Author Archives: Michael Evans

A media release from the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, today announces the Government’s intention to limit tax deductibility for education expenses to $2,000 per person per annum. The limit is to apply for outgoings incurred from 1 July 2014. The Treasuer … Continue reading →

On 26 February 2013, the Assistant Treasurer released exposure draft legislation to address some of the issues raised in relation to the first ED legislation to replace section 105-65 of Schedule 1 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953.  The first … Continue reading →

The final ruling on financial assistance payments was issued by the ATO yesterday, 30 May 2012 – GSTR 2012/2. As an initial observation, it refers to the existing (but about to be amended) provisions of the GST law dealing with: … Continue reading →

Congratulations to (now) DP Stephen Frost, DP Fiona Alpins, DP Professor Bob Deutsch and SM Gina Lazanas on their appointments as part-time members of the AAT as Deputy Presidents and Senior Member, respectively, with taxation expertise. The Attorney General, Nicola Roxon, made … Continue reading →

There have been two important developments over the last week for the GST treatment of real property: The Commissioner has released two determinations concerning the sale of real property subject to a lease. The first – GSTD 2012/1 – relates … Continue reading →

For my resolution for the new year … click here

Today, 14 December 2011, the Treasury has released exposure draft Regulations and explanatory material relating to the Government’s 2011-12 Budget measure, Tax compliance – reporting taxable payments. The draft regulations seek to introduce a reporting regime requiring certain businesses in … Continue reading →

On 21 December 2011, Treasury released exposure draft legislation to give effect to the Budget announcement concerning GST-free health care procured by insurers. The original consultation took place under a consultation paper released on 7 June 2011 dealing with health … Continue reading →

This evening – 23 November 2011 – Treasury released exposure draft amendments to the GST law dealing with the treatment of appropriations. The exposure draft EM states that the amendments are to restore the policy intent that the non-commercial activities of … Continue reading →

Binding rulings have been part of our tax framework for almost 20 years. There were some early questions about how courts would handle appeals from negative private rulings but relatively little on how the binding nature of rulings is given … Continue reading →