Most people who advise on testamentary trusts talk about the ‘tax benefits’. This emphasis is plain wrong. Why? Because, a simple Will (without a testamentary trust) is more likely to do harm, and to lead to family disharmony, than one with a testamentary trust.
A gift of property that is no longer in your estate when you die automatically ‘fails’ (or ‘adeems’). This rule can lead to unfairness and unintended consequences.
Doctors earn their money by ‘doing things’. Performing surgery, diagnosing an illness. This is great from a ‘personal fulfilment’ perspective, but not so great from a ‘personal tax’ perspective.
People who say this are just demonstrating their ignorance. Here’s why. The ability to use a trust as a ‘tax loophole’ was pretty much closed out in the 1970-80s. To suggest that trusts somehow make tax disappear for the ‘wealthy’ is plain silly.
Catherine assists families and businesses in a range of areas, including estate planning, commercial agreements, family disputes and setting up entities.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has won its first case against an accountant being ‘knowingly involved’ in the workplace breaches of his client. The accountant could now face up to $357,000 in penalties, as though he committed the breaches himself. Find out what you can do to avoid this problem.
As most people now know, from 1 July 2017 the amount a super fund member can have in a pension account will be capped at $1.6 million. There has been a lot of general commentary on these changes, but little deeper analysis of the details.
Deciding to purchase property with another person is likely to be one of the most significant financial decision you may make in your lifetime.
Unfortunately, things do not always go to plan and it may be the case that one of you wants ‘out’.