How to Calculate Your Business Tax Return Estimate

July 31, 2025    Tax Return Perth

Estimating your business tax returns can help you to avoid unexpected or higher tax bills. Whether you are a sole trader or a company owner, identifying what you owe plays a very important role in keeping a healthy cash flow for your business.

To do this, a business tax return cost calculator makes this easier and ensures you are staying on track with your tax obligations. But before that, here are some important factors you need to consider.

Identify Your Business Structure

Before discussing numbers and how they affect your workflow, let’s understand which business structure is ideal for you. This step will help you to determine how your income is reported to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) and how you can file the business tax return Australia.

The common business structures include sole trader, partnership, company and trust. Each of them has different tax reporting rules.

Gather Essential Financial Information

Once you have understood your business structure, it is time to collect all important financial records for the company tax returns. This step will make estimating your taxes in a much more accurate way.

To make accurate tax returns, you will need to collect these records:

1. Sales Records

In this ledger, you will have to include details of the date of transaction, product/service description, quantities, pricing, discounts and total amounts. Sales records play an essential role in deciding your business tax filing cost.

2. Invoice

This receipt is given to the suppliers and clients to maintain transparency in your business. This record often includes invoice number, date, payment terms, goods/services description, total due amount and due date.

3. Receipts for Expenses

These file acts as proof of payments made by your business for operational costs such as rent, electricity bills, supplies, etc.

4. Payroll Records

It documents wages, salaries, bonuses and deductions from the income of your workforce. This file also includes timesheets, payslips, employment contracts and tax withholdings.

5. Superannuation Contributions

Through this process, you make payments into your employees’ retirement savings accounts. This amount is based on a certain percentage of each employee’s earnings, and it is subject to the minimum thresholds in your region.

6. GST Paid or Collected

GST (Goods and Services Tax) is added to the price of taxable goods or services sold to customers. This tax is also included in the price of goods and services purchased from suppliers.

Determine Your Taxable Income

After collecting all your financial documents, you can calculate your taxable income. This is the amount your business has made after deducting all allowable expenses.

To do this, sum your total income, including sales and interest earned from products or services and subtract it from your business expenses such as rent, bills, wages, advertising, etc. The final amount after this calculation will be your taxable income, which is also known as net profit.

Identify Applicable Tax Rates

After getting an estimated amount of your taxable income, you are able to then analyse the tax rates depending on the structure of your business. Every structure comes with a series of rules, and knowing those rules will help you to calculate your corporate tax returns.

Companies

If your business operates as a company, then it pays tax separately from your personal income. For example, if your business is classified as a base rate entity, then you have to pay tax at 25%. In order to qualify for this, your company’s total turnover for the income year must be less than A$50 million.

It is also important to note that not more than 80% of the income should come from passive sources like rent, interest or dividends. In order to understand it better, Business Tax Return Perth services can help to calculate the applicable taxes to your business.

If your company does not match these criteria, then it comes under the standard annual business tax return rate, which is 30%.

Sole Traders

Sole traders pay taxes depending on their individual income rates. The tax-free threshold stands at A$18,200, but you are supposed to pay 16% tax on income up to A$45,000, 30% on income between A$45,000 and 135,000, 37% on an income of between A$135,001 and 190,000 and 45% tax on any income exceeding A$190,000.

Partnerships

In a partnership, the business does not pay tax as a separate entity. Instead, the net income of the business is divided among partners, and each partner pays tax at their individual income tax rate.

Trusts

Like Partnerships, trust does not pay tax on its own income. Instead, the income is often distributed to the beneficiaries, and those individuals are taxed based on their tax rates. However, there are some exceptions, like if a trust retains income and does not distribute it, then that portion of income can be taxed at 45%. This tax is applicable regardless of the trust’s size or turnover.

Apply Business Tax Credits and Deductions

Through the instant asset write-off, eligible businesses can deduct the full cost of qualified assets under A$20,000 purchased during the income year. Meanwhile, credits like the R&D Tax Incentive or Small Business Income Offset further lower the tax payable.

Estimate Quarterly Tax Payments

If your business is a part of the Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalment system, then you may be required to make quarterly payments. This typically applies if your instalment income is more than the ATO threshold and this payment is assessed after lodging your previous tax returns.

You can either pay the amount according to ATO’s calculation or work out your own instalments based on your actual income.

Use Tax Estimation Tools and Software

A good business tax return calculator software can help you to estimate your tax payments by analysing your income, expenses and applicable tax rates. Many accounting tools offer you built-in features for tax forecasting. These tools are mainly handy for small businesses to simplify tax returns.

Review and Adjust Your Estimate

Your business income and expenses can be changed during the income year, so it is important to audit your tax estimate periodically. For example, if your income increases or you make a big business purchase, then your tax liability may change. You can also get assistance from professionals who are offering income tax return services to have an easier and correct filing of tax returns.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your business structure helps you to make an accurate estimate of your tax returns. You can also use tax calculation tools, and regularly reviewing your financials ensures you are better prepared for tax time and remain compliant with the ATO’s rules. To make the tax planning accurate, you can take advice from professional BAS Returns service providers.

FAQs

1. Which documents do I need to calculate the tax on my business?

You would collect the sales records, invoices, receipts of expense claims, payroll files, super contributions and GST summaries. These documents are essential for accurate calculations and smooth BAS Returns.

2. How often do I need to change my estimated tax payments?

The ideal period to update the tax estimate is quarterly or when your income or expenses are changing. This step helps you to ensure that your tax liability is aligned with your business’s finances.

3. How do sole traders and companies pay taxes?

Sole traders are treated as individuals in regard to tax collection using the personal rates of income, while companies are treated using flat corporate rates.  Your tax payment depends on the structure you select and when you have to pay taxes.

4. How can the Best Tax accountant Perth help me with business tax planning?

These professionals can help you to determine your taxes and deductions and provide you with compliance strategies tailored to your business. Their insights help in maximising your tax returns while ensuring you stay compliant with ATO rules

5. What can I do to reduce my business tax liability?

You can get deductions like the instant asset write-off and claim eligible tax credits for spending, and it depends on your business type. Using valuable tax tips for Australian businesses can also help improve compliance and reduce your tax liabilities.

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