To ensure passage of the negative gearing and CGT discount changes that were announced in the May 2026 Federal Budget the Government agreed to make amendments to the SMSF borrowing rules. SMSFs are able to borrow in restricted circumstances which includes borrowing under a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA) to purchase a single acquirable asset. While there have previously been…

Since the Federal Treasurer handed down the 2026-27 Federal Budget on 12 May 2026 there has been a significant amount of commentary on some of the more controversial proposals, including the decision to replace the CGT discount with an indexation system and impose a 30% minimum tax rate on discretionary trusts. Since our latest update in this area, the Government…

The 2026–27 Federal Budget, released on 12 May 2026, has received more attention than most budgets in recent years. With proposed changes to negative gearing, the CGT discount and the taxation of trusts, this is a budget that has the potential to materially impact on property investors, business owners and families using discretionary trusts. However, it is important to remember that…

The ATO has issued a Draft Taxation Determination TD 2026/D1 which looks at how inherited family homes are treated for CGT purposes. Some industry commentators have dubbed it a “death tax by stealth”, but it is a bit more complex than this. The draft guidance focuses on a specific aspect of the rules around applying the main residence exemption to…

Running a business from home—whether as a sole trader, freelancer, or small operator—has many perks. But when it comes to selling your home and potentially saving on tax, recent guidance from the ATO serves as a reality check. The ATO has provided its views on how home-based businesses interact with the small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions, providing a…

When clients sell a long-held family home, they may be able to channel part of the proceeds into superannuation by using the downsizer contribution rules. Basic Eligibility Conditions To qualify, the seller must meet a number of conditions: The downsizer contribution can only be used once per individual and is limited to the lesser of the gross sale proceeds or…

As the urban sprawl continues in most major Australian cities, we are often asked to advise on the tax treatment of subdivision projects. Before jumping in and committing to anything, it is important to understand the tax liabilities that might arise from these projects. Unfortunately, many people make incorrect assumptions about the way that subdivision projects will be taxed, often…

Ok, not that Succession series. Each month we’ll bring you a new perspective on transferring property. Be it estate planning, managing an inheritance, or the various forms of business succession. This month, we look at the tax consequences of inheriting property. Beyond the difficult task of dividing up your assets and determining who should get what, it’s essential to look…

Own an investment property or an expensive lifestyle asset like a boat or aircraft? The ATO are looking closely at these assets to see if what has been declared in tax returns matches up. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has initiated two data matching programs impacting investment property owners and those lucky enough to hold expensive lifestyle assets. Investment property…