EXPERT INSIGHTS FROM OUR TEAM.
What if I get it wrong? The benefits of having a ‘Reasonably Arguable Position’
What if I get it wrong? The benefits of having a ‘Reasonably Arguable Position’ By Andrew Henshaw and Rosalind Li, Velocity Legal Introduction Unfortunately, there are many instances where Australia’s tax laws are not black and white. For private businesses and...
COVID-19: Victorian Rent Relief Rulebook
Regulations announced by the Victorian government provide the rulebook for landlords and tenants when negotiating rent relief in light of the impact of COVID-19. The devil is in the detail; however, the article below summarises some of the key concepts. We urge landlords and tenants to obtain legal advice to ensure that they approach negotiations in a methodical way without compromising their rights.
COVID-19: Frequently Asked Legal Questions
By Scott McKenzie (Director), Chelsea Davine (Associate) and Patrick Simon (Associate)
PODCAST: COVID-19 Commercial Tenancies Code
Insights by Scott McKenzie
PODCAST: Jobkeeper Rules
Insights by Andrew Henshaw
PODCAST: Job Keeper Payment
Insights by Andrew Henshaw
COVID-19: Commercial Tenancies Code – The Pathway Forward
COVID-19: Commercial Tenancies Code – The Pathway Forward By Scott McKenzie, Emma Milne and Andrew Henshaw, Velocity Legal This is a challenging time. Many businesses have closed or are feeling extreme pressure, which invariably creates headaches for both landlords...
Making sense of the ‘Cash Flow Boost’ Act
By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity Legal.
Guide to leases for business owners
By Scott McKenzie, Emma Milne and Andrew Henshaw, Velocity Legal
Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal
Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal Insights by Rosalind Li Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal: Federal Court tightens the screws on the ‘Active Asset’ Test Published in the Thomson Reuters Weekly Tax Bulletin (23 January 2020) The small business CGT concessions...
Denying the CGT Main Residence Exemption to ‘Aussie Expats’
PODCAST: Denying the CGT Main Residence Exemption to ‘Aussie Expats’ By Andrew Henshaw, Director and Patrick Simon, Law Graduate, Velocity LegalAdapting to the new rules, and why ‘tax residency’ is now even more important than ever. Close to three years since they...
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption for Foreign Residents
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption for Foreign Residents Insights by Andrew Henshaw The main residence exemption for foreign residents used to be easy. Once you got it, you didn’t lose it for at last 6 years – and even indefinitely as long as you didn’t rent it out....
PODCAST:Main Residence Exemption Upon Divorce or Death
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption Upon Divorce or Death Insights by Andrew Henshaw The main residence exemption upon divorce or death can get tricky. How exactly does the exemption apply when owners divorce or die? Click the link below to listen in.Insight...
Victorian SRO awakens
Victorian SRO awakens - drops ‘practical approach’ to applying foreign purchaser additional duty for discretionary trusts By Rajan Verma and Andrew Henshaw, Directors, Velocity Legal Subjecting discretionary trusts that have little real connection to 'foreign...
PODCAST: AIRBNB TRIGGERS CGT
PODCAST: AirBnB triggers CGT Insights by Andrew Henshaw How does renting your home on AirBnB affect the CGT Main Residence exemption? Click the link below to listen in.Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s Sydney practice. If you are...
NSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges
NSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges Insights by Andrew HenshawNSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges On 22 October 2019, the New...
PODCAST: Tax Effective Structuring
PODCAST: Tax Talks - Tax Effective Structuring Insights by Andrew Henshaw In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the key tax issues to consider when considering structuring investments and business affairs. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: Related Party LRBA
PODCAST: Tax Talks - Related Party LRBA Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses how a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement can be put in place between a Self Managed Superannuation Fund, and a related party. Click the link...
PODCAST: SMSF BUYS PROPERTY JOINTLY
PODCAST: Tax Talks - SMSF Buys Property Jointly Insights by Andrew Henshaw In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the potential traps associated with a Self Managed Superannuation Fund buying property jointly. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: Small Business CGT Concessions for Big Business
PODCAST: Small Business CGT Concessions for Big Business Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses how the Small Business CGT Concessions can sometimes not to ‘not so small business’. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: The 2019 Harding Case
PODCAST: The 2019 Harding Case Insights by Andrew HenshawThe 2019 Harding case received a lot of media attention. And put the spot light onto our highly contentious tax residency rules for individuals – again. In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the...
PODCAST: Div 7A Reform
PODCAST: Tax Talk - Div 7A Reform Insights by Andrew HenshawWhat will the upcoming Division 7A reform look like? Andrew Henshaw discusses on this episode of Tax Talks. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity...
PODCAST: Div 7A Questions
PODCAST: Tax Talk - Listeners Div 7A Questions Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw answers three Division 7A listener questions. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity...
PODCAST: When does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue?
PODCAST: When does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue? Insights by Andrew HenshawWhen does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue? Andrew Henshaw explains on Tax Talks. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s...
PODCAST: ATO Disputes – How to avoid or manage them
PODCAST: ATO Disputes - How to avoid or manage them Insights by Andrew Henshaw Andrew Henshaw shares with Tax Talks some of his experiences as a tax lawyer. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s...
PODCAST: Dealing with the ATO in a tax dispute
PODCAST: Dealing with the ATO in a tax dispute Insights by Andrew HenshawAndrew Henshaw shares with Tax Talks some of his experiences as a tax lawyer. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s Sydney...
The most common pitfalls fitness businesses need to avoid when negotiating a lease
Scott McKenzie’s guest post for the Healthy People fitness blog.
Stamp Duty to apply to Development Agreements in Victoria
BREAKING: STAMP DUTY TO APPLY TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN VICTORIA By Andrew Henshaw The Victorian Government handed down their 2019-20 Budget on Monday 27 May. Under the Budget, various changes to certain state taxes were announced (including duty, land tax and...
Contractor or Employee: What’s the Risk?
Contractor or Employee: What’s the Risk? Insights by Andrew Henshaw We often see employers misunderstand the distinction between independent contractor and employee. This can be a very costly mistake. In this article we discuss: the difference between an employee and...
Struggling with a landlord? You may be able to terminate the lease
Casenote: Tenant's Ability to Terminate a Lease Insights by Andrew Henshaw Struggling with a landlord? You may be able to terminate the lease Heavily entrenched in our legal system is the idea that if a party is not complying with its obligations under a contract, the...
Harding case on appeal – taxpayer wins, scope of ‘permanent place of abode’ concept widened
Harding case on appeal — taxpayer wins, scope of 'permanent place of abode' concept widened Insights by Andrew Henshaw A taxpayer with an Australian 'domicile' is a resident of Australia for tax purposes, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that they have a...
SELLING YOUR BUSINESS: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE LEGAL MINEFIELD
Selling your business: How to navigate the legal minefield By Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw, Directors, Velocity Legal Selling a business can be a bittersweet moment. On one hand, you are ‘cashing in’ and will have the opportunity to free up time for other...
Business Succession: Transitioning to the next generation
Business Succession: Transitioning to the next generation By Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw Transitioning Family Businesses Statistics demonstrate that family owned businesses are the lifeblood of Australia’s economy. For example: around 70% of Australian...
What’s in store for tax in 2019? Key tax issues business owners need to watch out for
What’s in store for tax in 2019? Key tax issues business owners need to watch out for Insights by Andrew Henshaw What’s in store for tax in 2019? Plenty! The upcoming Federal election is already looming as an important one for business owners in light of the possible...
Co-Owned Businesses: Why you need a business ‘pre-nup’ …. and what to do if you don’t have one.
Co-Owned Businesses Insights by Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw Co-Owned Businesses: Why you need a business ‘pre-nup’ …. and what to do if you don’t have one. Sport and business have many similarities. A championship winning sports team generally wins because the...
Can a transfer to a ‘bare trust’ be subject to transfer duty? The devil is in the detail!
Can a transfer to a ‘bare trust’ be subject to transfer duty? The devil is in the detail! Insights by Andrew HenshawThe recent Victorian Supreme Court case of MD Commercial Pty Ltd and AJ Commercial Pty Ltd vs Commissioner of State Revenue [2018] VSC 560 highlights...
Selling a fitness business: what you need to know
SELLING A FITNESS BUSINESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW By Scott MckenzieWhen you’re selling a fitness business, the ideal scenario is a stress-free transaction that allows you to close that chapter of your life and move on, without having to think about the business ever...
Trust Splitting: the ATO’s controversial new Draft Taxation Determination
TRUST SPLITTING: THE ATO’S CONTROVERSIAL NEW DRAFT TAXATION DETERMINATION By Andrew Henshaw and Rosalind Li, Velocity LegalThe Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued Draft Taxation Determination TD 2018/D3 (Draft Determination) on 11 July 2018. The Draft...
Buying a fitness business: what you need to know
BUYING A FITNESS BUSINESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW By Scott MckenzieBuying a fitness business is a major financial outlay, so you want to ensure you make a smart purchase that delivers what was promised, without any unpleasant surprises down the track. Follow these tips...
Tax residency – Commissioner wins big in recent expat case
TAX RESIDENCY – COMMISSIONER WINS BIG IN RECENT EXPAT CASE By Andrew HenshawThere are many Australian citizens and permanent residents who leave Australia to work overseas (Expats). Expats will often consider they are not a resident of Australia for tax purposes (i.e....
CGT marriage breakdown roll-over: the Sandini Case revisted
CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLL-OVER: THE SANDINI CASE REVISTED By Andrew HenshawCGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLL-OVER: THE SANDINI CASE REVISTED A recent case before the Full Federal Court has tested the limits of the CGT marriage breakdown rollover relief. In Ellison &...
New ‘Integrity’ Measures for the Small Business CGT Concessions
significant changes when selling shares or units.
‘PLUS’ GST CASE – COURT OF APPEAL MUDDIES THE WATERS
‘PLUS’ GST CASE – COURT OF APPEAL MUDDIES THE WATERS By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalThe Victorian Court of Appeal has reversed a Supreme Court decision on whether the purchase price in a sale of land contract was GST-inclusive or GST-exclusive. The Court...
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: THE NEW GST WITHHOLDING REGIME
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: THE NEW GST WITHHOLDING REGIME By Andrew Henshaw and Rajan Verma Ordinarily, vendors pay GST on the value of the taxable supplies that they make. Vendors will sell goods or services for a price that includes a GST component. When it comes time...
WORKING OFFSHORE? TRANSFERRING MONEY TO AUSTRALIA? BEWARE OF AUSTRAC & THE ATO!
WORKING OFFSHORE? TRANSFERRING MONEY TO AUSTRALIA? BEWARE OF AUSTRAC & THE ATO! By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalAustralia is a big, isolated island. Despite our isolation, Australians are very well travelled. For some Australians, travel leads to living...
SEVEN REASONS WHY LABOR’S DISCRETIONARY TRUST PROPOSAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED
SEVEN REASONS WHY LABOR’S DISCRETIONARY TRUST PROPOSAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalOn 30 July 2017, the Labor party announced that, if elected, a Labor Government would introduce a standard minimum 30 per cent tax rate for...
THE NEW 27.5% CORPORATE TAX RATE: HOW DO I GET IT?
THE NEW 27.5% CORPORATE TAX RATE: HOW DO I GET IT? By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalOn 1 July 2017, the new 27.5% corporate tax rate took effect. Many companies that are ‘small businesses’ will qualify for the new tax rate. Companies that do not meet the...
DID THE SANDINI CASE REALLY EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLLOVER? NO!
DID THE SANDINI CASE REALLY EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLLOVER? NO! By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalThe breakdown of a marriage can have a high emotional and financial cost. Often, a spouse will have to transfer some of their...
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPERANNUATION: ATO U-TURN: EXTREME CAUTION REQUIRED
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPERANNUATION: ATO U-TURN: EXTREME CAUTION REQUIRED By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalFrom 1 July 2017, drastic changes to superannuation take effect. Under those changes, the amount of money that a person can put into super (i.e....
FOREIGN PROPERTY INVESTORS STUNG: SPECIAL BUDGET UPDATE
FOREIGN PROPERTY INVESTORS STUNG: SPECIAL BUDGET UPDATE By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalIn my most recent edition of Life, Death and Taxes, I talked about some of the tax and duty changes targeting foreign property investors over the last five years....
Foreign Property Investors: 5 years of tax and duty changes
Property investment in Australia has boomed in recent years.
Getting the Small Business CGT Concessions: When is a liability, a liability?
The small business CGT concessions are some of the most significant tax…
Asset Protection: the Gift and Loan Back
Over your lifetime, you may have accumulated significant assets in your personal name.
Small Business Owners: Five Tax Issues to Watch Out for in 2017
Five tax issues that small businesses and their owners should pay close attention to.
Born in the USA
A look at one big difference between the Australian and US tax systems.
“Plus” GST – how one word costs $290,000
The importance of completing contracts correctly.
Tax Disputes: The Onus of Proof
When it comes to tax disputes, the proof is in the pudding.
Superannuation: $500K Cap is Axed!
The Coalition Government announced further changes to superannuation.
Buyer v Seller for Martial Arts Businesses
Buying or selling a martial arts business is an exciting process.
The Top 3 Legal Traps for Gym Owners
Scott McKenzie’s guest post for the Healthy People fitness blog.
Proposed Penalty Changes for Small Business: A Step in the Right Direction
The ATO has recently released a consultation paper regarding penalties for small business and individuals.
Tax Residency: Every Fact Matters
Whether or not a person is tax resident of Australia is critical issue.
What if I get it wrong? The benefits of having a ‘Reasonably Arguable Position’
What if I get it wrong? The benefits of having a ‘Reasonably Arguable Position’ By Andrew Henshaw and Rosalind Li, Velocity Legal Introduction Unfortunately, there are many instances where Australia’s tax laws are not black and white. For private businesses and their...
COVID-19: Victorian Rent Relief Rulebook
Regulations announced by the Victorian government provide the rulebook for landlords and tenants when negotiating rent relief in light of the impact of COVID-19. The devil is in the detail; however, the article below summarises some of the key concepts. We urge landlords and tenants to obtain legal advice to ensure that they approach negotiations in a methodical way without compromising their rights.
COVID-19: Frequently Asked Legal Questions
By Scott McKenzie (Director), Chelsea Davine (Associate) and Patrick Simon (Associate)
PODCAST: COVID-19 Commercial Tenancies Code
Insights by Scott McKenzie
PODCAST: Jobkeeper Rules
Insights by Andrew Henshaw
PODCAST: Job Keeper Payment
Insights by Andrew Henshaw
COVID-19: Commercial Tenancies Code – The Pathway Forward
COVID-19: Commercial Tenancies Code – The Pathway Forward By Scott McKenzie, Emma Milne and Andrew Henshaw, Velocity Legal This is a challenging time. Many businesses have closed or are feeling extreme pressure, which invariably creates headaches for both landlords...
Making sense of the ‘Cash Flow Boost’ Act
By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity Legal.
Guide to leases for business owners
By Scott McKenzie, Emma Milne and Andrew Henshaw, Velocity Legal
Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal
Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal Insights by Rosalind Li Commissioner wins in Eichmann appeal: Federal Court tightens the screws on the ‘Active Asset’ Test Published in the Thomson Reuters Weekly Tax Bulletin (23 January 2020) The small business CGT concessions...
Denying the CGT Main Residence Exemption to ‘Aussie Expats’
PODCAST: Denying the CGT Main Residence Exemption to ‘Aussie Expats’ By Andrew Henshaw, Director and Patrick Simon, Law Graduate, Velocity LegalAdapting to the new rules, and why ‘tax residency’ is now even more important than ever. Close to three years since they...
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption for Foreign Residents
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption for Foreign Residents Insights by Andrew Henshaw The main residence exemption for foreign residents used to be easy. Once you got it, you didn’t lose it for at last 6 years – and even indefinitely as long as you didn’t rent it out....
PODCAST:Main Residence Exemption Upon Divorce or Death
PODCAST: Main Residence Exemption Upon Divorce or Death Insights by Andrew Henshaw The main residence exemption upon divorce or death can get tricky. How exactly does the exemption apply when owners divorce or die? Click the link below to listen in.Insight...
Victorian SRO awakens
Victorian SRO awakens - drops ‘practical approach’ to applying foreign purchaser additional duty for discretionary trusts By Rajan Verma and Andrew Henshaw, Directors, Velocity Legal Subjecting discretionary trusts that have little real connection to 'foreign...
PODCAST: AIRBNB TRIGGERS CGT
PODCAST: AirBnB triggers CGT Insights by Andrew Henshaw How does renting your home on AirBnB affect the CGT Main Residence exemption? Click the link below to listen in.Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s Sydney practice. If you are...
NSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges
NSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges Insights by Andrew HenshawNSW Discretionary Trusts: Still time to act to avoid retrospective additional duty and land tax surcharges On 22 October 2019, the New...
PODCAST: Tax Effective Structuring
PODCAST: Tax Talks - Tax Effective Structuring Insights by Andrew Henshaw In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the key tax issues to consider when considering structuring investments and business affairs. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: Related Party LRBA
PODCAST: Tax Talks - Related Party LRBA Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses how a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement can be put in place between a Self Managed Superannuation Fund, and a related party. Click the link...
PODCAST: SMSF BUYS PROPERTY JOINTLY
PODCAST: Tax Talks - SMSF Buys Property Jointly Insights by Andrew Henshaw In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the potential traps associated with a Self Managed Superannuation Fund buying property jointly. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: Small Business CGT Concessions for Big Business
PODCAST: Small Business CGT Concessions for Big Business Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses how the Small Business CGT Concessions can sometimes not to ‘not so small business’. Click the link below to listen in. Insight...
PODCAST: The 2019 Harding Case
PODCAST: The 2019 Harding Case Insights by Andrew HenshawThe 2019 Harding case received a lot of media attention. And put the spot light onto our highly contentious tax residency rules for individuals – again. In this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw discusses the...
PODCAST: Div 7A Reform
PODCAST: Tax Talk - Div 7A Reform Insights by Andrew HenshawWhat will the upcoming Division 7A reform look like? Andrew Henshaw discusses on this episode of Tax Talks. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity...
PODCAST: Div 7A Questions
PODCAST: Tax Talk - Listeners Div 7A Questions Insights by Andrew HenshawIn this episode of Tax Talks, Andrew Henshaw answers three Division 7A listener questions. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity...
PODCAST: When does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue?
PODCAST: When does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue? Insights by Andrew HenshawWhen does a UPE become a Division 7A Issue? Andrew Henshaw explains on Tax Talks. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s...
PODCAST: ATO Disputes – How to avoid or manage them
PODCAST: ATO Disputes - How to avoid or manage them Insights by Andrew Henshaw Andrew Henshaw shares with Tax Talks some of his experiences as a tax lawyer. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s...
PODCAST: Dealing with the ATO in a tax dispute
PODCAST: Dealing with the ATO in a tax dispute Insights by Andrew HenshawAndrew Henshaw shares with Tax Talks some of his experiences as a tax lawyer. Click the link below to listen in. Insight Authors...ANDREW HENSHAW Director Andrew leads Velocity Legal’s Sydney...
The most common pitfalls fitness businesses need to avoid when negotiating a lease
Scott McKenzie’s guest post for the Healthy People fitness blog.
Stamp Duty to apply to Development Agreements in Victoria
BREAKING: STAMP DUTY TO APPLY TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN VICTORIA By Andrew Henshaw The Victorian Government handed down their 2019-20 Budget on Monday 27 May. Under the Budget, various changes to certain state taxes were announced (including duty, land tax and...
Contractor or Employee: What’s the Risk?
Contractor or Employee: What’s the Risk? Insights by Andrew Henshaw We often see employers misunderstand the distinction between independent contractor and employee. This can be a very costly mistake. In this article we discuss: the difference between an employee and...
Struggling with a landlord? You may be able to terminate the lease
Casenote: Tenant's Ability to Terminate a Lease Insights by Andrew Henshaw Struggling with a landlord? You may be able to terminate the lease Heavily entrenched in our legal system is the idea that if a party is not complying with its obligations under a contract, the...
Harding case on appeal – taxpayer wins, scope of ‘permanent place of abode’ concept widened
Harding case on appeal — taxpayer wins, scope of 'permanent place of abode' concept widened Insights by Andrew Henshaw A taxpayer with an Australian 'domicile' is a resident of Australia for tax purposes, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that they have a...
SELLING YOUR BUSINESS: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE LEGAL MINEFIELD
Selling your business: How to navigate the legal minefield By Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw, Directors, Velocity Legal Selling a business can be a bittersweet moment. On one hand, you are ‘cashing in’ and will have the opportunity to free up time for other...
Business Succession: Transitioning to the next generation
Business Succession: Transitioning to the next generation By Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw Transitioning Family Businesses Statistics demonstrate that family owned businesses are the lifeblood of Australia’s economy. For example: around 70% of Australian...
What’s in store for tax in 2019? Key tax issues business owners need to watch out for
What’s in store for tax in 2019? Key tax issues business owners need to watch out for Insights by Andrew Henshaw What’s in store for tax in 2019? Plenty! The upcoming Federal election is already looming as an important one for business owners in light of the possible...
Co-Owned Businesses: Why you need a business ‘pre-nup’ …. and what to do if you don’t have one.
Co-Owned Businesses Insights by Scott McKenzie and Andrew Henshaw Co-Owned Businesses: Why you need a business ‘pre-nup’ …. and what to do if you don’t have one. Sport and business have many similarities. A championship winning sports team generally wins because the...
Can a transfer to a ‘bare trust’ be subject to transfer duty? The devil is in the detail!
Can a transfer to a ‘bare trust’ be subject to transfer duty? The devil is in the detail! Insights by Andrew HenshawThe recent Victorian Supreme Court case of MD Commercial Pty Ltd and AJ Commercial Pty Ltd vs Commissioner of State Revenue [2018] VSC 560 highlights...
Selling a fitness business: what you need to know
SELLING A FITNESS BUSINESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW By Scott MckenzieWhen you’re selling a fitness business, the ideal scenario is a stress-free transaction that allows you to close that chapter of your life and move on, without having to think about the business ever...
Trust Splitting: the ATO’s controversial new Draft Taxation Determination
TRUST SPLITTING: THE ATO’S CONTROVERSIAL NEW DRAFT TAXATION DETERMINATION By Andrew Henshaw and Rosalind Li, Velocity LegalThe Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued Draft Taxation Determination TD 2018/D3 (Draft Determination) on 11 July 2018. The Draft...
Buying a fitness business: what you need to know
BUYING A FITNESS BUSINESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW By Scott MckenzieBuying a fitness business is a major financial outlay, so you want to ensure you make a smart purchase that delivers what was promised, without any unpleasant surprises down the track. Follow these tips...
Tax residency – Commissioner wins big in recent expat case
TAX RESIDENCY – COMMISSIONER WINS BIG IN RECENT EXPAT CASE By Andrew HenshawThere are many Australian citizens and permanent residents who leave Australia to work overseas (Expats). Expats will often consider they are not a resident of Australia for tax purposes (i.e....
CGT marriage breakdown roll-over: the Sandini Case revisted
CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLL-OVER: THE SANDINI CASE REVISTED By Andrew HenshawCGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLL-OVER: THE SANDINI CASE REVISTED A recent case before the Full Federal Court has tested the limits of the CGT marriage breakdown rollover relief. In Ellison &...
New ‘Integrity’ Measures for the Small Business CGT Concessions
significant changes when selling shares or units.
‘PLUS’ GST CASE – COURT OF APPEAL MUDDIES THE WATERS
‘PLUS’ GST CASE – COURT OF APPEAL MUDDIES THE WATERS By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalThe Victorian Court of Appeal has reversed a Supreme Court decision on whether the purchase price in a sale of land contract was GST-inclusive or GST-exclusive. The Court...
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: THE NEW GST WITHHOLDING REGIME
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: THE NEW GST WITHHOLDING REGIME By Andrew Henshaw and Rajan Verma Ordinarily, vendors pay GST on the value of the taxable supplies that they make. Vendors will sell goods or services for a price that includes a GST component. When it comes time...
WORKING OFFSHORE? TRANSFERRING MONEY TO AUSTRALIA? BEWARE OF AUSTRAC & THE ATO!
WORKING OFFSHORE? TRANSFERRING MONEY TO AUSTRALIA? BEWARE OF AUSTRAC & THE ATO! By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalAustralia is a big, isolated island. Despite our isolation, Australians are very well travelled. For some Australians, travel leads to living...
SEVEN REASONS WHY LABOR’S DISCRETIONARY TRUST PROPOSAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED
SEVEN REASONS WHY LABOR’S DISCRETIONARY TRUST PROPOSAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalOn 30 July 2017, the Labor party announced that, if elected, a Labor Government would introduce a standard minimum 30 per cent tax rate for...
THE NEW 27.5% CORPORATE TAX RATE: HOW DO I GET IT?
THE NEW 27.5% CORPORATE TAX RATE: HOW DO I GET IT? By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalOn 1 July 2017, the new 27.5% corporate tax rate took effect. Many companies that are ‘small businesses’ will qualify for the new tax rate. Companies that do not meet the...
DID THE SANDINI CASE REALLY EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLLOVER? NO!
DID THE SANDINI CASE REALLY EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CGT MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN ROLLOVER? NO! By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalThe breakdown of a marriage can have a high emotional and financial cost. Often, a spouse will have to transfer some of their...
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPERANNUATION: ATO U-TURN: EXTREME CAUTION REQUIRED
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPERANNUATION: ATO U-TURN: EXTREME CAUTION REQUIRED By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalFrom 1 July 2017, drastic changes to superannuation take effect. Under those changes, the amount of money that a person can put into super (i.e....
FOREIGN PROPERTY INVESTORS STUNG: SPECIAL BUDGET UPDATE
FOREIGN PROPERTY INVESTORS STUNG: SPECIAL BUDGET UPDATE By Andrew Henshaw, Director, Velocity LegalIn my most recent edition of Life, Death and Taxes, I talked about some of the tax and duty changes targeting foreign property investors over the last five years....
Foreign Property Investors: 5 years of tax and duty changes
Property investment in Australia has boomed in recent years.
Getting the Small Business CGT Concessions: When is a liability, a liability?
The small business CGT concessions are some of the most significant tax…
Asset Protection: the Gift and Loan Back
Over your lifetime, you may have accumulated significant assets in your personal name.
Small Business Owners: Five Tax Issues to Watch Out for in 2017
Five tax issues that small businesses and their owners should pay close attention to.
Born in the USA
A look at one big difference between the Australian and US tax systems.
“Plus” GST – how one word costs $290,000
The importance of completing contracts correctly.
Tax Disputes: The Onus of Proof
When it comes to tax disputes, the proof is in the pudding.
Superannuation: $500K Cap is Axed!
The Coalition Government announced further changes to superannuation.
Buyer v Seller for Martial Arts Businesses
Buying or selling a martial arts business is an exciting process.
The Top 3 Legal Traps for Gym Owners
Scott McKenzie’s guest post for the Healthy People fitness blog.
Proposed Penalty Changes for Small Business: A Step in the Right Direction
The ATO has recently released a consultation paper regarding penalties for small business and individuals.
Tax Residency: Every Fact Matters
Whether or not a person is tax resident of Australia is critical issue.