Avid readers of Unravelled over the past few years cannot have failed to notice that there are moves afoot to introduce two new forms of collective investment vehicle each promising a shiny tax-neutral alternative to the unit trust and hopefully saving Australian lawyers a lot of sleepless nights ...

The legislation that will repeal Australias carbon pricing scheme will also introduce some significant new prohibitions and confer some extensive enforcement and price monitoring powers on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to ensure that the repeal of the scheme is accompanied by a ...

An exposure draft of proposed legislative amendments designed to reduce the compliance burden for businesses has been released by the Federal Government The amendments include long-awaited changes to the dividend payment rules the abolition of the 100 member rule and updates to remuneration ...

The Federal Court has recently ruled that there is no requirement for a public benevolent institution to provide direct relief to people in need Its interpretation of the expression public benevolent institution theoretically has the potential to expand eligibility well beyond traditionally accepted ...

In an important ruling the High Court has decided that a purchaser of leased premises will make a supply of the leased premises when after completion the purchaser observes its express obligations under the lease The decision provides much-needed certainty for vendors and purchasers of leased ...

An increased focus on taxing indirect real property transfers has seen the 'land-rich' or 'landholder' duty rules expand significantly over the years, resulting in far more transactions being liable to duty. ...

The Queensland Parliament has passed legislation introducing a stamp duty concession for transfers of interests in exploration authorities under eligible farm-in agreements ...

New South Wales has introduced a stamp duty surcharge of 4 per cent for direct and indirect acquisitions of residential land by foreign purchasers, with effect from 21 June 16. A land tax surcharge of 0.75 per cent will also be imposed on residential land owned by foreign persons, commencing 31/12 ...

A recent draft tax ruling may make it more difficult for employers to claim tax deductions for contributions made to employee remuneration trusts However the ruling is expected to have limited practical application to listed companies making non-refundable contributions to traditional employee share ...

Allens has advised Rio Tinto on its disbursement of US$2.08 billion (AU$2.87 billion) of post-tax coal disposal proceeds to shareholders through a share buy-back program. The firm advised on all ...