Echuca and Moama are one community with a state line down the middle of the Murray. Federal tax does not care which bank you are on; the state-based rules do. SMT Accounting works with businesses and households on both sides, by phone, WhatsApp and video, with the Shepparton North office available by appointment.
How we work with Echuca–Moama
Our office at 53 Mootwingee Crescent, Shepparton North is roughly 56 minutes' drive from Echuca via the Murray Valley Highway, which is why almost none of our Echuca–Moama clients come in. Instead, the relationship runs on WhatsApp, phone, email and video: send documents as photos or uploads, book a call for the conversation that matters, sign electronically. Sohail Yasin (CPA, registered tax agent) and Syed Shah (IPA member) handle the work personally.
The twin towns' economy and who we help
The paddle steamers, the historic port, the river and the clubs across the bridge make Echuca–Moama a tourism and hospitality economy: accommodation, cafés and restaurants, houseboat and cruise operators, caravan parks, event and wedding suppliers, and visitor retail. Behind that sit the trades that build and maintain it all, transport operators, and the dairy, cropping and horticulture country that surrounds both towns.
The people who typically engage us from Echuca–Moama are:
- Hospitality and accommodation operators with seasonal peaks, casual rosters, tips and card surcharges to account for, and GST on everything from room nights to function packages.
- Tourism businesses such as cruise, houseboat and tour operators with vessels and vehicles to depreciate and fuel tax credits to consider for eligible use.
- Cross-border employers whose staff live in one state and work in the other, or who operate premises on both sides of the river.
- Tradies, transport and farm businesses needing BAS, bookkeeping and a sensible structure.
- Employees and retirees who want a registered agent to lodge their return and check their deductions.
Cross-border issues: state taxes and schemes
Income tax, GST, PAYG withholding and superannuation are federal, so your return, BAS and Payday Super obligations are identical in Echuca and Moama. The differences appear in the state-based rules, and they are easy to get wrong when a business straddles the border:
- Payroll tax is levied separately by the State Revenue Office (Victoria) and Revenue NSW. Each state's nexus provisions decide where an employee's wages are taxable, generally by where the work is performed in a month, with tie-breaker tests for split work. Employers paying wages in more than one state have their threshold apportioned, so a business that assumed it was under the threshold in one state can find itself liable once both sides are counted.
- Workers compensation is run by WorkSafe Victoria and, in NSW, by icare. A worker is generally covered in the state they usually work in, rather than where they live or where the business is registered. A business with staff on both sides of the river may need to hold policies in both states.
- Stamp duty and land tax on premises differ between the two states and affect buying, leasing and holding property.
We review these as part of the engagement and tell you plainly when something needs the relevant state agency or a specialist. We do not give insurance or legal advice, and the facts of each business decide the outcome.
Services Echuca–Moama clients use most
- BAS, GST and IAS for hospitality, tourism and trade businesses.
- Payroll and STP for casual rosters, including Payday Super from 1 July 2026 and the cross-border checks above.
- Bookkeeping that reconciles point-of-sale, booking platforms and card settlements.
- Business and company tax and structure reviews.
- Individual tax returns for employees and retirees on either side of the river.
What to send us
- Photo ID and your tax file number for the identity check tax agents must perform.
- For a business: bank feed access or statements, point-of-sale and booking platform reports, payroll records including where each employee lives and works, current workers compensation policies, and last year's financials.
- For individuals: your income statement via myGov, deduction receipts, rental or investment records, and private health details.
Frequently asked
My café is in Echuca but half my staff live in Moama. Which state's payroll tax applies?
Payroll tax is a state tax, and each state uses nexus rules to decide where wages are taxable, usually by where the work is performed in the month and, if that is split, by a set of tie-breaker tests. If you pay wages in both states your tax-free threshold is apportioned. Whether you are over a threshold at all depends on your total wages, so we review it with you rather than guess.
Do I need WorkCover in Victoria and icare in NSW?
Workers compensation is also run separately by each state (WorkSafe Victoria and icare in NSW), and a worker is generally covered in the state they usually work in rather than where they live or where the business is registered. A cross-border business may need cover in one state or both. We flag it and point you to the right insurer; we do not sell insurance.
Does the Victoria–NSW border change my income tax or GST?
No. Income tax and GST are federal, so your return and BAS work the same way on either side of the Murray. The differences are in state taxes and schemes such as payroll tax, workers compensation, stamp duty and land tax.
How far is Shepparton North from Echuca?
About 56 minutes' drive via the Murray Valley Highway. Our office is open by appointment, but Echuca–Moama clients usually work with us entirely by phone, WhatsApp, email and video.