John Morgan is a tax specialist lawyer of more than three decades experience now practicing at the Victorian Bar - w: www.FJMtax.com e: f.john.morgan@vicbar.com.au

ACT: landholder; short-term commercial subleases, etc – Bills await notification [95]

The following Bills have passed all stages of the ACT Legislative Assembly and await notification: – passed with an amendment, the Bill Duties (Landholders) Amendment Bill 2012amends the Duties Act 1999 (ACT) to “more closely” align the Territory’s landholder provisions with NSW. Date of effect: The amendments will commence on 1 July 2012. Duties Amendment…

*Tax Practitioners Board issues draft information sheet on holding moneys on trust for clients under item 3 of the code [94]

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has issued for comment Draft Information Sheet TPB(I) D13/2012 (Code of Professional Conduct – Holding money or other property on trust). The Board discusses the obligation under item 3 of the Code of Conduct contained in the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA) on registered tax agents and BAS agents…

*Small Business Superannuation Clearing House – National Audit Office report says Medicare administering it effectively, but take-up is low and cost is high [88]

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has released its Performance Audit Report No 47 2011-12 on the implementation and administration of the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House. Overall, the ANAO found the Clearing House was effectively implemented and well-administered by Medicare Australia. However, the report stated that Treasury did not prepare formal assessments of the…