New South Wales State Budget 2024-25 – Increase to foreign surcharges and payroll tax relief for GP contractors
Sladen Snippet – Merristock – primary production exemption applies as trust can beneficially own shares
In a case run by Sladen Legal, Merristock Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2024] VCAT 535, the taxpayer has successfully appealed against a Victorian State Revenue Office (SRO) determination that land owned by the taxpayer was not eligible for the primary production land tax exemption.
Godolphin case: High Court decision considers the “dominant use” test under the NSW land tax primary production exemption
The High Court has dismissed an appeal by Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd (Godolphin) and confirmed that it cannot claim the primary production land tax exemption, as it was unable to show that the “dominant use” of its properties was for primary production where it also had substantial horseracing activities. The decision illustrates the issues that can arise when primary production land is used as part of business models that include other interrelated activities.
Another day another Victorian tax, prohibition against adjusting land tax and other (nasty) changes
Without consultation, the Victorian Government has introduced the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023 (Bill) which will make a number of significant changes.
NSW foreign surcharges – international tax treaties update – more countries excluded from the regime
In our previous article, we discuss Revenue NSW’s announcement that it has determined that NSW surcharge purchaser duty and surcharge land tax are inconsistent with international tax treaties entered into by the Australian Federal Government and certain countries (Treaty Countries).
On 29 May 2023, Revenue NSW has updated its list of Treaty Countries to now include India, Japan, Norway and Switzerland.
NSW Government determines that surcharge purchaser duty and surcharge land tax is inconsistent with international tax treaties
On 21 February 2023 Revenue NSW announced that it has been determined that NSW surcharge purchaser duty and surcharge land tax (Surcharge Provisions) are inconsistent with international tax treaties entered into by the Australian Federal Government with New Zealand, Finland, Germany, and South Africa (Treaty Countries).
Petroulis – Renting principal place of residence invalidates land tax exemption - Commissioner has no discretion
The recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s (Tribunal) decision in Petroulis v Commissioner of State Revenue [2022] VCAT 1054 dismissed the taxpayers’ request for review of the land tax assessments issued by the Commissioner.
When is a unit trust not a unit trust? – when it’s a hybrid trust
Both federal and state tax legislations contain different tax rules for different forms of trusts. The recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) decision of Sharlin Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2022] VCAT 378 has provided much-needed clarity and insights into relevant considerations to determine whether a hybrid unit trust is a unit trust or a discretionary trust for the purpose of the land tax exemption for primary production land (PPL).
2022 Victorian State Budget – Unannounced changes introduced to the Victorian tax regime
Horse breeding found to qualify for the primary production land tax exemption
The NSW Supreme Court’s (NSWSC) decision in Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2022] NSWSC 430 (Godolphin Case) is instructive as it provides guidance into the ambit and scope of the land tax primary production exemption particularly in relation to the breeding of horses.
Tribunal decision shows the difficulty of satisfying the primary production land tax exemption for farm land that is leased
The primary production land tax exemption remains an important concession for farmers and the owners of farm land. The Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales has added to the list of recent land tax cases offering insight into the application of the primary production land tax exemption.
A Guide To Understanding Land Tax: Part 4 Aggregation, Grouping and “Degrouping”
As discussed in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, land tax is levied on the total taxable value of land held by a taxpayer in a particular jurisdiction. Land tax is then levied on a progressive graduated scale. That is, the higher the value of land that you own the higher the rate of land tax you pay.
A Guide to Understanding Land Tax: Part 5 Valuations
As discussed in this Land Tax Series, land tax is a state and territory tax levied on the total taxable value of land held by taxpayers in particular jurisdictions. Land tax is assessed on a calendar year basis on the land you own at midnight on 31 December.
A guide to understanding Land Tax Part 6: Principal place of residence exemption
A guide to understanding Land Tax Part 8: Charities, sporting clubs, not for profits and other exemptions
A Guide to Understanding Land Tax: Part 9 – Objections
Lotus Oaks Part 1 – Primary production land tax exemption - principal business is farming requirement
The recent Supreme Court of Victoria decision of Lotus Oaks Pty Ltd as trustee for the Bozzo Family Trust v Commissioner of State Revenue [2021] VSC 388 is significant as it provides further clarification on the application of the primary production land tax exemption for land located in greater Melbourne in an urban zone. This is part one in a series of three articles on this decision.
Lotus Oaks Part 2 – Primary production land tax exemption “of the type” requirement
Part 2 of our series decision of Lotus Oaks Pty Ltd as trustee for the Bozzo Family Trust v Commissioner of State Revenue [2021] VSC 388 looks at the former requirement in section 67 of the Land Tax Act 2005 (Vic) (Act) which required the principal business of the Bozzo FT to be of the type carried on on the subject land.
Lotus Oaks Part 3 – Primary production exemption - substantially full-time engagement requirement
This final part of our 3 part series on the Lotus Oaks Pty Ltd as trustee for the Bozzo Family Trust v Commissioner of State Revenue [2021] VSC 388 decision looks at the substantially full-time engagement requirement in section 67 of the Act.