Primary Producer Tax
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Expert Accountant for Primary Producers. Tax advice that actually understands your paddock
We have extensive experience in primary production, taxation, and small business strategy. Our focus is on helping individuals and business owners in the agricultural and farming sectors make the most of the unique tax concessions, offsets, and deductions available to them.
From livestock accounting to asset depreciation, water facility deductions, and farm management deposits, we work with clients to legally minimise tax and build long-term financial resilience. I also help navigate GST complexities, record keeping, and succession planning, so every dollar works harder for your family or business.
What sets our service apart is a mix of hands-on industry understanding and clear, practical guidance, no jargon, no guesswork. We make sure you’re not just compliant, but confident in every financial decision.
Whether you run a family farm, manage rural property investments, or operate a regional business, I can help you take advantage of every tax opportunity available while planning for growth and stability.
Let's Talk
We know primary producer tax isn't like city tax
Running a farm comes with unpredictable income, seasonal cashflow, and rules that are different to many other small businesses. We are experts in primary production tax and give clear, practical advice so you keep more of what you earn and avoid nasty surprises at tax time.
How we help primary producers:
- Income tax & tax averaging, we make sure you can smooth good and bad years so you don’t pay more tax over time than similar earners.
- Farm Management Deposits (FMDs), set aside pre-tax income in high years and withdraw in low years to manage cashflow and reduce tax in peak seasons.
- Disaster & drought tax support, tailored help after drought, flood or other disasters: lodging claims correctly, applying for concessions, and seeking ATO relief where eligible.
- Fuel tax credits, we check eligibility and calculate claims for fuel used in off-road farm machinery and equipment, as well as on-road trucks, so you don’t miss rebates.
- Depreciation & immediate asset deductions, guidance on instant write-offs, temporary full expensing and how to time purchases (machinery, fencing, fodder infrastructure) to maximise tax outcomes.
- BAS, payroll & single-touch payroll (STP) for farm employees, keep payroll and BAS obligations tidy so you can focus on the season.
- GST issues specific to agriculture, GST free sales, livestock sales.
- Succession & retirement planning for farms, tax-efficient strategies for handing the farm to the next generation.
Why work with us:
- We combine technical ATO knowledge with common sense — practical solutions.
- We consider cashflow-first solutions (FMDs, timing asset purchases, PAYG instalment review).
- We explain options in plain English, so you understand what we’re doing, and prepare the forms for the ATO so you can get on with managing your business.
Client example:
A commercial wholesale nursery had two big income years, double the usual sales, preceded by difficult years, and followed by normal trade. We set up a strategy using Farm Management Deposits to reduce tax in the boom years and used income averaging to smooth tax payable across the period. The client kept more cash on farm to help plant for the next season, and avoided panic asset sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tax averaging lets eligible primary producers smooth income over a maximum five-year period so that the tax payable more closely matches long-term earnings patterns. It’s designed for seasonal, variable income typical of farms so you’re not pushed into higher tax brackets.
Yes, FMDs remain an essential tool for primary producers to minimise taxable income in good years, and include it in lower taxed years. Eligibility and rules apply, so it’s best to plan deposits with your accountant.
You may be eligible for credits where fuel is used for business purposes off public roads or to power machinery, the rates and rules vary by fuel type and use. We can calculate and record your claims correctly.
The ATO offers support measures such as payment plans, penalty/interest relief and adjustments to instalments; certain relief payments may be tax-free, we can help you navigate what applies to your situation.
Ready to make tax work for your farm?
If you want a straightforward chat about how recent tax settings can help your cashflow (FMDs, averaging, asset timing, or fuel credits), let’s talk. We offer an initial one hour farm health check – just plain advice to see if there’s any areas you can improve your accounting and minimise your tax.
Review from our lovely clients
We Are Trusted Over Queensland
Your Partner in Professional Accounting and Tax Services
Meli2024-04-25Warwick and the team at de Zwaans accounting provide exceptional service and advice in relation to our investment portfolio. I wish we had been with them from the beginning!
Levy Lev2024-04-24Warwick has been amazing, he's incredibly thorough and knowledgable. I'm really grateful how helpful and quick he's been to respond when we needed guidance with our affairs. 5 stars all the way.
Ben Ryan2024-03-22Thank you Warwick and your team for getting my business back on track, your professionalism in the transition of moving my personal and business across was seamless and stress free. I highly recommend anyone looking to change Accountants to get in touch with de Zwaans.