*Tax penalty regime can be improved: IGT report released [55]

The Government Tue 8.7.2014, released the Inspector-General of Taxation’s report into the ATO’s administration of penalties. According to the IGT, “the objective of the penalties regime to foster ‘voluntary compliance’ may be hindered by a lack of sufficient differentiation between a range of taxpayer behaviours, the inability to receive interest on money paid for unsustained penalties and…

Tax (financial) advisers: registration requirements – regs finalized [57]

The Tax Agent Services Amendment (Tax (Financial) Advisers) Regulation 2014 was registered on Wed 23.7.2014, to amend the Tax Agent Services Regulations 2009 to bring financial planners within the regime administered by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). The Regulation does this by prescribing a tailored set of ongoing registration requirements for ‘tax (financial) advisers’, as…

*Tax (financial) advisers: Tax Board policy documents finalised [56]

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has finalised a number of key documents that contain important information for tax (financial) advisers. These include: TPB(I)20/2014 What is a tax (financial) advice service? TPB(EP) 05/2014 professional indemnity insurance policy requirements for tax (financial) advisers; and TPB(EP) 06/2014 continuing professional education policy requirements for tax (financial) advisers. From 1 July 2014,…

*ACNC replacement – options paper released [53]

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has released an Options Paper, Australia’s Charities and Not-for-profits to seek feedback from charities and interested parties on the proposed replacement options for the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The Government intends that regulatory functions previously transferred to the ACNC from the ATO and ASIC will return to…

Senate committee recommends carbon tax repeal Bills be passed, but tax cuts repeal Bill defeated [48]

The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee report on the Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2] and associated Bills was tabled on Tue 8.7.2014. The Committee majority recommended the Bills be passed by the Senate. The Labor and Greens Senators issued dissenting reports. However, one of the Bills in the package…