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Greenwoods and Freehills Weekly Tax Highlights - Week Ended 8.8.08

ATO Documents

Released 6.8.08

Class Rulings

Class Ruling CR 2008/52: return of capital: in specie distribution of shares by Legend Mining Limited
Class Ruling CR 2008/53: return of capital: Emperor Mines Limited
Notices of Withdrawal

Tax Rulings
IT 2442: Concession for eligible research and development expenditure
IT 2451: Investor funding of research and development activities
IT 2552: R&D - costing of expenditure
Product Ruling
PR 2007/63: Great Southern Plantations 2008 Project
Addenda
GST Rulings

GSTR 2000/17: GST: tax invoices
GSTR 2003/9: GST: financial acquisitions threshold

Released 8.8.08

ATO ID 2008/110: Capital Gains Tax: debt arising from the provision of services - whether same amount can be both ordinary income and a capital gain
ATO ID 2008/111: Complying superannuation fund: deduction for increased amount of superannuation lump sum death benefit - earnings foregone 
ATO ID 2008/112: Complying superannuation fund: deduction for increased amount of superannuation lump sum death benefit - expenses in relation to contributions

Architecture of Australia’s Tax and Transfer System

Released 6.8.08

Treasury has released the first paper by the Government's Tax System Review Panel entitled  'Architecture of Australia's Tax and Transfer System'.  The paper is concerned with the operation of the personal income tax, taxes on consumption, various State taxes and the social security system, alone and in combination. Corporate tax is discussed for its impact on individual savings behaviour. To access the G&F Tax Brief on the discussion paper please click here.

Assistant Treasurer's Address: 'Innovate 08'

Released 7.8.08

The Assistant Treasurer has announced a soft start date of 1 July 2009 and a hard start date of 1 July 2010 for the TOFA reforms. The announcement was part of an address given at the IFSA Conference. In the address t
he Assistant Treasurer also mentioned that the Board of Taxation will soon be calling for submissions on a discussion paper for the managed investment trust regime. 

Appeals Update

Lilyvale Hotel Pty Limited v FCT [2008] FCA 1031: The taxpayer has appealed to the Full Federal Court. The Federal Court had affirmed the Commissioner's decision that the taxpayer was not entitled to a deduction for prior year losses because it did not satisfy the requirements of the same business test for the relevant test period.

Tax Cases

Latif and FCT AAT Case [2008] AATA 675, 4 August 2008: In denying the taxpayers claim for a deduction of expenses incurred in carrying on a business the Tribunal found no evidence that the business existed.  The taxpayer had based the deduction on depreciation of assets and claimed they were incurred in relation to a telecommunications business. A further deduction related to use of a car was remitted to the Commissioner for determination.

Progress of Legislation

As at 8.8.08

Bill
  

 

Explanatory Memorandum  

 

Intro House

Passed House

Intro Senate

Passed Senate

Date of Royal assent / Act Number

 Description

Tax Laws Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2008

EM
  

 

27.5.08

28.5.08
 

16.6.08

25.6.08
.

30.6.08/59

FBT, Employee Share Schemes, Software Depreciation

Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008

EM
  

 

27.5.08

28.5.08
 

16.6.08


.

Medicare Levy Thresholds

Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No 3) Bill 2008

EM
  

 

29.3.08

5.6.08
 

16.6.08


.

 

Rights issues, GST Refunds,

Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) 2008

EM
  

 

26.6.08


 

 

 

 


.

 

Capital Gains Tax, Family Trust Changes