Overview With recent increases in property values and ongoing changes to the land tax rules, more property owners may wish to object against their land tax assessments. Recent changes in Victoria include a reduction to the general land tax free threshold to $50,000 (prior to January 2024, this threshold was $300,000 resulting in an estimated [read more]
Overview The taxation of trusts continues to be an area of scrutiny for the ATO. The ATO has released a webpage titled ‘Trust distributions done right’ that provides guidance to practitioners on how to prepare for year-end trust distributions. The webpage (QC 101752) can be found here. Clearly, the ATO is concerned with trustees and [read more]
Bank accounts are essential for a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF). For example, an SMSF typically requires a bank account to accept receipts including contributions and rollovers and pay expenses and benefits. However, many SMSF trustees fail to realise that some bank accounts are riskier than others. This article outlines the importance of preventing a [read more]
Short answer The short answer is that clients should conduct detailed financial modelling and make an objective decision based on the numbers after examining their available options having regard to their particular factual circumstances. Generally, clients should not act hastily and should be better positioned to make a more informed decision closer to 30 June [read more]
This is part 7 of our series of ‘employee versus contractor’ articles. Part 7 focuses on recent changes by the Federal Government to the definition of ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ in the context of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FWA). The other articles (parts 1-6) are linked under the Related Articles heading below. Overview The [read more]
The vacant residential land tax (VRLT) applies to all vacant residential land throughout Victoria from 1 January 2025. This tax can also apply to holiday homes unless the holiday home exemption (HH Exemption) or another exemption applies. What is VRLT? VRLT was originally introduced in 2017 to assist with housing affordability as overseas purchasers were [read more]
The non-arm’s length expense (NALE) legislation was approved by the Senate on 27 March 2024. The draft legislation (ie, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (Bill)) that includes a limit on general NALE for SMSFs, now awaits approval from the House of Representatives. Parliament resumes on [read more]
Preparing a valid change of trustee deed can prove complex as, among other things, the governing rules of the trust or SMSF must be complied with, the correct parties must be made a party and the deed needs to be appropriately drafted. Moreover, in New South Wales (NSW), the question also arises –– whether a [read more]
The AAT decision of Came and Commissioner of Taxation [2023] AATA 3951 highlights some complexities related to foreign superannuation fund transfers to Australian superannuation funds under the rules in sub-div 305-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (ITAA 1997). Facts The taxpayer, Mr James Came, migrated from South Africa to Australia in 2004. [read more]
While DBA is recognised as Australia’s leading SMSF law firm, it is also well known for its trust law experience and trust documents. We believe that we offer an excellent discretionary trust deed that is easy to read, provides great flexibility and reflects the latest legal developments. As lawyers advising on discretionary trust issues and [read more]
