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Capital gains, discretionary trusts, and foreign residents – first blood to the ATO

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Capital gains, discretionary trusts, and foreign residents – first blood to the ATO

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) position for several years has been a foreign beneficiary distributed a capital gain made by an Australian discretionary trust on an asset that is not taxable Australian property is assessed on the capital gain even though that would not occur if the foreign resident made the gain directly, or through a fixed trust. Some commentators disagree with that view, the Federal Court in a recent case agreed with the ATO position in what may be the first skirmish of a battle through the courts on this issue.

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“The new normal – ATO announces increasing review and tax assurance activity in relation to private groups”

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“The new normal – ATO announces increasing review and tax assurance activity in relation to private groups”

Recently, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced an expansion to its ‘Tax Avoidance Taskforce’, increasing its focus on “supporting and ensuring private groups and high wealth individuals pay the right amount of tax”.

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Australian trusts, capital gains, and foreign beneficiaries: more controversy, more angst?

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Australian trusts, capital gains, and foreign beneficiaries: more controversy, more angst?

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recently released Taxation Determinations TD 2019/D6 and TD 2019/D7 (together the Determinations) that concern Australian discretionary trusts distributing capital gains to foreign beneficiaries.

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Tax disputes: Part 4 - mitigation of interest and penalties

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Tax disputes: Part 4 - mitigation of interest and penalties

When involved in a dispute with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), dealing with the interest and penalties that may be imposed by the ATO in relation to a tax liability by seeking remission of those amounts, objecting, or having a reasonably arguable position opinion can be an important part of any dispute resolution strategy.

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Tax Disputes: Part 3 - Settlements

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Tax Disputes: Part 3 - Settlements

When involved in a dispute with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the possibility of resolving that dispute by way of settlement should always be carefully considered including what approach should be taken in negotiating with the ATO to get the best outcome for taxpayers.

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Tax Disputes: Part 1 – Early engagement strategies with the ATO

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Tax Disputes: Part 1 – Early engagement strategies with the ATO

When involved in a dispute with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), it is always in a clients’ best interest to seek to either resolve or narrow and define the relevant issues in dispute as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We will always advise a client to seek to engage with the ATO to resolve a tax dispute, when possible.

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Sladen Snippet - trustee obligations on the ATO radar

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Sladen Snippet - trustee obligations on the ATO radar

As we approach 30 June, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced that it is reviewing adherence to trustee obligations including the lodgment of tax file number (TFN) reports for TFN withholding for closely held trusts.

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ATO Decision Impact Statement on Pintarich – troubling views on when a decision may not be a decision

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ATO Decision Impact Statement on Pintarich – troubling views on when a decision may not be a decision

We previously reported here and here on the Full Federal Court decision of Pintarich v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2018] FCAFC 79 (Pintarich) and the unsuccessful application for special leave to the High Court.

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If you don’t ask, you’ll never know: Pedley and allocation of payments made to the ATO

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If you don’t ask, you’ll never know: Pedley and allocation of payments made to the ATO

In Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Pedley (No 2) (2018) FCA 2015 (Pedley), the Federal Court confirmed the wide discretion available to the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) to allocate payments made to it for tax debts especially where the taxpayer has not provided explicit direction as to what payments should be applied to which debts.

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‘What is mine is yours: Tomaras and the substitution of tax debtors’

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‘What is mine is yours: Tomaras and the substitution of tax debtors’

The High Court in Commissioner of Taxation v Tomaras & Ors (2018) HCA 62 (Tomaras) has confirmed the Federal Circuit Court had jurisdiction to make orders altering the property interests of parties to a marriage substituting one party for the other party as sole debtor to the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) in respect of income tax liabilities owed by the first party.

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Payroll Tax Assessments For Subcontractors Providing RACV Emergency Roadside Services Set Aside By The Victorian Supreme Court

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Payroll Tax Assessments For Subcontractors Providing RACV Emergency Roadside Services Set Aside By The Victorian Supreme Court

In Nationwide Towing & Transport Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (No 2) [2018] VSC 609, the Victorian Supreme Court has handed down another decision* against the Victorian State Revenue Office by setting aside payroll tax assessments issued in relation to payments to subcontractors.

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Here we go, Treasury releases Division 7A consultation

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Here we go, Treasury releases Division 7A consultation

As we have previously reported, the Government announced in the 2017 Budget that amendments would be made to Division 7A incorporating recommendations from the 2014 Board of Taxation’s final report on the ‘Post Implementation Review of Division 7A of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936’ (the earlier report).