The most tax effective Business Structures

I want to run a business. What is the best business structure? These are the building blocks of a business structure:  company – in trade in its own right company – as trustee of a family trust company – as trustee of a unit trust family trust...

Estate Planning Manual – avoid the 4 Australian Death Taxes

Every year, Australian taxpayers voluntarily pay the Tax Office millions of dollars in “Death Taxes”. Are you going to be one of them? Proper Estate Planning ensures that your estate goes to those you care about, and not the Tax Man. Does a “Simple Will” protect your...

Drafting Div 7A Loans – ATO’s 4 concerns

The ATO has just audited my new client’s Div 7A agreement. It did not go well. Many Div 7A Loan agreements are not ‘commercial’ and therefore not valid based on 4 common drafting errors: The Div 7A Loan must be signed as a ‘Deed’ not as an ‘agreement’....

Why doesn’t your Employment Contract allow for specific Awards?

QUESTION: I am building an Employment Contract for my employee. She’s been with me for 6-years (hence the anxiety). I notice there’s no reference to the Award provisions under which she is employed. Does your Employment Contract override the Award provisions? Should...