Expert Accounting and Bookkeeping for Doctors and Medical Centres

Clarke McEwan Accountants

Clarke McEwan Accountants act for many Health Care Professionals throughout Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Regional Queensland and over more than 20 years of working with the medical profession have developed a specialist division in this area.

We not only look after all of our Health Care Professionals’ accounting, income tax, business advisory and GST affairs, but in many cases are called on to administer and advise on our clients self managed superannuation funds, investments and their overall finances.

Our clients range from Specialist Sole Practitioners and GP’s through to Medical Centres and Divisions of Corporate Healthcare Providers. We are also very experienced helping doctors establish themselves in private practice, and transitioning from the public system to private practice or a combination of both.

A typical medical client might have a number of discretionary trusts for business, asset protection and investment purposes as well as their own self-managed superannuation fund. Some clients have partnerships, medical practice companies, trusts and/or service entity arrangements. We have a sound understanding of the financial, accounting and taxation issues affecting the health profession which has been acquired over a period of more than twenty years working with the profession.

No job is too big or too small. We have the experience and internal expertise to professionally complete all of your accounting and taxation work and ensure every possible deduction is claimed and strategy implemented to reduce your tax, protect your assets and maximize your net wealth position.

We also have an internal bookkeeping team that can look after your BAS, bookkeeping, weekly or fortnightly payroll, super and single touch payroll reporting. As both Xero and MYOB certified consultants we can also work with your own team or bookkeepers as a sounding board for any queries as they arise.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we may be of assistance to you and/or your practice. For further information on the many services we provide please visit our website at www.clarkemcewan.com.au

An initial interview can be arranged at either our Brisbane or Sunshine Coast Offices or your practice or residence at no obligation or initial cost. For those unable to make an in person meeting we are very happy to organise an initial zoom meeting with you either within or outside office hours to discuss your circumstances.

For a confidential discussion or to make an appointment please do not hesitate to contact our office on 07 35050703 or by email to info@clarkemcewan.com.au or by requesting a no obligation no cost intial consultation and filling out the request form here <No Obligation No Cost Meeting>

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Loss carry back rules reintroduced

By Clarke McEwan • September 1, 2026

At the Federal Budget in May 2026, the Government announced that it would reintroduce a loss carry back tax offset for companies, providing a crucial buffer to any business facing difficult trading conditions.

Cents per km or logbook method: which is better?

By Clarke McEwan • August 30, 2026

Tax Time 2026 is in full swing, and with that comes a decision for anyone who uses their car for work purposes: is it better to claim a deduction using the logbook or cents per kilometre method? When can I claim car expenses? Broadly, tax deductions for car expenses (i.e. the costs you incur to own and operate a car) are available where you use your car for work-related trips, such as for travel between workplaces or to perform your work duties. The exception is ordinary commuting to and from work - such expenses cannot typically be claimed, as they’re considered private expenses. Cents per kilometre method The cents per kilometre method allows you to claim a fixed rate for each work-related kilometre you travel, up to a maximum of 5,000 km each year. This fixed rate per km covers all of your car expenses for a year, including decline in value, registration and insurance, maintenance, repairs and fuel costs. For the 2025-26 tax year, the rate of deduction is 88 cents per kilometre, which means this tax time, the maximum potential amount of deduction is $4,400. (And keep in mind that the rate of deduction has been increased to 91 cents per km as of 1 July 2026, meaning a total potential deduction of $4,550 in the 2026-27 tax year). One of the benefits of using the cents per kilometre method is that it’s relatively simple, as you don’t need to keep receipts for your fuel or car expenses. However, you do need to keep records to show how you’ve calculated your work-related kilometres (for example, a diary), and you also need to be able to show that you own the car you’re using for work. Logbook method If you have a lot of work-related car expenses and have the time, you might find that the logbook method gives you the best deduction. The logbook method allows you to claim the work-related portion of your actual car expenses. This means that you can claim for a percentage of the actual expenses incurred on running costs such as fuel, electricity, servicing, registration, insurance and the decline in value, provided you’ve used the car in the course of your work. However, as the potential deductions under the logbook method are higher, there are stricter record-keeping requirements to meet. This includes keeping a logbook, which allows the calculation of how much you can claim back, it must: - cover at least 12 continuous weeks and be broadly representative of your travel, - include the reason and purpose, as well as the destination of every work-related journey, - the odometer reading at the start and end of each journey, - and the total kilometres travelled on the journey, - include odometer readings for the start and end of the logbook period and the total kilometres travelled during that period. Each journey in your logbook must be made at the end of the journey or as soon as possible afterwards. If you don't have a valid logbook, then unfortunately you cannot use the logbook method to claim car expenses, although the cents per km method may be available instead. Which is better? The answer to whether you should choose the logbook or cents per km method is very dependent on your personal situation. If you have light work-related car use and don’t love keeping extensive records, the cents per km method may be better suited to your needs, while those who use their car for work frequently may receive a higher deduction under the logbook method. If you’re unsure which method is best for you, speak to a member of our team today.

Why Allied Health Practices Need an Accountant Who Actually Understands Allied Health

By Clarke McEwan • August 19, 2026

Why Allied Health Practices Need an Accountant Who Actually Understands Allied Health

Medical Practice Accounting for Practice Owners & Groups

By Clarke McEwan • August 17, 2026

Medical Practice Accounting for Practice Owners & Groups

Running a successful medical practice requires more than delivering excellent patient care.

Why Good Financial Management Matters in Medical Practices

By Clarke McEwan • August 11, 2026

Running a successful medical practice requires more than delivering excellent patient care. Strong financial management is essential for maintaining profitability, supporting growth, meeting compliance obligations, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the practice.

Changes to Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) borrowing rules

By Clarke McEwan • August 10, 2026

To ensure passage of the negative gearing and CGT discount changes that were announced in the May 2026 Federal Budget the Government agreed to make amendments to the SMSF borrowing rules. SMSFs are able to borrow in restricted circumstances which includes borrowing under a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) to purchase a single acquirable asset. While there have previously been no specific legislative restrictions on the type of asset a SMSF can borrow to purchase, most commonly we see LRBAs being used to purchase property. Up until this point, this could have been any type of real property. These amendments will mean that when SMSF trustees wish to borrow to purchase a property, it must meet the business real property (BRP) definition. This BRP definition relates to usage of the property rather than zoning or what the property was originally built for. This change became law on 26 June 2026, but the Bill includes a 45 day transitional period which will finish on 10 August 2026. This transitional period may allow for arrangements that are currently being implemented on non-BRP assets to be allowable under the new rules where settlement occurs after 10 August 2026, provided the arrangement to purchase the property was entered into on or before 10 August 2026. We recommend that SMSF trustees who are currently implementing LRBA arrangements on non-BRP assets seek specialist SMSF legal advice to ensure their arrangements meet these transitional rules. While this change has been referred to in the media as a ban on super funds borrowing to purchase residential property, the use of the BRP definition makes the change slightly more complex than this. As this definition relates to usage of the property, it is possible that some residentially designed properties could meet the BRP definition (for example, a medical practice that operates from a residentially designed terrace dwelling). The BRP definition also requires that the property is wholly and exclusively used for business purposes. This could mean that some properties that may initially appear to be commercial in nature may not meet the BRP definition (for example, a mixed use residential and retail property on a single title). We recommend that SMSF trustees entering into new LRBAs seek advice from specialist legal and financial advisers to ensure the new requirements are met. Existing arrangements The updated rules allow for existing LRBAs over non-BRP assets to continue. They also allow for existing arrangements to be refinanced, subject to lender availability and approval. For any further information please contact our office.