Our latest insights

ATO tax reviews 2025: ATO targeting privately owned and wealthy groups with Top 500, Next 5000 and Medium and Emerging Private Groups programs.

A practical guide for residential colleges reviewing GST treatment for the 2026 academic year – covering endorsed charity concessions, PCG 2022/3, Division 129 adjustments, and strategies to manage GST liability and compliance with confidence.

The ATO has released its draft guidance ‘PS LA 2025/D1 – Public country-by-country reporting exemptions’ outlining criteria and requirements for taxpayers applying for exemptions from public CbC reporting requirements.

The 2025 financial year marked a dynamic chapter for Australia’s Research & Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), with notable shifts in policy, compliance, and industry engagement. As innovation continues to drive economic growth, staying informed on the evolving R&D landscape has never been more critical for Australian businesses.

Whether you're a private client managing complex wealth structures or an advisor guiding others through the intricacies of tax law, staying informed is essential. This hub brings together Grant Thornton’s latest insights on family trusts, foreign distributions, residency rules, and ATO focus areas designed to help you navigate risk and enhance compliance.

Explore eight often overlooked tax issues impacting asset division and liabilities in family law.

Like many countries, Australia taxes its residents on the income and capital gains they generate irrespective of where they are sourced. For ‘temporary residents’, understanding how the rules operate in detail – and even your relationship status – is necessary to determine your tax position.

New entities are often established as part of implementing property settlements. However, this could overlook one current focus area of the ATO – whether or not Family Trust Distribution Tax (FTDT) is payable due to distributions having been made by Family Trusts outside their ‘family group’.

The Australian Tax Office (‘ATO’) on 11 June 2025 updated its Practical Compliance Guide PCG 2018/9 on corporate tax residence to reflect key changes including aligning tax compliance residence disclosures to the Consolidated Entity Disclosure Statement (‘CEDS’) for financial reporting purposes.

Section 99B of Australia’s tax law can trigger unexpected tax liabilities for residents receiving foreign trust distributions, including gifts, loans, and use of trust property. With increased ATO scrutiny and recent guidance, it’s vital to assess residency status, maintain clear documentation, and understand the tax implications before receiving overseas transfers.

Receiving money from overseas can trigger unexpected Australian tax consequences, especially when foreign trusts are involved. With the ATO increasing scrutiny on international transfers, including gifts, inheritances, and loans, it’s vital for Australian residents to understand their tax obligations. Section 99B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and recent ATO guidance highlight the risks of poor documentation and lack of planning. This article explores common scenarios, the importance of maintaining records, and how proactive tax planning can help avoid significant liabilities for both recipients and their overseas families.

The ATO has confirmed a stricter application of section 99B - taxation of foreign trust distributions, meaning more distributions or benefits from foreign trusts to Australian residents may now be taxable.