In 1974 the UK’s top marginal tax rate of 83% applied to incomes over £20,000 (equivalent to £200,000 in 2018). In addition, passive investment income was hit with a 15% investment income surcharge which took the top rate to 98%. In 1974 750,000 people were in the 83% plus tax bracket. During this time senior…
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Trusts involve a settlor transferring (or ‘settling’) assets (i.e. the ‘trust property’) on the trustees. The trustees manage the assets for the benefit of a person, class or persons (the ‘beneficiaries’). An offshore trust is simply a conventional trust that is formed under the laws of an offshore jurisdiction. Most offshore jurisdictions have sophisticated…
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The Luxembourg special limited partnership (SLP) is a highly tax efficient investment vehicle that offers a high degree of contractual flexibility and cost efficiency (as the fundraising and investment structuring is in one jurisdiction). The SLP is exempt from income and wealth taxes and is only subject to an annual 0.01% subscription tax (which is…
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Objectives: Frankie is an aircraft engineer working for Qantas at the Sydney Airport. Frankie uses some of his own specialist tools to perform his job every day but doesn’t leave them at the workplace overnight due to recent thefts. Frankie wants to protect his valuable tools and save tax. Facts: …
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Nugan Hand Bank was an infamous Australian merchant bank that was involved in drug smuggling, arranging weapons deals, providing a front for the United States CIA, money laundering and tax evasion schemes (including the Bottom of the Harbour). Nugan Hand Ltd was founded in Sydney in 1973 by Australian lawyer Francis John ‘Frank’ Nugan and…
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If your business has a turnover greater than $2 million then to qualify for the small business CGT concessions (and potentially pay no tax on your business sale) you need to pass the $6 million net assets test. The net value of CGT assets includes assets owned by you, any entities ‘connected with’ you, any…
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Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands, and Panama have the largest numbers of registered International Business Companies (IBCs). Jointly these three countries are home to over 1.5 million IBCs. The main difference between offshore companies and IBCs is that IBCs are not taxable in the country of incorporation as long as they don’t engage in…
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Average weekly pay: $900 Employment size: 163,700 Future growth: Very strong Skill level Certificate II or III Aged and…
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Tax Savings for 201 Employee Occupations details tax saving strategies and ideas for 201 different employee occupations. It doesn’t matter what the occupation is, there are tax strategies that commonly apply to that occupation. Often employee taxpayers are unaware of all the tax saving strategies that are available. This is understandable as the Australian taxation…
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Bottom of the harbour tax avoidance schemes involved stripping a company of its assets and leaving it with unpaid tax liabilities. The company was then sold to someone else (often the criminal elements of Melbourne dockworkers), who subsequently destroyed the company records and disappeared. The term ‘bottom of the harbour’ was coined by members of…
Read More »"You’d be stupid not to try to cut your tax bill and those that don’t are stupid in business"
- Bono: U2