Pioneering thought — Sladen Legal

James Gao

Section 99B - TD 2024/9 – updates on the ATO’s guidance

Section 99B - TD 2024/9 – updates on the ATO’s guidance

The ATO published Taxation Determination TD 2024/9, finalising its guidance on section 99B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and specifically on the relevant factors to be considered when applying paragraphs 99B(2)(a) and (b).

Disputed Debts with the ATO – teamwork makes the dream work?

Disputed Debts with the ATO – teamwork makes the dream work?

The ATO has a new collaborative and tailored approach to managing the collection and recovery of disputed debts.

TR 2022/3: personal services income: key changes from draft ruling TR 2021/D2

TR 2022/3: personal services income: key changes from draft ruling TR 2021/D2

On 23 November 2022, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) released Taxation Ruling TR 2022/3, finalising its views on personal services income (PSI) and personal services businesses (PSB).

Bosanac: presumption of resulting trust v presumption of advancement: High Court tells both to sit down

Bosanac: presumption of resulting trust v presumption of advancement: High Court tells both to sit down

The High Court in Bosanac v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] HCA 34 culminated a protracted debate on whether to apply the presumption of resulting trust or presumption of advancement in the context of a matrimonial home.

Taxpayer Alert 2022/1: Parents benefitting from the trust entitlements of adult children

Taxpayer Alert 2022/1: Parents benefitting from the trust entitlements of adult children

We considered the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A here and here. Those documents give the clearest public indication to how the ATO interprets section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).

Sladen Snippet - AAT agrees gain on complex share exchange transaction was revenue in nature

Sladen Snippet - AAT agrees gain on complex share exchange transaction was revenue in nature

The question of when a taxpayer holds shares or any other investment on capital account or revenue account is fundamental in determining whether gains from the investment are capital in nature or ordinary income.

Sladen Snippet - ATO draft guidance on deductibility of expenses in establishing employee share schemes

Sladen Snippet - ATO draft guidance on deductibility of expenses in establishing employee share schemes

Amongst all the furore about the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) draft guidance on section 100A, on 23 February 2022, the ATO also issued draft guidance on determining when expenses incurred in establishing and administering an employee share scheme (ESS) are deductible.

Sladen Snippet - ATO decision impact statement on Addy ‘backpacker tax’ case

Sladen Snippet - ATO decision impact statement on Addy ‘backpacker tax’ case

We have previously discussed Addy v FCT [2021] HCA 34 here. In this case, the High Court unanimously allowed Ms Addy’s appeal and found that a UK working holiday visa holder, who was a tax resident of Australia, was entitled to the tax-free threshold and taxation at the rate that applied to Australian resident nationals.

Sladen Snippet – Mental Health and Wellbeing surcharge on businesses with more than $10 million wages

Sladen Snippet – Mental Health and Wellbeing surcharge on businesses with more than $10 million wages

The Mental Health and Wellbeing surcharge will commence from 1 January 2022 and is payable on Victorian taxable wages paid or payable from 1 January 2022 by an employer or a group of employers.

Sladen Snippet – TD 2021/D5 genuine disposal restrictions in employee share schemes

Sladen Snippet – TD 2021/D5 genuine disposal restrictions in employee share schemes

Whether an employee has genuine restrictions on disposing of an option/right or share issued under an employee share scheme (ESS) can determine whether tax can be deferred, and until when, under the ESS.

FCT v Ross Part 3: the onus of proof of disproving a default assessment

FCT v Ross Part 3: the onus of proof of disproving a default assessment

The Federal Court case of FCT v Ross [2021] FCA 766 concerned several aspects of taxation administrative law. This is the third article in a series on issues in FCT v Ross and discusses the onus of proof of disproving a default assessment.

FCT v Ross Part 2: death not a factor to remit penalties

FCT v Ross Part 2: death not a factor to remit penalties

The Federal Court case of FCT v Ross [2021] FCA 766 concerned several aspects of taxation administrative law. This is the second article in a series on issues in FCT v Ross and discusses death not being a factor to remit penalties.

TD 2021/5: ATO guidance on receiver’s obligation to retain money for post-appointment tax liabilities

TD 2021/5: ATO guidance on receiver’s obligation to retain money for post-appointment tax liabilities

Section 254 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 sets out the obligations, liabilities and rights of agents and trustees. An agent or trustee is answerable as taxpayer for things required to be done by the tax Acts in respect of income, or any profits or gains of a capital nature, derived by the agent or trustee in his/her representative capacity or derived by the principal by virtue of the agency.

Federal Budget 2021-22: The Tax Changes You Need to Know

Federal Budget 2021-22: The Tax Changes You Need to Know

The Federal Budget 2021-2022 is big on spending and small on major structural change to tax however there are a number of tax measures within the Budget to be aware of.

Onus of proof: asset betterment case sent back to the AAT

Onus of proof: asset betterment case sent back to the AAT

Part IVC of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 gives taxpayers statutory avenues to argue, in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or Federal Court, that the substantive liability imposed by an assessment is excessive through a review or appeal of an objection decision. Where an assessment is found to be excessive, the Commissioner must amend the assessment.