Do you handle real estate trust accounts?

Yes - sales and rent trust-account record-keeping, reconciliations and the annual audit requirements.

I'm an agent paid on commission. Can you help?

Yes - we structure commission income tax-effectively, plan around the big settlements, and handle your returns.

Do you work with franchise agencies?

Yes - including franchise-fee reconciliation and group reporting across the office.

My income is lumpy - how do I plan for tax?

We forecast around your settlements and set money aside through the year, so a strong run of sales doesn't turn into a tax shock.

Which software do you work with?

Xero and MYOB, plus the common trust-accounting and property-management platforms.

Accountants for Real Estate

Agents, agencies and property managers run on commission and trust accounts – two things that are easy to get wrong and expensive when you do. We keep the trust accounting clean, the commission income structured well, and the tax planned.

Book a Chat Call (07) 5593 6060

How we help — at a glance

What we take care of for agents, agencies and property managers:

✓EOFY accounts & group tax returns — company, trust and individual returns, done together

✓BAS & GST — prepared and lodged on time

✓Trust account compliance & audits — sales and rent trusts kept audit-ready

✓Commission & franchise-fee reconciliation — income that ties out cleanly

✓Payroll & Single Touch Payroll — staff and super handled correctly

✓Structuring & tax planning — so you keep more of what you earn

Book a chat (07) 5593 6060

Real estate has two tricky halves: commission and trust

Real estate has two features that set it apart from most businesses: income that arrives in lumps, and money that isn’t yours sitting in a trust account. Both need to be handled properly, and both are places where agents and agencies get caught out – one at tax time, the other at audit time.

Commission is feast or famine. A quiet quarter followed by three settlements in a fortnight is normal, and it makes tax planning and cashflow harder than they look. Meanwhile, every dollar of a client’s deposit or rent that passes through your trust account is tightly regulated, separately accounted for, and audited every year. The two sides of a real estate business pull in different directions, and the accounting has to keep both straight.

Real estate has special considerations

Trust accounts. Sales and rent trust accounts are governed by strict rules and audited annually. Records must reconcile, money must be handled correctly, and breaches are taken seriously. We keep the records straight through the year and work with your auditor so the annual audit is routine, not a panic.
Commission income. Lumpy, irregular and often run through the wrong structure. We help you smooth the tax effect, plan around the big settlements, and make sure commissions and franchise fees are reconciled and reported correctly.
Rent rolls and property management. Managing rent for owners adds another trust account, more reconciliations and end-of-month reporting. We set it up to run cleanly.
Structure. Agent income is often taxed at the highest possible rate because it’s run personally. The right structure – and the timing of when income lands – can make a real difference to what you keep.
GST and franchise fees. Commission carries GST; franchise and marketing fees have their own treatment. We make sure the BAS is right and nothing is missed.
Tax planning. The conversations that reduce a big commission year’s tax bill happen before 30 June, not after. We make sure we have them.

Where we help real estate businesses

Trust accounting & audit

Sales and rent trust records kept reconciled and audit-ready, with your annual audit handled smoothly.

Commission & structure

Commission and franchise fees reconciled, and a structure that keeps your tax sensible as you earn more.

Bookkeeping & BAS

Job-level bookkeeping, BAS and IAS lodgements, and payroll with the right super treatment.

Tax & advisory

Tax planning timed around settlements, plus advice as you grow from one agent to an agency.

Trust accounting taken seriously

Trust accounts are where real estate businesses get into trouble, almost always through paperwork rather than dishonesty. We keep the records straight through the year and prepare everything your auditor needs, so the annual audit is something that happens quietly in the background.

Commission income, structured well

Run through the wrong structure, commission income is taxed harder than it needs to be. We make sure your setup is right and plan around the timing of settlements so a big month doesn’t become a brutal tax bill.

Numbers you can actually steer by

Whether you’re a single agent or running an office, we give you a clear read on what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what to set aside for tax – so you’re never guessing.

Who we look after

Sales agents. Paid on commission, often as a sole trader or through a company. We structure the income tax-effectively, plan for the big months, and handle the returns.

Agencies and principals. Trust accounts, payroll, franchise fees and group tax. We handle the numbers behind running the office so you can run the business.

Property managers. Rent trust accounting, owner reporting and reconciliations – set up to run cleanly month after month.

Buyer’s agents and related businesses. Different income, similar issues. We keep the structure and the tax sensible.

How we work with you

Chat

A free chat about your agency or rent roll and where you want to take it.

Review

We look at your trust accounts, commission structure and tax position, and tell you what we find.

Fixed-fee proposal

A clear scope and a fixed fee, agreed before anything starts.

Deliver & check in

Trust accounting, BAS and tax handled, with check-ins through the year.

Questions agents ask us

Do you handle real estate trust accounts?: Yes – sales and rent trust-account record-keeping, reconciliations and the annual audit requirements.
I’m an agent paid on commission. Can you help?: Yes – we structure commission income tax-effectively, plan around the big settlements, and handle your returns.
Do you work with franchise agencies?: Yes – including franchise-fee reconciliation and group reporting across the office.
My income is lumpy – how do I plan for tax?: We forecast around your settlements and set money aside through the year, so a strong run of sales doesn’t turn into a tax shock.
Which software do you work with?: Xero and MYOB, plus the common trust-accounting and property-management platforms.

Guides & resources

Plain-English help, written by our team.

General information only – not financial or legal advice. Awards, thresholds and tax rules change; confirm current requirements or speak to us before acting on anything you read here.

What Our Clients Say

Chris and the team have offered constant and ongoing advice and support as we’ve faced the challenges of a fast-growing business. QC Accountants have been able to keep up with us and guide us each step of the way. QC’s highly experienced and friendly staff have a deep understanding of our business’s unique needs and are an absolute pleasure to work with. I’d recommend QC to anyone as they’ve always been there offering excellent support whenever needed.

When purchasing our business Chris from QC Accountants provided a comprehensive due diligence report and this report was crucial in understanding the business we were purchasing. We then used this information to negotiate the purchase price. He also assisted with providing documentation to the bank to help secure our business loan. The past 18 months during COVID have been challenging, Chris’s ongoing support, help and advice has been priceless during this difficult period. QC Accountants took the stress away when applying for Job Keeper, cash-flow boost and Government grants. AC Fitouts is extremely happy with Chris and the team at QC Accountants. They are wonderful to work with and I would highly recommend their services. They are professional, knowledgeable, reliable and friendly.

QC Accountants has been of great assistance to my business in setting up and implementing an efficient accounting system which has permitted strategic decision making surrounding marketing, service expansion and investments. They have great communication, a friendly and down to earth team, and are transparent and always willing to assist or provide advice when needed. QC has an array of services which were tailored to our individual business needs, not to mention competitive pricing.

QC Accountants have been instrumental in the growth and streamlining of my business. They have assisted me with tax grants that I would have otherwise not known about or been unable to complete alone. The team at QCA are very responsive, friendly and patient. If I have a problem or question, they are onto it right away. I would recommend them to everyone because they are an honest and local business that you can trust.

QC Accountants were a shoulder to lean on in our early days, helping and guiding our business to meet all our regulatory and financial obligations. They kept their steady hand on the tiller, playing the role of Chief Financial Officer, from financial modelling, budgeting, bookkeeping, financial accounts preparation, board management accounts, liaising with our auditors - nothing was too much. This allowed us to focus on growing our business with their financial input which was invaluable! Their accessibility, their willingness to listen to our particular needs and coming up with a solution is first class. For any business out there that doesn't have the ability to have a dedicated Financial Director then appoint QC Accountants. They will get the job done and give you back the time to focus on what is important to you and your business.

QC Accountants have been a great foundation of knowledge and support for us as new business owners. I'm able to call or email anytime with the same day turnaround and there is always someone on hand to help navigate any issues within the business. There is never a problem too big or small! I would recommend QC Accountants because they are relatable, reliable and efficient. As a new business owner learning the ropes, it is really nice to be able to call and have someone teach me the process in how they solved an issue so I can learn along the way. I've always felt like there are no silly questions and we are all part of a team.