Category Archives: Tax Month – November 2019

Employers face FBT hit on staff car parking – change of ATO interpretation of existing law could create FBT liability or increase it radically

On 14 November 2019, the Australian Financial Review published an article by Political Reporter: Tom McIlroy, entitled: Employers face FBT hit on staff car parking – which is about penalty parking rates on which employer might have to pay FBT, after the Commissioner proposes to change his ruling. See related Tax Technical article. See below for…

TR 2019/D5 – FBT on car parking benefits – ruling updated to increase FBT so it is based on penalty all day rates to discourage all day parking

On 13 November 2019, the ATO issued TR 2019/D5 – dealing with FBT on employer provided car parking. It replaces TR 96/26, after the 2010 Virgin Blue Airlines and the 2014 Qantas Airways cases – making several changes. See related Tax Technical article. See below for a summary. [Tax Month – November 2019]    

Victoria fights High Court challenge to vehicle stamp duty – ‘under s86 of the Constitution, which reserves raising ‘duties of customs and of excise’ exclusively to the Commonwealth

On 11 Nov 2019, the Australian Financial Review published an article by Political Reporter: Tom McIlroy, entitled: Victoria fights High Court challenge to vehicle stamp duty. This is a reference to s86 of the Constitution of Australia, that reserves the power to levy ‘duties of customs and of excise’ exclusively to the Commonwealth of Australia.…

Inspector General of Tax – wants tougher whistleblower protections for ATO officers, blowing the whistle on ATO conduct

On 11 November 2019, the Australian Financial Review published an article, by Political Reporter: Tom McIlroy, entitled Tax inspector wants tougher whistleblower protections.  This is ‘whistleblower’ relief for ATO officers, wanting to disclose what they think is mis-practice within the ATO. See below for the article. [Tax Month – November 2019]      

TR 2019/2 – Trusts arrangements that purport to avoid CGT on an asset, eventually passed to a third party, by exploiting the subdivision 126-G restructure rollover

On 31 October 2019, the ATO released TR 2019/2, which covers its concerns with unit trust arrangements, that purport to avoid CGT on transactions that eventually pass ownership of an asset, to a third party, without an CGT, by exploiting the subdivision 126-G restructure rollover. See below for further details. [Tax Month – November 2019]

Treasury Laws Amendment (International Tax Agreements) Bill 2019 passed – giving legislative force to the Australia-Israel DTA and introducing a domestic ‘deemed source rule’, for DTA purposes

On 14 Nov 2019, Parliament passed legislation to give effect to the new Australia-Israel Double Tax Agreement, and introduce a new Div 764 into our Domestic law, for DTA purposes. See below for a summary of the Bill (as passed). [Tax Month – November 2019]  

Draft guidelines on application for the ‘economic infrastructure staples tax concession’ – which reduces the 30% MIT tax withholding, for non-residents, down to 15%

On Thursday 14.11.19, Treasury released a draft ‘Guidance Note’ for potential applicants, to the Federal Treasurer, for the economic infrastructure staples tax concession. Comments are due by 17 Jan 2020. See below for a summary of this concession and the consultation. FJM 17.19 [Tax Month – November 2019]   The concession provides one of the exceptions, to…

Extension of the ‘significant global entity’ definition to go beyond groups headed by listed companies – revised exposure draft legislation after ’round 1′ consultation

On 13 Nov 2019, Treasury released an ‘exposure draft’ of legislation the extend the definition of ‘Significant Global Entity’ (calling for comments by 11 December 2019). The SGE definition not only sucks big companies, into its onerous vortex, but every member of its Group, some of which can be small, and unaware of these extended…

Vic: State Taxation Acts Further Amendment Bill 2019 passed – Duties Act and Land Tax Act changes (Nov 2019)

The State Taxation Acts Further Amendment Bill 2019 (Vic) has passed all stages without amendment, on 14 Nov 20-19, and awaits asset. This includes both Duties and Land Tax changes. See below for a summary of the Bill. FJM 17.11.19 [Tax Month – November 2019]  

DCT v Babji – DPN summary judgment dismissed – defendant was a director for less than a month, and company liabilities were due up to 2 years earlier (beware the reach of the DPN provisions)

The WA District Court dismissed a Deputy Commissioner’s claim for an extension of time to bring a summary judgment application concerning a director penalty notice (DPN) and then dismissed the summary judgment claim itself. DPN liability can apply to underlying company liabilities arising both before and after the directorship period – so beware. See below…