provide certainty for international investors the role of GST as a more efficient and sustainable tax base the fairness of corporate tax versus consumption and land taxes where Australia sits in the global tax competition landscape As we head toward the 2026 Federal Budget, it's clear that governments, businesses, and the accounting profession are grappling with complex and interconnected challenges – from investment certainty to intergenerational fairness and the future of our tax mix. This episode is a timely look at a key issue with one of the most respected global voices in tax. Tune in now. Host: Jenny Wong, tax lead, CPA Australia Guest: Viva Hammer, a leading global tax policy expert. Most of her career was spent in the US as partner in New York and Washington law and consulting firms as well as at the US Treasury Department and US Congress. She now brings that international perspective back to Australia. For more, head to Viva's website. And don't forget to check out CPA Australia's YouTube channel for the upcoming live Federal Budget 2026 webinar. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]