*Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement: Bills receive Royal Assent and enter into force 15.1.15 [4]

Tax Month - December 2014

The Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 and Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 on Thur 4.12.2014, received Royal Assent as Act Nos 124 and 125 of 2014, respectively. The Bills both passed all stages without amendment. The first Bill amends the Customs Act 1901 to implement Australia’s…

*Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No 7) Bill 2014 – introduced [2]

Tax Month - December 2014

The Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No 7) Bill 2014 was introduced in the House of Reps on Thur 4.12.2014. It makes the following amendments: Super excess non-concessional contributions – option to withdraw – amends the ITAA 1997 and the TAA to allow individuals the option of withdrawing excess superannuation non-concessional contributions (plus 85%…

*Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No 6) Bill 2014 received Royal Assent (Act No 133 of 2014) [1]

Tax Month - December 2014

The Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No 6) Bill 2014 received Royal Assent on 12 December 2014 as Act No 133 of 2014. It had passed all stages without amendment. The Bill contains amendments relating to: ▪       extending the existing CGT business restructure roll-overs. The Bill amends the ITAA 1997 to extend the existing CGT…

Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regs amended re Korea and Japan FTAs [79]

Tax Month - November 2014

The Trade Agreements Legislation Amendment Regulation 2014 was registered on Mon 3.11.2014. It amends the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulations 1989 and the Life Insurance Regulations 1995 to give effect to Australia’s foreign investment screening and life insurance regulation commitments under the recently signed Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement. Among other…

Enhanced register of financial advisers: draft reg released [81]

Tax Month - November 2014

An Exposure Draft of the Corporations Amendment (Register of Relevant Providers) Regulation 2014 was released on Thur 27.11.2014, which proposes to make a number of amendments to the Corporations Regulations 2001 to: enable ASIC to establish and maintain a public register of financial advisers; and for Australian Financial Service licensees to collect and provide information…

Foreign Investors to pay administration fee to FIRB – recommendation by Parliamentary Committee [82]

Tax Month - November 2014

The report of the House of Reps Standing Committee on Economics into Foreign investment in residential real estate was tabled Thur 27.11.2014. The 148-page report made 12 recommendations, including that the Government apply a modest administrative fee to the current screening for all foreign purchases of residential real estate, including purchases by temporary residents. This…

Vic payroll tax: reduced penalty for voluntary disclosure of payments to private security industry licensees as exempt ends after 30.11.14 [78]

Tax Month - November 2014

The Victorian State Revenue Office (SRO) has reminded employers of holders of private security individual operator licences that the voluntary disclosure period is nearing its end. In September 2014, the SRO issued Payroll Tax Bulletin PTX1/14 which offers employers a reduced rate of penalty tax if they voluntarily disclose on or before 30 November 2014 that they have classified…