New Victorian taxes to (part) pay for the Suburban Rail Loop

New Victorian taxes to (part) pay for the Suburban Rail Loop

The Victorian State Government has announced new taxes to partially fund the Suburban Rail Loop as part of “value capture” arrangements.

When warranties become an important tool for protection

When warranties become an important tool for protection

Well drafted warranties offer purchasers protection by providing an avenue to seek recovery in the event that what is acquired turns out to be different than what it was represented to be by the seller.

This article looks at a case involving a share sale agreement and the outcome achieved when action was taken against the seller due to a breach of warranties offered in the share sale agreement to the purchaser.

Are companies caught by Anti-Corruption legislation under Australian law?

Are companies caught by Anti-Corruption legislation under Australian law?

Over the past three years, the Australian Government has placed increasing significance on developing anti-corruption laws at both the domestic and international level. This article provides an overview of some of the legislation which govern this area in Australia, how corporations can be found liable and how to access guides to manage compliance.

Changela v Dracoma: On demand loans not unreasonable director-related transactions

Changela v Dracoma: On demand loans not unreasonable director-related transactions

The NSW Court of Appeal has affirmed on-demand loan repayments to shadow directors were reasonable where the company was solvent and the payments caused no detriment and as such do not constitute a breach of the unreasonable director related transaction provisions in section 588FDA of the Corporations Act.

New Draft Victorian Revenue Ruling imposes stamp duty on apportioned land tax and windfall gains tax

New Draft Victorian Revenue Ruling imposes stamp duty on apportioned land tax and windfall gains tax

The Victorian State Revenue Office has issued a draft revenue ruling “Land transfer duty - Consideration - Assumption of tax liabilities” for comment that seeks to impose a new stamp duty on adjustments at settlement of property transfers.  This is an Australian first tax and will penalise commercial and other property transfers.

Alphington Developments Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue – payments made by vendor could not reduce purchase price for stamp duty purposes

Alphington Developments Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue – payments made by vendor could not reduce purchase price for stamp duty purposes

The Victorian Supreme Court in Alphington Developments Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2025] VSC 709 considered the dutiable value for a transfer of land under paragraph 20(1)(a) of the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) and whether payments required to be made by the vendor under a contract were able to reduce the headline purchase price for stamp duty purposes.

Bakers Delight Case: What Franchisors Need to Know About Workplace Liability

Bakers Delight Case: What Franchisors Need to Know About Workplace Liability

The Full Court of the Federal Court’s decision in Bakers Delight Holdings Ltd v Fair Work Ombudsman [2025] FCAFC 144 provides insight into the interaction between franchisor liability and ‘reverse onus’ mechanisms in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

 

Specifically, the Federal Court confirmed that franchisors can be held legally responsible for workplace contraventions by franchisees, even where the case against the franchisee relies on a ‘reverse onus of proof’. Franchisors are recommended to implement proactive compliance systems across their networks to avoid liability.

Sladen Snippet – PayDay Super Now Law: Key Changes to Employer Obligations, Disclosure, and Penalties

Sladen Snippet – PayDay Super Now Law: Key Changes to Employer Obligations, Disclosure, and Penalties

PayDay Super is now law, with changes effective from 1 July 2026. The reforms introduce a new voluntary disclosure regime and a new penalty framework for non-compliance. Stay ahead of the changes and understand your new obligations.

XLZH - discretionary trusts and pre-CGT assets - more on this to come?

XLZH - discretionary trusts and pre-CGT assets - more on this to come?

The ART decision in XLZH v FCT looked at whether pre-CGT assets owned by a discretionary trust kept that status under Division 149 and to the extent to which ATO Ruling IT 2430 can be relied upon in applying Division 149.

 

#CGT, #Division 149, #discretionary trusts, #Tax, #IT 2430

Sladen Snippet – New Div 296 tax – what we know and what we don’t?

Sladen Snippet – New Div 296 tax – what we know and what we don’t?

New Division 296 tax, as outlined in a Treasury Fact Sheet, includes two indexed thresholds ($3 million and $10 million) and taxation on realised (not unrealised) earnings from 1 July 2026. However, critical details about how realised earnings will be calculated—particularly regarding pre-1 July 2026 gains—remain unclear.

 

#superannuation #SMSF #tax #Div296 #totalsuperbalance #$3million #unrealisedgains #10million

Sladen Snippet - Treasurer announces major changes to Div 296 tax – including removal of tax on unrealised gains

Sladen Snippet - Treasurer announces major changes to Div 296 tax – including removal of tax on unrealised gains

Division 296 tax to be amended to remove taxation of unrealised capital gains, according to a media release by Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

 

#superannuation #SMSF #tax #Div296 #totalsuperbalance #$3million #unrealisedgains

Bendel Part III: summary of the parties’ submissions

Bendel Part III: summary of the parties’ submissions

The article explains the arguments contained in the parties’ submissions to the High Court in the appeal by the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) from the Full Federal Court’s (Full Court) decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Bendel [2025] FCAFC 15 (Bendel). 

Super and death case studies part 3 – tax issues where BDBN directs death benefit payment of large property in-specie

Super and death case studies part 3 – tax issues where BDBN directs death benefit payment of large property in-specie

This article is the third in a three-part series setting out practical solutions to common issues in super, tax and estate planning, with a particular focus on the tax impact of payments to beneficiaries.

 

Part 3 of our series looks at the tax issues which should be considered when paying death benefits in specie, including capital gains tax and the super ‘death tax’.

 

#superannuation #SMSF #deathtax #deathbenefits #estateplanning #deathbenefitdependant #CGT #inspecie #BDBN

Sladen Legal’s Tax Practice Recognised In Doyles Guide Victoria 2025

Sladen Legal’s Tax Practice Recognised In Doyles Guide Victoria 2025

Sladen Legal has been recognised as a Third Tier Leading Tax Law Firm in Victoria for 2025 by Doyle's Guide. Doyle's Guide is a respected and independent directory that highlights Australia’s top firms and legal professionals.

Super and death case studies part 2 – super ‘death tax’ and achieving equality between beneficiaries

Super and death case studies part 2 – super ‘death tax’ and achieving equality between beneficiaries

This article is the second in a three-part series setting out practical solutions to common issues in super, tax and estate planning, with a particular focus on the tax impact of payments to beneficiaries.

Super and death case studies part 1 – pre-death withdrawals

Super and death case studies part 1 – pre-death withdrawals

This article is the first in a three-part series setting out practical solutions to common issues in super, tax and estate planning, with a particular focus on the tax impact of payments to beneficiaries.

Part 1 of our series looks at how withdrawing super benefits before death can form part of a member’s overall estate planning.

Victory International– Hybrid unit trusts subject to landholder duty

Victory International– Hybrid unit trusts subject to landholder duty

The Victorian Supreme Court has held that acquisitions of units in hybrid unit trusts are potentially subject to landholder duty.

The case has wide impact with potentially absurd outcomes for some taxpayers.