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

Finally, the last episode for 2020 - the Top 10 Podcasts for Australian Accountants 2021.

Finally, the last episode for 2020 - the Top 10 Podcasts for Australian Accountants 2021.

277 | Top 10 Podcasts for Australian Accountants

There has been a significant testamentary trust law change affecting how distributions to minors are taxed. <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/paul-mackenroth/'>Paul Mackenroth</a> of <a href='https://www.clearyhoare.com.au/'>Cleary Hoare</a> in Brisbane will discuss with you what this exactly means.

There has been a significant testamentary trust law change affecting how distributions to minors are taxed. Paul Mackenroth of Cleary Hoare in Brisbane will discuss with you what this exactly means.

There has been a significant testamentary trust law change affecting how distributions to minors are taxed. <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/paul-mackenroth/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paul Mackenroth</a> of <a href="https://www.clearyhoare.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cleary Hoare</a> in Brisbane will discuss with you what this exactly means.

UPDATE 25 | Testamentary Trust Law Change

Will going AWOL save you money? What happens when your company keeps trading but ignores all ASIC and tax debts?

Will going AWOL save you money? What happens when your company keeps trading but ignores all ASIC and tax debts?

276 | Going AWOL

Tax software doesn't get much limelight. But in this episode with Alan Fitzgerald it will.

Tax software doesn't get much limelight. But in this episode with Alan Fitzgerald it will.

275 | Tax Software

Director penalty notices - in short DPN - are the ATO's tax collection tool of last resort to get what they are owed - by going straight for a director's personal assets. <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/damien-lehmann/'>Damien Lehmann</a> of <a href='https://andreyev.com.au/'>Andreyev Lawyers</a> will tell you more.

Director penalty notices - in short DPN - are the ATO's tax collection tool of last resort to get what they are owed - by going straight for a director's personal assets. Damien Lehmann of Andreyev Lawyers will tell you more.

Director penalty notices - in short DPN - are the ATO's tax collection tool of last resort to get what they are owed - by going straight for a director's personal assets. <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/damien-lehmann/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Damien Lehmann</a> of <a href="https://andreyev.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andreyev Lawyers</a> will tell you more.

274 | Director Penalty Notices

If you look at the work done in your practice, chances are trusts - especially discretionary trusts - take up a disproportionate amount of time. So let’s talk with Angelique Faes of Class Trust about trust reporting, the pain points and how Class Trust is trying to alleviate those pain points.

If you look at the work done in your practice, chances are trusts - especially discretionary trusts - take up a disproportionate amount of time. So let’s talk with Angelique Faes of Class Trust about trust reporting, the pain points and how Class Trust is trying to alleviate those pain points.

273 | Trust Reporting

Does size matter? Does it matter whether capital is paid in or not? And who is responsible for substantiating the claim of capital profits reserves and capital losses carryforward? These are just some of the questions Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers in Sydney will discuss with you.

Does size matter? Does it matter whether capital is paid in or not? And who is responsible for substantiating the claim of capital profits reserves and capital losses carryforward? These are just some of the questions Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers in Sydney will discuss with you.

272 | Company Capital

What is the difference between company constitutions and shareholder agreements? Should you just have one or do you need both? Why do you need a constitution in the first place? These are just some of the many questions Damien Lehmann of Andreyev Lawyers in Sydney will discuss with you in this episode.

What is the difference between company constitutions and shareholder agreements? Should you just have one or do you need both? Why do you need a constitution in the first place? These are just some of the many questions Damien Lehmann of Andreyev Lawyers in Sydney will discuss with you in this episode.

271 | Company Constitutions

In this episode Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers in Sydney will discuss 3 ways to save land tax.

In this episode Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers in Sydney will discuss 3 ways to save land tax.

270 | How to Save Land Tax

How do you tell whether somebody is an intern or employee? Where does an intern stop and employee start? In this episode <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/james-true/'>James True</a> of <a href='https://legalvision.com.au/'>LegalVision</a> in Sydney will discuss the details with you.

How do you tell whether somebody is an intern or employee? Where does an intern stop and employee start? In this episode James True of LegalVision in Sydney will discuss the details with you.

How do you tell whether somebody is an intern or employee? Where does an intern stop and employee start? In this episode <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/james-true/" rel="noopener noreferrer">James True</a> of <a href="https://legalvision.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">LegalVision</a> in Sydney will discuss the details with you.

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