Meaning of ‘Public Benevolent Institution’ (PBI) – ACNC’s draft ‘Interpretation Statement’

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released for comment a draft Commissioner’s Interpretation Statement on the meaning and scope of the charity subtype of “public benevolent institutions” for ACNC purposes. The following is an extract of some of the key portions of the Statement. [ACNC – Public consultation and Comment; Download Statement] [LTN 75, 21/4/16] Extract…

CR 2016/23 – ordinary shareholders of Caltex Australia Ltd who disposed of their ordinary shares under the off-market share buyback announced on 23 February 2016

On 20.4.16, the ATO issued Class Ruling CR 2016/23 (off-market share buy-back: Caltex Australia Ltd) which applies to ordinary shareholders of Caltex Australia Ltd who disposed of their ordinary shares under the off-market share buyback announced on 23 February 2016. It applies form 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. [LTN 74, 20/4/16]

Inspector General’s further submission on the scrutiny of the ATO – being conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue

On 16 April 2016, the Inspector General of Taxation (IGT) lodged a further Submission to to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue’s (Committee) Inquiry into the External Scrutiny of the Australian Taxation Office (Inquiry). This was to supplement its initial Submission made in March 2016 after having the benefit of seeing the other submissions…

Oleshko and Tax Practitioners Board – Registration as tax agent denied – lack of relevant experience

The AAT has affirmed a decision of the Tax Practitioners Board to refuse an application for registration as a tax agent. The Board had rejected the person’s application for registration as a tax agent because it was not satisfied that she met the eligibility requirements for registration under s20-5(1) of the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA).…

Davan Developments Pty Ltd v HLB Mann Judd (SE Qld) Pty Ltd – taxpayer unsuccessful in obtaining damages for alleged negligence by its accountants

A company taxpayer failed to get an order for damages, in negligence (and cognate actions) against its tax agents in the Qld Court of Appeal. In November 2007, the appellant company transferred land for a consideration of $1.6m. For that transaction, the ATO assessed the company as liable to pay GST, income tax and penalties on each of…

2016 Measures No 1 Regulation 2016 – amends GST Regs to treat foreign offered bank accounts and superannuation interests as ‘financial supplies’ and the SIS Regs to allow contributions from ‘earn-outs’

The Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No 1) Regulation 2016 was registered on 15.4.2016. It makes consequential amendments the GST regs and the SIS regs to account for changes to the tax law to be made by the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No 1) Bill 2016 and already made the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015…

PCG 2016/6 – practical guidance on determining the source of hedging gains for the purposes of the cap on ‘Foreign Income Tax Offsets’

On 15.4.2016, the ATO issued Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2016/6 (Determining source of certain hedging gains for the purposes of s770-75). It sets out the ATO’s compliance approach to working out the source of certain hedging gains for the purposes of calculating the foreign income tax offset limit in s 770-75 of the ITAA 1997. The Guidelines apply…

Seymour v FCT – taxpayers seek leave to appeal the FFC decision that they could not give video evidence from outside Australia

The taxpayers have applied for special leave to appeal to the High Court against the decision in Seymour v FCT [2016] FCAFC 18. The Full Federal Court had by majority (Pagone J dissenting) dismissed a husband and wife taxpayers’ appeal from the 7 April 2015 decision of Buchanan J (in FCT v Seymour [2015] FCA 320) that had set aside an order made by the…

Financial Synergy Holdings Pty Ltd v FCT – Commissioner seeks leave to appeal – FFC decision that pre-CGT deeming did not affect the ‘allocable cost amount’ – $30m amount used instead of $1.5m at 19 September 1985

The Commissioner has applied for special leave to appeal to the High Court against the decision in Financial Synergy Holdings Pty Ltd v FCT [2016] FCAFC 31. The Full Federal Court had unanimously allowed the taxpayer’s appeal from the decision of Pagone J at first instance [2015] FCA 53. The taxpayer had to determine the cost base of an…