Newsletter
May 2013 Newsletter
Companies
- Companies should ensure that all dividends paid to shareholders during the relevant franking period (generally the income year) are franked to the same extent to avoid breaching the benchmark rule.
- Loans, payments and debts forgiven by private companies to their shareholders or associates may give rise to unfranked dividends that are assessable to the shareholders or associates. Shareholders and entities should consider repaying loans and payments on time or have appropriate loan agreements in place.
- Companies should consider whether they have undertaken eligible research and development (R&D) activities that may be eligible for the R&D tax incentive.
- Companies may want to consider consolidating for tax purposes prior to year-end in order to reduce compliance costs and take advantage of tax opportunities available as a result of the consolidated group being treated as a single entity for tax purposes.
- Companies should carefully consider whether any deductions are available for any carry forward tax losses, including analysing the continuity of ownership and same business tests.