February 2026 Business Calendar: Key Dates and Tips for Australian Small Business Owners
- Leonie Martin
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
February is when the year truly gets underway for most small businesses.
By now, teams are back in routine, clients are responsive again, and day-to-day operations feel more settled. At the same time, regular reporting obligations return, cash flow patterns become clearer, and early signs of pressure — or opportunity — begin to emerge.
Getting February right helps create stability early in the year, with clearer visibility, fewer surprises and stronger foundations as the pace of business increases.
February isn’t just about meeting deadlines — it’s about understanding how your business is really tracking now that trading conditions have normalised. This is often the month where clarity starts to matter more than speed.
Here’s your February 2026 key business dates, along with practical tips to help Australian small business owners stay organised, compliant and in control.
Key Dates for February 2026:
📌 Stay organised and ahead of January’s key business dates.
📅 2 February 2026 📌 Fuel Tax Credit Rate Change
If your business claims fuel tax credits, updated rates apply from 2 February.
Ensure your accounting software reflects the new rate so future BAS lodgements remain accurate and avoid adjustments later.
📅 7 February 2026 📌 Payroll Tax – Monthly Lodgement (January wages)
If your business is registered for payroll tax, January wages must be lodged and paid by this date (state and territory rules apply).
This is a good time to review wage classifications, allowances and any irregular payments made in January.
📅 21 February 2026📌Monthly BAS/IAS Due (January)
If you lodge monthly, your January BAS or IAS is due by 21 February.
Make sure income, expenses and GST coding are finalised early to avoid unnecessary pressure as workloads increase.
Real-World Tips for Staying Ahead of February Deadlines
With the year now in full swing, February is less about resetting and more about stabilising. These practical steps help small business owners stay ahead as momentum builds.
💡February reveals your real cash-flow pattern
January can distort the numbers. February usually shows what “normal” trading looks like again.
Review incoming payments, fixed expenses and upcoming commitments so you understand where cash flow is genuinely sitting.
💡Clean January before moving forward
Reconcile January bank accounts, clear uncoded transactions and review unpaid invoices.
A clean January prevents reporting errors from carrying into the next quarter.
💡 Keep invoicing and follow-ups consistent
As activity picks up, consistency matters more than speed.
Send invoices promptly, ensure reminders are active, and follow up overdue accounts regularly to protect cash flow.
💡Refresh your February–April cash-flow view
A short 2–3 month cash-flow forecast helps you plan around:
BAS and tax payments
wages and super
supplier commitments
Knowing what’s ahead reduces stress and supports better decisions.
💡Check payroll and leave balances
With normal staffing patterns resumed, confirm payroll settings, leave balances and super calculations are accurate before small issues compound..
💡Tighten systems before the pace increases
February is an ideal month to fine-tune systems:
invoice reminders
bank rules
recurring bills
payroll items
Small improvements now save significant time later in the year.
How HelloLedger Can Help You Stay in Control This February
If February already feels busy, you’re not alone. This is often the month where small business owners start to feel pressure build — even when revenue looks healthy.
At HelloLedger, we support Australian small business owners by helping them:
stay on top of BAS, payroll tax and super obligations
maintain clear visibility over cash flow
clean up reporting early before issues compound
tighten systems and automations
make confident decisions with clear, reliable numbers
Whether you need help reviewing your position, tidying things up early, or ongoing support throughout the year, our team is here to make the financial side of your business feel lighter and more manageable.
Book a discovery call today and keep 2026 running smoothly — with clarity that supports better decisions all year.
