Category Archives: Tax

Tax alert: Distributions to non-resident beneficiaries

Tax alert: Distributions to non-resident beneficiaries

The ATO’s recently released interpretation of the tax treatment of capital gains distributed by an Australian discretionary trust to non-resident beneficiaries will have a significant negative impact for some.  Two new determinations released by the ATO deal with the complex and technical issues that arise when a resident discretionary trust makes a distribution of capital […]

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Super Guarantee Amnesty Resurrected

Super Guarantee Amnesty Resurrected

The Government has resurrected the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) amnesty giving employers that have fallen behind with their SG obligations the ability to “self-correct.” This time however, the incentive of the amnesty is strengthened by harsh penalties for those that fail to take action.  Originally announced in May 2018 and running between 24 May 2018 until 23 May 2019, […]

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The $11.1bn small business tax shortfall

The $11.1bn small business tax shortfall

Last month, the ATO released statistics showing small business is responsible for 12.5% ($11.1 billion) of the total estimated ‘tax gap’.  These new figures give visibility to tax compliance issues within the small business sector and indicate where we can expect ATO resources to be focussed now and in the future.  The tax gap estimates the difference between […]

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Are all your SMSF eggs in one basket?

Are all your SMSF eggs in one basket?

The investment strategies of Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) are under scrutiny with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) contacting 17,700 trustees about a lack of asset diversity.  The ATO is concerned that, “a lack of diversification or concentration risk, can expose the SMSF and its members to unnecessary risk if a significant investment fails.”  This does not […]

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