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

Normandy Finance Pty Ltd v FCT – Commissioner appeals against decision that receipts from overseas company were genuine loans not income

The Commissioner has appealed to the Full Federal Court against the decision in Normandy Finance Pty Ltd v FCT [2015] FCA 1420. The Federal Court had held that payments of around $4m made from a foreign company to its Australian subsidiary and another related company over several years were genuine loans, and not “shams”. [LTN 19, 1/2/16]

Re Ogden and FCT – Large home office and work-related deduction claims significantly reduced – largely used or consumed by family

A professional sales commission agent has been largely unsuccessful before the AAT in claiming deductions for work-related expenses, including home office expenses, various grocery items and overtime meal allowances. The taxpayer had similar deductions disallowed by the AAT in Re Odgen and FCT [2014] AATA 385 in respect of a different income year. In the current proceedings,…

Tax (financial) advisers must register with the Tax Practice Board (‘disclaimer’ period ended) – either ‘transitional’ to 30 June 2017 or ‘standard’ now

Australian financial services (AFS) licensees and representatives who provide tax (financial) advice services for a fee or other reward must now be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) [as of 1 Jan 2016]. They can no longer rely on a disclaimer to provide these services while unregistered. The TPB Chair, Ian Taylor, advises that…

ACT payroll tax: Comr for ACT Revenue v G Kalsbeek Pty Ltd – penalty tax for tax default affirmed – Comr wins appeal

The Commissioner of ACT Revenue has been successful before the Appeals Tribunal of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal in setting aside a previous decision to reduce penalty tax imposed on a taxpayer for a payroll tax default. At first instance, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal was satisfied that, due to the ill health…

NSW payroll tax: Chan & Naylor Australia Pty Ltd v Chief Comr of State Revenue – commonly controlled businesses, so grouping affirmed

Two corporate taxpayers have been unsuccessful before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in a payroll tax grouping matter. The Commissioner had grouped the taxpayers with another corporate entity for payroll tax purposes. The dispute concerned revised assessments for the financial years 2009 to 2013 for payroll tax, penalty tax and interest, which amounted to…

Vic stamp duty: – Kloester v Comr of State Revenue – property purchased in parents’ names – exemptions refused

Two taxpayers have been unsuccessful before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in seeking exemptions under either sections 34 (property vested in apparent purchaser) or 36 (property passing to beneficiaries of a fixed trust) of the Duties Act 2000 (Vic) in relation to a property purchased in the names of the parents of the first…

Tax Month – January 2016

Tax Technical – Monthly News – January 2016 Developments – This is a collection of developments in Australian tax law and practice that occurred in January 2016 and which aims at being of relevance to tax practioners.* Compiled By F John Morgan A member of the Victorian Bar (www.FJMtax.com) Liability limited by a scheme approved…