23:59 UTC on 20 September 2022 is the cut-off to register for your .au direct domain. The .au domain is the new, general purpose,
shorter Australian domain name option.
If you do not register the direct match of your existing domain for the direct .au domain, you risk your brand equity being consumed by
someone else, rivals redirecting your clients to their products and services, squatters holding the domain, or cybercriminals impersonating
your business. The opening of the new .au domain is the single biggest shift in Australian cyber real estate in decades and the risks for
business are high.
If you are registering:
then you have priority access but only up until 23:59 UTC on 20 September 2022 (9:59am AEST on 21 September). Once this deadline has passed,
the .au direct domain name will be available to anyone with a connection to Australia to register from 21:00 UTC 3 October 2022 (8:00am AEDT
4 Oct).
While you can register for the .au domain through any number of providers, the most efficient method is to utilise your existing provider. To do this, you will need your domain’s access information. If these details cannot be found, for example, the details were held by a former staff member, it can take some time to recover them so do not leave the registration process until the last minute.
What happens if .com.au and .net.au both apply for the .au name?
If you share a domain name with another entity, for example, one entity owns .com.au and the other .net.au, the right their domain after 4 February 2018. If the name is contested by a Category 1 and a Category 2 applicant, the Category 1 applicant will secure the name. If two Category 2 applicants apply for the name, the name is allocated to the applicant with the earlier domain license creation date. But, it gets tricky when two Category 1 applicants apply to register the .au domain will cascade according to priority. Category 1 are those that secured the domain on or before 4 February 2018. Category 1 applicants have priority over Category 2 applicants who registered for the name. In these circumstances, both parties must agree on the allocation or the name remains unallocated.
Once you have applied for your matching .au domain, if your application is uncontested, you will be able to use the .au direct name soon
after applying for priority status.
Your partners in wealth accumulation, protection and management for today and beyond.
A secured loan is a form of finance backed by collateral. For most businesses, the collateral takes the form of real estate, either commercial or residential.
Interest rates are rising as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) looks to aggressively hike the official cash rate to help slow growing inflation.
Property has a long-term track record of capital growth, which is why it is a favourite asset class for hundreds of thousands of Australians.
If you’re in the market to buy a property, or looking at refinancing your current home loan, one of the most important things to consider is trying to obtain a pre-approval from a lender.
Rabobank’s Australian Agricultural Price Outlook shows that agricultural land prices across Australia rose by 27% in 2021.
With the now abolished land tax in Queensland it is interesting to note that it was never going to have the same impact on commercial property compared to residential.
For the sixth consecutive month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has made the decision to increase the nation’s official cash rate, which now sits at 2.60%.
Supply chain pressures and inflation have dominated conversations about investment markets for much of the past year. Reporting season gives Australians a comprehensive look at how these forces are affecting businesses – and what they mean for investors.
For Shannon Smit and the team at Smart Private Wealth, providing a service centred around client education is one of their most important objectives. It is viewed as their defining point of difference.
The Australian government has reinvigorated the 120% skills training and technology costs deduction for small and medium business.
Clients with self managed superannuation funds (SMSF) often ask what assets the SMSF can acquire.
There are two key components at play in the sale of a business: structuring the transaction; and positioning the business to the market.
The tax system currently allows Australia to tax payments made by an Australian customer in relation to technical services provided by an Indian firm.
23:59 UTC on 20 September 2022 is the cut-off to register for your .au direct domain.
You’ve worked hard for what you have – it’s time to protect it for the next generation.
If you’re running a small business and need funds to either run the day-to-day operations of the business or to expand, there are a few different options for funding.
If you’re a manufacturer, then you’re likely often faced with the prospect of needing to upgrade your equipment and working out the best way to pay for it.
Most car buyers will normally think about the type of car they want to buy and then wait until they have done a test drive.
Tenants are slowly returning to CBD offices around the country as businesses get back on track.
Industrial property could be an effective way to hedge against Australia’s highest rate of inflation in decades, according to an expert.
Property prices across Australia have risen sharply over the past 20 years and the rapid increase has made it a lot harder to get into the property.
Buying your first home can be a daunting experience. It will likely take a number of months to get your financials in order and navigate the property search.
As the value of homes has steadily increased over the years, more borrowers have turned to Lender's Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
With the cost of living going up by the day, managing your money can be tricky in the current environment.
The $2,000 Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program Grants are for small business to employing small businesses to access financial and legal advice and services to inform current and future business decisions.
Annual reviews are a powerful business tool. They provide insight into the past year through analysing metrics and other data.
Climate change featured heavily during the election and now the Albanese Government is putting into place some of the promises it made. We look at the current state of play and the likely impact.
The RBA lifted the cash rate to 1.85% in early August 2022. With interest rates rising, what can we expect?
The ATO has released updated information on claiming cryptocurrency losses and gains in your tax return.
ONLINE Webinar: Insurance Stripped Bare - What you really need to protect your assets
Consumer price inflation rose by 1.8% in the June quarter, and by 6.1% on a rolling 12-month view. Whilst high, these measures were below consensus expectations. In turn, this prompted hopes that local interest rates might not need to increase as much as previously feared.
For the majority of small to medium sized business owners, the value of your business is your biggest asset, and very likely, your retirement fund.
If you perform some of your work from your home office, you may be able to claim a deduction for the costs you incur in running your home office, even if the room is not set aside solely for work-related purposes.
If you’ve owned your home for a decent period of time, or you’re ahead on your mortgage repayments, then you can potentially use some of the
equity to purchase assets such as a car.
With the spring selling season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start preparing your home should you want to sell. There’s no doubt if you’re trying to market your property, it’s vital that you are able to make it as appealing to as many people as possible.
The number of cranes in operation across Australia continues to rise, with a steady increase across the commercial sector.
The Property Council of Australia's latest Office Occupancy survey found that Perth’s office occupancy rate continued to improve between May and June (63 to 65 per cent), and Melbourne’s lifted slightly (48 to 49 per cent), while occupancy levels in the ACT declined (60 to 53 per cent).
Debt levels have been steadily rising over the past few decades, but it’s important to understand that not all debt is bad. If you’re finding yourself getting into too much debt through the use of credit cards, there are a few steps you can do to get out of it.
With upward pressure on prices across many sectors of the economy, being able to effectively manage your cash flow is more important than ever. One way businesses can help their cash flow is to finance their heavy or costly equipment.
Renovating a home is a great way to increase both its value and your rental yield, if you’re an investor.
Rentvesting involves renting where you want to live and investing in a property elsewhere so you can get your foot on the property ladder.
For the majority of small to medium sized business owners, the value of your business is your biggest asset, and very likely, your retirement fund.
It doesn’t matter how much you have. It’s what you do with it that counts.
Everyone knows you don't pay tax on the sale of your family home, right..? We take a closer look at the main residence exemption that excludes your home from capital gains tax and the triggers that reduce or exclude that exemption.
There has been some confusion on what the minimum wage increase and superannuation increase means to small business employers.
Many investors become concerned when volatility occurs in global financial markets – particularly about the impact on their superannuation and other investments. In times like these, it is important to understand the causes of market movements and how to minimise your risk.
A testamentary trust is commonly used by estate planning lawyers to protect the assets and inheritance of the testator’s benefciaries from creditors, family law actions and providing flexibility in relation to the distribution of the estate.
There are limits on how much you can pay into your super fund each financial year without having to pay extra tax. These limits are called ‘contribution caps’.
Tax planning is more than just a financial necessity—it's a strategic advantage for businesses of all sizes. By proactively managing your tax strategy, you can significantly reduce your liabilities, enhance cash flow, and ensure full compliance with ever-evolving tax regulations.