Amazon – ‘geo-blocks’ Australians back to its (thinly stocked and uncompetitive) Australian hub rather than have the US pay Australian GST from 1 July 2018

Tax Month - June 2018

The start of the new legislation, to force overseas suppliers, to pay Australian GST, on supplies of sub-$1,000 goods, to Australians, seems to have backfired, after Amazon announced (on 31.5.18) that it would subject Australian purchasers to a ‘geo-block’ – namely to redirect Australian purchasers, to its new Australian hub, which would pay the GST.…

Corporate tax avoidance – Senate committee releases final report – 13 recommendation after a 3.5 year torrid inquiry – legislation already fixed some problems

Tax Month - June 2018

On 30 May 2018, the Senate Economics Reference Committee released a final 128 page report of its inquiry into corporate tax avoidance in Australia. The Committee’s hearings caused headlines as senior officers of major companies were grilled as to the tax structures (a bit like the current Banking Royal Commission, but the Australian revenue was…

SA: Transfer Duty – no duty on transfers of non-residential and non-primary production land executed on or after 1 July 2018 (replaced by 0.825% ad valorem registration fee)

Tax Month - June 2018

Revenue SA reminded taxpayers, that transfers of ‘qualifying land‘ (non-residential or non-primary production land), were exempt from transfer duty, if executed on or after 1 July 2018. This is significant duty reform, from South Australia, and is the effect of  s105A(5) of the Stamp Duties Act 1923, which was inserted into this Act, in  2015,…