High Court Brings Greater Clarity on Trust Distributions
Inside this month, High Court Brings Greater Clarity on Trust Distributions The High Court has recently handed down an important decision that will impact many private business groups using discretionary trusts and corporate beneficiaries. In Commissioner of Taxation v Bendel [2026] HCA 18 (10 June 2026), the Court rejected the ATO’s long-standing view that an unpaid distribution […]
Updates to Budget Measures and New Developments
This month we focus on several significant developments affecting employers, investors, business owners and SMSF trustees. While the Federal Budget was only handed down in May, the Government has already announced some changes to key proposals and we take a look at the latest developments. We highlight the commencement of Payday Super from 1 July […]
2026-27 Federal Budget Report
On Tuesday 12 May 2026 the Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2026-27 Federal Budget, framing some of the more significant announcements as part of a broader plan to help young Australians access the property market.While acknowledging that the key to housing affordability is supply, the Government clearly sees changes to negative gearing and the […]
New ATO ‘Verify Call’ Feature & Increasing Superannuation Contribution Caps
As tax time approaches, so does the annual spike in scam calls pretending to be from the ATO. These calls are becoming increasingly convincing — and increasingly costly for those who get caught by them. The ATO has now launched a simple, powerful solution: the ‘verify call’ feature in the free ATO app. Rolled out […]
What the New Division 296 Tax Means for Individuals with Large Super Balances
This month we step through the newly enacted Division 296 superannuation tax—what it means for those with large super balances, how it will operate in practice, and the planning opportunities now available. We also bring a clear message for business owners and high-wealth individuals: long-standing assumptions are being tested, with the ATO and courts setting […]
Holiday Homes Under the Microscope, Electric Car Discounts Under Review, and AI Tax Tips
This month we look at the ATO’s sharpened compliance focus across property, business incentives and emerging technologies. New draft guidance on holiday homes signals a much tougher approach to deductions for short-term rentals, particularly where lifestyle use blurs with genuine income-earning intent. The Federal Government’s review of the Electric Car Discount also places current EV […]
Super on Payday: Fundamental Changes for Employers
If you run a business, you already know the juggling act that comes with managing the payroll process — paying staff on time, managing cash flow, and staying compliant. From 1 July 2026, there’s a major change coming that will reshape how you handle superannuation contributions for staff. It’s called Payday Super, and it became […]
Super Tax Shake-Up: Big Balances Beware
If your super balance is comfortably below $3 million, you can probably relax — the proposed changes to the super rules shouldn’t adversely affect you (yet). But if your super is nudging that level, or if you’re clearly over, the Treasurer’s latest announcement could change how you think about super’s generous tax breaks. For some […]
ATO Interest Charges Are No Longer Deductible – What You Can Do
Leaving debts outstanding with the ATO is now more expensive for many taxpayers. As we explained in the July edition of our newsletter, general interest charge (GIC) and shortfall interest charge (SIC) imposed by the ATO is no longer tax-deductible from 1 July 2025. This applies regardless of whether the underlying tax debt relates to […]
Creating a more dynamic and resilient economy
The Productivity Commission (PC) has been tasked by the Australian Government to conduct an inquiry into creating a more dynamic and resilient economy. The PC was asked to identify priority reforms and develop actionable recommendations. The PC has now released its interim report which presents some draft recommendations that are focused on two key areas: […]
