Legislation making the General Interest Charge (“GIC”) and Shortfall Interest Charge (“SIC”) non-deductible from 1 July 2025 has now passed both houses of Parliament and is set to impact taxpayers with tax liabilities that are overdue or arise due to tax shortfalls. Taxpayers should carefully consider the effects of the new measure. In particular, taxpayers […]
Updated information as of April 1, 2025: Legislation to implement the proposed new tax on super balances above $3m did not pass Parliament prior to the election being called. The legislation has now expired and the new tax will not proceed as previously announced. While this outcome looked unlikely less than 12 months ago, pleasingly […]
Key points The ATO’s Practical Compliance Guidelines 2021/4 will apply to all principals of certain professional firms starting in FY25. The Guidelines set out the risk of ATO audit or review activity in relation to the allocation of professional firm profits. Recent ATO communications highlight compliance issues in the legal profession. The Australian Tax Office’s guidelines relating to the […]
Key points Messy records mean lost deductions, denied tax credits, and ATO audits—accuracy is everything. Keep invoices, receipts, and payroll records for at least five years (some even longer) to stay compliant. Smart record-keeping isn’t just about tax—it helps you track growth, secure funding, and stay in control. When it comes to tax compliance, the […]
Last week’s unanimous Full Federal Court decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Bendel (“Bendel”) indicates that the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) views since December 2009 about unpaid present entitlements (“UPEs”) should no longer be sustainable in the context of Division 7A. While we wait for further announcements from the ATO or the Federal Government (regarding […]
Key points The ATO has published new guidance stating that private companies that provide guarantees or security for third party loans can trigger Division 7A This applies where the guaranteed loan is then paid or on-lent to a trust or individual The ATO has indicated it will focus on compliance for those arrangements that seem […]
Key points What is estate planning? The importance of having an estate plan in place If you do have plans in place, you should review their effectiveness As you create your 2025 “to do list”, be sure to include estate planning. But first, what is estate planning? Estate planning involves preparing your financial situation in […]
Key points: The issue of negative gearing continues to get airplay in political discussions and media in the housing affordability & supply space, but by history remains unpopular and probable political suicide to implement. Although the ATO may have existing powers to push back on this and the tax arbitrage with CGT concessions, in practice […]
Our cross-border tax experts Terry Hoban and Ellen Fimmano discuss some of the practical challenges and important considerations that arise for organisations, their employees, and owners expanding into the USA, including: Cross-border entity structuring & tax considerations Employee payroll & HR set-up Equity plans, pensions, and employee benefits Individual tax planning for Australian executives relocating […]
Key points: The stamp duty concession for off-the-plan properties in Victoria extended to investors and the price cap removed for all buyers Barriers to bringing projects to market still need to be addressed Early investor engagement is crucial to the development process The announcement that the stamp duty concession for off-the-plan properties in Victoria has […]
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