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At Merit Partners we like to share our knowledge and expertise, strive to build long term client relationships, and guarantee results that add value.

Specialising in advising owner-managed businesses, government and public companies, Merit Partners is committed to meeting the goals and objectives of the corporate community.

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Partners for life

Federal budget brief

In his zeal to deliver the Government's promised surplus, Ernst and Young believe the Treasurer has missed several opportunities to address fundamental weaknesses in the Australian economy.

The reform agenda in the key areas of education and health appears to have stalled; support for defence has been significantly reduced. Some measures are contrary to the previous policy of developing Australia as a financial hub. The nation's declining productivity does not receive a mention.

Given the fragility of the economy and the uncertain global outlook, our 2012-13 Federal Budget Brief asks: Is this the surplus we had to have? Read more here.

May due dates

15 May - final lodgement date for all income tax returns
21 May - Monthly BAS
21 May - Monthly NT Payroll tax returns
21 May - last date to appoint tax agent for FBT returns
26 May - Quarterly BAS due (tax agent lodgment only)
28 May - FBT returns due for lodgement

Congratulations

Congratulations to Rhem Schroeder and Ryan Diaz for passing their final CA module – Ethics & Business (EBA) Module.

Baby News

Congratulations to Valentin & Costi on the birth of their second daughter Sara Markez. Born Tuesday 10.04.12 at 12.39pm.

Australia - Compulsory employer superannuation contributions increase from 9% to 12%

The Federal Government has passed legislation which increases the minimum level of compulsory superannuation that must be paid by employers for their employees

• Currently, the minimum level of contributions is 9% of an employee's ordinary time earnings
• The new legislation gradually increases this from 9% to 12%, over a period of 7 years commencing 1 July 2013
• Whilst the original legislation proposed to extend the age up to which contributions are required to 75 years, the final legislation abolished the age limit altogether. Currently, superannuation is not required for employees over the age of 70
   

Should you have any further queries regarding these changes, please don't hesitate to contact Merit Partners.

April edition of the Taxwise Newsletter for Businesses.

• The topics covered are:
• Superannuation Changes
• Various changes announced in Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2011-12
• Changes to the taxation treatment of the living-away-from-home allowance
• Changes to the income tax law affecting consolidated groups
• Trust reform
• Changes to the tax treatment of losses
• GST refunds

 
Download the newsletter here.

Merit Partners can assist you with any queries you may have on these topics.

Office Shoot/New Polo’s

In preparation for our article in Darwin Life magazine (April edition) we had some updated photos taken around the office.  Don’t we look great in our new polo shirts which showcase the new “Merit” green!

Merit Partners 8th Birthday

We celebrated our 8th Birthday Party at the Convention Centre on the Waterfront, Wednesday 29th February 2012.   Amin Islam, Managing Director spoke about our wonderful clients and staff and thanked them for their support over the last 8 years. (Photos coming soon)

Read Amin's speech here.

The Directors were surprised and delighted with the staff’s birthday gift of a beautiful Chinese vase which is designed to bring good fortune, wealth and success in the year ahead.  It has pride of place in our reception area.

Photos from the celebrations:

Carpentaria Disability Services says thanks!

Read their thank you letter for our donation here.

7 Years of Service

Congratulations to Valentin Markez & David Gomez on their 7 years of services with Merit Partners.

Life Be In It Team Challenge

Merit Partner’s staff enjoyed an afternoon of team building on Friday 24th February 2012 with our 1st Team Challenge for the year down at Darwin Waterfront lagoon. This year’s games were a mixture of land based and water activities. Each team had to work together to carry a ball on string using 4 members of their team and with 2 members blindfolded. We all had to put our thinking caps on to build a raft that could hold at least one person to race around the middle of the lake and back and we are sure all of our staff enjoyed the throwing game although some people may have forgotten they work with ladies. It was a wonderful afternoon of activities and Merit Partners would like to thank Life Be In It and the Social Club for organising our Team Challenge!

Congratulations to Steven’s Samurai’s for winning our first team challenge of the year!

Team Challenge photos:

Changes to Health Insurance Rebate – how it may

affect you!

Legislation has passed through Federal Parliament’s House of Representatives to means test the private health insurance rebate. The legislation, which will take effect from 1 July 2012 is indexed against average weekly earnings and applies as follows:

New Staff

We would like to welcome Lisa Russell to Merit Partners as our new part-time receptionist.

Welcome Back

Merit Partners would like to welcome back Sandrina Disney from her delightful 9 months of maternity leave and Iain MacPherson who joins our tax team again.

Merit Partners community spirit program tops $45,000 since 1 July 2011

As a local firm, Merit Partners believes in giving back to the community through pro bono work, sponsorship and donations.

Over the last six months we have provide professional advice and accounting assistance to the following organisations:

• Nightcliff Football Club
• St Vincent de Paul Society (NT) Inc.
• The Bernborough Club

and we continue to undertake all the accounting and administration work for the Theodore Recovery Appeal Trust on a pro bono basis.

The value of the work performed since 1 July 2011 is $25,000.
In addition to the pro bono work, Merit Partners has donated and sponsored local charities and fund raising efforts to the tune of $20,000.

Worthy of “Merit” is our recent $5,000 donation to HPA Disability Services, Darwin. This organisation does an amazing job providing services to Territorians with an intellectual, physical or mental disability in the top end.

More information on HPA Disability Services: www.hpa.net.au
To donate: HPA donation form

We love being part of this great community and are proud of our community spirit program, where every effort makes a difference.

Promotions

It is with great pleasure that we announce Archie Lim’s promotion to Assistant Manager effective from 1 January 2012. Please join us in congratulating Archie on achieving such a great milestone.

We are also thrilled to announce the successful completion of our trainee program by Al Flores. Through a combination of work and study over the last four years, Al has successfully completed his Bachelor of Accounting at Charles Darwin University and has joined our tax team as an Accountant.

If you are interested in a career in accounting, perhaps our traineeship program is for you. Read more about Al's story here.

Merit Partners "Drives for Success" on and off the golf course

NT Golf recently announced that the Ladies 2012 interclub pennants competition was won by the RAAF Darwin Golf Club team proudly sponsored by Merit Partners. Congratulations to all the ladies who competed in this event.

Winning pennants team: L to R Nerida Atkins, Rosemary Campbell, Rebecca Adams, Sandra MacKenzie, Lorna Brew, Janine Williams

Engagements

Merit Partners would like to congratulate Ochie Sanchez and her fiancé Peter Butcher on their engagement 21 December 2011.

2011 Christmas Party

Merit Partners celebrated a uniformed Christmas Party on Friday the 16th of December, held at Hot Potato Underground Nightclub. This year we had 4 teams – The Dodgy Brothers, Steven’s Samurai’s, Riders of Rohan & Team Magic. We all enjoyed some celebration drinks and a delicious meal.

A hamper was raffled in the weeks leading up to the Christmas party and was drawn on the day. Congratulations to the winners: Paul – dinner at Il Lido, Archie – 2 movie tickets , Al – massage voucher, Wan – massage voucher , Bob – Fox Gordon Shiraz 2008, Elizabeth – handmade chocolates.

Creative Territory wins national award for Cyclone Carlos work

Creative Territory continues its trailblazing efforts in winning another national award. Congratulations to Tracy Jones and her team – they’re sure going places! Read more...

CPA – New Committee Members

Merit Partners is proud to announce the successful election of Valentin Markez and Hwei Yuin Yong to the CPA NT branch committee.  They continue Merit Partners strong support of the professional accounting bodies in the Northern Territory.

Merit Partners proud Sponsor of the 2011 East Arnhem Shire Conference: Strong Communities, Strong Futures

On the 12 of October Merit Partners attended, as sponsor and participants, the 2011 East Arnhem Shire Conference: Strong Communities, Strong Futures.

The 2011 Conference was a premier event of the Local Government Week bringing Stakeholders and Local Government Industry together.

The Conference consisted of a variety of forums and exhibitions aiming to promote new innovative ideas and increase productivity in remote Arnhem Land and beyond. A key feature was the Launch of the first Northern Territory Reconciliation Action Plan. Speakers of great calibre, such as Timmy Djawa Burarrwanga,  Djapirri Mununggirritj, John Kundereri Moriarty AM and Ted Egan AO, participated in the Conference.

The Conference plenary included a number of forums and a breathtaking keynote by Dr Jeff McMullen AM who spoke about the importance of preserving land and culture and how society can learn from the indigenous custodians of the land.

Merit Partners was delighted to be the Silver Sponsor of the 2011 East Arnhem Shire Conference. The event was a great opportunity to share business ideas, innovation and contextual issues related to Local Government and to develop healthy and positive associations and partnerships.  The Conference was attended by over 200 delegates from all tiers of Government, Community and Private Sector.

Theodore Morning Tea – Thank you to donors

On Wednesday 10th August Merit Partners hosted a morning tea for Darwin based businesses who very generously donated their expertise and services to establish and administer the Theodore Recovery Appeal Trust.

The trust has raised over $350,000 in cash and together with the value of the in kind donations, the total donations would be approximately $400,000.  So far the funds have been distributed via Vouchers $100,000, tied donations$42,500, community group grants $52,000 with $148,000 left to distribute.  

The representatives of the Darwin businesses were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Trustees of the Fund on behalf of the people of Theodore. Those present enjoyed delicious tarts from Kurts Cake and fruit for morning tea while Anne Chater & Liz Schoecraft (Theodore residents) told their personal stories.  Images of the devastating floods were displayed and Anne & Liz personally thanked all present and distributed gifts in appreciation of their efforts.

We add out heartfelt thanks to the following businesses and individuals for their generous donations:

• Clayton Utz – Margaret Michaels & Kim Packer
• Creative Territory – Tracy Jones
• Izennah.com – Izennah Hogan
• KPMG – Clive Garland, Denys Stedman, Patience Mutsimba and Lyka Zarate
• Merit Partners – Rosemary Campbell, Tamara O’Sullivan & Khia Marriott
• NAB – Katy Chin
• Quickprint – Tony & Magdalene Coleman

• View previous news articles