Northern Beaches · NSW 2101
Tax agent in Narrabeen
Straightforward, personal tax help for Narrabeen families, sole traders and the surf, fitness and lifestyle businesses around the lagoon and beach, online or in person by arrangement.
Overview
Lagoon, surf and small business
Narrabeen sits beside Narrabeen Lagoon and fronts a long stretch of surf beach. It's a suburb of families, and of people who've built their work around the lifestyle: surf coaches, personal trainers, board shapers, photographers and café owners among them.
That often means employment and self-employment in the same year, a side business that's starting to grow, or a return that's fallen behind while life got busy. Jan can help with all of it, without judgement.
Jan Jansen is a registered tax agent based in Avalon Beach. Every engagement starts with a free 15-minute intro call and a fixed-fee quote, so you know where you stand before any work begins.
Side hustle or business?
When does it become a business?
Coaching a few surf lessons, selling prints online or taking on personal-training clients can start as a hobby and gradually become a business. The difference matters: business income is taxable and related costs may be deductible, while a genuine hobby generally sits outside the tax system.
There's no single test. The ATO looks at the whole picture, including whether you intend to make a profit, how regular and organised the activity is, and whether it's run like other businesses of its kind.
More like a hobby
Signs it's a hobby
- Done mainly for enjoyment, with no real intention of making a profit
- Occasional and informal, without regular customers
- Little planning, record-keeping or marketing
More like a business
Signs it's a business
- You're aiming to make a profit and price your work accordingly
- Regular, repeated activity with customers or clients
- Run in a businesslike way, with records, insurance and marketing
If it's a business, you may also need to think about registering for GST once turnover reaches $75,000, PAYG instalments, and whether early losses can be offset against your other income, where special rules apply.
Sole trader and contractor taxServices
Practical help, start to finish
Whether you're employed, self-employed or a bit of both.
Sole traders & contractors
Tax returns, GST and PAYG instalments for tradies, creatives, consultants and contractors — with practical advice to keep more of what you earn.
From $495Learn more
Individual tax returns
Accurate, thoughtfully prepared returns for employees, retirees and investors — every deduction you're entitled to, properly documented.
From $220Learn more
Late & overdue tax returns
Behind by a year or ten? Jan brings your lodgments up to date without judgement, and deals with the ATO so you can move on.
From $220Learn more
The local picture
Around the lagoon
The situations that tend to come up for Narrabeen households, and how Jan can help.
Employees and families
Salary and wages, work-related deductions, working from home, private health and HELP. Jan reviews each claim, cross-checks the ATO's pre-filled data and lodges for you, which can also mean a later due date under the ATO's lodgment program.
Sole traders and contractors
Personal trainers, coaches, tradies and freelancers need an ABN set up properly, income and expenses reconciled, and GST and PAYG instalments managed. If most of your income is a reward for your personal skills or effort, the personal services income rules may apply too.
Surf and lifestyle businesses
Surf schools, board makers, cafés and studios often have seasonal income and equipment to replace. Jan can help plan for quieter months, handle BAS and check how new equipment should be claimed.
Returns that have slipped
If you're a year or two behind on lodging, or more, Jan can work out what's outstanding, gather what's needed and bring everything up to date, dealing with the ATO for you.
Questions
Narrabeen questions
Answers to questions that come up in Narrabeen. Every situation is different, so treat these as a starting point.
I've started coaching clients on the side. Do I need an ABN?
If you're carrying on a business, you're generally entitled to an ABN, and without one some businesses that pay you must withhold tax from their payments. Whether you're in business depends on things like your profit intention, how regularly you operate and how you run the activity. Jan can help you decide and set things up properly.
Can I claim my surfboard, wetsuit or gym gear?
Only if it's used to earn your income, and only for the work-related share. A surf coach's boards and wetsuits used for lessons may be deductible, but gear for your own recreation isn't. Keep receipts and a sense of how much each item is used for work.
I'm a few years behind with my tax returns. What happens now?
The first step is working out which years are outstanding and what information is needed. Jan can then prepare and lodge the missing returns and deal with the ATO on your behalf, including any penalties or payment arrangements. Starting sooner usually gives you more options.
My business made a loss in its first year. Can I offset it against my wages?
Sometimes. The non-commercial loss rules decide whether a business loss can be offset against other income, such as wages, in the same year, or must be deferred until the business makes a profit. Jan can check which applies to you.
Meeting
Meeting in Narrabeen
Jan is based further up the peninsula in Avalon Beach and can meet in Narrabeen or nearby by arrangement. Most clients find it easier to do everything online, by phone, video and email.
In person
In Narrabeen or nearby, by arrangement
Online
Phone or video calls, with documents sent by email
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm
Evenings & Saturdays: by appointment
Nearby
Around Narrabeen
Jan can also help in the neighbouring suburbs, online or in person by arrangement.
- North Narrabeen
- Collaroy
- Elanora Heights
- Warriewood
Along the coast
Narrabeen & online
Behind, busy or just starting out? Start with a call.
Tell Jan a little about your situation and he'll come back to you within one business day to arrange a free 15-minute intro call. No obligation, no hard sell.
Based in Avalon Beach · Online Australia-wide, in person on the Northern Beaches by arrangement