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Join our 2025 Corporate Tax update seminar to ensure you are up to date with the latest developments in corporate and international income tax.

Our seminar will be delivered in an interactive format with SW expert Daren Yeoh, Tax Director, Antony Cheung, Senior Tax Manager, Yang Shi, Tax Director and Christine Krause, Director, Audit & Assurance Services. Our speakers will equip you with invaluable insights into the latest developments in corporate and international income tax.

This seminar will explore the following topics:

SW Speakers

Daren Yeoh
Partner and Corporate & International Tax Director

Yang Shi
Partner and Transfer Pricing Director

Christina Krause
Partner and Audit and Assurance Services Director

Antony Cheung
Senior Tax Manager

At our annual Employment Taxes update for the Not-for-profit, Government and Corporate sectors, our experts delve into the ever-evolving world of employment taxes to help you stay ahead in this dynamic field.   

Our experts provided an update on:

Expert speakers

Stephen O’Flynn
Director
SW

Paul Hum
Director
SW

Sam Morris
Director 
SW

Kirsty McDonnell
Director
SW

Vanessa Priest
Director 
SW

Justin Batticciotto
Associate Director 
SW

Rahul Sanghani
Associate Director 
SW

The NFP self-review return is a new annual reporting requirements for non-charitable NFPs with an active ABN. Relevant NFPs should lodge the return annually to confirm their eligibility to self-assess their income tax exempt status.

For NFPs with a standard year end of 30 June, the return must be lodged by 31 October each year. However, for the 2023-24 income year, the ATO has extended the 31 October deadline to 31 March 2025.

Below is a summary on how to prepare to lodge the return and the ways it may be lodged.

For details of our previous update click here.

Preparing to lodge the NFP self-review return

To prepare for lodgement, organisation should:

In reviewing the organisation’s governing documents, it must contain the appropriate not-for-profit clause and dissolution clause and set out that the organisation is operating for its not-for-profit purpose. The return contains 3 sections with the following key questions:

Ways to lodge the NFP self-review return

The ATO offers several methods for lodging returns, including:

If you are an authorised contact for your organisation with access to Online services for business, you can lodge the return online. The ATO outlines the following process for lodging the return using this method:

  1. Select either:
    1. View next to the NFP self-review return in the Lodgements section of the For Action panel
    1. NFP self-review return from the Lodgements menu
  2. Select Prepare next to the return (you must prepare the oldest return first)
  3. Complete the mandatory details
  4. Tick the acknowledgments and declaration
  5. Select Submit

To note: Due to changes in office holders, many NFPs are unaware of who the authorised contact is for the NFP.  It can be harder to change the authorised contact than to complete the NFP self-review return.  We recommend completing ATO Form NAT 2943 and sending to the ATO to change the authorised contact for your NFP.

If you’ve engaged a registered Tax Agent, they can prepare and lodge your organisation’s NFP self-review return through Online services for agents.

To note: Most NFPs do not have a Tax Agent as they have not had to lodge tax returns in the past. Whilst a lot of NFPs may have engaged a BAS Agent to lodge their Business Activity Statement a BAS Agent can not lodge the NFP self-review return.

The ATO outlines the following process for those choosing to lodge over the phone:

Although these methods streamline the lodgement process, organisations with limited access to online resources may still face difficulties.

If so, lodgement of the return over the phone or through a registered agent can mitigate these difficulties.

Post-lodgement

Once the return is submitted, you’ll receive a transaction reference number to retain for your records. This will have a self-assessment outcome of either:

If you successfully submitted your NFP self-review return and self-assessed as income tax exempt, the organisation has completed its reporting requirements for this income year. The NFP self-review return will need to be lodged in subsequent years.

If the return was lodged via Online services for business, the return information will be pre-filled for next year, making future lodgements easier

If you successfully lodged your NFP self-review return and self-assessed as taxable, the organisation does not qualify for income tax exemption.

Thus, the organisation does not need to complete an annual NFP self-review return. Instead, they must lodge an income tax return or notify of a non-lodgement advice each income year.

How SW can help

We can assist with the preparation and lodgement of the return and assess your border eligibility for income tax exempt status. Please contact our Tourism, Hospitality and Gaming (THG) industry experts and not-for-profit experts.

Contributors

Blake Trad

Discover the latest updates in tax effect accounting with expert insights into accounting for income taxes.

Our expert will provide you with topical content of relevance as well as an update on what’s new in tax effect accounting, including information about the following topics:

Session details    

Your speaker:

Andrew Wu
Manager
SW


The ATO has released the first Research & Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI) Transparency Report for 2021–22, detailing which companies claimed the R&DTI.

The ATO has published the first R&DTI Transparency Report covering the 2021–22 income year. The R&DTI program aims to strengthen innovation by providing tax offsets for eligible R&D activities. To promote greater transparency and voluntary compliance, a legal requirement for publication of R&D data came into effect in July 2021, following reforms to the policy and administration of the R&DTI program.

The report outlines the benefits received by R&D entities and seeks to raise public awareness on which companies benefit from the R&D Tax Incentive. It also aims to encourage voluntary compliance with the program’s requirement.

The R&DTI is one of Australia’s key programs to drive innovation, offering a tax offset to catalyse companies to engage in R&D activities they may not undertake due to the financial risks involved. This can allow companies to invest more in innovation, boosting their competitive edge while contributing to Australia’s economic growth.

Under the new legislation, the ATO is required to publish R&D data 2 years after the end of the financial year that the data relates to. The newly released transparency report offers key insights into the companies and industries leveraging the incentive to help invest in R&D activities:

How SW can help

11,545 companies are included in the report, with around 850 companies excluded due to having a substituted accounting period (SAP) beginning before 1 July 2021.

If your company participated in the R&DTI program during the 2021–22 income year, your R&D claims are part of a publicly available report. The report details the names, ABNs, and total R&D expenditure.

The ATO added a notice to the R&DTI schedule informing future applicants that their data will be included in the R&DTI transparency reporting.

Please reach out to SW R&D Tax & Government Incentives team for guidance and further discussion on how this report impacts you and your business.

Contributor

Thomas Demel

On 21 October 2024, the Victorian Government announced a temporary off-the-plan duty concession to ease the financial burden for buyers of off-the-plan properties like apartments and townhouses in strata subdivisions.  

This new concession is set to last for 12 months and attempts to address ongoing challenges in the Victorian property market, particularly amid high construction costs and interest rates which impact both supply and demand of residential properties. 

How does it work?

The concession allows purchasers to deduct construction costs incurred after the contract date from the dutiable value of their property, potentially reducing the stamp duty owed. Unlike the existing concessions, this one will be open to all purchasers, including investors, companies, and trusts—not just first-home buyers or owner-occupiers. The concession is available only for contracts entered into between 21 October 2024 for 12 months ending 21 October 2025.  

Who benefits? 

Potential challenges: 

Overall, while this temporary concession is a positive step towards stimulating residential property development and easing affordability concerns in Victoria it may not provide enough time to drive substantial change in the property market. The property cycle takes several years to recover to market peak. In Victoria, previous off-the-plan concessions lasted from 2008 to 2017 and gave the market a nine-year window to benefit. That extended timeframe allowed developers and buyers to adapt and maximise the opportunities. In comparison, this shorter concession period might not allow for the same level of market stimulation, limiting its overall impact on increasing housing supply and improving affordability.  

How SW can help 

At SW, our property and stamp duty experts can provide the off-the-plan duty concession analysis and advice to help clients identify the most suitable concession method for their project to achieve the optimal duty outcome for their buyers.   

We can also prepare reports and forecasts taking into account the impact of the concession to assist clients in negotiating better terms with banks and financiers.   

Please contact us if you have any questions in relation to the above.  

Contributors 

Blake Rodgers 

William Zhang  

The Victorian Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Oliver Hume Property Funds v Commissioner of State Revenue [2024] VSCA 175 prompted the State Revenue Office (SRO) to update its ruling (DA-075v2) and introduce a voluntary disclosure amnesty for taxpayers impacted by landholder duty principles from the case. Importantly, once the amnesty ends on 31 March 2025 the SRO has announced that they will commence compliance activities reviewing past capital raisings.  

Updated Landholder duty ‘associate transaction’ ruling 

Newly updated Revenue Ruling DA-057v2 replaces the former DA-057 which provided taxpayers with the Commissioner’s view on the meaning of ‘associated transaction’ in the Victorian landholder duty provisions. The updated ruling reflects the Court of Appeal’s decision in Oliver Hume and has other minor amendments. 

To recap, the Victorian Court of Appeal in Oliver Hume upheld the VCAT decision which found that the share acquisitions by 18 independent investors under a widely distributed Information Memorandum (IM) were subject to landholder duty as an associated transaction. For further details on the case, please refer to our previous alerts here. 

The updated ruling stated that when considering whether an ‘associated transaction’ was made, the focus is on the relationship between the acquisitions and not the parties involved in the acquisitions. Thus, the relationship of the people in a share or unit issue should not be the deciding factor when assessing the existence of an associated transaction. Instead, the focus should be on the circumstances surrounding the share or unit acquisition and whether the relevant agreements and the parties’ conducts infer a unity or oneness between the acquisitions. The Commissioner makes it clear that interests acquired by independent members of the public under a genuine public offer may constitute an associated transaction.  

The updated ruling also qualified the Commissioner’s previous statements that he would not impose the associated transaction provisions in circumstances concerning genuine public offers made under a product disclosure statement or prospectus lodged with Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This is now limited to circumstances where the public offer results in a conversion to a public unit trust or listed company and the transaction is subject to duty under sections 89B or 89C. 

Voluntary Disclosure Regime (‘VD’) 

Emboldened by the Court of Appeal decision, the Commissioner has set up a VD regime to encourage taxpayers to self-report the potential landholder duty liability that they might have taken an alternative position on prior to Oliver Hume.  

The VD amnesty program will run until 31 March 2025, with compliance activities commencing after this date. For VDs made before 31 March 2025: 

After this period, the Commissioner will commence a compliance program on capital raisings in landholders and impose penalties and interest on any landholder duty assessments identified.  

How SW can help 

The Victorian landholder duty landscape has changed significantly following Oliver Hume.  The Commissioner’s updated ruling further tightens the scope for arguments against the imposition of landholder duty.  Property funds and landholding entities looking to raise capital through a public raising process should pay close attention to the potential duty implications. Receiving the appropriate landholder duty advice before such transactions (before entering the contract to purchase the property) is critical to ensure that double duty does not arise.  

Property trusts that have had past capital raises should also review the transactions with their duty advisors to assess whether a voluntary disclosure should be made to take advantage of the amnesty program before the commencement of any SRO investigations.  

At SW, our stamp duty experts can assist you in assessing any past transactions and advise you on future transactions to achieve the most effective duty outcome.   

Please contact our state taxes team if you would like to discuss possible duty liabilities arising from capital raising participation. 

Contributors

William Zhang

Blake Trad 

Robert Parker

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has published Taxation Determination TD 2024/7, confirming the Commissioner’s view on the circumstances under which individuals who are not carrying on an investment business can claim a deduction for fees paid for financial advice.

On 25 September, the ATO released Taxation Determination TD 2024/7 in relation to the deductibility of financial advice fees incurred by individuals who are not carrying on an investment business. TD 2024/7 does not reflect a change in the Commissioner’s view on the deductibility of financial advice fees as previously set out in Taxation Determination TD 95/60. Instead, it was published following regulatory reforms to the financial services industry. The Commissioner has maintained his view that fees prior to acquisition of assets are incurred ‘too soon’ and therefore capital in nature, and household budgeting advice are private or domestic expenses. Fees for financial advice relating to income products with sufficient connection to assessable income (i.e. income protection) are deductible.

General deductions

This determination addresses the application of section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (ITAA 1997) to fees for financial advice, highlighting the importance that the fees are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income. Broadly, a deduction for any loss is not available under section 8-1 to the extent that:

Gaining or producing assessable income

To be incurred in gaining or producing assessable income, a sufficient connection must exist between the expense and the particular activities through which the assessable income is gained or produced.

An expense can still be deducted even where the assessable income is:

Whether or not a sufficient connection exists between expenditure and what produces the assessable income is a question of fact so that the Commissioner must have regard to all the circumstances in each case. In particular, the Commissioner will consider:

Importantly, there is a difference between fees for financial advice incurred on a recurrent basis for an existing or ongoing income producing-investment, and fees for financial advice on a proposed investment prior to the acquisition of an asset. The former is deductible on the basis that there is a sufficient connection between the fee for the ongoing advice and the investments that produce assessable income.  

As there is sufficient connection between an individual’s assessable income and premiums for income protection insurance which are deductible under section 8-1, financial advice relating to income protection products will be deductible.

Capital or capital in nature

Amounts relating to fees for advice on a proposed investment are considered to be incidental to the cost of acquiring the income-producing investment and are therefore capital in nature and are not deductible under section 8-1. Similarly, fees incurred for advice on putting an income-earning investment in place or in relation to an income-earning structure are not deductible since they are capital in nature.

The determination explains that in determining whether an expense is capital in nature, consideration will be given to (the capital vs revenue distinction):

Tax-related expenses

Provided an individual can identify that an amount was incurred for advice to assist them in managing their tax affairs, they will likely be able to claim a deduction under section 25-5 of the Act.

Importantly, to access a deduction under section 25-5, the advice must be provided by a ‘recognised tax adviser’ including:

Additionally, not all advice provided will be deductible as tax (financial) advice. Where information is provided without application or interpretation of the taxation laws to the individual’s personal circumstances, it will not be for managing that individual’s tax affairs.

How SW can help

Contact your SW contact if you have any questions about the deductibility of expenses you have incurred in respect of financial advice.

SW will continue to monitor and provide commentaries to inform clients of developments as they occur.

Contributors

Antony Cheung

The Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) has approved new sustainability reporting standards aligning with mandatory climate reporting legislation. These standards create a framework for large Australian companies to disclose their sustainability practices.

Introduction

Following the passage of the legislation by the Australian Parliament, the AASB approved two inaugural sustainability reporting standards modelled after international guidelines and incorporate local legislation.

Climate first approach

Unlike the International Sustainability Standards Board standards, Australian sustainability standards have adopted a climate-first approach by making AASB S2 Climate-related Disclosures mandatory. Companies with reporting obligations must disclose key climate-related areas, including:

Additionally, AASB S2 incorporates changes mandated by legislation, including enhanced scenario analysis. Entities must disclose scenario analysis using at least both of the following scenarios:

Voluntary sustainability disclosure for other topics

AASB S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information covers various sustainability topics including biodiversity and human capital and remains a voluntary standard. This approach contrasts from the ISSB standards which phase  in additional issues from the second year after climate disclosures.

To assist companies in adopting the ISSB-based sustainability standards voluntarily, the IFRS Foundation has published guidance for preparers.

Audit requirements

With the publication of the accounting standards, we are one step closer to implementation. The first group of companies must start reporting for the financial year ending 31 December 2025. However, one key missing piece is the auditing standards, as the company’s financial auditor will audit the sustainability report. The Auditing Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) is currently consulting with stakeholders to determine the assurance rollout for climate-related disclosures. By 2030, all sustainability reports will be subject to audit.

Based on the most recent exposure draft, the proposed audit requirements will be phased in. In the first year of reporting, different content will be subject to varying assurance requirements:

How SW can help

To make sure you are prepared, SW can conduct a gap analysis and create a road map to guide you on your sustainability journey.

Our audit and advisory experts are well-versed in sustainability accounting standards and will guide your business through any Australian reporting developments.  

Keep an eye out for our alerts on the finalisation of the sustainability reporting assurance standard. 

Contributors

Jimmy Cao

The ATO has released a draft Practical Compliance Guideline, PCG 2024/D2 (PCG) which outlines how general anti-avoidance rules apply to personal services income (PSI) earned through a personal services entity (PSE) operating as a personal services business (PSB).

The PSI rules were enacted to ensure that income derived by a PSE would be taxed to the individual earning the PSI. The PSI rules also limit the types of deductions an entity can claim in respect to income being derived from the personal services of an individual. 

If certain conditions are met, the PSE may be treated as conducting PSB. In these cases, the PSI provisions are exempted and the income would not be taxed to the individual.

The PCG confirms the ATO’s position, as stated in Taxation Ruling TR 2022/3, that the general anti-avoidance provisions in Part IVA applies when a PSE conducts a PSB. Therefore, any tax benefit obtained from an arrangement would be ‘unwound’ despite meeting the PSI rules. This could impact any person operating a business through a company or trust structure in industries including:

Two main types of arrangements

Specifically, the PCG addresses concerns around two main types of alienation arrangements:

The PSE retains income rather than distributing it to the individual who performed the services. By retaining profits within the PSE, tax on that income is often deferred, allowing the income to be taxed at a lower corporate rate or retained for future use.

In some cases, this results in the profits being distributed at a more advantageous time, or for the income to be used for non-commercial purposes, raising the risk of Part IVA being applied if the dominant purpose is to obtain a tax benefit through deferral.

This occurs when the income earned by the individual providing the personal services is diverted to associates (such as family members or related entities) rather than being fully allocated to the individual. It aims to reduce the overall tax by distributing income to entities at relatively lower tax rates, achieving a reduced overall tax rate or gaining other benefits such as spreading income across multiple taxpayers.

The ATO views these arrangements as higher risk under Part IVA, particularly if the income split is disproportionate to the value of the services provided by the associates.

Key takeaways

Low-risk arrangements

The following are features of low-risk arrangements:

Higher risk arrangements

The following are features of a higher-risk arrangement:

Key actions required

The PSI rules apply to various professionals including doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, accountants and lawyers.

Taxpayers using PSEs to derive PSI must review their current arrangements to determine whether any income-splitting or profit retention practices positions them in the higher-risk category for Part IVA scrutiny.

  1. Review income-splitting or profit retention arrangements used within the PSE: If the arrangements primarily aim to gain a tax benefit, there is a higher risk of triggering Part IVA.
  2. Maintain comprehensive documentation of all transactions, decisions, contracts, and agreements involving the PSE: Detailed record-keeping is essential for justifying the rationale behind income-splitting or profit-retention decisions if reviewed by the ATO.
  3. Seek professional advice: Taxpayers unsure about their arrangement’s risk level or whether Part IVA applies should consult a tax professional to assess compliance and make necessary adjustments

How SW can help

Stakeholders have until 11 October 2024 to submit comments on the PCG before it is finalised.

Please reach out to an SW advisor to discuss the potential impact of the PCG on your business to mitigate any risks of current and future arrangements

Contributors

Ned Galloway

Eric Lay