Key dates for small business
Upcoming deadlines and changes from regulators and the platforms small businesses rely on. Each one links to our story and the original source.
November 2026
Technology
Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education updates end
Microsoft’s November 2026 security update is the last for Windows 11 version 23H2 Enterprise and Education. Microsoft dates are US dates, so it usually arrives the following day in Australia.
Source: Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education updates end · Our story: Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education updates end
Rules & costs
ACMA telco consumer protections consultation closes
Submissions close at 5pm AEDT, which we calculate as 2pm Perth time. Proposed rules have no fixed commencement date.
Source: ACMA telco consumer protections consultation closes · Our story: ACMA telco consumer protections consultation closes
Technology
Apple HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K go on sale in Australia
Both are RRP A$449 including GST. The wall-mounted HomeView needs a mount, cable and power adapter, each sold separately.
Source: Apple HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K go on sale in Australia · Our story: Apple HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K go on sale in Australia
Business
Amazon Prime price rise reaches existing members
Information Age reports existing members move to $99 a year or $12.99 a month from this date. Amazon’s Prime terms say an increase won’t apply before the end of your current membership period.
Source: Amazon Prime price rise reaches existing members · Our story: Amazon Prime price rise reaches existing members
December 2026
Business
SMS Sender ID Register fee consultation closes
Submissions on the ACMA’s proposed yearly fee for each registered sender ID close at 5pm AEDT, which we calculate as 2pm Perth time.
Source: SMS Sender ID Register fee consultation closes · Our story: SMS Sender ID Register fee consultation closes
Marketing
Performance Max image extraction on by default
Google turns on image extraction for newly created Performance Max campaigns, even when Dynamic images is off at account level. Existing campaigns keep their settings.
Rules & costs
Privacy: automated decision-making disclosure starts
Businesses covered by the Privacy Act must explain significant automated decisions in their privacy policy.
Source: Privacy: automated decision-making disclosure starts · Our story: Privacy: automated decision-making disclosure starts
Technology
Vodafone Wi-Fi calling needs updated phone software
Vodafone says customers who haven’t updated their phone software by this date will lose Wi-Fi calling, including 000 calls over Wi-Fi. Its update list names iPhone models; iPhone 11 and newer need iOS 18.4 or higher.
Source: Vodafone Wi-Fi calling needs updated phone software · Our story: Vodafone Wi-Fi calling needs updated phone software
Scams & security
PHP 8.2 security support ends
PHP stops releasing security fixes for PHP 8.2. Websites still on 8.2 should move to a newer supported version before then.
Source: PHP 8.2 security support ends · Our story: PHP 8.2 security support ends
AI at work
Copilot Business first-year promotional offer ends
Microsoft advertises its first-year add-on discount until 31 December 2026 for eligible existing Business customers with an annual commitment. Check the current offer terms before ordering.
Source: Copilot Business first-year promotional offer ends · Our story: Copilot Business first-year promotional offer ends
Rules & costs
Children’s Online Privacy Code due to be registered
The OAIC must register the code by December 2026. It will apply to covered online services likely to be accessed by children.
Source: Children’s Online Privacy Code due to be registered · Our story: Children’s Online Privacy Code due to be registered
January 2027
Technology
App Store age rating questions due for every app
Every App Store app must have declared in App Store Connect whether it includes Dating and Relationships or Shared Location features. Apps with dating or romantic AI companion features get a minimum 18+ rating.
Source: App Store age rating questions due for every app · Our story: App Store age rating questions due for every app
Marketing
Google sends Dynamic Search Ads upgrade reminder
Official reminder to accounts still running Dynamic Search Ads before the automatic AI Max upgrade.
Source: Google sends Dynamic Search Ads upgrade reminder · Our story: Google sends Dynamic Search Ads upgrade reminder
Rules & costs
Payment providers report interchange pass-through
The largest acquirers publish how much of the October interchange cuts they passed on to merchants.
Source: Payment providers report interchange pass-through · Our story: Payment providers report interchange pass-through
February 2027
Marketing
Bing starts reading the shared AI training opt-out
Microsoft begins honouring the shared robots.txt AI training preference and its new page-level AI training and grounding preferences as it crawls pages.
Source: Bing starts reading the shared AI training opt-out · Our story: Bing starts reading the shared AI training opt-out
Marketing
Dynamic Search Ads upgrade to AI Max begins
Google starts automatically upgrading remaining Dynamic Search Ads campaigns to AI Max during February.
Source: Dynamic Search Ads upgrade to AI Max begins · Our story: Dynamic Search Ads upgrade to AI Max begins
Technology
Let’s Encrypt certificates drop to 64 days
Certificates issued or renewed from this date last 64 days by default instead of 90. Check that renewal scripts aren’t hard-coded to a fixed number of days.
Source: Let’s Encrypt certificates drop to 64 days · Our story: Let’s Encrypt certificates drop to 64 days
March 2027
Marketing
Bing stops reading NoArchive and NoCache for AI use
Sites using NoArchive or NoCache to keep content from Bing’s AI training or grounding should publish the new preferences, and record a temporary grounding preference in Bing Webmaster Tools, before this date.
Source: Bing stops reading NoArchive and NoCache for AI use · Our story: Bing stops reading NoArchive and NoCache for AI use
Technology
Rival app stores due on Australian iPhones
Federal Court orders letting Australian Apple Account users get apps from outside the App Store, and developers use other payment methods, start at noon Melbourne time, which is 9am Perth. Apple can ask to move this to 3 May 2027.
Source: Rival app stores due on Australian iPhones · Our story: Rival app stores due on Australian iPhones
Technology
Public TLS certificates capped at 100 days
Industry rules cut the maximum life of a publicly trusted certificate from 200 days to 100 days, including paid certificates.
Source: Public TLS certificates capped at 100 days · Our story: Public TLS certificates capped at 100 days
April 2027
Software & systems
Exchange Online EWS permanent shutdown starts
Microsoft says the final shutdown of EWS in Exchange Online starts on this date, with no extensions. On-premises Exchange Server is outside this retirement.
Source: Exchange Online EWS permanent shutdown starts · Our story: Exchange Online EWS permanent shutdown starts
Rules & costs
Foreign card interchange cap and clearer merchant statements
A 1.0% cap on foreign-issued cards starts, and merchant statements must split domestic and foreign, in-person and online fees.
Source: Foreign card interchange cap and clearer merchant statements · Our story: Foreign card interchange cap and clearer merchant statements
June 2027
Business
ATO credit-card payments accepted until this date
The government says it will fund the ATO to keep accepting credit cards until 30 June 2027, replacing the 30 November 2026 cutoff. After that, the release says credit cards will still be accepted through third parties. Check the ATO’s own update before changing a payment plan.
Source: ATO credit-card payments accepted until this date · Our story: ATO credit-card payments accepted until this date
Rules & costs
Payday Super reporting concession ends
Last day the ATO accepts Single Touch Payroll super reporting from software not updated for Payday Super. The first-year compliance approach also ends.
Source: Payday Super reporting concession ends · Our story: Payday Super reporting concession ends
July 2027
Business
Ban on unfair trading practices and subscription traps starts
Parliament passed the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 on 2 July 2026. The draft laws said businesses offering subscriptions would need a clear, straightforward way to cancel.
Source: Ban on unfair trading practices and subscription traps starts · Our story: Ban on unfair trading practices and subscription traps starts
December 2027
Business
Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation default start date
The default day for Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide reasonable access to outdoor mobile voice and SMS coverage. The government says the Minister can delay it by 12 months, up to three times.
Source: Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation default start date · Our story: Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation default start date
Recently passed
Dates come from official sources and can change. Check the source before acting. General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice.