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Compliance audits & reviews
Our audit team undertakes the complete range of audits required of Australian accounting laws to help you to help you meet obligations or fulfil best practice procedures.
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Audit quality
We are fiercely dedicated to quality, use proven and globally tested audit methodologies, and invest in technology and innovation.
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Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisory team helps you understand changes in accounting standards, develop strategies and communicate with your stakeholders.
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Audit advisory
Grant Thornton’s audit advisory team works alongside our clients, providing a full range of reviews and audits required of your business.
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Corporate tax & advisory
We provide comprehensive corporate tax and advisory service across the full spectrum of the corporate tax process.
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Private business tax & advisory
We work with private businesses and their leaders on all their business tax and advisory needs.
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Tax compliance
We work alongside clients to manage all tax compliance needs and identify potential compliance or tax risk issues.
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Employment tax
We help clients understand and address their employment tax obligations to ensure compliance and optimal tax positioning for their business and employees.
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International tax
We understand what it means to manage tax issues across multiple jurisdictions, and create effective strategies to address complex challenges.
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GST, stamp duty & indirect tax
Our deep technical knowledge and practical experience means we can help you manage and minimise the impact of GST and indirect tax, like stamp duty.
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Tax law
Our team – which includes tax lawyers – helps you understand and implement regulatory requirements for your business.
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Innovation Incentives
Our national team has extensive experience navigating all aspects of the government grants and research and development tax incentives.
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Transfer pricing
Transfer pricing is one of the most challenging tax issues. We help clients with all their transfer pricing requirements.
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Tax digital consulting
We analyse high-volume and unstructured data from multiple sources from our clients to give them actionable insights for complex business problems.
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Corporate simplification
We provide corporate simplification and managed wind-down advice to help streamline and further improve your business.
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Superannuation and SMSF
Increasingly, Australians are seeing the benefits, advantages and flexibility of taking control of their own superannuation and retirement planning.
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Payroll consulting & Award compliance
Many organisations are grappling with a myriad of employee agreements and obligations, resulting in a wide variety of payments to their people.
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Cyber resilience
The spectrum of cyber risks and threats is now so significant that simply addressing cybersecurity on its own isn’t enough.
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Internal audit
We provide independent oversight and review of your organisation's control environments to manage key risks, inform good decision-making and improve performance.
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Financial crime
Our team helps clients navigate and meet their obligations to mitigate crime as well as develop and implement their risk management strategies.
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Consumer Data Right
Consumer Data Right (CDR) aims to provide Australians with more control over how their data is used and disclosed.
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Risk management
We enable our clients to achieve their strategic objectives, fulfil their purpose and live their values supported by effective and appropriate risk management.
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Controls assurance
In Australia, as with other developed economies, regulatory and market expectations regarding corporate transparency continue to increase.
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Governance
Through fit for purpose governance we enable our clients to make the appropriate decisions on a timely basis.
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Regulatory compliance
We enable our clients to navigate and meet their regulatory and compliance obligations.
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Forensic accounting and dispute advisory
Our team advises at all stages of a litigation dispute, taking an independent view while gathering and reviewing evidence and contributing to expert reports.
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Investigations
Our licensed forensic investigators with domestic and international experience deliver high quality results in the jurisdictions in which you operate.
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Asset tracing investigations
Our team of specialist forensic accountants and investigators have extensive experience in tracing assets and the flow of funds.
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Mergers and acquisitions
Our mergers and acquisitions specialists guide you through the whole process to get the deal done and lay the groundwork for long-term success.
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Acquisition search & strategy
We help clients identify, finance, perform due diligence and execute acquisitions to maximise the growth opportunities of your business.
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Selling a business
Our M&A team works with clients to achieve a full or partial sale of their business, to ensure achievement of strategic ambitions and optimal outcomes for stakeholders.
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Operational deal services
Our operational deal services team helps to ensure the greatest possible outcome and value is gained through post merger integration or post acquisition integration.
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Transaction advisory
Our transaction advisory services support our clients to make informed investment decisions through robust financial due diligence.
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Business valuations
We use our expertise and unique and in-depth methodology to undertake business valuations to help clients meet strategic goals.
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Tax in mergers & acquisition
We provide expert advice for all M&A taxation aspects to ensure you meet all obligations and are optimally positioned.
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Corporate finance
We provide effective and strategic corporate finance services across all stages of investments and transactions so clients can better manage costs and maximise returns.
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Debt advisory
We work closely with clients and lenders to provide holistic debt advisory services so you can raise or manage existing debt to meet your strategic goals.
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Working capital optimisation
Our proven methodology identifies opportunities to improve your processes and optimise working capital, and we work with to implement changes and monitor their effectiveness.
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Capital markets
Our team has significant experience in capital markets and helps across every phase of the IPO process.
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Debt and project finance raising
Backed by our experience accessing full range of available funding types, we work with clients to develop and implement capital raising strategies.
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Private equity
We provide advice in accessing private equity capital.
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Financial modelling
Our financial modelling advisory team provides strategic, economic, financial and valuation advice for project types and sizes.
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Payments advisory
We provide merchants-focused payments advice on all aspects of payment processes and technologies.
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Voluntary administration & DOCA
We help businesses considering or in voluntary administration to achieve best possible outcomes.
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Corporate insolvency & liquidation
We help clients facing corporate insolvency to undertake the liquidation process to achieve a fair and orderly company wind up.
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Complex and international insolvency
As corporate finance specialists, Grant Thornton can help you with raising equity, listings, corporate structuring and compliance.
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Safe Harbour advisory
Our Safe Harbour Advisory helps directors address requirements for Safe Harbour protection and business turnaround.
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Bankruptcy and personal insolvency
We help clients make informed choices around bankruptcy and personal insolvency to ensure the best personal and stakeholder outcome.
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Creditor advisory services
Our credit advisory services team works provides clients with credit management assistance and credit advice to recapture otherwise lost value.
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Small business restructuring process
We provide expert advice and guidance for businesses that may need to enter or are currently in small business restructuring process.
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Asset tracing investigations
Our team of specialist forensic accountants and investigators have extensive experience in tracing assets and the flow of funds.
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Independent business reviews
Does your company need a health check? Grant Thornton’s expert team can help you get to the heart of your issues to drive sustainable growth.
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Commercial performance
We help clients improve commercial performance, profitability and address challenges after internal or external triggers require a major business model shift.
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Safe Harbour advisory
Our Safe Harbour advisory helps directors address requirements for Safe Harbour protection and business turnaround.
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Corporate simplification
We provide corporate simplification and managed wind-down advice to help streamline and further improve your business.
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Director advisory services
We provide strategic director advisory services in times of business distress to help directors navigate issues and protect their company and themselves from liability.
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Debt advisory
We work closely with clients and lenders to provide holistic debt advisory services so you can raise or manage existing debt to meet your strategic goals.
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Business planning & strategy
Our clients can access business planning and strategy advice through our value add business strategy sessions.
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Private business company secretarial services
We provide company secretarial services and expert advice for private businesses on all company secretarial matters.
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Outsourced accounting services
We act as a third-party partner to international businesses looking to invest in Australia on your day-to-day finance and accounting needs.
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Superannuation and SMSF
We provide SMSF advisory services across all aspects of superannuation and associated tax laws to help you protect and grow your wealth.
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Management reporting
We help you build comprehensive management reporting so that you have key insights as your business grows and changes.
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Financial reporting
We help with all financial reporting needs, including set up, scaling up, spotting issues and improving efficiency.
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Forecasting & budgeting
We help you build and maintain a business forecasting and budgeting model for ongoing insights about your business.
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ATO audit support
Our team of experts provide ATO audit support across the whole process to ensure ATO requirements are met.
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Family business consulting
Our family business consulting team works with family businesses on running their businesses for continued future success.
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Private business taxation and structuring
We help private business leaders efficiently structure their organisation for optimal operation and tax compliance.
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Outsourced CFO services
Our outsourced CFO services provide a full suite of CFO, tax and finance services and advice to help clients manage risk, optimise operations and grow.
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ESG & sustainability reporting
There is a growing demand for organisations to provide transparency on their commitment to sustainability and disclosure of the nonfinancial impacts of their business activities. Commonly, the responsibility for sustainability and ESG reporting is landing with CFOs and finance teams, requiring a reassessment of a range of reporting processes and controls.
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ESG & sustainability advisory
With the ESG and sustainability landscape continuing to evolve, we are focussed on helping your business to understand what ESG and sustainability represents and the opportunities and challenges it can provide.
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ESG, sustainability and climate reporting assurance
As the demand for organisations to prepare information in relation to ESG & sustainability continues to increase, through changes in regulatory requirements or stakeholder expectations, there is a growing need for assurance over the information prepared.
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Management consulting
Our management consulting services team helps you to plan and implement the right strategy to deliver sustainable growth.
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Financial consulting
We provide financial consulting services to keep your business running so you focus on your clients and reaching strategic goals.
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China practice
The investment opportunities between Australia and China are well established yet, in recent years, have also diversified.
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Japan practice
The trading partnership between Japan and Australia is long-standing and increasingly important to both countries’ economies.
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India practice
It’s an exciting time for Indian and Australian businesses looking to each jurisdiction as part of their growth ambitions.
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Singapore practice
Our Singapore Practice works alongside Singaporean companies to achieve growth through investment and market expansion into Australia.
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Vietnam practice
Investment and business opportunities in Vietnam are expanding rapidly, driven by new markets, diverse industries, and Vietnam's growing role in export manufacturing, foreign investment, and strong domestic demand.
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Client Alert Government Grants in FY25As we embark on a new financial year, it’s crucial to take a strategic approach to understanding the government grants landscape.
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Client Alert Consultation on foreign resident CGT rules commencesTreasury is taking steps to ensure fairer tax treatment for foreign resident investors by tightening Australia's foreign resident Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime. Proposed changes aim to broaden the CGT base and enhance integrity, impacting infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and more.
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Insight Australian wine export strategies post-China tariff removalFollowing the recent removal of tariffs on Australian wine by China, the industry is keen to rebuild relations and explore the right export markets. This presents Australian wine producers with a chance to reassess their position in the global market.
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Insight Cultivating innovation: A guide to claiming the R&D Tax Incentive in the Agribusiness sectorTo facilitate continued innovation in the Agribusiness sector, the Federal Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive supports companies to undertake research and development activities that meet the eligibility criteria.
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The GST implications associated with property development can be difficult to navigate, especially whether your activities amount to an 'enterprise’ of property development, or whether you have just taken steps to maximise the value of your property to sell it in a profitable way.
Where that line is drawn can be very difficult to discern, but the onus is on you draw it and pay GST (or not) – the ATO will usually determine this on a case-by-case basis and the tipping point will depend on your specific circumstances. As with many tax matters, the facts and your ability to evidence them will be crucial.
A recent example of this is in Lance and Commissioner of Taxation (Taxation) [2024] AATA 11, which concerned development activities (including rezoning and obtaining subdivision approval) undertaken on a property in Western Australia consisting of several structures of cultural historical significance.
Following several setbacks and delays with the development, largely due to Council requirements given the heritage site status of the property, the property was sold as a single parcel of land un-subdivided, and the taxpayer did not remit GST on the sale. In his submissions, the taxpayer maintained that the sale was not made in the course or furtherance of an enterprise he carried on and claimed that he only undertook subdivision of the property for the purposes of living on it together with his family rather than for commercial reasons. He further contended that the sale was the mere realisation of property.
However, there was a lack of independent evidence corroborating the taxpayer’s contentions. Indeed, there was some unhelpful evidence to the contrary – for example, several local newspaper articles published at the time of the taxpayer’s initial purchase referenced plans to commercialise the property and develop the site to add facilities such as a restaurant or small bar and residential tourist development. While accepting that the taxpayer intended to live in the heritage homestead located on the property, the AAT found that the taxpayer also intended to subdivide the property and sell the subdivided lots for a profit for the purposes of financing the development and renovation of the heritage homestead and paying off his loans.
The AAT further found that the series of activities conducted by the taxpayer amounted to an enterprise in the form of a business for GST purposes – regardless of whether or not the taxpayer was in the business of being a property developer – and the sale was therefore a taxable supply. The AAT had regard to the following factors which pointed to an enterprise being carried on by the taxpayer:
- The scale of the operations, including the rezoning and proposed subdivision of the property, which comprised 1.47 hectares, into a total of approximately 19 lots.
- The amount of capital investment in the purchase of the property and development activities including various infrastructure works.
- All of the activities were undertaken over a period of several years and significantly increased the value of the property.
Given all of this, taxpayers should be very careful when taking the position that any subsequent sales are a mere realisation of property, especially where there is a profit making intention (to be determined objectively from the surrounding evidence). The ATO has ramped up its review activity and will be looking at issues such as this with increased focus.
The application of GST to property maters is one of the most difficult areas of GST in practice. We deal with these issues on a daily basis and can help you navigate these and other difficult GST matters such as the margin scheme, going concern and capital structures with tailored, robust and commercially sensible advice.