Newsletter - April 2026

It's been a big month.

Between new updates, policy changes, and rising costs hitting sole traders, there’s a lot to keep up with right now.

So we’ve pulled together the key things that matter for your day-to-day (and what they mean for your business).

Here's what's inside this edition:

• The new KM Tracker is on it's way! Find out more about Rounded Trax

• Ban on credit card surcharges: Here's what you need to know for your business.

• How to do your next BAS in under 5 minutes. Plus pro tips from an accountant.

• Hit hard by rising fuel costs? Find out if you're eligible for the Government's ATO fuel response payment plan.

• And even more helpful resources for solo businesses 💡

📣 Rounded Trax is coming soon!

We're currently beta testing our new iOS kilometre tracking app (Android won't be too far behind) and expecting a wider launch in May.

💡 What’s inside the app?

• Smart Tracking: Quickly set up auto-tracking via iOS Shortcuts or start/stop trips manually.

• Multi-Vehicle Support: Easily switch between vehicles.

• More Flexibility At Tax Time: Support for both Cents per KM and Logbook methods. Compare then choose the best outcome for your business.

• Easy Organisation: Categorise trips as Business or Personal with a quick tap and add custom tags (e.g., Client Visit).

• Integrated with the main Rounded app: Data flows seamlessly from Trax to the main Rounded app so you can instantly see the impact of vehicle deductions on your tax position.

More coming soon!

⚙️ What else is new in Rounded?

You can send invoices and quotes from Gmail aliases

(e.g., “sarah@acmestudios.com.au” can send invoices from “accounts@acmestudios.com.au”).

You can easily check our change log any time in the bottom left corner of your dashboard on desktop.

💳 What does the surcharge ban mean for your business?

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that credit and debit card surcharges will be banned from October 1, 2026.

What’s actually changing?

You'll no longer be able to add a surcharge for card payments on top of your prices (even if you call it something else, like a 'service fee'.)

This means you'll either need to build the cost of card payments into your pricing, or absorb the cost.

The RBA is also planning to reduce interchange fees (what banks charge businesses), which may save you some money. This will depend on your provider.

What to do before October

You’ve got time, but it’s worth getting ahead:

• Review how much you’re currently collecting in surcharges

• Understand your true card costs

• Start thinking about price adjustments

• Check how your invoicing/payment setup handles surcharges

🚨 For Rounded users

When you invoice, you have the option to add a surcharge for Stripe fees when clients choose to pay by card.

To comply with the RBA's new rules, we'll be required to switch this feature off by October 1st. All Rounded users will be notified in advance, so you can adjust invoices as needed.

Until then, you can continue using this feature as usual.

⚡ How to do your next BAS in <5 mins

If you lodge BAS yourself, your statement for Jan-Mar 2026 is due by April 28th. Here's how you can make the process less painful.

Step 1: Pull your numbers

For simple BAS (what most sole traders will be doing), you only need these 3 numbers:

• Total sales (G1)

• GST collected (1A)

• GST paid on expenses (1B)

If you’re using Rounded, this is already calculated for you in your Activity Statement.

If you're a Rounded user, you'll also see the GST owed in your report. Otherwise, you'll need to calculate this yourself:

What you owe = GST collected (1A) – GST paid (1B)

Step 2: Double-check you've included everything

Do a quick sanity check to make sure all your invoices have been included, your expenses are up to date, and that GST has been correctly applied.

Step 3: Submit via the ATO portal

Jump into MyGov. Copy and paste your 3 numbers, and submit!

If you're concerned about lodging or paying on time, speak to an accountant or visit the ATO's site to see what options are available.

If your business has been specifically impacted by rising fuel costs, we have more info below.

💡Lauren Thiel, Accountant for Sole Traders, on making BAS easier

Get an accountant haha. BAS and GST can be really confusing.

One way to make it easier is to set up your chart of accountants, in your software, with the tax codes that apply most of the time.

Then ALWAYS check your receipts and supporting documents and correct the tax code (if needed) when creating bills or coding transactions.

Read up on all the key elements too (PAYG-W, PAYG-I and GST) to make sure you are reporting correctly.

(If you need a refresher, check out Rounded's Sole Trader Tax:The Ultimate Guide. It should have everything you need to know.)

See more advice from Lauren here.

🚘 Fuel costs impacting your business?

The ATO Fuel Response Payment Plan gives eligible sole traders 36 months to pay off their tax bills, with no upfront payment required.

You may also be able to get a reduction or remission of interest charges.

Who’s eligible?

When you apply, you'll need to prove:

• You’re a sole trader with an active ABN

• You have a new or existing tax debt with the ATO

• Your operating costs have increased as a result of higher fuel costs (either directly, or indirectly due to increased transport, logistics or supply chain costs)

• You have a reduced capacity to pay your tax bill because of fuel costs, and would have been able to pay otherwise (including instalments under existing plans)

• You can make sure your lodgements are up to date within 3 months of the payment plan being set up

What to do next

Sole traders can apply for this plan until June 30th, 2026.

It's best to speak to your accountant to make sure you're eligible and see if this option is right for you.

In the meantime:

• Check your current position: Log into your ATO account to see what you owe and if you’re up to date on payments.

• See if you meet all the criteria to apply: Use the list above and check out the ATO's site for more info.

• Get your numbers ready: Have a rough idea of what you can afford to repay monthly.

Please note: This is general information only and doesn’t take into account your individual circumstances. Always speak to a registered tax professional about your specific situation.

Catch up on March replays 📽️https://foldingtowelspodcast.com.au/episode-127-simple-systems-for-sole-traders-massage-business-tips-with-oliver-garside-of-rounded/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=april_updates_surcharge_ban_ato_fuel_response_plan_bas&utm_term=2026-04-14

Oliver chats with therapists David and Jackie about common mistakes, simple habits that make a difference, and how to free up more time to focus on clients.

Listen now

Oliver chats with lived experience consultant Hayley Harris about the stuff no one teaches you when you start your own business.

Watch the replay

More helpful resources for sole traders

• How to set up custom email templates for invoicing in Rounded

• How to pitch to editors with Lindy Alexander

• How much should you charge as a freelance writer?

• Why business owners avoid difficult conversations and what to do about it

• Struggling with business finances? Get free, confidential advice from the Small Business Debt Helpline

New to Rounded, or have questions?

• Sign up for our weekly Intro to Rounded masterclass

• Visit our Help Centre or reach out via in-app chat. You'll usually hear from a human in around 30 seconds.