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

What is a special disability trust? What can or can’t it do? And why would you set one up? Here is <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/john-saunders/'>John Saunders</a> of the Pittwater Partnership with some answers.

What is a special disability trust? What can or can’t it do? And why would you set one up? Here is John Saunders of the Pittwater Partnership with some answers.

What is a special disability trust? What can or can’t it do? And why would you set one up? Here is <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/john-saunders/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Saunders</a> of the Pittwater Partnership with some answers.

252 | Special Disability Trusts

How much does it actually cost to build you a proper funnel that brings you clients? <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/nathan-watt/'>Nathan Watt</a> of <a href='https://www.watsonwatt.com.au/'>Watson & Watt</a> kindly shares with you what he paid along the way.

How much does it actually cost to build you a proper funnel that brings you clients? Nathan Watt of Watson & Watt kindly shares with you what he paid along the way.

How much does it actually cost to build you a proper funnel that brings you clients? <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/nathan-watt/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nathan Watt</a> of <a href="https://www.watsonwatt.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watson &amp; Watt</a> kindly shares with you what he paid along the way.&nbsp;

251 | The Cost of Marketing

In this episode <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/nathan-watt/'>Nathan Watt</a> of <a href='https://www.watsonwatt.com.au/'>Watson & Watt</a> will tell you how he designed his lead funnel and grew to 100 client groups within 3 years.

In this episode Nathan Watt of Watson & Watt will tell you how he designed his lead funnel and grew to 100 client groups within 3 years.

In this episode <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/nathan-watt/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nathan Watt</a> of <a href="https://www.watsonwatt.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watson &amp; Watt</a> will tell you how he designed his lead funnel and grew to 100 client groups within 3 years.

250 | Lead Funnel for Accountants

In this episode <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/melissa-donnelly/'>Melissa Donnelly</a> of <a href='https://affinitycomms.com/'>Affinity Communications</a> shares 12 insights about website design that you can apply to your own website.

In this episode Melissa Donnelly of Affinity Communications shares 12 insights about website design that you can apply to your own website.

In this episode <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/melissa-donnelly/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Melissa Donnelly</a> of <a href="https://affinitycomms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Affinity Communications</a> shares 12 insights about website design that you can apply to your own website.

249 | How to Design Your Website

In this episode Melissa Donnelly shares 12 insights about website design that you can apply to your own website.

What happens after 27 September 2020? <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/andrew-henshaw/'>Andrew Henshaw</a> of <a href='https://www.velocitylegal.com.au/'>Velocity Legal</a> in Sydney will walk you through the coming Jobkeeper changes.

What happens after 27 September 2020? Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal in Sydney will walk you through the coming Jobkeeper changes.

What happens after 27 September 2020? <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/andrew-henshaw/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andrew Henshaw</a> of <a href="https://www.velocitylegal.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Velocity Legal</a> in Sydney will walk you through the coming Jobkeeper changes.

UPDATE 20 | Jobkeeper Changes

The current COVID-19 crisis might make more businesses eligible for the small business CGT concessions. <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/andrew-henshaw/'>Andrew Henshaw</a> of <a href='https://www.velocitylegal.com.au/'>Velocity Legal</a> in Sydney shares some thoughts with you in this episode.

The current COVID-19 crisis might make more businesses eligible for the small business CGT concessions. Andrew Henshaw of Velocity Legal in Sydney shares some thoughts with you in this episode.

The current COVID-19 crisis might make more businesses eligible for the small business CGT concessions. <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/andrew-henshaw/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andrew Henshaw</a> of <a href="https://www.velocitylegal.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Velocity Legal</a> in Sydney shares some thoughts with you in this episode.

UPDATE 19 | COVID-19 Restructuring

Who pays how much land tax on what? What should a business buying commercial property consider? These are just some of the questions we ask <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/geoff-stein/'>Geoff Stein</a> of <a href='https://www.bwslawyers.com.au/'>Brown Wright Stein Lawyers</a> in this episode.

Who pays how much land tax on what? What should a business buying commercial property consider? These are just some of the questions we ask Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers in this episode.

Who pays how much land tax on what? What should a business buying commercial property consider? These are just some of the questions we ask <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/geoff-stein/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Geoff Stein</a> of <a href="https://www.bwslawyers.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brown Wright Stein Lawyers</a> in this episode.

248 | Land Tax

Bucket company to the side or interposed holding company? Here is <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/geoff-stein/'>Geoff Stein</a> of <a href='https://www.bwslawyers.com.au/'>Brown Wright Stein Lawyers</a> with some insights.

Bucket company to the side or interposed holding company? Here is Geoff Stein of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers with some insights.

Bucket company to the side or interposed holding company? Here is <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/geoff-stein/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Geoff Stein</a> of <a href="https://www.bwslawyers.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brown Wright Stein Lawyers</a> with some insights.

247 | Bucket or Holding Company

COVID-19 debt hibernation: All debts put into a box and locked up until 24 September 2020. Here is <a href='https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/ben-sewell/'>Ben Sewell</a> of <a href='https://sklawyers.com.au/'>Sewell & Kettle</a> with more.

COVID-19 debt hibernation: All debts put into a box and locked up until 24 September 2020. Here is Ben Sewell of Sewell & Kettle with more.

COVID-19 debt hibernation: All debts put into a box and locked up until 24 September 2020. Here is <a href="https://www.taxtalks.com.au/guest/ben-sewell/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ben Sewell</a> of <a href="https://sklawyers.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sewell &amp; Kettle</a> with more.

Share Tax Talks

Sign up to save your podcasts

Tax Talks

Tax Talks episodes

About Tax Talks

Best of Tax Talks

More shows like Tax Talks

How Do They Afford That?