Steve Burnham

The ATO’s Tax Counsel Network has long been in the business of closely studying and understanding tax law, and for most of its existence members of the network have shared their thoughts, logic and conclusions with each other. However since June 2015, the ATO and its network of Tax Counsels has been making its previously

New residential property is a popular investment for many self-managed superannuation funds, however the ATO is concerned that not every SMSF trustee is fully aware that such an investment may bring with it unexpected GST obligations. It says that trustees who engage a representative when buying new residential property will need to complete a signed

Tax & Super’s 100th anniversaryBushfire assistance bill passed by ParliamentTweaks made to definition of “carrying on a business”Gummy vitamins and fat-buster supplements escape import dutyEarly release of super on ATO radarTax professionals conversations webcastSMSF obligations allowance for bushfire delaysLatest foreign exchange ratesLump sum payments to medical practitioners case appealed to FFCTax considerations when income sourced

The government introduced legislation to establish the Regional Broadband Scheme, which is intended to ensure there are long-term sustainable funding arrangements in place, via a levy on premises, to provide essential broadband services to regional, rural and remote Australians. The legislation to introduce the scheme, the Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019, was tabled

When the ATO’s new Online services for agents replaced the tax and BAS agent portals, practitioners were thrown in the deep end when a flaw became obvious in the functionality between the old and new systems. In the new Online services, agents have been unable to view the information of their deceased clients, despite previously

The latest All Groups CPI figure for the December 2019 quarter has just been published, and has come in at 116.2. What this will mean for SMSF trustees is that the general transfer balance cap (TBC) of $1.6 million will remain at that level until at least 1 July 2021. There had been some anticipation

Protective SMSs for SMSFs (take 2)ATO determinations on GST and waiver of requirementsJ5’s global tackling of tax evasion includes AustraliaDetails of the Practitioner lodgment service (PLS)A scammer reminder for your clientsInformation on taxing termination paymentsSome employee benefits can be exempt from FBT in an emergencySmall business client supportFuel tax credits, up-to-date ratesNew disclosure requirements in

Think your business is too small or that your data and information isn’t important enough to be targeted by hackers? Think again. Cyber criminals don’t discriminate, but there are ways to help protect your business, and reputation, from cyber crime.

A draft ruling has been issued (TR 2019/D7) that is yet to pass Parliament, which sets out when an employee can deduct transport expenses under section 8-1. This includes the cost of travel by airline, train, taxi, car, bus, boat or other vehicle. It is generally the case that transport expenses incurred for ordinary travel

As part of its ongoing engagement with tax practitioners, the ATO has announced some upcoming ATO open forums for practitioners. It will again be holding these open forums in a range of locations across Australia between February and June 2020. Open forums are an opportunity for tax practitioners to have an open two-way dialogue with