When is a unit trust not a unit trust? – when it’s a hybrid trust

When is a unit trust not a unit trust? – when it’s a hybrid trust

Both federal and state tax legislations contain different tax rules for different forms of trusts. The recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) decision of Sharlin Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2022] VCAT 378 has provided much-needed clarity and insights into relevant considerations to determine whether a hybrid unit trust is a unit trust or a discretionary trust for the purpose of the land tax exemption for primary production land (PPL).

Sladen Snippet - you haven’t made super contributions on time – now what?

Sladen Snippet - you haven’t made super contributions on time – now what?

ake super guarantee contributions on time is not a breach of the super laws, but it will trigger tax for the employer, and potentially penalties.

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 Determination TD 2022/D1: much ado about nothing or a seismic shift?

Draft Taxation Determination TD 2022/D1: much ado about nothing or a seismic shift?

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.

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.

Sladen Snippet - ATO draft guidance on deductibility of expenses in establishing employee share schemes

Sladen Snippet - ATO draft guidance on deductibility of expenses in establishing employee share schemes

Amongst all the furore about the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) draft guidance on section 100A, on 23 February 2022, the ATO also issued draft guidance on determining when expenses incurred in establishing and administering an employee share scheme (ESS) are deductible.

A Guide To Understanding Land Tax: Part 1 Overview of Land Tax

A Guide To Understanding Land Tax: Part 1 Overview of Land Tax

What is land tax

Land tax is a state and territory tax. It is an annual tax that is levied by the state authorities of each state and territory based on the total taxable value of land held in the particular jurisdiction.

Draft ATO guidance on 100A and UPEs: is everything awesome?

Draft ATO guidance on 100A and UPEs: is everything awesome?

After six years the ATO has released draft guidance on section 100A. Keeping with the draft theme, the ATO also released (updated) draft views on when an unpaid present entitlement held on sub-trust becomes financial accommodation for purposes of Division 7A.

VCAT finds the sub-sale double duty provisions are triggered due to land development

VCAT finds the sub-sale double duty provisions are triggered due to land development

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s (VCAT) decision in Hartman v Commissioner of State Revenue (Review and Regulation) [2022] VCAT 28 (Hartman Case) is a rare decision on the application of the sub-sale “double duty” provisions in the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) (Act).

Tribunal decision shows the difficulty of satisfying the primary production land tax exemption for farm land that is leased

Tribunal decision shows the difficulty of satisfying the primary production land tax exemption for farm land that is leased

The primary production land tax exemption remains an important concession for farmers and the owners of farm land. The Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales has added to the list of recent land tax cases offering insight into the application of the primary production land tax exemption.

A Guide To Understanding Land Tax: Part 2 Land held on Trust

A Guide To Understanding Land Tax: Part 2 Land held on Trust

What is land tax

Land tax is a state and territory tax. It is an annual tax that is levied by the state authorities of each state and territory based on the total taxable value of land held in the particular jurisdiction.

Super contributions payable to contractor plumber - a call for action for businesses

Super contributions payable to contractor plumber -  a call for action for businesses

In the recent Australian Administrative Tribunal (AAT) decision of Trustee for Virdis Family Trust t/a Rickard Heating Pty Ltd v FC of T [2022] AATA 3, the AAT relied on the decision in Dental Corporation Pty Ltd v Moffet [2020] FCAFC 118 (Moffet) to find that a plumber who was engaged as a contractor was an employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (SG Act).