Australia: Closing tax consolidation loopholes
On 22 March 2018, the Australian Government’s commitment to ensure multinationals pay the right amount of tax in Australia continued with the passage through Parliament of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Consolidation Integrity) Bill
See MoreAustralia: Implementing the OECD Hybrid Mismatch Rules
The Australian Government announced in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Budgets that it would implement the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development’s (OECD) rules aimed at eliminating double non-taxation benefits from hybrid mismatch
See MoreAustralia: ATO releases draft PCG on diverted profits tax
On 7 February 2018, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) publicly released a draft practical compliance guide PCG 2018/D2 concerning Diverted Profits Tax (DPT). The draft PCG has been released for public consultation and submissions close on
See MoreAustralia: Guidelines on attribution of ADI equity capital and controlled foreign entity equity
On 24 January 2018, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) issued the Practical Compliance Guideline (PCG) 2018/1. This Guideline sets out how the ATO will administer subsection 820-300(3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA
See MoreAustralia: Final guideline on cross-border related-party financing arrangements
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has published the final Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2017/4 on its compliance approach to cross-border related financing arrangements. The guidance explains how taxpayers can price related party loans to
See MoreAustralia: New guidance on DPT
On 18 December 2017, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) published a draft law companion guideline (LCG) 2017/D7 on Diverted profits tax (DPT) for public consultation. The draft Guideline addresses Schedule 1 to the Treasury Laws Amendment Act 2017
See MoreAustralia releases draft legislation to address hybrid mismatch
24 November 2017, Australia’s Treasurer released exposure draft legislation to address hybrid mismatch arrangements reaffirms the Turnbull Government’s continued focus on strengthening the integrity of Australia’s tax system, and stamping out
See MoreBusiness Council: Australia must cut company tax rate to boost up economy
Ms Jennifer Westacott, the chief executive of the Business Council of Australia warns, “Australia is at imminent risk of having the 3rd highest company tax rate in the developed world if the Parliament leaves the top rate frozen in time at
See MoreAustralia announces R&D activities registration deadline
The deadline for registration of research and development (R&D) activities are 31 October 2017 and companies that commence R&D activities need to consider the following in preparing for R&D registration like documentation, payments to
See MoreAustralia: Eligibility for the lower company tax rate
On 18 September 2017, the Australian Government released draft tax legislation for consultation to clarify that passive investment companies cannot access the lower company tax rate for small businesses. The Minister for Revenue and Financial
See MoreAustralia: Consultation on Consolidation Integrity Measures
On 11 September 2017, the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services released draft tax consolidation legislation and an explanatory memorandum for public consultation. These important measures restore integrity to the tax consolidation rules. The
See MoreU.S. and Australia sign an agreement on the exchange of CbC reports
According to an IRS announcement on its website, the competent authorities of the U.S. and Australia have concluded an arrangement on the exchange of Country-by-Country Reports. The competent authority arrangement (CAA) for exchange of
See MoreAustralia: CbC reporting local file instructions now available
On 4 July 2017, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) published CbC reporting local file instructions together with some guidance on the meaning of “at the same time” for the purposes of the administrative solution. It allows reducing disclosures
See MoreAustralia: State Budget 2017-18
On 22 June 2017, the Treasurer, Mr. Tom Koutsantonis released the 2017-18 Budget of South Australia with the following measures: Stamp duty surcharge for foreign purchasers From 1 January 2018, a surcharge of 4% will apply to all residential
See MoreAustralia: Treasury Laws Amendment Act 2017 received Royal Assent
On 22 June 2017, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding Payments) Act 2017 received Royal Assent. Amends the Taxation Administration Act 1953 to modify the foreign resident capital gains withholding payments
See MoreAustralia signs MLI to prevent tax avoidance
Australia has signed the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting ("Multilateral Instrument" or "MLI"). The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Steven Ciobo MP, signed
See MoreAustralia: FTA negotiation with Peru
On 24 May, Australia and Peru launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). A fellow signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, Peru has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. A Peru-Australia FTA
See MoreAustralia: New rate for franking credits
The company tax rate for small business has been reduced to 27.5% for 2016-17 and the maximum franking credit of small business has decreased to 27.5% (previously 30%). This reduced rate applies to companies with an aggregated turnover of less than
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