Business and Wealth Australia Podcast

Are you maximising your investment property returns, or are you leaving money on the table with the ATO?In this episode, Alesha Masaud, Partner at Tax App Accountants in Sydney, provides a masterclass on navigating rental property tax deductions. Whether you’ve just purchased your first apartment or you’re managing a portfolio of 15 properties across Australia, understanding what you can legally claim is the key to optimising your cash flow and reducing your taxable income.As we move through the 2026 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) continues to scrutinise rental claims. Alesha uses her extensive expertise to debunk common myths and provide a clear roadmap for what you should provide your accountant to ensure you get the best possible tax refund.Alesha explains why the costs of running your investment are just as claimable as the physical repairs. We discuss:Property Management Fees: Why these are your best friend at tax time.Marketing & Advertising: The tax benefits of finding the right tenant.Lease Preparation: Legal fees and contract document charges.The Trust Account Hack: How to use your property manager to streamline your bookkeeping by paying council rates and water charges directly from your rental income.If you own the asset, you’re paying to hold it. Alesha breaks down the claimable "holding costs," including:Council Rates & Water Charges: Essential annual deductions.Land Tax & Strata Levies: Navigating the costs of apartment living and land ownership.Landlord & Building Insurance: Why these are often a bank requirement and how to claim the premiums.This is where many investors get into trouble with the ATO. Alesha clarifies the vital distinction between:Immediate DeductionsCapital Works00:00 – Rental Deductions Overview & The 2026 Tax Landscape00:46 – Agent Fees and Admin: Simplifying your Paperwork02:26 – Self-Managed Properties: What Can You Still Claim?02:51 – Holding Costs Explained: Rates, Land Tax, and Strata03:32 – Insurance and Maintenance: Protecting Your Asset04:40 – Loan Interest Deductions: The Equity Strategy05:53 – Depreciation and Capital Works: The 40-Year Rule07:31 – Borrowing Costs and LMI: Spreading the Deduction08:07 – Depreciating New Assets: Air Cons and Useful Life09:10 – Wrap Up: How to Work with Tax App AccountantsAlesha Masaud is a leading tax professional and Partner at Tax App Accountants. Based in Sydney and serving clients nationwide, Tax App Accountants specialises in property investment tax law. They assist investors in navigating complex areas such as negative gearing, capital gains tax (CGT), and comprehensive depreciation schedules to ensure full compliance with ATO regulations.Connect with Tax App Accountants:Location: Sydney, NSW (Serving all of Australia)Specialty: Property Investment, Tax Planning, and High-Yield Strategies.This podcast contains general information only and does not constitute formal tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws in Australia are subject to change. You should consult with a qualified tax professional, like the team at Tax App Accountants, to discuss your specific financial situation before making any decisions based on this content.Keywords: Rental Property Tax Deductions Australia, Investment Property Tax 2026, ATO Rental Claims, Property Depreciation Schedule, Capital Works Deduction, Landlord Insurance Tax, Negative Gearing Sydney, Tax App Accountants, Alesha Masaud, Australian Property Investing.🏠 Rental Property Tax Deductions in Australia: The Investor’s Guide🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:1. Management and Administration Costs2. Holding Costs & Insurances3. Maintenance vs. Capital Improvements4. Interest & Borrowing Expenses5. Depreciation & The 40-Year Rule⏳ This podcast contains general information only and does not constitute formal tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws in Australia are subject to change. Consult with a qualified tax professional.

Busy vs Productive: Working On Your Business Host Alesha Masaud (Partner at https://taxapp.com.au/https://taxapp.com.au/) discusses “Business for Business Owners” on the Business and Wealth Podcast from an accountant’s perspective, joined by executive and business coach Brad Barr of Primed Leadership, who transitioned from 30 years in financial services to running his coaching business since 2019. They explore why business owners wear “busy” as a badge of success, how busyness can mask profitability issues, and the need to focus on the right work rather than reactive urgent tasks, using ideas like the Eisenhower matrix. Brad emphasizes intentional leadership, awareness leading to action, delegation as “who not how,” and developing people to lift business performance. Practical tools include time audits, weekly/fortnightly “director’s meetings” to review strategy and results, 90-day planning, and tracking metrics like hourly rates and opportunity cost. They also highlight systemization to enable delegation and better work-life balance. The Host Alesha Masaud is a Partner at Tax App Accountants, a leading Australian Accounting firm for Business Owners and Investors.00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup00:41 Meet Coach Brad Barr01:36 Busy as a Status Symbol03:01 Profitability Versus Activity04:52 From Reactive to Intentional08:17 Operator to Business Leader12:46 Ego Roles and Vision Alignment13:56 Work On the Business15:48 Time Audits and Planning Rhythm20:34 Review Learn and Adjust22:51 Recovery and Hourly Value28:48 Delegation and Systems35:06 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up

On the Business and Wealth Australia podcast, host Alesha Masaud (Partner at Tax App Accountants, https://www.taxapp.com.au/) interviews Deborah Beck Mewing of The Property Frontline (https://www.propertyfrontline.com.au/) about how a buyer’s agent vets property deals and builds “smart” portfolios with as few properties as possible. Deborah explains starting with the buyer’s needs, then selecting investment areas based on demographics, population growth, infrastructure pipelines, government settings, vacancy rates and days on market, generally preferring established properties over brand new/off-the-plan. She outlines technical due diligence (council rules, zoning potential, property shape, services, building/pest) and negotiation tactics based on valuation research, seller and agent motivations, market heat and being finance-ready. She notes regional and edge-of-city opportunities (including Sydney units and the Central Coast), favours Sydney/Western Sydney, Brisbane and Perth for growth, and flags risks in Victoria, Canberra, Adelaide and Tasmania. Red flags include busy roads, transmission lines, water towers, battle-axe and odd-shaped blocks.00:00 Welcome 00:51 Deborah’s Portfolio Approach01:56 Career Backstory and Credibility03:00 Vetting Starts With the Buyer05:11 Area Selection and Growth Signals09:54 Shortlisting and Deal Due Diligence15:01 Deep Dive on Picking Locations20:00 City vs Regional Market Picks26:20 Home vs Investment Buying29:42 Choosing the Best Property33:22 Negotiation Playbook37:00 Red Flags to Avoid41:15 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up

Tax App Accountant's Alesha interviews Nick Walter of Walter Wealth about recent market volatility, US tariffs, and the AI-driven tech rally. Nick attributes the April market dip to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, the ensuing fear-driven sell-off, and the later 90-day pause that restored confidence, noting markets remain focused on uncertainty, inflation, hiring hesitancy, and geopolitical tension despite generally healthy conditions. They compare the US market’s tech dominance with Australia’s bank-heavy index, and discuss how falling interest rates can support both shares and property, urging investors to focus on medium term (2–3 years) rather than weekly noise. On AI, Nick highlights $360B of US tech capex, calls it a “hope bubble,” compares it to the dot-com era, and notes Nvidia’s scale and valuation, while suggesting diversification into more conservatively valued regions and other asset classes.00:00 Welcome Back Nick00:29 April Dip Explained02:06 Tariffs Outlook04:22 Australia Market Ripples05:44 Banks vs Tech Markets06:41 Rates Inflation Shares08:12 Medium Term Investing08:44 AI Boom Reality Check10:30 Dotcom Parallels13:09 Managing AI Risk15:57 How to Contact Nick16:33 Wrap Up and DisclaimerContact Nick: https://walterwealth.com.au/

In this episode of the Business and Wealth Australia podcast, Australian Award Winning Accountant Alesha Masaud and experienced business coach Simon Crisp discuss five crucial steps new entrepreneurs should focus on before launching their business. Covering essential topics such as definingyour product, conducting market research, understanding your target market, marketing strategies, and setting up business structures and goals, this episode provides valuable insights for anyone looking to start a business. Join the conversation as Simon shares his 20 years of expertise in corporate finance, business strategy, and change management, emphasising the importance of flexibility, client-focused perspectives, and the significance of trust andpatience in business growth.  00:00 Introduction to Business and Wealth Australia Podcast 00:13 Meet Simon Crisp: The Business Coach 01:01 Defining Your Product 05:22 The Importance of Market Research 13:11 Understanding Your Target Market 18:20 The Importance of Asking Questions 18:45 Marketing Your Product and Getting Clients 22:13 Networking and Building Trust 26:03 Setting Goals and Managing Cash Flow 33:08 Choosing the Right Business Structure 37:20 Conclusion and Contact InformationConnect with Simon hereConnect with Alesha here Book an appointment with Australia's leading business accountants

In the first episode of the Business and Wealth podcast, Alesha Masaud, co-founder of Tax App Accountants, is joined by Fahad Gul to discuss the importance of selecting the appropriate business structure. Fahad introduces himself and Tax App, a Chartered Accounting firm that focuses on high-net-worth individuals and small to mid-sized businesses. The conversation delves into various business structures including sole trader, partnership, company, and trust structures and their suitability depending on individual goals and circumstances. Fahad emphasises the necessity of consulting aprofessional when determining the optimal structure, as well as common mistakes businesses make by not seeking proper advice. The episode concludes with a real-life example illustrating how a poor choice in structure can lead to missed financial incentives and grants. 00:00 Introduction to Business and Wealth Podcast00:18 Meet Fahad Gul and Tax App Accountants01:30 Understanding Business Structures02:23 Choosing the Right Business Structure04:01 The Importance of Professional Advice06:26 Optimal Structures for Ambitious Businesses09:43 Client Case Study: The Impact of Business Structure on Incentives12:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughtshttps://www.taxapp.com.au/Exploring Business Structures One size doesn't fit all when it comes to business structures. Fahad explains that the choice of structure—be it a sole trader, partnership, company, or trust—depends significantly on the individual's goals and family situation. Selecting the right structure is crucial as it aligns with one's personal ambitions and the nature of their business. The Sole Trader Structure For instance, a sole trader structure may suit someone who values work-life balance, such as a working parent aiming to reach a manageable level of monthly income while focusing on family. This structure is straightforward but doesn’t offer the separation of legal liability. The Company and Trust Structure In contrast, for those seeking aggressive growth, such as building a larger business with multiple employees, a combination of a company and trust structure might be ideal. Fahad particularly advocates for this as it provides solid legal separation between personal and business liabilities, while also offering extensive tax planning opportunities. Protection and Opportunities Choosing a company structure can protect personal assets by keeping liability confined to the business entity, which is critical if an individual's profession entails higher financial risks. Moreover, combining it with a trust allows for advantageous tax treatment—distributing income to beneficiaries in lower tax brackets or even exploring other financial avenues like bucket companies. Real-world Impacts: A Client's Story To illustrate, Fahad shares a cautionary tale of a client who failed to secure critical R&D grants and incentives due to their initial trust-only business setup. This misstep underscored the necessity of professional guidance in structuring a business, emphasizing that informed choices lead to substantial long-term financial benefits, instead of costly missed opportunities. Conclusion: The Role of Professional Advice In conclusion, the right business structure is not merely a choice—it's a strategic decision that requires careful consideration and expert advice. Fahad and I stress the importance of consulting with experienced accountants to tailor a structure that facilitates growth while protecting against potential pitfalls. As we wrap up, remember: good accounting advice isn’t just valuable; it’s transformative, potentially saving you hundreds of thousands over time. Stay tuned for more valuable insights in our upcoming posts and podcasts. We hope this exploration of business structures sheds light on the path to a more secure and rewarding business endeavor. See you in the next installment!