Sladen Snippet - Consultation process Franchising code of conduct review

Sladen Snippet - Consultation process Franchising code of conduct review

The Australian government has proposed reforms to the Competition and Consumer Act in response to the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct and Franchising Code of Conduct reviews. The consultation process closes on 4 October 2024 and welcomes submissions from interested stakeholders.

Sladen Snippet – Proposed law to allow conversion of legacy pensions and reserves

Sladen Snippet – Proposed law to allow conversion of legacy pensions and reserves

At long last proposed regulations have been released for consultation that would permit the conversion of legacy pensions and reserves over a 5 year period. As a nice added bonus, the regulations will also better allow allocations from non-pension reserves.

Sladen Snippet – Gainer Part 6 – SMSF trustee indemnity

Sladen Snippet – Gainer Part 6 – SMSF trustee indemnity

In the decision of In the matter of Gainer Associates Pty Limited [2024] NSWSC 1138, the Court amongst other things gave advice that the self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) corporate trustee (Gainer Associates Pty Ltd – referred to as Gainer) could be indemnified from the assets of the SMSF in relation to all issues disclosed to the Court in that application for judicial advice.

Sladen Snippet – Gainer Part 5 – SMSF trustee director remuneration

Sladen Snippet – Gainer Part 5 – SMSF trustee director remuneration

In this fifth part of our series on the decision of In the matter of Gainer Associates Pty Limited [2024] NSWSC 1138, we examine Gainer’s request for the Court’s advice as to whether it would be justified to remunerate Mr Heesh for his time and efforts in acting as sole director of Gainer in its role as the corporate trustee for a self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) and, if so, at which rate and whether the remuneration could be for some or all of the work completed by Mr Heesh.

Sladen Snippet - ATO attempts to read down loss in Merchant disqualification decision

Sladen Snippet - ATO attempts to read down loss in Merchant disqualification decision

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a draft Decision Impact Statement (DIS) on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) decision of Merchant and Commissioner of Taxation [2024] AATA 1102 (which was decided on 16 May 2024) (Merchant).

 

Sladen Snippet - Quy v FCT: residency – decision overturned on appeal

Sladen Snippet - Quy v FCT: residency – decision overturned on appeal

We wrote about the decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) in Quy v FCT [2024] AATA 245 here. In that decision, the Tribunal held that Mr Quy, who was physically in Australia for less than 2 months each year, was a resident of Australia for tax purposes.

Sladen Snippet - TD 2024/5 - How NALI is calculated for capital gains

Sladen Snippet - TD 2024/5 - How NALI is calculated for capital gains

Following the passing of changes to non-arm’s length expenditure (NALE) rules through Parliament on 25 Jun 2024, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has finalised its Taxation Determination TD 2024/5 (previously Draft TD 2023/D1).

Sladen Snippet – NALE changes pass parliament

Sladen Snippet – NALE changes pass parliament

After a number of years in the making, the changes to the non-arm’s length expenses (NALE) rules have now passed through Parliament. While, as previously noted, the changes did not go far enough for many of the tax industry, and accounting bodies, the changes offer some relief to taxpayers.

Sladen Snippet – Merristock – primary production exemption applies as trust can beneficially own shares

Sladen Snippet – Merristock – primary production exemption applies as trust can beneficially own shares

In a case run by Sladen Legal, Merristock Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2024] VCAT 535, the taxpayer has successfully appealed against a Victorian State Revenue Office (SRO) determination that land owned by the taxpayer was not eligible for the primary production land tax exemption.

Sladen snippet - S&H Investments - Company cannot contract out of super guarantee

Sladen snippet - S&H Investments - Company cannot contract out of super guarantee

In the decision of S&H Investments Pty Ltd and Commissioner of Taxation [2024] AATA 893, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), the Tribunal affirmed the decision of the Commissioner of Taxation to assess the taxpayer for the superannuation guarantee charge for failing to pay superannuation for their employee/contractor referred to as “TW”.

Victorian State Budget 2024-25 - Small Changes to State Taxes

Victorian State Budget 2024-25 - Small Changes to State Taxes

On 7 May 2024, the Victorian State Government presented the Victorian State Budget for 2024/25.

No substantial tax measures were announced.  There were only new State Tax measures in the Victorian State Budget 2024-25 which are listed within this article.

Sladen Snippet – Loans in breach of SIS Act unenforceable – End of the world or confined to its facts?

Sladen Snippet – Loans in breach of SIS Act unenforceable – End of the world or confined to its facts?

In Colaciello Super Pty Ltd v Christensen [2023] VSC 568 the Supreme Court of Victoria held that a loan in breach of sections 62 and 65 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) was unenforceable under the defence of illegality.

Sladen Snippet - The Krongold appeal – VCAT’s jurisdiction to hear matters involving federal legislation remains restricted

Sladen Snippet -  The Krongold appeal – VCAT’s jurisdiction to hear matters involving federal legislation remains restricted

On 17 August 2023, the Court of Appeal in the Victoria Supreme Court handed down its decision in Krongold v Thurin [2023] VSCA 191. This decision is a further instalment in a long running domestic building dispute between homeowners, David and Lisa Thurin (Thurin) and their builder, Krongold Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd (Krongold).

Sladen snippet – JMC – right to delegate means no super guarantee

Sladen snippet – JMC – right to delegate means no super guarantee

The Full Federal Court, in the decision of JMC Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2023] FCAFC 76, has effectively found that a right to delegate (unless such right is a sham) means a person will be a contractor (and not an employee) and won’t be engaged principally for their labour.

Sladen Snippet - Super to be paid on an employee’s payday

Sladen Snippet - Super to be paid on an employee’s payday

The Government has announced that, from 1 July 2026, employers will obligated to make super contributions at the same time they pay their employee’s their salary and wages (eg weekly, fortnightly or monthly). Currently, super must be made within 28 days of the end of each quarter.

Sladen Snippet - Jamsek – truck driver partnerships not eligible for super guarantee

Sladen Snippet - Jamsek – truck driver partnerships not eligible for super guarantee

The Full Federal Court has confirmed in Jamsek v ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2023] FCAFC 48 that a truck driver partnership was not eligible for super guarantee contributions.  The decision is an important decision in relation the application to super guarantee in relation to contractors and, in particular, partnerships and other entities.

Sladen Snippet – ATO warns on SMSF gift and loan back (asset protection) arrangements

Sladen Snippet – ATO warns on SMSF gift and loan back (asset protection) arrangements

In an interesting development, the ATO has released a warning in relation to SMSFs entering into gift and loan back arrangements.

Sladen Snippet – SMSF BDBNs not bound by SIS Regs – Hill v Zuda

Sladen Snippet – SMSF BDBNs not bound by SIS Regs – Hill v Zuda

In the much anticipated decision of Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd, the High Court has determined that regulation 6.17A of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 (SIS Regs) does not apply to binding death benefit nominations (BDBNs) prepared for self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Sladen Snippet – ATO confirms NALE practical administration approach is extended to 30 June 2023

Sladen Snippet – ATO confirms NALE practical administration approach is extended to 30 June 2023

The ATO has confirmed that its current administrative approach to the non-arm’s length expenditure (NALE), as set out in Practical Compliance Guide PCG 2020/5, will be extended to 30 June 2023.