Stay Ahead This Christmas: Your Pre-Holiday Finance Checklist
As the year wraps up and everyone shifts into festive mode, it’s easy for everyday business admin to get lost somewhere between Secret Santa, staff drinks, and a mad dash to finish work before the shutdown. But while the Christmas break is great for recharging, it can also be a risky time for cashflow, forgotten invoices, surprise payments, and tax deadlines lurking in January.
A little planning now saves a lot of hassle later. At Cross Group, we’re big believers in helping our clients head into the holidays organised, confident, and comfortable—without the classic “did I pay that?” panic halfway through the break.
Here’s a simple pre-Christmas checklist to keep your business finances running smoothly while you enjoy some downtime.
File GST Early (Clear the Decks Before You Clock Off)
December–January is peak chaos, and leaving GST until the last minute often backfires. Filing early means:
You know exactly what you owe before the break
No scrambling in mid-January when your focus is elsewhere
Faster refunds if IRD owes you money
Even if it’s not due until after Christmas, it’s one job worth ticking off early.
Invoice Early to Boost Cashflow
Many businesses close or reduce hours over Christmas. If you invoice late, your payment can easily slip into late Jan or Feb.
Set yourself up:
Send invoices as early as possible before Christmas shut down
Include clear payment terms
Follow up before clients close for the year
And don’t forget the easy win: automated invoice reminders in Xero.
Once turned on, they’ll keep nudging your customers even while you’re off sunning yourself.
Review and Schedule Bill Payments
Nothing ruins a holiday quite like coming back to a pile of overdue notices.
Before you lock the office door:
Review all upcoming bills and tax payments
Load payment batches into your online banking
Schedule future-dated payments where possible
Make sure someone can approve payments if needed
A few minutes now saves hours of catch-up chaos later.
Check Upcoming Tax Obligations
Alongside GST, take stock of:
Provisional tax
Terminal tax
PAYE (especially with holiday pay in the mix)
Mapping these out before the break gives you a clear picture of what’s coming up and helps avoid any unexpected hits to January cashflow.
We can check your IRD account for you if you’re unsure of dates or balances.
Forecast Holiday Cashflow
The Christmas period can be financially unpredictable—slower payments, higher expenses, stock purchases, staff leave, and shutdown periods can all create pressure.
A quick pre-holiday cashflow check should include:
December–February forecasted bank balances
Big expenses due
Expected income (and delays from late-paying customers)
Any tax or GST payments coming up
If you want a simple snapshot, we can help you model this.
Prep Your Systems for the Break
A smooth holiday break isn’t just about numbers—it’s about removing friction.
Consider:
Setting up Xero reminders for invoices and bills
Checking your Xero bank feeds are up to date
Making sure someone can access key systems if needed
Tidying up any loose ends that will bug you in January
Your future self will be grateful.
Want Help Getting Holiday-Ready?
If you’d like us to run a quick GST check, map out your tax dates, review cashflow, or help set up invoicing reminders, just let us know. We’re here to make sure you head into the festive season relaxed, organised, and financially in control.
Nothing beats starting the new year without a stack of surprises. Let’s make that your reality.