In recent months, we have seen a significant increase in succession planning queries and assignments where we have been asked to provide advice and/or documents, including binding death benefit nominations (‘BDBNs’), reversionary pensions, planning for control of an SMSF and implementing timely member exit strategies for those who may be left with a limited time [read more]
Many SMSF advisers approach capital gains tax (‘CGT’) questions that arise for SMSFs with a simple rule of thumb in mind: namely, capital gains made by a fund in connection with a CGT event happening are subject to an effective 10% rate of tax (ie, where the asset has been held for more than 12 [read more]
Introduction Real estate is a common and popular investment for SMSFs. Indeed, the ATO’s SMSF statistical report for the quarter ended 30 September 2019 shows that SMSFs held around $35 billion in residential real property and around $64.6 billion in non-residential property, ie, around $99.6 billion worth of real property. It is also reasonably popular [read more]
Since the foreign purchaser duty surcharge was first introduced in Victoria in 2015, it has been introduced in NSW, Tasmania, WA and SA (and only in respect of land tax in the ACT). The various changes in law and administrative practice in these jurisdictions, has made this a challenging area of law. In particular, the [read more]
In today’s increasingly globalised world, it is not uncommon for many family groups (ie, fund members and their children) to have overseas-based investments, working/living arrangements and other entanglements over their lifetime. Accordingly, it is not surprising that in recent years DBA Lawyers has seen an increase in the number of matters we provide assistance on [read more]
Introduction Unit trusts are a common investment structure in Australia and can provide a simple way for parties to invest in an investment or business together. In particular, investing via a unit trust is a popular way for SMSFs to gain real estate exposure and is often used where real estate is being developed. While [read more]
From 1 January 2020 employers will also be required to provide superannuation guarantee (‘SG’) support on the amount of employee salary sacrificed contributions under salary sacrifice arrangements (‘SSA’). This article examines this change that was recently made by the Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Tax Integrity and Other Measures No. 1) Act 2019 (Cth) (‘Act’), which [read more]
By Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers Introduction The GST withholding regime (‘Withholding Regime’) was introduced on 1 July 2018 to collect GST from foreign vendors, but has much broader application. GST is typically a vendor responsibility. However, under the Withholding Regime, purchasers of certain residential property must withhold GST from the amount payable to a vendor [read more]
By Allison Murphy, Lawyer ([email protected]), and William Fettes, Senior Associate ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers The limited recourse borrowing arrangement (‘LRBA’) lending market has undergone a significant shift in recent years, with most first-tier bank lenders withdrawing their LRBA offerings for purchasers of residential property. As a result, several smaller second-tier lenders have emerged to fill the [read more]
Daniel Butler, Director ([email protected]), and Bryce Figot, Special Counsel ([email protected]), DBA Lawyers Many advisers do not foresee the potential flow-on legal consequences from merely providing an investment strategy template to an SMSF client. Indeed, many believe they are merely assisting their client particularly to ensure the SMSF will have the necessary paperwork to survive an [read more]
