The ATO says its base tax penalty amount may be increased or reduced. The base penalty amount may be increased where the taxpayer hinders the ATO, but it also may be reduced in the following circumstances. Voluntary disclosure The voluntary disclosure to the Commissioner of a tax shortfall will result in a reduction of the...

The ATO has recently released the latest of what has become a regular update on the state of the SMSF market. The Self-managed super fund statistical report, with the latest covering the quarter to March this year, has become an anticipated overview for many in the SMSF arena — containing as it usually does some...

If you are planning to permanently move out of the country before the end of this financial year, you may be able to have your tax return lodged early. Generally, the ATO only accepts early lodgement of individual tax returns in certain circumstances. If you are a resident of Australia for tax purposes, returns lodged...

Investment returns can be on revenue or capital account. Similarly investment expenditure could also be on revenue or capital account. The distinction between revenue and capital is not always clear and the characterisation of a receipt will ultimately depend on the circumstances that apply to the taxpayer. The distinction between an income and capital receipt...

As if the new transfer balance cap rules were not complicated enough, the government has passed legislation that complicates it further where an SMSF starts a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) from 1 July 2017. Treasury was concerned that some trustees would try to get around the $1.6 million transfer balance cap (TBC) through the...

The CGT relief concessions that are available to small businesses can be very generous. However they can also be complex and confusing, so knowing a few of the finer details can go a long way to ensuring your small business can take best advantage of them. It’s never too early to consider an escape plan,...

Please click the link below to access the Wallace Partners Client Information Newsletter September 2017 Wallace Partners CIN September 2017

The law contains an integrity measure to prevent sharemarket investors from engaging in “dividend washing”. Dividend washing results in two sets of franking credits being claimed on what is effectively the same parcel of shares in publicly listed companies. The arrangement being targeted by the government can be illustrated as follows: Investor X holds parcel...

Certain start-up expenses, including costs associated with raising capital, that would otherwise be deductible over five years are immediately deductible (from July 1, 2015) where they are incurred by an SBE or an entity that is not in business. Before this date, business capital expenditure, including start-up expenses, was deductible over five years for all...

When a life insurance policy has been held by a taxpayer for 10 years or longer, reversionary bonuses received on that policy are generally tax-free. For policies held for less than 10 years, stipulated amounts are included in the taxpayer’s assessable income, and a tax offset is available. A bonus is not assessable income if...