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

JobKeeper 2.1 and JobKeeper 1.1 changes – the Government remains ‘nimble’ – but there is much to consider

The Tax Institute’s Senior Advocate: Robyn Jacobson published her ‘Report’ entitled JobKeeper 2.1: a nimble response, in the Institute’s Friday publication: TaxVine (No. 31 on 14.8.20). This tracks the most recent changes to JobKeeper, prompted largely by the ‘2nd Wave’ of COVID-19 in Victoria and the introduction of severe ‘Stage 4’ restrictions here – badly damaging…

CofT v Addy – “Backpacker tax” applies to British national who was an Australian tax resident on a ‘working visa’

On 6.8.20, the Full Federal Court has allowed the ATO’s appeal against a decision that the so-called “backpacker tax” did not apply to a British national who was a tax resident of Australia because of a non-discrimination clause in the Australia-UK DTA. See below for further details. [Tax Month – August 2020]     The…

Age retirement rule is probably illegal – implications for professional service firms in light of action of Deloitte partner forced to retire at age 62

On Friday 7.8.20 the Australian Financial Review’s reporters Hanna Wootton and Edmund Tadros posted an article entitled Age retirement partners rule is illegal: experts. It assesses the future of age based requirements for partners in professional forms to retire at certain ages, in wake of the recent claim by a former Deloitte partner, forced to retire…

GE settled ATO audit for $273m in UK ‘tax fraud’ case – ‘triple dipped’ interest (UK and Aus work together)

On Friday 7.8.20, the Australian Financial Review posted an article by its Senior Writer: neil Chenoweth, entitled GE settled ATO audit for $273m in UK ‘tax fraud’ case. It involves a 4 day $4.9b loan with interest ‘triple-dipped’ in  the US, UK and Australia before declaring tax free profits in Luxembourg. See below for details. [Tax…

Kander v CofT – employee failed to tick the right box for ‘salary sacrificed’ super contributions and was assessed on the salary she directed be paid as contributions

In Kandor v CofT, the AAT decided that Super contributions, which a taxpayer mistakenly directed her employer to make, from after-tax salary, rather than from pre-tax salary, were assessable to her and that the AAT did not have the power to correct her mistake. This was a 31 July 2020 decision reported on 5 August 2020.…

More on the Victorian Stage 4 lockdown – the Tax Institute advises on impact for tax practitioners and taxpayers and policy lobbying

Robyn Jacobson CTA, Senior Advocate for The Tax Institute wrote a broadcast email to Institute Members saying: “The nation is reeling from the current situation in Victoria. As Senior Advocate at The Tax Institute, I am reaching out to assure you that our tax community remains connected and strong, and to keep you informed on the targeted…

Plutus Payroll (Australia’s biggest tax fraud) – founder: Simon Anquetil jailed for 7 years 6 months (5 years non-parol) – under joint ‘Operation Elbrus’

On 31 July 2020, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Tax Office and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions issued a joint media release, saying that the founder of the ‘Plutus’ tax fraud: Simon Anquetil, was sentenced in the Supreme Court of NSW – to 7 years and 6 months in jail, with a non-parole period of 5…

Victorian ‘Stage 4 lockdown’ restrictions – impact on lawyers – Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner update

On Wednesday 5 August 2020, the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner issued a broadcast email to all Victorian lawyers, giving a summary of the effect of both the new ‘Stage 4’ and previous ‘Stage 3′ lockdown restrictions on lawyers in this state – now the dust has settled (and the restrictions bite – at…