Acronyms

Full PDF- Acronyms

A

AAMOF – As a Matter Of Fact

AAS – Australian Accounting Standard    

AAT – Administrative Appeals Tribunal

AASB – Australian Accounting Standards Board   

ABN – Australian Business Number

ABR – Australian Business Register

ABS – Australian Bureau Statistics

ACA – Associate (Member) Chartered Accountant

ACA – Australian Consumer Association

ACCC – Australian Consumer and Competition Commission

ADF – Approved Deposit Fund

AND – Any Day Now

AFAIC – As Far as I’m Concerned

AFK – Away From Keyboard

AFS – Australian Financial Services

Agenda – a list, plan, outline, or the like, of things to be done, matters to be acted or voted upon

AKA – Also Known As

AMGST – Australian Master GST Guide (CCH)

AMSG – Australian Master Superannuation Guide (CCH)

ANZ – Australian New Zealand

AOC – Australian Olympic Committee

APESB – Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board

APRA – Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

ASAP – As Soon As Possible

ASIC – Australian Securities and Investment Commission

ASRB – Accounting Standards Review Board

ASX – Australian Securities Exchange

ATC – Australian Tax Cases

ATO – Australian Taxation Office

AUASB – Auditing and Assurance Board

AWOL – Absent Without Leave

AWOTE – Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings

 

B

B2B – Business To Business

BAC – Back At Computer

BAS – Business Activity Statement

BAS Agent

Beneficiary – a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages

BOM – Bill of Materials

BOM – Bureau of Meteorology

Bookkeeper – the work or skill of keeping account books or systematic records of money transactions

BOT – Back On Topic

BRB – Be Right Back

BTW – By the Way

 

C

CBA – Commonwealth Bank of Australia

CEO – Chief Executive Officer

CFA -Chief Financial Analyst

CFC – Controlled Foreign Company

CFO – Chief Financial Officer

CGT – Capital Gains Tax

Chattel mortgage – a mortgage on household, movable, or other personal property

CIA – Central Intelligence Agency

COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment

Company – a number of individuals assembled or associated together; group of people

COO – Chief Operating Officer

CPA – Certified Practicing Accountant

Creditors – people you owe money to

Cost Centre – a unit, such as a department of a company, to which costs may be allocated for cost accounting purposes

 

D

DBA – Doing Business As

DCF – Discounted Cash Flow

Debtors – people that you (or your business) money, usually because you have made sales on credit

Debtor finance – a form of finance that uses sales invoices as security for advances of funds

Direct debit – Compare standing order an order given to a bank or building society by a holder of an account, instructing it to pay to a specified person or organization any sum demanded by that person or organization

Director – one of a group of persons chosen to control or govern the affairs of a company or corporation

DIY – Do It Yourself

DND – Do Not Disturb DNT – Do Not Touch

DSR – Debt Service Ratio

DSS – Digital Satellite System

DTA – Double Taxation Agreement

 

E

EBIT – Earnings before Income Tax

EDP – Electronic Data Processing

EFT – Electronic Funds Transfer

EOD – End of Discussion

EOQ – Economic Order Quantity

EOS – End of Story

EPS – Earnings per Share

Equitable mortgage – a loan secured by assets of an entity other than bricks and mortar

EST – (Australian) Eastern Standard Time

ETP – Eligible Termination Payment

EU – European Community

 

F

Factoring – the business of purchasing and collecting accounts receivable or of advancing cash on the basis of accounts receivable

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

FBT – Fringe Benefits Tax

FBTAA – Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986

FC of T – Federal Commissioner of Taxation

FIF – Foreign Investment Fund

Finance – the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment

FITR – Australian Federal Income Tax Reporter (CCH)

FOC – Free Of Charge

FOCL – Falling Off Chair Laughing

FOFL – Falling On Floor Laughing

FOI – Freedom Of Information FORTRAN – Formula Transfer FRC – Financial Reporting Council

FRLI – Federal Register of Legislative Instruments              

FRSB – Financial Reporting Standards Board

FTR – Australian Federal Tax Reporter

FTA – Free Trade Agreement

FYI – For Your Information

 

G

G2G – Got To Go

GFC – Global Financial Crisis

GIC – General Interest Charge

GL – General Ledger

GMTA – Great Minds Think Alike

GST – Goods & Services Tax

GST G – Australian GST Guide (CHH)

 

H

Hire purchase – a system of payment for a commodity in regular instalments while using it

 

I

IAAA – I Am an Accountant

IAASB – International Audity & Assurance Standards Board

IAS – Installment Activity Statement

IASB – International Accounting Standards Board

ICA – Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA/FCA) ICC – International Chamber of Commerce

ICC – International Cricket Council ID – ATO Interpretative Decision

IKR – I Know Right

Interest – a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money

IP – Intellectual or Industrial Property

IPA – Institute of Professional Accountants

IRL – In Real Life

IRR – Inter-range Ratio

IRS – Inland Revenue Service (USA)

IT – Information Technologies

ITA – Australian International Tax Agreements (CCH)

ITAA36 – Income Tax Assessment Act 1036

ITAA97 – Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

ITFA – In the Final Analysis

ITR36 – Income Tax Regulations 1936

ITR97 – Income Tax Regulations 1997

ITTPA – Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

 

J

JAM – Just a Minute

JAS – Just a Second

JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group

 

K

KPI – Key Performance Indicator

KRA – Key Results Area

 

L

LAM – Leave a Message

LC – Library of Congress

Lease – a contract renting land, buildings, etc., to another; a contract or instrument conveying property to another for a specified period or for a period determinable at the will of either lessor or lessee  in consideration of rent or other compensation

Leverage – the use of a small initial investment, credit, or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one’s investment, to control a much larger investment, or to reduce one’s own liability for any loss

LIFO – Last In First Out

LIMH – Laughing In My Head

Line of credit – an agreement specifying the maximum amount of credit allowed a borrower

LL&P – Live Long And Prosper

LOL – Laugh Out Loud

LVR – Loan to Valuation Ratio

LWOP – Leave With Out Pay

 

M

MED – Ministry of Economic Development

Minutes – minutes, the official record of the proceedings at a meeting of a society, committee, or other group

Mortgage – a conveyance of an interest in property as security for the repayment of money borrowed

MOU – Memorandum Of Understanding

MVE – Motor Vehicle Expenses

MYOB – Mind Your Own Business

 

N

NAB – National Australian Bank

NIA – National Institute of Accountants (Member NIA/ Fellow NIA)

NM – Nothing Much

NPV – Net Present Value

NSA – National Security Agency

NSA – National Shipping Authority

NSA – National Standards Association NSA – National Student Association NYSE – New York Stock Exchange

NZICA – New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants

 

O

OBU – Offshore Banking Unit

Offset account – an account that reduces the gross balance of another account to yield a net balance.

OHS – Occupation Health & Safety

OIC – Oh I See

OMG – Oh My Gosh

OPI – Open to Public Inspection OSR – Office of State Revenue OTC – Over the Counter

Overdraft – Loan arrangement under which a bank extends credit up to a maximum amount (called overdraft limit) against which a current (checking) account customer can write cheques or make withdrawals

 

P

PAYGW – Pay As You Go Withholding

PAYG – Pay As You Go

PDF – Pooled Development Fund

PDF – Portable Document Format

P/E – Price Earnings Ratio

Personal loan – Consumer loan granted for personal (medical), family (education, vacation), or household (extension, repairs, purchase of air conditioner, computer, refrigerator, etc.) use, as opposed to business or commercial use

PI – Professional Indemnity

Part IVA – The area of the tax act that deals with tax avoidance and evasion

POS – Point Of Sale

PST – Pooled Superannuation Trust

 

Q

QC – Quality Control       

QR – Queen’s Regulations

R

R&B – Rhythm & Blues

R+D – Research & Development

RAM – Random-Access Memory

RBA – Reserve Bank of Australian

RBL – Reasonable Benefit Limit

RFT – Request For Tender

ROFL – Rolling On Floor Laughing

ROFLOL – Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud

ROM – Read Only Memory

RSA – Retirement Savings Account

 

S

SAB – Spontaneous Abortion

SAP – Standard Assessment Procedure

SEC – Securities Exchange Commission (USA)

Shareholder – An individual, group, or organisation that owns one or more shares in a company, and in whose name the share certificate is issued

SLP – Australian Superannuation Law and Practice

SME – Small to Medium Enterprise

SMSF – Self Managed Superannuation Fund

Sole trader – sole owner of a business; a self-employed person such as a grocer, plumber, or taxi driver. He or she directs the affairs of the enterprise, bears its risks and losses, and takes the profits and benefits

SPAM – Stupid Persons’ Advertisement

STCT – Small Taxation Claims Tribunal

STS – Simplified Tax System

SYSOP – System Operator

 

T

TAA – Taxation Administrative Act 1953

Tax – Compulsory monetary contribution to the state’s revenue, assessed and imposed by a government on the activities, enjoyment, expenditure, income, occupation, privilege, property, etc., of individuals and organizations

Tax avoidance – Lawful minimization of tax liability through sound financial planning techniques such as phasing the sale of assets over a period long enough to effect maximum exemption from capital gains tax. Whereas tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is not

Tax evasion – An unlawful attempt to minimize tax liability through fraudulent techniques to circumvent or frustrate tax laws, such as deliberate under-statement of taxable income or willful non-payment of due taxes. Whereas tax evasion is an offense (punishable by both civil and criminal penalties), tax avoidance is not

TFN – Tax File Number

TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday

TIA – Taxation Institute of Australia

Trust – Legal entity created by a party (the trustor) through which a second party (the trustee) holds the right to manage the trustor’s assets or property for the benefit of a third party (the beneficiary)

TTAASAG – Trans Tasman Accounting and Audit Standards Advisory Group

TTFN – Ta Ta for Now

TTYL – Talk to You Later

 

U

Unit holder – same as shareholder but the investment is a trust

USB – Universal Serial Bus

USP – Unique Selling Proposition

 

V

VAT – Value Added Tax – similar to our GST but used in other countries e.g. England

 

W

WHO – World Health Organisation

WIP – Work In Progress

WTO – World Trade Organisation

 

X

XYZ – Examine your zipper          

X-Ray – a medical procedure used to see if you have a heart

 

Y

Y2K – Year 2000

 

Z

Z Reading – the final till taper print out from your cash register for the day – you need to keep these and

reconcile them to your banking on a daily basis

Finance and Banking Specific

Bank charge – a fee rendered by the bank to operate your account

Chattel mortgage – a mortgage on household, movable, or other personal property

Debtor finance – similar to factoring – see below

DSR – Debt Service Ratio

Factoring – the business of purchasing and collecting accounts receivable or of advancing cash on the basis of accounts receivable

Finance – the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment

Hire purchase – a system of payment for a commodity in regular instalments while using it

Interest – a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money

Lease – a contract renting land, buildings, etc., to another; a contract or instrument conveying property to another for a specified period or for a period determinable at the will of either lessor or lessee  in consideration of rent or other compensation

Leverage – the use of a small initial investment, credit, or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one’s investment, to control a much larger investment, or to reduce one’s own liability for any loss

Line of credit – an agreement specifying the maximum amount of credit allowed a borrower

LVR – Loan to Valuation Ratio

Mortgage – a conveyance of an interest in property as security for the repayment of money borrowed

NPV – Net Present Value

Offset account – an account that reduces the gross balance of another account to yield a net balance.

Overdraft – Loan arrangement under which a bank extends credit up to a maximum amount (called overdraft limit) against which a current (checking) account customer can write cheques or make withdrawals

Periodical payment – a payment made normally monthly to satisfy a debt or loan repayment schedule

Personal loan – Consumer loan granted for personal (medical), family (education, vacation), or household (extension, repairs, purchase of air conditioner, computer, refrigerator, etc.) use, as opposed to business or commercial use

 

Tax Specific

ATO – Australian Taxation Office

AAT – Administrative Appeals Tribunal ABN – Australian Business Number ABR – Australian Business Register BAS – Business Activity Statement

BAS Agent – Similar to a Tax Agent but can only deal with BAS lodgments

Beneficiary – a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages

Bookkeeper – the work or skill of keeping account books or systematic records of money transactions

CGT – Capital Gains Tax

DTA – Double Taxation Agreement ETP – Eligible Termination Payment FBT – Fringe Benefits Tax

FBTAA – Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986

FC of T – Federal Commissioner of Taxation

Franking credit – The amount of tax appended to a dividend which has been paid by the company paying the dividend

GIC – General Interest Charge

GST – Goods & Services Tax

GST G – Australian GST Guide (CHH)

ID – ATO Interpretative Decision

ITA – Australian International Tax Agreements (CCH)

ITAA36 – Income Tax Assessment Act 1036 ITAA97 – Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 ITR36 – Income Tax Regulations 1936

ITR97 – Income Tax Regulations 1997

ITTPA – Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

OSR – Office of State Revenue

PAYGW – Pay As You Go Withholding PAYG – Pay As You Go

R+D – Research & Development

Registered Tax Agent – a person by virtue of studies and experience is licensed by the Tax Agents Board to assist taxpayers in preparing returns and bale to charge a fee for the service.

RSA – Retirement Savings Account

SME – Small to Medium Enterprise

SMSF – Self Managed Superannuation Fund

Sole trader – sole owner of a business; a self-employed person such as a grocer, plumber, or taxi driver. He or she directs the affairs of the enterprise, bears its risks and losses, and takes the profits and benefits

STCT – Small Taxation Claims Tribunal

STS – Simplified Tax System

TAA – Taxation Administrative Act 1953

Tax – Compulsory monetary contribution to the state’s revenue, assessed and imposed by a government on the activities, enjoyment, expenditure, income, occupation, privilege, property, etc., of individuals and organizations

Tax avoidance – Lawful minimization of tax liability through sound financial planning techniques such as phasing the sale of assets over a period long enough to effect maximum exemption from capital gains tax. Whereas tax avoidance is legal, tax evasion is not

Tax evasion – An unlawful attempt to minimize tax liability through fraudulent techniques to circumvent or frustrate tax laws, such as deliberate under-statement of taxable income or willful non-payment of due taxes. Whereas tax evasion is an offense (punishable by both civil and criminal penalties), tax avoidance is not

TFN – Tax File Number

VAT – Value Added Tax – similar to our GST but used in other countries e.g. England

MWL MELBOURNE OFFICE &
MWL Fairway Group
Level 5/574 St Kilda Road,
Melbourne VIC 3004
(03) 9866 5888

MWL SYDNEY OFFICE
Level 2/1 Spring Street,
Chatswood NSW 2067
(02) 8404 6700