Yesterday
Our tax system is a dog’s breakfast. Here’s a 3x3 blueprint to fix it
Three “maxims” to guide the changes. Three “no-regrets” steps either side of politics could institute right away. And three “big-picture” medium-term measures.
This Month
How 3 days a week of childcare could unleash the economy
Prominent people were asked to propose one policy initiative they believed political parties should pledge to do, should they win the election.
‘Feels like the commissioner is sitting at the kitchen table’
What was once a relatively simple formula has become a maze of complex decisions with potentially severe tax consequences.
Bankruptcy catches up with accountant linked to tax fraudsters
Filomina Kyriacou – linked to some notorious tax fraudsters – has avoided tax debts and unpaid loans worth nearly $4 million by declaring herself bankrupt.
Redundancies at StrongRoom AI amid fire sale; eyes on CEO
All eyes are on co-founder Max Mito, a defendant in a court case filed by EVP, who is expected to table a bid to buy back the business at cents in the dollar.
From a Moroccan villa to the courtroom: how StrongRoom AI’s good times went bad
Court filings that allege fraud at the tech start-up paint a picture of company funds being used to fund a lavish lifestyle of foreign trips and fine dining.
March
ASX dives 1.4pc; Nine backs $2.8b Domain sale; 5 big market risks
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Tim Gurner’s health spa has the makings of a tax write-off
The property developer bans phones and laptops at his spa complex, which somehow also doubles as a co-working space.
Hacker claims Oracle breach, sending business and agencies scrambling
Australia’s biggest companies rushed to check their systems after a hacker claimed to have stolen important credentials via tech giant Oracle.
Inside Duncan Saville’s billion-dollar Bermuda Triangle
A decade after the ATO hit the reclusive Australian investor with a $189 million tax bill and savaged his character, Canberra is rolling out the red carpet.
$1b family trusts dispute may be headed to the High Court
The Australian Taxation Office will continue to fight a decision that could leave it owing as much as $1 billion in refunds to 971,000 family trusts.
February
Bullock admits RBA too slow; Domain rockets; Mansion smashes record
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Family trusts may seek $1b in tax refunds after landmark decision
Family trusts incorrectly penalised by the Australian Tax Office should act now to lodge objections, lawyers say.
Mystery ATO tangle in Solomon Lew’s web
The billionaire rag trader’s network of associated entities stretches into complexity.
MinRes confirms Ellison exit, board rules no further penalties for MD
Mineral Resources’ embattled board has confirmed to shareholders that Chris Ellison will depart the miner.
What the ATO wants to know about your family’s succession plan
The founders of some of the nation’s most successful family business will soon turn 70, and the ATO wants to know what comes next.
First, do no harm to the tax system at the 2025 election
Large corporates would take a promise to do nothing over ‘somethings’ that have translated into complex and productivity-sapping changes to an already uncompetitive corporate tax system.
January
ATO to crack down on Baby Boomer wealth transfer ‘risks’
The Australian Taxation Office says it will zero in on Baby Boomers restructuring private companies to pass billions onto their heirs.
December 2024
Harsher penalties urged for PwC-style false privilege claims
The changing nature of law firms is making privilege claims more difficult to determine, a federal government discussion paper says.
Grant Samuel delivers all but fatal blow to $2.2b Perpetual deal
The corporate advisory firm, assigned as an independent expert on the sale, said it was not in the best interest of investors.