Pioneering thought — Sladen Legal

Neil Brydges

Guardian AIT: 100A or ATO’s Part IVA angel in disguise?

Guardian AIT: 100A or ATO’s Part IVA angel in disguise?

This time last year, we published an article querying whether the Federal Court decision in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 (First Instance Decision) would ignite an administrative and judicial quest for clarity on the interpretation of section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).

Section 100A: if you want BBlood, you’ve got it: 100A and capital amounts

Section 100A: if you want BBlood, you’ve got it: 100A and capital amounts

On 19 September 2022, Justice Thawley of the Federal Court handed down his decision in BBlood Enterprises Pty Ltd v FCT [2022] FCA 1112 (BBlood), the most recent decision on section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was successful in arguing that section 100A applied.

Can Part IVA apply to trustee discretions? Yes, according to the Federal Court

Can Part IVA apply to trustee discretions? Yes, according to the Federal Court

The recent Federal Court decision of Minerva Financial Group Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 1092 (Minerva) signifies that the Federal Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) can successfully scrutinise a trustee’s discretion under the general anti-avoidance provisions (Part IVA).

Main Residence Exemption: Is It The Devil Or An Angel In The Details?

Main Residence Exemption: Is It The Devil Or An Angel In The Details?

The capital gains tax (CGT) main residence exemption (CGT MRE) is (arguably) the most generous exemption for post-CGT assets in the income tax legislation. The eligibility requirements are not onerous, and it is available to young and old rich and poor. However, actions, or inactions, can result in loss of the CGT MRE in whole or part.

TD 2022/11: ATO finalises views, relief for some taxpayers but a sting for others

TD 2022/11: ATO finalises views, relief for some taxpayers but a sting for others

We wrote about Draft Taxation Determination TD 2022/D1 (Draft TD) on Division 7A and unpaid present entitlements (UPEs) here. On 12 July 2022, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) finalised the Draft TD as Taxation Determination TD 2022/11 (Final TD).

PCG 2017/13: sub-trust arrangements – welcome (continued) relief from the ATO

PCG 2017/13: sub-trust arrangements – welcome (continued) relief from the ATO

Draft Taxation Determination TD 2022/D1 sets out the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) views on when an unpaid present entitlement (UPE) with a corporate beneficiary is a loan for the purposes of Division 7A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. We wrote about TD 2022/D1 here.

Land development and sale: Are you sure you are not required to be registered for GST?

Land development and sale: Are you sure you are not required to be registered for GST?

The oft-debated question as to whether the development, subdivision and sale of land constitutes the mere realisation of a capital asset in an enterprising way has once again been considered in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) case of Ian Mark Collins & Mieneke Mianno Collins ATF The Collins Retirement Fund and Commissioner of Taxation (Taxation) [2022] AATA 628 (Collins)

Section 100A: welcome Media Release by the Assistant Treasurer

Section 100A: welcome Media Release by the Assistant Treasurer

We wrote that 2022 is the ‘Year of 100A’ after the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released three guidance products, two in draft, on section 100A and the ATO’s appeal to the Full Federal Court from the decision of Logan J in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 on section 100A.

FCT v Carter: trust disclaimers not effective for tax

FCT v Carter: trust disclaimers not effective for tax

In one sense, the High Court judgment in FCT v Carter [2022] HCA 10 (Carter) will come as welcome relief for tax advisors. That is, after dealing with the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) view of the ‘lore’ in the form of practical compliance guidelines, Carter turns minds back to the ‘law.’ Unfortunately, the law in Carter can result in unpleasant tax outcomes for certain trust beneficiaries.

2022: year of 100A

2022: year of 100A

Quoting Winston Churchill, we said that the Federal Court decision in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 (Guardian AIT) concerning section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 is perhaps the “end of the beginning” of what may become increased clarity on the judicial and administrative approach to that section.

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2022/D1: are you on the highway to hell?

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2022/D1: are you on the highway to hell?

After our semi-serious opening statement on the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A and unpaid present entitlements, this is one of a series of deep-dive articles on that guidance.

Draft Taxation Determination TD 2022/D1: much ado about nothing or a seismic shift?

Draft Taxation Determination TD 2022/D1: much ado about nothing or a seismic shift?

After our semi-serious opening statement on the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A and unpaid present entitlements, this is one of a series of deep-dive articles on that guidance. These articles look at each of the ATO guidance products separately and then we discuss what the overall impact may be.

Draft Taxation Ruling 2022/D1: Do people still listen to disco music?

Draft Taxation Ruling 2022/D1: Do people still listen to disco music?

After our semi-serious opening statement on the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A and unpaid present entitlements, this is one of a series of deep-dive articles on that guidance. These articles look at each of the ATO guidance products separately and then we discuss what the overall impact may be.

Guardian AIT: section 100A – the end of the beginning?

Guardian AIT: section 100A – the end of the beginning?

Winston Churchill famously said “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Legal Professional Privilege in the spotlight

Legal Professional Privilege in the spotlight

Legal professional privilege (LPP) has once again become a topic of significant interest following the recent Full Federal Court decision of CUB Australia Holding Pty Ltd v FCT [2021] FCAFC 171 (CUB Decision) and the release of the draft LPP protocol from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Taxpayer Alert TA 2021/2 – undeclared foreign income – ATO declares war

Taxpayer Alert TA 2021/2 – undeclared foreign income – ATO declares war

In 2014, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) undertook the high-profile amnesty – Project DOIT – that allowed Australian taxpayers to voluntarily disclose (undeclared) offshore income in return for a range of ATO administrative concessions on the period-of-review, penalties, and shortfall interest.