29 Nov

The ATO will be notifying all tax agents in early December 2019 regarding which of their clients will be coming under review by the expansion of its Tax Avoidance Task Force. Affected taxpayers include any private wealth groups that control more than $5 million in wealth or have more than $10 million in turnover.  Essentially, the ATO has: expanded its Top 320 program to be a Top 500 program, focusing on the 500 largest private wealth groups in Australia introduced a new high wealth private groups program focused on private groups with more than $50 million in wealth introduced a new medium and emerging private groups program focused on private...

15:23 / CGT / GST / Income Tax
24 Oct

West Garbutt Principal Lyndon Garbutt recently co-presented with Steven Fogarty of the ATO at the Queensland Law Society Property Law Conference in Brisbane on the topic of getting GST right for property transactions. GST as it applies to property transactions is complex and can have unexpected consequences. The co-presenters provided an insight into: how to manage GST risk how to avoid common traps associated with documenting GST clauses common issues encountered in claiming the going concern exemption and margin scheme concession obligations on purchasers relating to GST withholdings. For people wanting to access a copy of the slides please click on the link below.  Should more...

15:32 / GST
03 Oct

Lyndon Garbutt, Principal of West Garbutt presented on the complexity of GST as it applies to property transactions at the 2019 Queensland Property and Construction Intensive held by the Taxation Institute of Australia.

The presentation focused on how to identify and manage various GST risks faced by property developers and the importance of seeking input from GST lawyers prior to entering into transactions to ensure GST implications are properly considered and appropriate GST clauses drafted.

16:37 / GST
27 Sep

Tax lawyers Mark West and Michael McLaughlin presented on structuring and planning for tax before a realization event at the Tax Institute - Private Business Tax retreat, held on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The presentation by the West Garbutt Principals considered the strategies to utilize in planning for a sale to third parties or succession to the next generation. The session included detailed case studies for attendees to consider, focusing on critical issues that could arise and how to manage issues such as Division 7A and the small business CGT concessions.

For people wanting to access a copy of these slides please click on the link below.  Should more detailed advice be required, or you would like assistance with your own structuring needs, please contact one of our specialist tax lawyers.

15:07 / CGT
19 Sep

Mark West and Lyndon Garbutt provided a tax lawyer’s overview of available exemptions and concessions to attendees from various not for profits and charities at the Queensland Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) sharing knowledge breakfast. The presentation focused on the importance of payroll tax, land tax and other State taxes for not for profit organisations and charities operating in Brisbane and Queensland.  Strategies to manage exposure to shortfalls with tax and to deal with overpayments of tax were also shared.  Co-presenter Sandra Wojcik of UnitingCare providing attendees an insight from the perspective of an in-house tax counsel within a large NFP. For people wanting more information on payroll tax, land tax, duty and local government regulations as they apply to not for profits and charities, please click on the below link to access a copy of the powerpoint presentation.  Should more detailed advice be required, please contact one of our specialist tax lawyers.
12:54 / Land Tax / Payroll Tax / Stamp Duty