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    Greenwoods and Freehills Weekly Tax Highlights - Week Ended 5.9.08

    ATO Documents

    Released 3.9.08

    Draft Superannuation Guarantee Ruling
    SGR 2008/D1: Superannuation guarantee: payments made to sportspersons
    Draft Taxation Determination
    TD 2008/D12: Income tax: is the deductibility of compound interest determined according to the same principles as the deductibility of other interest?
    Addenda
    Class Ruling
    CR 2006/123: Income tax: Henderson Group plc - return of capital
    CR 2007/9: Income tax: capital gains: demerger of Tower Australia Group Limited by Tower Limited
    Product Ruling
    PR 2008/4: Income tax: TFS Sandalwood Project 2008 - pre 30 June 2008 Growers
    PR 2008/23: Income tax: Piangil Grower Project - 2008
    PR 2008/25: Income tax: Macquarie Almond Investment 2008 - Early Growers (to 15 June 2008)
    PR 2008/38: Income tax: Macquarie Eucalypt Project 2008
    Notices of Withdrawal
    Taxation Determination
    TD 94/85: Income tax: is a taxpayer entitled to a deduction under subsection 59(1) or any other section of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 when an item of plant is sold by an agent of the taxpayer and the proceeds of sale are misappropriated by the agent?
    Product Ruling
    PR 2007/77: Withdrawal Income tax: NTT Mahogany 2006-2008 (2008 Growers)
    Erratum
    Taxation Ruling

    TR 2008/6: Petroleum resource rent tax and income tax: treatment of geosequestration expenditure and receipts

    Released 5.9.08

    Interpretative Decisions
    ATO ID 2008/116: GST and credit card surcharge for payment of an Australian tax, fee or charge
    ATO ID 2008/117: Permanent establishment of a US Limited Liability Company 
    ATO ID 2008/118: Excise: synthetic hydraulic fluid
    ATO ID 2008/119: Excise: ethylene glycol
    Withdrawn Interpretative Decisions
    ATO ID 2001/697: Excise - Collections - Petroleum - Liability to Pay Excise on Synthetic Hydraulic Fluid. 
    ATO ID 2006/76: Excise: collections - petroleum - liability to pay excise duty on ethylene glycol 

    Released 2.9.08
    Withdrawn Interpretative Decision

    ATO ID 2003/93: Assessability of recoupment of legal costs

    Decision Impact Statement

    Released 2.9.08

    Colby Corporation Pty Ltd v FCT [2008] FCAFC 10:  The ATO, in this Decision Impact Statement, claims that the decision of the Full Federal Court supports the previously held view of the meaning of the word 'purchase'. The taxpayer's request for special leave to appeal to the High Court was dismissed.  The taxpayer had argued that it had purchased fuel during a mining contract. 

    Tax Cases

    DCT v Broadbeach Properties Ltd & Ors [2008] HCA 41, 3 September 2008: The High Court has confirmed the right of a Deputy Commissioner of Taxation to seek recovery of a tax debt even though there may be a 'genuine dispute' over the liability and a Part IVC review pending. In doing so the High Court set aside the decision of the Queensland Supreme Court. The taxpayers had been issued with tax debts in respect of GST, interest and penalties. The taxpayers had lodged objections stating that they were not liable for GST as the transactions occurred within their own groups of companies and that subsequent public sales were not first sales.  

    Legislative Update

    On 1.9.08, Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No 3) Bill 2008 was passed by the Senate without amendment. The Bill now awaits Royal Assent. 

    Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No 4) Bill 2008 was passed by the Senate on 3.9.2008. However the Senate blocked the provisions of the Bill dealing with the reversal of family trust changes. The Bill now returns to the House of Representatives.

    Progress of Legislation

    As at 5.9.08

    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

    1.9.08
    .

     

    Rights issues, GST Refunds

    Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) 2008

    EM
      

     

    26.6.08

    28.8.08
     

     

     

     


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    Capital Gains Tax, Family Trust Changes

    International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No 1) Bill 2008

    EM
      

     

    27.8.08


     

     

     

     


    .

     

    New Treaty with Japan

    Tax Laws Amendment (Political Contributions and Gifts) Bill

    EM
      

     

    27.8.08


     

     

     

     


    .

     

    Removes Tax Deductibility of Political Donations, GST