April 2025: Key Tax Dates & Smart Tips for Aussie Small Businesses

April marks a pivotal month for small business tax and compliance in Australia. With the end of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year behind us and the end of financial year (EOFY) approaching, there’s a lot to keep track of. Knowing the key dates and taking steps in advance can help you avoid last-minute rushes, costly penalties, and lost tax opportunities.

Here’s your guide to the important April deadlines for 2025 and practical steps to get ahead all from the team at HelloLedger.

Why April Matters for Your Business

April is more than just the start of Autumn. It’s when many of the obligations connected to the March quarter become due. It’s the last full month to take action before EOFY, so getting your compliance, reporting, and tax planning in good shape now can save stress later.

This month provides an opportunity to assess your financials, prepare for lodgements, and set up strategies to maximise deductions or manage cash flow before 30 June hits.

Important Deadlines for April 2025

Below are the key dates you need to mark in your calendar:

1 April – Odometer Readings for FBT

As at 31 March, ensure odometer readings for all business vehicles are recorded. These readings form part of how your business calculates fringe benefits for vehicles in the FBT year that just ended. Without accurate readings, your FBT liability may be miscalculated.

7 April – March Payroll Tax

If your business is liable for payroll tax, lodge and pay the March payroll tax by this date. It’s also a good time to double-check wage figures, thresholds, and any exemptions applicable in your state.

21 April – BAS / IAS for March

March is the end of a quarterly GST and PAYG period for many small businesses. Make sure your Business Activity Statement (BAS) or Instalment Activity Statement (IAS) is lodged, and GST, PAYG and other obligations are paid. Staying on top of BAS avoids cash flow bottlenecks and interest or penalties.

28 April – Superannuation for Q1

Your superannuation contributions for employees for the March quarter must reach the funds by 28 April. Miss this deadline and your contributions may not be tax deductible for this financial year and could incur penalties.

What You Should Be Doing Now (Besides Meeting Deadlines)

Beyond ticking off the dates, April is the month where proactive planning is your friend. Here are key actions to take:

Review & Tighten Your EOFY Strategy

You still have time to influence outcomes for the financial year ending 30 June — for example, by deferring income or accelerating expenses. Work with your accountant or advisor to see where legal strategies apply.

Clean Up Financial Records

This is a great month for a “spring clean” (or in Australia, an autumn clean) of your financials. Reconcile bank statements, clear outstanding invoices, delete unused subscriptions, and ensure records are tidy and ready for audit or review.

Check Payroll & Super Settings

Review your payroll systems now. Ensure tax tables, super settings, payment cut-offs, and employee records are correct. Mistakes in late May or June will compound problems.

Finalise FBT Records

With the FBT year just ended, gather all necessary data — employee benefits, vehicle logs, expense statements. Engage your team early for missing info. Ensuring your records are complete now saves headaches later.

Cash Flow Forecast for June

Use April to project your cash flow to June: look at upcoming expenses, tax payments, staff bonuses, and investments. Recognise where you need buffers or where you can defer spending.

New Tips Added: Risk, Automation & Device Tracking

While the original post lists the essentials, here are some additional recommendations worth incorporating:

Incorporate Digital Automation

Use cloud accounting and automation tools now to streamline your BAS, payroll and reconciliation work. Automating repetitive tasks reduces error risk and buys you time for core activities.

Monitor Risk Indicators Early

In April, keep an eye on red flags: rising late payments, stock levels dropping, or deviations from budget. Spotting these early gives time to address them before EOFY.

Track Fuel & Mileage More Precisely

With vehicle fleet use, track fuel expense, odometer logs and maintenance cost continuously. Accurate tracking helps with correct FBT and helps avoid under- or over-estimating vehicle fringe benefits.

Engage Staff Early for Expense Submissions

Ask teams to submit all expense claims, receipts, travel logs and reimbursements by mid-April. Avoid last-minute surfacing of “unsubmitted” costs after your finances are locked.

What Happens If You Miss a Date?

Missing compliance dates can lead to fines, interest charges, or disallowed deductions. Super payments missed after 28 April may not count as tax-deductible in the current year. Delayed BAS lodgements might attract penalty notices. In short, slipping now can cost more later — financially and operationally.

That’s why planning, automated tools, and early preparation make a real difference.

Why HelloLedger Emphasises These Deadlines

At HelloLedger, we specialise in helping small businesses stay ahead of these compliance pressures. Our role is not just about preparing lodgements for clients — we proactively alert, remind, and help plan. That way, business owners can focus on running their operations, not chasing tax deadlines.

We also review your systems, ensure your payroll and superannuation settings are correct, and help you make informed decisions about deductions, expenditure timing, and cash management.

Sample Checklist for April 2025

Here’s a handy checklist to guide your month:

• Record vehicle odometer readings as of 31 March

• Confirm March payroll tax amount, lodge and pay

• Finalise and lodge BAS / IAS for March

• Pay Q1 superannuation contributions by 28 April

• Review your overall EOFY tax and cash strategy

• Reconcile accounts, clear aged receivables and payables

• Automate or refine your accounting systems

• Ask staff to submit all expenses and travel logs

• Monitor risks and create a June cash flow forecast

• Review FBT records and ensure supporting documents

If you tick off this list, you’ll enter May and June with far less stress.

Why This Awareness Pays Off

The difference between a smooth EOFY and a frantic scramble often lies in how well you prepare in April. By getting ahead, you:

• Avoid last-minute errors and missed opportunities

• Maintain better control over cash flow

• Ensure your deductions and investments are tax-effective

• Reduce risk of penalties and compliance breaches

• Free up mental space to focus on your core business

Many small businesses fail not because of lack of revenue, but because of cash flow mismanagement and compliance stress. A proactive approach gives you breathing room.

Final Thoughts

April is a crucial month on your small business calendar. The key tax dates — vehicle odometer for FBT, March payroll tax, BAS lodgement, and super contributions — must not be overlooked. But doing more than just meeting deadlines is what separates successful businesses from those always chasing back.

By combining compliance with planning, automation, and risk monitoring, you position your business to finish the financial year strongly. HelloLedger is here to help — from reminders and system reviews to strategic tax planning and execution. Let us work with you to make this April count, so that years end isn’t a scramble but a stepping stone.