Ms Janette Townshend was an approved SMSF auditor. However, in 2022 ASIC disqualified her. She applied for the AAT to review ASIC’s decision to disqualify her. The AAT recently handed down the outcome of that application. I do a lot of work with approved SMSF auditors. Accordingly, I read the decision with great interest. Here [read more]
This article examines some of the key issues that can arise when change of trustee documents are not properly completed, and by the right people using quality document suppliers. What happens if a change of trustee is not properly completed? A change of trustee requires compliance with the provisions in the fund’s governing rules and [read more]
The case of Northgate Park v Floyd [2022] VSC 783 (Northgate Park) provides an interesting development in how courts may approach the issue of a lost trust deed. Northgate Park represents a less strict approach to determining the terms of a trust where a deed is lost. Facts Northgate Park resulted out of other litigation [read more]
The case of Re Rentis Pty Ltd [2023] QSC 252 (Re Rentis) provides a helpful interpretation of an attorney’s powers to make a binding death benefit nomination (BDBN). This case examines the meaning of a term often found in enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and provides an expansive view of an attorney’s powers to make [read more]
The Appointor of a discretionary trust is a role created under the terms of the trust that usually provides for that person to have the ultimate control of the trust. For example, the Appointor under the DBA Lawyers’ trust deed: • must consent to any variations to the trust deed; • has power to appoint [read more]
On 13 September 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (Cth) was introduced into the House of Representatives (NALE Bill). The NALE Bill provide guidance on changes to the non-arm’s length expense (NALE) provisions introduced in s 295-550(1)(b) and (c) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 [read more]
The recent case of Dessmann [2023] FCA 1019 (Dessmann) provides more clarity regarding a new third option for SMSFs with a bankrupt member. Dessmann [2023] FCA 1019 sheds further light on s 126J. A court application might be a viable option for an SMSF with a bankrupt member. [read more]
A fundamental duty of all trustees is to administer a trust according to the terms of that trust. Trustees are therefore required to not only know the terms of the trust that they are administering but also must be able to produce those terms for inspection by courts and other interested parties. However, this is [read more]
There has been uncertainty as to how the following two provisions interact: (1) the non-arm’s length income (NALI) provisions in s 295‑550 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (ITAA 1997); and (2) the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) provisions in s 102‑5 of the ITAA 1997. The ATO has recently released Draft Taxation Determination TD 2023/D1. [read more]
Overview We have previously issued four prior articles linked to this series focusing on the employee versus contractor distinction. In our article ‘Employee or contractor — Payroll Tax considerations — Part 3’ dated 30 September 2022 (DBA Payroll Tax Article – Part 3) we provided a top-level summary of how the payroll tax regime applies [read more]
