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2022-2023 Budget update – concessional tax rates expanded to agricultural sector and low emissions technology innovations
In its 2022–23 Budget, the Federal Government announced an expansion of its proposed concessional tax rates to agricultural and low emissions technology innovations. These concessional tax rates for profits derived from eligible intellectual property are known as a 'patent box'. ...
Beware the stamp duty pitfalls of nominee clauses and resulting trust exemptions – discussion of the Victorian case of Hartman
The recent Victorian case of Hartman1 demonstrates the potential stamp duty dangers of relying on nominee clauses in transactions involving land (or other dutiable property). The VCAT decision highlights the importance of settling, if possible, on the identity of the ultimate transferee prior to execution of a contract and, above all, the need for developers and other purchasers of land to seek advice before relying on a nominee clause or otherwise seeking to transfer title to a third party. ...
High Court ruling that 'backpacker tax' is discriminatory invites consideration of other potentially disapplied discriminatory tax provisions
In the recent decision of Addy v Commissioner of Taxation, the High Court ruled that the so-called 'backpacker tax' contravened the non-discrimination article contained in the double tax agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). ...
Commissioner victorious in taxing cross-border trust distributions of capital gains
The Full Federal Court has confirmed a controversial view held by the Commissioner of Taxation (the Commissioner) on the taxation of capital gains from non-taxable Australian property made by Australian resident discretionary trusts that are distributed to foreign resident beneficiaries. ...
A tale of two courts: are wind farm assets fixtures or chattels?
Wind farms and other renewable energy sponsors should be aware of two recent decisions of the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales, which have raised doubt over whether wind farm assets are chattels or fixtures. We briefly explore the key findings of each court and consider some broader repercussions of these decisions for the renewable energy industry. ...
Full Federal Court dismisses Commissioner's transfer pricing appeal against Glencore
On 6 November 2020, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia handed down its much anticipated decision dismissing the Commissioner's appeal (save for one issue) against Glencore Investment Pty Ltd in a significant transfer pricing dispute. ...
Double-duty provisions to receive much needed guidance on what constitutes 'land development'
The Victorian SRO has released a draft revenue ruling in an effort to provide practical guidance as to what types of activities constitute 'land development'. Unfortunately, the Draft Ruling does not overcome the existing uncertainty in some common situations and arguably seeks to expand the types of activities that may be considered 'land development'. ...
Mandatory binding arbitration of tax disputes
The approval of multilateral instruments in recent years means that binding arbitration of tax disputes is now available under the Tax Treaties with ten additional countries, including major trading partners Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand. This trend is expected to continue. ...
The Demerger Journey - from Facilitation to Frustration
The Demerger Journey - from Facilitation to Frustration. Partner Joe Power and Senior Associate Jay Prasad published their paper on the demerger tax rules at the inaugural Tax Institute Tax Summit at the International Convention Centre in Sydney in March 2020. The paper considers the correctness of the ATO’s recent views on the scope of the demerger tax relief provisions, and compares those provisions to analogous provisions in the UK, US and Canada. ...
Trusts and partnership: When is a confirmation of rights a declaration of trust?
The High Court of Australia held that certain deeds purporting to confirm a pre-existing trust of partnership property amounted to a new 'declaration of trust' within the meaning of the Western Australian stamp duty legislation. ...