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

SMSF update after update seems to hit us. The legislation is constantly changing. Even though the super changes as of 1 July 2017 are done and dusted, some issues among these received less limelight. And some issues continue to need our attention.  
 
In this episode Daniel Mikhail of Partners Wealth Group walks us through the tricky and easily overlooked parts of the super reform.

SMSF update after update seems to hit us. The legislation is constantly changing. Even though the super changes as of 1 July 2017 are done and dusted, some issues among these received less limelight. And some issues continue to need our attention. In this episode Daniel Mikhail of Partners Wealth Group walks us through the tricky and easily overlooked parts of the super reform.

SMSF update after update seems to hit us. The legislation is constantly changing. Even though the super changes as of 1 July 2017 are done and dusted, some issues among these received less limelight. And some issues continue to need our attention.&nbsp; 
 
In this episode Daniel Mikhail of Partners Wealth Group walks us through the tricky and easily overlooked parts of the super reform.

53 | SMSF Update

Div 7A payments can turn into an expensive exercise. Including transfer or provision of company assets. Peter Adams of Augmentor will tell you what this is all about.

51 | Div 7A Payments

Div 7a debt forgiveness is a lot less common than its better known side-kicks -  Div 7a loans and Div 7A payments. But still an important area to know your way around. And an issue best to be avoided. 
 
But don't take our word for it. Peter Adams makes a lot more sense than we do. In this third and final episode of our short Div 7A series Peter Adams of Augmentor in Sydney talks about Div 7a Debt Forgiveness.

Div 7a debt forgiveness is a lot less common than its better known side-kicks - Div 7a loans and Div 7A payments. But still an important area to know your way around. And an issue best to be avoided. But don't take our word for it. Peter Adams makes a lot more sense than we do. In this third and final episode of our short Div 7A series Peter Adams of Augmentor in Sydney talks about Div 7a Debt Forgiveness.

Div 7a debt forgiveness is a lot less common than its better known side-kicks - &nbsp;Div 7a loans and Div 7A payments. But still an important area to know your way around. And an issue best to be avoided. 
 
But don't take our word for it. Peter Adams makes a lot more sense than we do. In this third and final episode of our short Div 7A series Peter Adams of Augmentor in Sydney talks about Div 7a Debt Forgiveness.

52 | Div 7A Debt Forgiveness

You could summarise the basic concept of Div 7A loans in one sentence. But there is a lot more to it. As Peter Adams of Augmentors will tell you.

50 | Div 7A Loans

Most professional practices sell with an earnout arrangement. Patrick Huang of Argyle Lawyers will tell you how to treat these for tax purposes.

49 | Earnout Arrangements

At the very start it sounds easy. You just go and buy what you need. But it isn't easy. Steven Fine of Growth Focus will walk you through the process.

48 | How To Buy An Accounting Practice

Pension strategies post 1 July 2017 have changed. Daniel Mikhail of Partners Wealth Group will guide you through the different options.

47 | Pension Strategies Post 1 July 2017

It is worth looking over the fence for ideas. Here are Paul Baker and Zile Yu discussing innovation in the legal industry and at Meridian Lawyers.

46 | Innovation In Australian Law Firms

Online SMSF auditing software is the way of the future. Manoj Abichandani of onlinesmsfaudit.com.au will tell you why and how.

45 | Online SMSF Auditing Software

Offshoring has a negative connotation. But it doesn't have to be this way. Mike O'Hagan of Mike's Business Tours will show you the options you have.

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