Shire of Noosa and Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland
Accountant in Peregian Beach
Where 21.3% of working residents work from home
Structuring, cloud accounting, cash flow forecasting and tax returns for Peregian Beach consultants, tech businesses and the households behind them, online with a CPA practice.
Peregian Beach is split between two councils: the coastal eastern strip is in the Shire of Noosa and the western hinterland is in the Sunshine Coast Region. In the 2021 Census, 533 of its employed residents, or 21.3%, worked at home, Professionals made up 27.6% of workers and Managers 17.0%. The Peregian Digital Hub at 253-255 David Low Way is a purpose-built facility for technology companies.
Peregian Beach at a glance
Two councils, a national park boundary and a home-based workforce.
A township began to develop in 1960. The area was officially named Peregian on 1 April 1966 and renamed Peregian Beach on 1 February 1972, and the name may derive from perridhan or jan, meaning mangrove seeds. Development to the west is constrained by Noosa National Park. Peregian Beach Community College is a private Prep to Year 12 school on Old Emu Mountain Road, and there are no government schools in the suburb.
The 2021 Census counted 4,972 people with a median age of 42 and a median weekly household income of $1,896. Of the occupied homes, 80.0% were separate houses, 37.4% were owned with a mortgage and 34.5% were owned outright. Worked at home was recorded for 21.3% of employed residents, and 38.0% of the labour force worked part-time.
For anyone running a business from a home office here, or working from home for an employer, the questions are about structure, records and claims. Those are covered below.
Three questions for people who work from home
When a sole trader business has outgrown its structure
Why it happens
A consulting, design or software business may start as a sole trader with one bank account. As income grows, or a partner, staff or investors come in, the original setup stops matching how the business runs.
Why it matters
Structure affects how profit is taxed, who carries the risk and what it costs to run each year. Changing structure later involves registrations and new governance documents, so it is better decided before it becomes urgent.
How we help
We map out how different options such as sole trader, partnership, company, or trust would apply to your situation, including setup, ongoing costs, and the way profit flows to owners. That includes registrations, governance documents, and a simple plan for ongoing compliance. We also review structures as your business changes, helping you adjust in a way that supports growth and manages risk.
Working from home as an employee
Why it happens
A professional or manager may work some or all of the week from a home office for an employer based elsewhere.
Why it matters
Under the ATO fixed rate method, the rate for 2024-25 is 70 cents per hour worked from home. It covers energy, internet, phone and stationery, which can't then be claimed separately, while depreciating assets such as computers and furniture can be claimed separately. The ATO requires a record of the actual hours worked from home for the whole year; an estimate won't do.
How we help
We focus on understanding your circumstances, from employment income and deductions to investments and rental properties, so your return reflects your real position. Keep a timesheet, diary or roster that shows your hours at home across the full year.
One home, two sets of records
Why it happens
When the business and the household share a home, a phone plan and sometimes a bank card, business and private spending end up in the same records.
Why it matters
Mixed records make the BAS slower to prepare and harder to support if the ATO asks questions.
How we help
Lomandra Accounting offers cloud accounting support for Xero and MYOB, including conversions and workflow training.
Frequently asked questions
Should my Peregian Beach business be a company or a trust?
It depends on the business, the owners and the plans for it. We map out how different options such as sole trader, partnership, company, or trust would apply to your situation, including setup, ongoing costs, and the way profit flows to owners.
What records do I need for the working from home fixed rate?
The ATO requires a record of the actual hours you worked from home for the whole year, such as a timesheet, roster or diary. An estimate is not accepted. Keep receipts for depreciating assets such as a computer or desk, which are claimed separately from the 70 cents per hour rate for 2024-25.
Can you work with me online?
Yes. We operate as a virtual accounting firm, meaning we work efficiently online with phone, video, and email support, wherever you're based in Australia.
Does it matter which council my Peregian Beach property is in?
The eastern coastal strip is in the Shire of Noosa and the western hinterland is in the Sunshine Coast Region, so the council depends on which side of the boundary the property sits. Your rates notice shows which one applies.
What should I prepare before engaging Lomandra Accounting?
Last year’s tax returns and financials, current Xero or bookkeeping files, bank and loan statements, payroll reports, BAS and IAS history, ASIC company statements, trust deeds and minutes.
Where to next
Have a question?
Set up the home office properly
Our compliance-focused approach ensures every saving aligns with ATO requirements and current legislation.
Lomandra Accounting is a CPA Practice, registered with the Tax Practitioners Board and an SMSF Specialist. Emma, the Director, is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in commercial business management, and specialises in Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs).
- 07 5234 9201
- admin@lomandraa.com.au
- Sunshine Coast, QLD
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm