The recent case of Trustees of the Property of Morris (Bankrupt) v Morris (Bankrupt) [2016] FCA 846 shows just what happens when superannuation, bankruptcy and the payment of death benefits intersect. Facts Ms Debbie Morris was married to Mr Michael Foreman. They had two children: Gracie (born in July 2011) and Wes (born in January [read more]
The recent decision of FLZY and Commissioner of Taxation [2016] AATA 348 is good news for SMSF real estate developments via unit trusts. Background Many SMSFs want to have some investment exposure to real estate development. A popular structure is for the SMSF to invest in a related unit trust and then the unit trust [read more]
Given the rising cost of housing, adult children are living with their parents for longer. Also, parents have more in superannuation than ever before. Because adult children might have moved out and then returned, such children are sometimes referred to as ‘boomerang children’. An important question is whether, when their parents die, do such ‘boomerang [read more]
This article looks at whether a parent and deceased child can be in an interdependency relationship for the purpose of satisfying the definition of death benefits dependant in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (‘ITAA97’). This article follows the AAT decision in TBCL and Commissioner of Taxation (Taxation) [2016] AATA 264 (‘TBCL’). [read more]
The recent case of Frigger v Computer Accounting & Tax Pty Ltd (in liq) [no 10] [2016] WASC 63 serves as an important reminder to all self managed superannuation fund (‘SMSF’) trustees that assets should be kept separate in their funds. Namely, the message I seek to draw from the case is the importance of [read more]
A new Federal Court case underscores the continuing relevance of pecuniary penalties under the civil penalties regime to the ATO’s enforcement toolkit. Facts of the case The facts in Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (Superannuation) v Ryan [2015] FCA 1037 (‘Ryan’) involve a husband and wife, Mr Joseph Ryan and Mrs Carolyn Ryan, who were the [read more]
A recent decision Re Trustee for the Payne Superannuation Fund and FCT [2015] AATA 58 examines how the ATO are examining whether SMSFs are appropriately carrying forward tax losses and apportioning expenses when they are partly in pension mode. Prior to analysing the implications of this decision, we will first examine a general overview of [read more]
Munro v Munro [2015] QSC 61 is the latest case involving a binding death benefit nomination (‘BDBN’) that was held not to be binding. This case is a very important decision as it confirms that BDBNs for self managed superannuation funds (‘SMSF’) can last indefinitely. The facts Mr Barrie Munro practised as a solicitor during [read more]
In late 2013, the WA Supreme Court handed the decision of Ioppolo v Conti [2013] WASC 389. It contained many important implications for SMSF advisers. The decision was appealed and on Tuesday the WA Court of Appeal handed down the outcome of the appeal in Ioppolo v Conti [2015] WASCA 45. This article discusses some [read more]
The recent decision of Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Lyons [2014] FCA 1353 provides various insights for self managed superannuation fund trustees, as explained in this article. Facts of decision On 6 June 2008, the Lyons Family Superannuation Fund (‘Fund’) was registered as a self managed superannuation fund. At all relevant times, Mr Lyons and [read more]
