The September episode of Tax Talks sees Andrew Henshaw and Rajan Verma joined by Karen Goodfellow of Goodfellow Tax Advisory to unpack the major Australian tax developments from September 2026.
The discussion begins with the exposure draft package for the proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts. The panel examines which trusts and income streams may fall outside the regime, the proposed broader definition of a fixed trust, the treatment of company beneficiaries and the complexity of adding a minimum tax framework on top of the existing trust tax rules.
The episode then turns to the proposed election allowing existing trusts to avoid the minimum tax by fixing future income and capital distributions. The panel considers the consequences of making an irrevocable election, including changes in family circumstances, corporate beneficiaries, charitable distributions, asset protection, family law and succession planning. They also review the proposed trust restructure rollover, including its all-assets approach, duty concerns and the risks of moving assets into a company.
The panel also examines the proposed innovative business CGT concession, including the holding period, registration process, Australian activity requirements, excluded industries and the challenge of maintaining eligibility through to a future CGT event.
The cases section covers the Hilton Hotels Part IVA decision and what it may mean for restructures undertaken before a sale, contemporaneous documentation and how far the ATO may look back when identifying a broader scheme. The episode concludes with a recent tax residency decision involving an engineer working in Dubai, highlighting the difficulty of severing Australian tax residency, the importance of establishing a permanent place of abode overseas and the potential CGT consequences of leaving Australia.
Across these topics, the panel returns to a practical message for accountants and advisers: understand the proposals, identify affected clients and preserve the evidence supporting important decisions, but avoid taking irreversible steps while the law remains unsettled.

The September episode of Tax Talks sees Andrew Henshaw and Rajan Verma joined by Karen Goodfellow of Goodfellow Tax Advisory to unpack the major Australian tax developments from September 2026. The discussion begins with the exposure draft package for the proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts. The panel examines which trusts and income streams may fall outside the regime, the proposed broader definition of a fixed trust, the treatment of company beneficiaries and the complexity of adding a minimum tax framework on top of the existing trust tax rules. The episode then turns to the proposed election allowing existing trusts to avoid the minimum tax by fixing future income and capital distributions. The panel considers the consequences of making an irrevocable election, including changes in family circumstances, corporate beneficiaries, charitable distributions, asset protection, family law and succession planning. They also review the proposed trust restructure rollover, including its all-assets approach, duty concerns and the risks of moving assets into a company. The panel also examines the proposed innovative business CGT concession, including the holding period, registration process, Australian activity requirements, excluded industries and the challenge of maintaining eligibility through to a future CGT event. The cases section covers the Hilton Hotels Part IVA decision and what it may mean for restructures undertaken before a sale, contemporaneous documentation and how far the ATO may look back when identifying a broader scheme. The episode concludes with a recent tax residency decision involving an engineer working in Dubai, highlighting the difficulty of severing Australian tax residency, the importance of establishing a permanent place of abode overseas and the potential CGT consequences of leaving Australia. Across these topics, the panel returns to a practical message for accountants and advisers: understand the proposals, identify affected clients and preserve the evidence supporting important decisions, but avoid taking irreversible steps while the law remains unsettled.

September Updates

Episode 5 of Tax Talks sees Andrew Henshaw and guest co-host Ani Tuna joined by Vincent Licciardi from HWLE to unpack the major tax developments from August 2026.
The discussion begins with increasing scrutiny from the ATO and Tax Practitioners Board, exploring disclosure obligations, annual registration renewals and fit and proper person requirements. The panel examines the Free decision and the risks practitioners face when outstanding tax obligations or adverse findings remain undisclosed, including where the underlying matters are disputed.
The episode then examines the second tranche of draft CGT and negative gearing measures, analysing valuation challenges, main residence issues, small business concessions and the proposed definition of a new residential dwelling. The discussion also considers foreign resident CGT reforms and changes to SMSF limited recourse borrowing arrangements, including transitional contracts, business real property and refinancing.
The panel reviews recent Victorian and New South Wales state tax cases involving windfall gains tax, property nominations and landholder duty, highlighting how contract dates and transaction sequencing can produce unexpected liabilities. The discussion also explores engagement scope, client expectations and the risks for accountants advising outside their areas of expertise.
The episode concludes with GST credits on legal and litigation costs, developments concerning Bitcoin and draft ATO guidance on crypto transactions, and the Division 293 consequences of receiving employment income in arrears. Across these topics, the panel highlights the importance of precise timing, supporting evidence and identifying risks before transactions proceed.

Episode 5 of Tax Talks sees Andrew Henshaw and guest co-host Ani Tuna joined by Vincent Licciardi from HWLE to unpack the major tax developments from August 2026. The discussion begins with increasing scrutiny from the ATO and Tax Practitioners Board, exploring disclosure obligations, annual registration renewals and fit and proper person requirements. The panel examines the Free decision and the risks practitioners face when outstanding tax obligations or adverse findings remain undisclosed, including where the underlying matters are disputed. The episode then examines the second tranche of draft CGT and negative gearing measures, analysing valuation challenges, main residence issues, small business concessions and the proposed definition of a new residential dwelling. The discussion also considers foreign resident CGT reforms and changes to SMSF limited recourse borrowing arrangements, including transitional contracts, business real property and refinancing. The panel reviews recent Victorian and New South Wales state tax cases involving windfall gains tax, property nominations and landholder duty, highlighting how contract dates and transaction sequencing can produce unexpected liabilities. The discussion also explores engagement scope, client expectations and the risks for accountants advising outside their areas of expertise. The episode concludes with GST credits on legal and litigation costs, developments concerning Bitcoin and draft ATO guidance on crypto transactions, and the Division 293 consequences of receiving employment income in arrears. Across these topics, the panel highlights the importance of precise timing, supporting evidence and identifying risks before transactions proceed.

Episode 5 of Tax Talks sees Andrew Henshaw and guest co-host Ani Tuna joined by Vincent Licciardi from HWLE to unpack the major tax developments from August 2026.
The discussion begins with increasing scrutiny from the ATO and Tax Practitioners Board, exploring disclosure obligations, annual registration renewals and fit and proper person requirements. The panel examines the Free decision and the risks practitioners face when outstanding tax obligations or adverse findings remain undisclosed, including where the underlying matters are disputed.
The episode then examines the second tranche of draft CGT and negative gearing measures, analysing valuation challenges, main residence issues, small business concessions and the proposed definition of a new residential dwelling. The discussion also considers foreign resident CGT reforms and changes to SMSF limited recourse borrowing arrangements, including transitional contracts, business real property and refinancing.
The panel reviews recent Victorian and New South Wales state tax cases involving windfall gains tax, property nominations and landholder duty, highlighting how contract dates and transaction sequencing can produce unexpected liabilities. The discussion also explores engagement scope, client expectations and the risks for accountants advising outside their areas of expertise.
The episode concludes with GST credits on legal and litigation costs, developments concerning Bitcoin and draft ATO guidance on crypto transactions, and the Division 293 consequences of receiving employment income in arrears. Across these topics, the panel highlights the importance of precise timing, supporting evidence and identifying risks before transactions proceed.

August Updates

Child support lump sum payments are often favoured by mothers and might improve the relationship between parents.

Child support lump sum payments are often favoured by mothers and might improve the relationship between parents.

391 | Child Support Lump Sum Payments

Child support non-agency payments are payments to third parties credited to a child support liability.

Child support non-agency payments are payments to third parties credited to a child support liability.

390 | Child Support Non Agency Payments

In some ways CATS Accountants is just a normal practice with a turnover of $1m. But in other ways they are quite unique and unusual.

282 | CATS Accountants

In December 2020 Treasury issued a discussion paper labelled “Education and Training expense deductions for individuals”.

In December 2020 Treasury issued a discussion paper labelled “Education and Training expense deductions for individuals”.

294 | Work-related Self-Education Expenses

The cost of paying less tax is about opportunity cost. What do you miss out on when you focus too hard on saving tax?

The cost of paying less tax is about opportunity cost. What do you miss out on when you focus too hard on saving tax?

293 | Cost of Paying Less Tax

This year's budget is about stimulating growth in a post-COVID world. It is not about systematic change, but there are still some changes you need to know about. Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal will discuss these with you in this episode.

This year's budget is about stimulating growth in a post-COVID world. It is not about systematic change, but there are still some changes you need to know about. Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal will discuss these with you in this episode.

UPDATE 26 | 2021/22 Federal Budget

The sale of professional services firms often include a vendor finance arrangements, but beware the fineprint.

The sale of professional services firms often include a vendor finance arrangements, but beware the fineprint.

292 | Vendor Finance Arrangements

Xero and Shopify come with inventory management software - a simple one, but one nevertheless. How far can they take you?
In this episode Jeri Wambeek of <a href='https://www.waoconnect.com/'>WAO Connect</a> will walk you through the different levels and set ups of inventory management software.

Xero and Shopify come with inventory management software - a simple one, but one nevertheless. How far can they take you? In this episode Jeri Wambeek of WAO Connect will walk you through the different levels and set ups of inventory management software.

Xero and Shopify come with inventory management software - a simple one, but one nevertheless. How far can they take you?
In this episode Jeri Wambeek of <a href="https://www.waoconnect.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">WAO Connect</a> will walk you through the different levels and set ups of inventory management software.

291 | Inventory Management Software

How do you structure a hobby farm in the most tax effective way? Here is Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal with more.

How do you structure a hobby farm in the most tax effective way? Here is Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal with more.

290 | Structure a Hobby Farm

The timing of the declaration of trust over the LRBA property is crucial. Here is Geoff Stein of BWS Laywers with more.

The timing of the declaration of trust over the LRBA property is crucial. Here is Geoff Stein of BWS Laywers with more.

289 | LRBA Timing

In episode 287, we discussed intellectual property as such. In this episode Melissa McGrath of <a href='https://www.colemangreig.com.au/'>Coleman Greig Lawyers</a> in Sydney will talk about the taxation of IP.

In episode 287, we discussed intellectual property as such. In this episode Melissa McGrath of Coleman Greig Lawyers in Sydney will talk about the taxation of IP.

In episode 287, we discussed intellectual property as such. In this episode Melissa McGrath of <a href="https://www.colemangreig.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coleman Greig Lawyers</a> in Sydney will talk about the taxation of IP.

288 | Taxation of IP

Intellectual property is a right. It is only property as such to the extent you have a right to it. Here is Melissa McGrath with more.

Intellectual property is a right. It is only property as such to the extent you have a right to it. Here is Melissa McGrath with more.

287 | Intellectual Property

How to you expand into New Zealand? What GST and income tax implications does this have? Here is Mike Reddy of NZTax.com.au.

How to you expand into New Zealand? What GST and income tax implications does this have? Here is Mike Reddy of NZTax.com.au.

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