Advanced search

Top Navigation

Categories | Taxation

Excess-non-concessional-contributions-to-be-abolished

Excess non-concessional contributions to be abolished … but a trap exists!

The recent Federal Budget announcement that excess non-concessional contributions will be abolished is great news. However, there is a trap that means advisers still can’t afford to let their guard down when it comes to contributions and careful monitoring is still required. The announcement The Federal Budget contained the following announcement, which was ‘music to [read more]

Great-news-in-the-budget

Great news in the budget — excess non-concessional contributions tax!

There was some great news in last night’s budget! The government made the following announcement regarding excess non-concessional contributions: The Government will allow individuals the option of withdrawing superannuation contributions in excess of the non-concessional contributions cap made from 1 July 2013 and any associated earnings, with these earnings to be taxed at the individual’s [read more]

nil interest SMSF loan

New ATO materials suggest non-arm’s length LRBAs = huge tax bill!

Recent ATO materials suggest non-arm’s length limited recourse borrowing arrangements will give rise to huge tax problems. More specifically, the materials suggest income derived can be non-arm’s length income (ie, taxed at 45%) where the LRBA favours the SMSF. This could come as a shock as many have incorrectly said the ATO has previously ‘green [read more]

DBA-Lawyers-in-Asset-magazine

DBA Lawyers in Asset magazine — The tax trap for super death benefits paid to a deceased estate

This article originally appeared in the March 2014 edition of Asset Magazine (Financial Review). If superannuation death benefits are paid to the estate, a quirk in the law can mean higher tax and increased administration costs. Advisers are well-placed to add value by alerting clients and lawyers to this possible tax trap. Where does a [read more]

red cherry

Preservation rules — a little known quirk and how to use it for clients to cherry pick

A little known quirk in the preservation rules can have important implications for clients. This article explains how the quirk arises, and then how to use it to advantage clients. In a nutshell the quirk allows trustees of super funds to ‘cherry pick’ whether to fund pensions from unrestricted non-preserved benefits or preserved benefits. Legislative [read more]

TD-2013-22-and-ID-2012-16

TD 2013/22 & ID 2012/16: ATO confirms that each contribution made to a reserve requires an objection

By Daniel Butler, Director, and Bryce Figot, Director, both of DBA Lawyers The ATO has confirmed that contribution reserving is a viable strategy. The ATO has issued an interpretative decision (‘ID’) ATO ID 2012/16 relating to contribution reserving up to 30 June 2013 and a tax determination (‘TD’) TD 2013/22 in respect of contributions made [read more]

ATO ID 2014-2 and pensions deceased estate

ATO ID 2014/2 and pensions to a deceased estate?

Some advisers may have previously recommended that there are opportunities to continue paying a pension following a member’s death to their deceased estate. However, ATO ID 2014/2 provides a real hurdle to this strategy! (Note that this has been a somewhat busy time for the ATO and interpretative decisions regarding pensions. The ATO also recently [read more]

lecturing-melbourne-university

Lecturing at Melbourne University — handout available

Since 2010 I’ve been lecturing at Melbourne University, presenting the SMSF component of the Master of Laws subject ‘Superannuation Law‘. Melbourne University is my ‘alma mater’. I fully enjoyed studying there for my undergraduate degrees and masters degree and I’m always very happy to be able to give back to the legal community. I’m lecturing [read more]