Tax, accounting and mental health

If you run a small/medium business at this time you will likely have a bunch of questions or uncertainty around tax, accounting and COVID -19 subsidies etc. As the Director of Flashworks Media, I certainly did. So I wanted to talk with our accountant and get a few things sorted. Knowing that some folks might not have access to good advice right now, and may well be stressing, I wanted to share our candid conversation in hopes of removing some of the worries.

Obviously mental health is a biggie at any time, but now more so than ever. As a result, we do discuss the topic along with tax etc. Below is the video, and further below that you’ll find Lisa’s summary and some more info on who she is and what she is all about. If you find this video useful please do share an help others.

Top 5 Things to Focus on:

  1. Mental health and wellbeing - reach out for help and get onto the Xero Assistance Programme if you use Xero.

  2. Don't pay tax payments if you can't afford to - set up a payment plan online with the IRD.

  3. Talk to your suppliers to negotiate payment terms and assess your cash flow/lending options including tax pooling for example with NZ Tax Traders.

  4. Apply for the wage subsidy online if you are eligible - this is open for the duration of the Level 4 lockdown.

  5. Forecast the next 3-6-12 months of income and expenses if you can, focus on the long term.

Covid-19 page on Social Currency website = https://www.socialcurrency.co.nz/covid-19keylinks

Facebook page for updates = https://www.facebook.com/SocialCurrency.NZ

Who is Lisa?

Lisa Mead is a mum of one 10 going on 16 year old boy, Dakota. She is a born and bred Cantabrian, very much a rugby fan and loves coaching her son's cricket team. She's on the PTA, involved in various organisations and passionate about what she does which is accounting with a difference.


Lisa runs a social impact business called Social Currency, which is a purpose driven accounting firm committed to donating 10% of sales (10 cents in every dollar) to supporting at risk kiwi kids through mentoring programs and charity partnerships. Social Currency is an accounting, tax and business advisory firm like any other, but also supports impact and purpose-driven enterprises and creates social impact reports for organisations making an impact and wanting to share their story.


Lisa has been working as an accountant since 2008 and is a Chartered Accountant working with a variety of businesses all over New Zealand, and globally. With a passion for what she does and the charities she supports coming from a personal struggle against the odds, Lisa's son is very much the driving force behind her determination.


The purpose of Social Currency is to be a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable young people in New Zealand, and is well on the way to fulfilling the mission having already donated over $40,000 to supporting at-risk kiwi rangatahi since November 2017.

LisaLisa Mead, CA, CPP  Director

Social Currency Investments Ltd

m: 022 343 1443

e: lisa@socialcurrency.co.nz

John-Jo Ritson