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22.01.2022 Claiming an immediate write-off for the SBE closing pool balance the Government recently amended the rules for the instant asset write-off that applies to small business entities (‘SBEs’) to increase the threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 until 31 December 2020. In particular, the increase in the instant write-off threshold to $150,000 allows SBEs to claim an immediate deduction for assets they first acquired on or after 7.30 pm (AEST) on 12 May 2015, if they were first used...Continue reading

21.01.2022 Super guarantee amnesty period ended The superannuation guarantee amnesty, allowing employers to disclose and pay unpaid superannuation, ended on 7 September 2020. Payments made after 7 September 2020 are not tax deductible, even if the payment is eligible for amnesty benefits or under a payment arrangements. Application forms received after this time do not qualify for the amnesty and will be treated as lodgment of a superannuation guarantee charge (SGC) statement.

17.01.2022 COVID-19: early release of super deadline extended The Treasury Laws Amendment (Release of Superannuation on Compassionate Grounds) Regulations (No 3) 2020 extend the deadline for an application made for COVID-19-related early release from superannuation and retirement savings accounts made during the 2020-21 financial year from 24 September 2020 to 31 December 2020. The extension is not relevant to temporary residents.

05.01.2022 Good Article from PWC Group Tax -Multiple Entry consolidated groups, (MEC) A tax consolidation regime applies for income tax and CGT purposes for companies, par...tnerships, and trusts ultimately 100% owned by a single head company (or certain entities taxed like a company) resident in Australia. Australian resident companies that are 100% owned (either directly or indirectly) by the same foreign company and have no common Australian head company between them and the non-resident parent are also allowed to consolidate as a multiple entry consolidated (MEC) group. The group that is consolidated for income tax purposes may differ from the group that is consolidated for accounts or for GST purposes. Groups that choose to consolidate must include all 100%-owned entities under an all-in rule, and the choice to consolidate is irrevocable. However, eligible tier-1 companies (being Australian resident companies that have a non-resident shareholder) that are members of a potential MEC group are not all required to join an MEC group when it forms, but may form two or more separate MEC or consolidated groups, if they so choose, of which the same foreign top company is the 100% owner. If an eligible tier-1 company joins a particular MEC group, all 100% subsidiaries of the company must also join the group. While the rules for forming and joining MEC groups allow more flexibility than with consolidated groups, the ongoing rules for MEC groups are more complex, particularly for tax losses and on the disposal of interests in eligible tier-1 companies, which are subject to cost pooling rules, although for practical purposes these rules are relevant only if the non-resident’s interest is (or will become) an indirect Australian real property interest (see Capital gains in the Income determination section for more information). A single entity rule applies to members of a consolidated or MEC group so that for income tax purposes the subsidiary members are taken to be part of the head company, while they continue to be members of the group and intra-group transactions are not recognised. In general, no group relief is available where related companies are not members of the same consolidated or MEC group. Rollover relief from CGT is available on the transfer of unrealised gains on assets, which are taxable Australian property, between companies sharing 100% common ownership where the transfer is between non-resident companies, or between a non-resident company and a member of a consolidated group or MEC group, or between a non-resident company and a resident company that is not able to be a member of a consolidated group. Consolidated groups file a single tax return and calculate their taxable income or loss ignoring all intra-group transactions. When a consolidated group acquires 100% of an Australian resident entity, so that it becomes a subsidiary member, generally the cost base of certain assets (in general, those that are non-monetary) of the joining member are reset for all tax purposes, based on the purchase price plus the entity's liabilities, subject to certain adjustments. In this way, an acquisition of 100% of an Australian resident entity by a consolidated group is broadly the tax equivalent of acquiring its assets. Subject to certain tests being passed, tax losses of the joining member may be transferred to the head company and may be utilised subject to a loss factor, which is broadly the market value of the joining member divided by the market value of the group (including the joining member). The value of the loss factor (referred to as 'the available fraction') that applies for transferred losses may be reduced by capital injections (or the equivalent) into the member before it joined, or into the group after the loss is transferred. Franking credits and tax losses remain with the group when a member exits, and the cost base of shares in the exiting member is calculated based on the tax value of its assets at the time of exit, less liabilities subject to certain adjustments. Generally, members of the group are jointly and severally liable for group income tax debts on the default of the head company, unless the group liability is covered by a tax sharing agreement (TSA) that satisfies certain legislative requirements. A member who enters into a TSA generally can achieve a clean exit from the group where a payment is made to the head company in accordance with the TSA. Transfer pricing Australia has a comprehensive transfer pricing regime aimed at protecting the tax base by ensuring that dealings between related, international parties are conducted at arm's length. The arm's-length principle, which underpins the transfer pricing regime, uses the behaviour of independent parties as a benchmark for determining the allocation of income and expenses between international related parties. Australia’s transfer pricing regime is in line with international best practice as set out by the OECD. Transfer pricing adjustments operate on a self-assessment basis and apply in respect of certain cross-border dealings between entities and to the allocation of actual income and expenses of an entity between the entity and its PE, using the internationally accepted arm's-length principle, which is to be determined consistently with the relevant OECD Guidance material (and applied to both treaty and non-treaty cases). In addition, companies are required to have transfer pricing documentation in place to support their self-assessed positions before the lodgement of the tax return. Australia implemented the OECD’s transfer pricing documentation standards for those companies that are part of a group with global revenue of AUD 1 billion or more. Under these documentation standards, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) receives the following information on large companies operating in Australia: A country-by-country (CbC) report that shows information on the global activities of a multinational, including the location of its income and taxes paid. A master file containing an overview of the multinational’s global business, its organisational structure, and its transfer pricing policies. A local file that provides detail about the local taxpayer’s inter-company transactions. The ATO has had a specific focus on transfer pricing of related-party cross-border financing in recent times and has adopted a compliance approach that will vary depending on the risk rating of a taxpayer’s specific related-party financing arrangement. Thin capitalisation Thin capitalisation measures apply to the total debt of the Australian operations of multinational groups (including branches of those groups). The measures cover investment into Australia of foreign multinationals and outward investment of Australian-based multinationals, and include a safe-harbour debt-to-equity ratio of 1.5:1. Interest deductions are denied to the extent that borrowing exceeds the applicable safe-harbour ratio. Where borrowing exceeds the safe-harbour ratio, multinationals are not affected by the rules if they can satisfy the arm's-length test (that the borrowing could have been borne by an independent entity). A further alternative test is available for certain inward or outward investing entities based on 100% of their worldwide gearing. As mentioned above, the thin capitalisation rules apply to inward investment into Australia. In particular, they will apply where a foreign entity carries on business through an Australian PE or to an Australian entity in which five or fewer non-residents have at least a 50% control interest, or a single non-resident has at least a 40% control interest, or the Australian entity is controlled by no more than five foreign entities. Separate rules apply to financial institutions. To facilitate their inclusion in the rules, branches are required to prepare financial accounts. In calculating the safe harbour debt, an entity must prima facie comply with the accounting standards in determining its assets and liabilities and in calculating the values of its assets, liabilities, debt and equity capital. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), equivalents of which currently apply in Australia, make it more difficult for some entities to satisfy thin capitalisation rules. Accordingly, thin capitalisation law allows departure from the Australian equivalents to IFRS to exclude deferred tax assets and liabilities and surpluses and deficits in defined benefit superannuation funds from applicable calculations. It is no longer possible to revalue certain assets specifically for thin capitalisation purposes. Specifically, under the new law, entities are required to align the value of their assets for thin capitalisation purposes with the value included in their financial statements for income years commencing on or after 1 July 2019. However, a transitional rule will allow, in the interim period, valuations that were made prior to 8 May 2018 to be relied on (this will generally be applicable to the valuation of internally generated intangible assets). Controlled foreign companies (CFCs) Under Australia’s CFC regime, non-active income of foreign companies controlled by Australian residents (determined by reference to voting rights and dividend and capital entitlements) may be attributed to those residents under rules that distinguish between companies resident in 'listed countries' (e.g. Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and in other 'unlisted' countries. In general, if the CFC is resident in an unlisted country and it fails the active income test (typically because it earns 5% or more of its income from passive or tainted sources), the CFC's tainted income (very broadly, passive income and gains, and sales and services income that has a connection with Australia) is attributable. If a CFC is resident in a listed country, a narrower range of tainted income is attributed even if the CFC fails the active income test. When income previously taxed on attribution is repatriated, it is not assessable for tax. Integrity measures for large multinationals The following integrity measures seek to address multinational tax avoidance by entities that, in broad terms, are 'significant global entities' (broadly an entity that is part of a consolidated accounting group with global revenue of AUD 1 billion or more): Transfer pricing documentation standards (see above for more information). The doubling of the maximum administrative penalties that can be applied to entities that enter into tax avoidance and profit shifting schemes. A targeted anti-avoidance rule aimed at multinationals that enter into arrangements that artificially avoid having a taxable presence in Australia. Specifically, this measure will ensure that profits from Australian sales are taxed in Australia where the activities of an Australian associated entity support the making of those sales, and the profit from the Australian sales is booked overseas and is not attributable to a PE of the foreign entity in Australia. A principal purpose of entering into the arrangement must be to create a tax benefit. A requirement to lodge general purpose financial statements (GPFS) with the ATO where such accounts are not already lodged with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. A Diverted Profits Tax (DPT) that is imposed at a penalty rate of 40% in circumstances where the amount of Australian tax paid is reduced by diverting profits offshore through contrived related-party arrangements. The DPT is extremely broad (for example, both financing and non-financing arrangements are in scope). Significantly increased penalties (as great as AUD 555,000) that can be applied for failing to lodge a tax return (or other tax-related document) on time. Doubling of penalties that can be applied for making a false or misleading statement. Reforms have been made which expand the scope of those entities that are considered to be a significant global entity (SGE) and also to introduce the new concept of a Country by Country Reporting Entity (CbCRE). Under the new rules, which apply to income years commencing on or after 1 July 2019, the concept of an SGE has been expanded to ensure that when working out whether or not the entity is part of an accounting consolidated group with global revenue of at least AUD 1 billion, it is to be assumed that each member of the group were a listed company and also disregarding the ‘investment entity’ exception for preparing consolidated accounts and materiality. A CbCRE is a similar, but narrower, concept to an SGE. Hybrid mismatch rules Australia has enacted rules that seek to implement the OECD’s recommended hybrid mismatch rules. Hybrid mismatches are differences in the tax treatment of an entity or instrument under the laws of two or more tax jurisdictions. If a mismatch arises, the law operates to neutralise the mismatch in Australia by: Preventing entities that are liable to income tax in Australia from being able to avoid income taxation, or obtain a double non-taxation benefit, by exploiting differences between the tax treatment of entities and instruments across different countries by disallowing a deduction or including an amount in assessable income. Limiting the scope of the exemption for foreign branch income and preventing a deduction from arising for payments made by an Australian branch of a foreign bank to its head office in some circumstances. Denying imputation benefits on franked distributions made by an Australian corporate tax entity if all or part of the distribution gives rise to a foreign income tax deduction; and preventing certain foreign equity distributions received, directly or indirectly, by an Australian corporate tax entity from being exempt if all or part of the distribution gives rise to a foreign income tax deduction. In addition, there is an integrity rule that has the potential to impose additional Australian tax on interest and derivative payments to foreign interposed zero or low-rate entities, irrespective of whether the arrangement involves a hybrid element. The hybrids law generally applies to assessments for income years starting on or after 1 January 2019. source: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/austr/corporate/group-taxation