The Financial Year Camera

With the new financial year rapidly approaching we are all staring down the barrel of the Law...the law that states that if the departmental budget is not spent by the end of June you get less money next year

As the calender ticks over we come up with implausible schemes to stock up on copier paper or send fact-finding missions to Bavaria. It all gets desperate and we are wheeling trolley's out of Officeworks stacked with anything we can grab. Well, this year we can short-circuit this...we can win outright at the start.

We'll just grab this titanium Leica M-P kit and gleefully clap on one of the lenses. We can choose the 50mm or 28mm focal length, depending on whether we want to just take a picture of of the accountant or his whole family.

We'll be sure to point out the fact that the titanium construction of the body makes it 3 ounces lighter and that the lenses are especially anodised to have the same shade as the body. And let him see the fitted titanium-finish back lens cap.

Mentioning that there are only 333 of these in the world...and if we are really ambitious, buying up all the rest in Australia...we'll then tell his wife that we're surprised that she doesn't have one by now. Is there a money problem? Oh dear...

I think we will do it right. Looking into the Leica Boutique we'll equip ourselves with a fashion bag as well. And a spare battery.

After all, 'tis the season to be frugal. And the price can only go up later...

Write-Off Right Off With The Tax Department - What It Means For Photographers

It means your money staying with you.

If you run a small business with a turnover of less than $ 2,000,000...and this would include a lot of photographers in Perth*...you can footle with your tax this year legally. The ATO has changed the rules for writing-off assets when you make your tax return.

Now if you buy any items for your business that cost under $ 6500 they can be written off the cost entirely in the 2013-2014 tax claim. Items over that threshold go to a single rate of 15% for the first year and 30% for years after that.

If you purchase a motor vehicle for the business you can get an additional claim of $ 5000 for the year in which it is purchased. That means that if your wedding business needs a new Altair tank transporter to haul your cameras, lenses, and speedlights....you can benefit. I am not sure if it covers the recovery crane needed to unload the transporter.

Do check with the ATO on their website at:

https://www.ato.gov.au/Media-centre/Articles/Simpler-depreciation-...


* I did not laugh as I was typing this, because I was afraid that if I started I would never stop...

Uncle Dick

Good News From Flexirent

The FlexiCommercial people have been helping professional and enthusiast photographers for years to get access to the latest in technology at a price they can afford - exactly when they need it. This means the working professional can be entirely up to date with the tools of trade but not have to fork out the entire pile of cash for the gear up front. The cost of getting professioanla hands on professional cameras and lenses - and other things - can me spread out over a number of years.

Note: I think this is a fine idea, but we are also not adverse to taking an entire pile of cash. Test us out. Bring us a pile of cash...

Okay, FlexiCommercial has decided to encourage their side of the business further as we wind down to the end of the financial year. from now until June 30th they are offering all of their customers one month free on deals up to $ 5000.

If you are a business customer, you receive two months free on deals up to $ 5000.

If your business is se to expand or if you need the gear to successfully compete with the competition, now is the time to leap in for your chop.