The Duties Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 (WA) received Royal Assent on 29 June 2013 as Act No 5 of 2013. It had passed all stages without amendment and amends the Duties Act 2008 (WA) and the Duties Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (WA) to unwind the scheduled abolition of transfer duty on non-real business assets such as business…
The Treasurer says he considers there is a case for ongoing discussion, particularly with the states, about tax reform. In particular, he said there was a case for talking to the states about reducing the number of taxes in Australia which don’t raise very much money, that are a compliance burden for business and an…
The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has advised that recent changes to the Tax Agent Services Regulations 2009 (TASR) mean that some tax agents will not need to complete a Board approved course in commercial law. However, this change does not affect individuals who became registered as a tax agent for the first time from 1 March 2010.…
The Federal Court has upheld the decision of the AAT in AAT Case [2013] AATA 188, Re Frugtniet and Tax Practitioners Board to refuse the tax agent’s request for a stay of the decision of the Tax Practitioners Board to terminate his registration for a period of 5 years. In that case, the Tax Practitioners…
This Ruling, released on Wed 31.7.2013, sets out the Commissioner’s final views on when a “superannuation income stream” (reg 995-1.01 of the ITA Regs) commences and when it ceases, and consequently when a superannuation income stream is payable. The Ruling was previously released as Draft Ruling TR 2011/D3 and has been subtly revised in several…
The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) says registered tax and BAS agents who fail to meet their personal tax obligations are breaching the Code of Professional Conduct (Code item 2) contained in the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA). The TPB says in the last 12 months, it has completed around 100 investigations of registered tax…
The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has released FAQs on various issues concerning tax and BAS agents. FAQs concern registration applications, renewing registrations, processing timeframes for applications, professional indemnity insurance requirements, qualification requirements, application fees, online services, updating contact details with the TPB, lodging complaints, and whether the TPB can recommend tax or BAS agents. The…
The ATO on Mon 29.7.2013, released a Decision Impact Statement on the decision of the Full Federal Court in Cyonara Snowfox Pty Ltd v FCT [2012] FCAFC 177. In that case, the Full Court dismissed a taxpayer’s appeal against an earlier AAT decision, which had affirmed a GST assessment for particular periods in connection with…
The ATO on Mon 1.7.2013, released an Interim Decision Impact Statement on the Federal Court’s decision in ATS Pacific Pty Ltd v FCT [2013] FCA 341. In that case, the Federal Court held that supplies provided by a taxpayer, an Australian travel agent, to non-resident travel agents was subject to GST as it did not…
The Government has announced the reappointment of Mr Ali Noroozi as the full-time Inspector-General of Taxation for a further 5-year period beginning on 6 November 2013. Mr Noroozi has been the Inspector-General of Taxation since September 2008. [LTN 133, 12/7/13]