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Tax 
Funds We offer comprehensive and practical advice on land tax matters to a wide range of domestic and overseas corporate clients and high net worth individuals.
This involves matters in all states and territories of Australia. This includes:
- advising on all aspects of land tax, including application of absentee owner surcharge and eligibility for exemptions (e.g. principal place of residence exemption, primary production exemptions and aged care exemptions)
- advising on the application of tax on vacant land, including identifying whether the vacant land is a capital asset or a trading stock and eligibility for exemptions
- advising on structuring, including grouping and de-grouping of properties and taxpayers
- providing certainty for taxpayers by obtaining private rulings on their behalf from state revenue authorities
- assisting clients with investigations, reviews and audits instigated by state revenue authorities
- challenging land tax assessments, including lodging objections to assessments of land tax and appeals in the tribunals and courts
- where appropriate, accessing informal dispute resolution mechanisms for clients to resolve land tax disputes, including settlement discussions, mediation and compromise assessments
- assisting clients with valuations and valuation disputes, including briefing of expert valuers and challenging State Revenue Authority valuations by way of objections and appeals
- achieving remission of penalty tax and interest by way of submissions to state revenue authorities
- obtaining second opinions from senior counsel on complex land tax issues, and
- reviewing and making recommendations on trust documents regarding whether a taxpayer is an absentee owner and liable to the surcharge.
Experience
- Providing advice on all aspects of land tax, including application of absentee owner surcharge and eligibility for exemptions (eg principal place of residence exemption, primary production exemptions, aged care exemptions).
- Providing advice on the application of tax on vacant land including identifying whether the vacant land is a capital asset or a trading stock and eligibility for exemptions.
- Providing advice regarding structuring, including grouping and de-grouping of properties and taxpayers.
- Providing certainty for taxpayers by obtaining private rulings on their behalf from State Revenue Authorities.
- Assisting clients with investigations, reviews and audits instigated by State Revenue Authorities.
- Challenging land tax assessments including lodging objections to assessments of land tax and appeals in the Tribunals and Courts.
- Where appropriate, accessing informal dispute resolution mechanisms for clients to resolve land tax disputes, including settlement discussions, mediation and compromise assessments.
- Assisting clients with valuations and valuation disputes, including briefing of expert valuers and challenging State Revenue Authority valuations by way of objections and appeals.
- Achieving remission of penalty tax and interest by way of submissions to State Revenue Authorities.
- Obtaining second opinions from Senior Counsel on complex land tax issues.
- Reviewing, providing advice and making recommendations on trust documents in relation to whether a taxpayer is an absentee owner and liable to the surcharge.
Key contact
Peter Murray
Partner
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