Monthly Archives: December 2017

Housing Affordability Bill: superannuation changes to establish (1) First Home Super Saver Scheme; (2) Downsizer extra $300k super contributions from sale of house

On Thur 7.12.2017, the House of Representatives agreed to amendments made by the Senate (that were moved by Senator Leyonhjelm) to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Reducing Pressure on Housing Affordability Measures No 1) Bill 2017 and the Bill effectively awaits Royal Assent. The other Bill in the package – the First Home Super Saver Tax Bill…

TPB – 2016/17 Annual Report – number of registered tax practitioners tops 80,000 & privacy warning

Message from the Chair I am pleased to present the Tax Practitioners Board Annual Report 2016–17, as tabled in Parliament on 27 October 2017. During this year we assisted a larger population of tax practitioners to comply with the Tax Agent Services Act 2009, promoting high professional and ethical standards that protect consumers of tax agent…

Aquatic Air Pty Ltd v Siewert & Anor – non-tax case disagrees with Commr’s GST assessments (denying Air Ambulance supplies were GST-free) and Commr then disagrees with the Court (hmm…)

Outlines the ATO’s response to this case which concerns whether supplies of air ambulance services were GST-free pursuant to subsection 38-10(5) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act)? Brief summary of facts The defendants, Dieter and Lieselotte Siewert (the Siewerts), were the owners of a number of aviation…

Government to review rules for early release of superannuation, including: (1) to members in hardship and (2) to victims of crime as compensation from the perpetrator’s funds

The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer announced that the Coalition  Government that Treasury will review: the current rules governing early release of superannuation on grounds of severe financial hardship and compassionate grounds. the circumstances in which, superannuation assets should be available to pay compensation or restitution to victims of crime.…

Corporate tax transparency report for 2015–16 – ATO release report for over 2,000 of the biggest companies paying 60% of company tax

On 7 December 2017, the ATO published the corporate tax transparency report for 2015–16 which includes some tax information of more than 2,000 large companies operating in Australia. You can read more about the ‘Transparency Measure‘ and the this Report on the ATO site. Also, many companies provide significantly more detailed information through the Board of Taxation’s Voluntary…