Taxation in Australia Journal

Transfer to a trustee found to be non-dutiable

Transfer to a trustee found to be non-dutiable

The Victorian Court of Appeal’s decision in MD Commercial Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2019] VSCA 295 was a culmination of the battle between the Victorian Commissioner of State Revenue and the taxpayers’ statutory interpretation of a duty exemption contained in s 35 of the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) (Act) and whether the trustee had to be in a “bare trustee” relationship with no active powers being held by the trustee.

Trusts and the franking credits trap: can we fix it?

Trusts and the franking credits trap: can we fix it?

Beneficiaries of a unit trust may only claim franking credits if they are a “qualified person” in relation to the franked dividend. In order to be a qualified person the taxpayer must satisfy both the related payments rule and the holding period rule.

TD 2019/D6 and TD 2019/D7: (further) unintended consequences?

TD 2019/D6 and TD 2019/D7: (further) unintended consequences?

While consistent with recent ATO views, TD 2019/D6 and TD 2019/D7 provide minimal clarification on the taxation of Australian discretionary trusts distributing capital gains to foreign beneficiaries.