Insight

Tax

How the ATO has morphed into a quasi-lawmaker

A recent AAT decision overturns years of Tax Office thinking about trusts and Div 7A loans – and highlights how it...

20 October 2023 • By John Jeffreys

more from insight

Business

5 essentials for guiding clients into private credit

Increasingly, traditional banks lack the appetite – or freedom – to lend to SMEs without the backing of real estate...

13 October 2023 • By GCI

Tax

Why it’s a tricky job telling contractors from employees

Recent case law offers some clarification but uncertainty remains, particularly in the medical space.

06 October 2023 • By Jeremy Makowski

Business

How tight credit risk processes deliver paybacks all round

Accountants are well placed to put clients on the road to best-practice evaluations.

06 October 2023 • By Brendan Sherry

Tax

Why revised promoter penalties need clear boundary maps

With a substantial increase in maximum fines, exemptions for the provision of advice will have to work effectively.

29 September 2023 • By Robyn Jacobson

Tax

How capital asset creation can make labour costs non-deductible

Wages and salaries should be capitalised where they relate to the construction or creation of capital assets, TR...

29 September 2023 • By Dennis Tomaras and Ellen Karakoussis

Regulation

Why ASIC has changed tack with audit reviews

The revised approach relies on an analysis of the “financial reporting chain” to select audit files for review.

22 September 2023 • By Greg Yanco

Regulation

Why adviser misconduct crackdown must focus on miscreant minority

Honesty and integrity remain hallmarks of the profession despite the aberrant behaviour of a few.

22 September 2023 • By Robyn Jacobson

Technology

How tax time highlights the need to jettison tradition

Accountants face their own productivity slump during the busiest time of year without the help of digitised systems.

15 September 2023 • By David Fitzgerald

Regulation

Why accountants must be alert to shady green claims

Businesses increasingly market themselves as environmentally sound, but accountants must be aware of the risks and...

15 September 2023 • By Trevor Withane

Business

How to navigate the tricky territory of customer credit

A well-designed process will ensure the right checks are in place at every step, from onboarding to payment.

08 September 2023 • By Patrick Coghlan

Tax

How Victoria sows uncertainty with land Windfall Gains Tax

In operation since July, the levy on uplift from rezoning adds another layer of cost and complexity to land...

08 September 2023 • By Jeremy Makowski

Technology

5 essentials to keep cyber crims locked out

Accounting firms hold treasure troves of personal information and hackers can exploit a single weak spot in your...

01 September 2023 • By Tarun Sawney

Business

Why authentic leadership comes loaded with challenges

Views have shifted and there is no longer a single “hero” version of leadership to which we should all aspire.

01 September 2023 • By Sue Rosen

Regulation

Why accountants must speak up or be punished for sins of the few

A regulatory crackdown motivated by “bad actors” and “systemic abuse” unfairly tars the profession.

25 August 2023 • By John Jeffreys

Business

Why retention has become the ultimate growth strategy

Keep your existing clients happy because research shows it’s easier than finding new ones.

25 August 2023 • By Trevor Marchant

Appointments

How to make a company’s social media presence its hire ground

Attracting top talent involves more than simply posting a job ad, so make the most of the web to communicate a...

18 August 2023 • By Karen Frenkiel and Julia Storie

Tax

Why a bright-line residency test must focus on certainty, equity

There will be pitfalls for expats and departing businesspeople if the proposed rules pass unchanged.

18 August 2023 • By Peter Bembrick