Neil Brydges

Minerva – Part IVA - Full Federal Court gives the taxpayer back its “Liberty”

Minerva – Part IVA - Full Federal Court gives the taxpayer back its “Liberty”

In 2022, the decision of the Federal Court in Minerva Financial Group Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 1092 raised the question that tax benefits emanating from trustee decisions could be subject Part IVA. At that time, we said we think ‘no’ (see here).  

TR 2024/D1: Navigating the draft ruling TR 2024/D1 on software distribution arrangements

TR 2024/D1: Navigating the draft ruling TR 2024/D1 on software distribution arrangements

On 17 January 2024, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued a revised draft taxation ruling, TR 2024/D1, which addresses the taxation implications of payments relating to software distribution arrangements.

When is a public company not a public company?

When is a public company not a public company?

In the realm of tax law, the differences between the definitions of private and public company for tax purposes carries profound implications, particularly within the framework of Division 7A. Advisors must understand these nuances to guarantee compliance and adeptly manage their financial matters.

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.

Guardian AIT: 100A or ATO’s Part IVA angel in disguise?

Guardian AIT: 100A or ATO’s Part IVA angel in disguise?

This time last year, we published an article querying whether the Federal Court decision in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 (First Instance Decision) would ignite an administrative and judicial quest for clarity on the interpretation of section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).

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.

Section 100A: if you want BBlood, you’ve got it: 100A and capital amounts

Section 100A: if you want BBlood, you’ve got it: 100A and capital amounts

On 19 September 2022, Justice Thawley of the Federal Court handed down his decision in BBlood Enterprises Pty Ltd v FCT [2022] FCA 1112 (BBlood), the most recent decision on section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was successful in arguing that section 100A applied.

Draft legislation released clarifying crypto is not foreign currency for tax purposes

Draft legislation released clarifying crypto is not foreign currency for tax purposes

In the absence of a comprehensive definition of ‘foreign currency’ in the Australian tax legislation the ATO and Australian courts have interpreted ‘foreign currency’ to be currency issued or recognised by an overseas sovereign state.

Treasurer Confirms - Cryptocurrency Not treated as foreign currency

Treasurer Confirms - Cryptocurrency Not treated as foreign currency

In the absence of a comprehensive definition of ‘foreign currency’ in the Australia tax legislation the ATO and Australian courts have interpreted ‘foreign currency’ to be currency issued or recognised by an overseas sovereign state.

Is Cryptocurrency a Foreign Currency for Tax Purposes?

Is Cryptocurrency a Foreign Currency for Tax Purposes?

Taxpayers using cryptocurrency in their businesses, including as a means of paying expenses such as staff or contractors or as a means of deriving income through investments, mining or trading, is becoming more common. After a particularly volatile year for the values of cryptocurrency many taxpayers may have significant gains or losses associated with their cryptocurrency transactions.

Land development and sale: Are you sure you are not required to be registered for GST?

Land development and sale: Are you sure you are not required to be registered for GST?

The oft-debated question as to whether the development, subdivision and sale of land constitutes the mere realisation of a capital asset in an enterprising way has once again been considered in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) case of Ian Mark Collins & Mieneke Mianno Collins ATF The Collins Retirement Fund and Commissioner of Taxation (Taxation) [2022] AATA 628 (Collins)

Section 100A: welcome Media Release by the Assistant Treasurer

Section 100A: welcome Media Release by the Assistant Treasurer

We wrote that 2022 is the ‘Year of 100A’ after the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) released three guidance products, two in draft, on section 100A and the ATO’s appeal to the Full Federal Court from the decision of Logan J in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 on section 100A.

FCT v Carter: trust disclaimers not effective for tax

FCT v Carter: trust disclaimers not effective for tax

In one sense, the High Court judgment in FCT v Carter [2022] HCA 10 (Carter) will come as welcome relief for tax advisors. That is, after dealing with the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) view of the ‘lore’ in the form of practical compliance guidelines, Carter turns minds back to the ‘law.’ Unfortunately, the law in Carter can result in unpleasant tax outcomes for certain trust beneficiaries.

2022: year of 100A

2022: year of 100A

Quoting Winston Churchill, we said that the Federal Court decision in Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust v FCT [2021] FCA 1619 (Guardian AIT) concerning section 100A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 is perhaps the “end of the beginning” of what may become increased clarity on the judicial and administrative approach to that section.

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).

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2022/D1: are you on the highway to hell?

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2022/D1: are you on the highway to hell?

After our semi-serious opening statement on the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A and unpaid present entitlements, this is one of a series of deep-dive articles on that guidance.

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.

Draft Taxation Ruling 2022/D1: Do people still listen to disco music?

Draft Taxation Ruling 2022/D1: Do people still listen to disco music?

After our semi-serious opening statement on the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) recently released guidance on section 100A and unpaid present entitlements, this is one of a series of deep-dive articles on that guidance. These articles look at each of the ATO guidance products separately and then we discuss what the overall impact may be.