Directors’ penalty regime – draft legislation (making directors liable after 3 months without a liquidation option) re-released with only modest further relief [A4]

The Government on Wed 18.4.2012, released exposure draft legislation which proposes changes to the director penalty regime. The main aspects of the proposed amendments involve: expanding the director penalty regime to superannuation guarantee amounts; ensuring that directors cannot have their director penalties remitted by placing their company into administration or liquidation when unpaid PAYG withholding…

*Tax concession entities and “in Australia” conditions: revised draft legislation released [A3]

The Assistant Treasurer on Tue 17.4.2012, released revised draft legislation for restating and standardising the special conditions for tax concession entities. The Government announced in the 2009-10 Budget that it would amend the “in Australia” special conditions in Div 50 of the ITAA 1997 to ensure that Government retains the ability to maintain appropriate oversight…

*UK Budget 2012-13 [O4]

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer presented his Budget to the UK Parliament on Wed 21.3.2012. Key tax measures announced included: Reducing the top rate of income tax from 50% to 45% in April 2013. Reducing the main rate of corporation tax by an additional 1%, so that the rate will reduce from 26% to…

*Unexplained wealth and tax laws: Law Enforcement Committee report [O3]

The Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement has completed its inquiry into Commonwealth unexplained wealth legislation and arrangements. Its report was tabled in Parliament yesterday [Mon 19.3.2012]. The report is available on the Committee website. According to the Committee, “unexplained wealth laws can be used to target serious and organised crime bosses who arrange…