Accountants

As an accountant, you need to have a wide range of skills from financial reporting to management accounting to audit and assurance to tax. When a client’s tax issues get complex, and the amounts are significant, it makes sense to get a tax lawyer involved. Because we live tax day in, day out, we can work with you to create better solutions to your client’s problems.

The way we work with you to solve your clients’ problems is customised for each engagement. In some cases, it makes sense for us to take the lead role in the matter. In others, we stay in the background, assisting where required, but leaving you to drive it. The choice is yours and your clients’.

Accountants value being able to pick up the phone and discuss their clients’ issues with us. And because we don’t charge by time, they know the clock isn’t ticking.

Here are some ways we work with accountants:

Restructuring

If your client is wanting to restructure for tax planning, asset protection, business succession or other reasons, we help to design their optimal structure and maximise the availability of tax and duty rollovers and concessions to get there.

Advising on complex tax issues

Tax law is complex and the correct application of the law to your clients’ circumstances is often unclear. We cut through the uncertainty and provide clear advice and guidance.

Advising on state taxes

We have extensive experience in stamp duty (including transfer duty and landholder duty), land tax and payroll tax in all Australian States and Territories. We can provide advice to your clients on these taxes, and because we also have expertise in income tax, we balance the often-competing duty and income tax outcomes to optimise the outcome for your client.

Resolving tax and duty disputes

We are specialists at resolving disputes with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the state revenue offices. We know how the ATO and state revenue offices work. By engaging us early in the dispute, you increase the chances of resolving your clients’ dispute favourably and quickly. We often work with accountants to review and settle the submissions and objections they have prepared.

Trusts

Trusts are complex. Whether your client wants to set up a new trust, or needs advice about an existing trust, it’s important that is done correctly to prevent issues arising down the track. Our specialist knowledge ensures that it is.

Preparing your client’s estate plan

We draw upon our deep expertise and experience in not only estate planning but also tax, trusts, asset protection, business succession and charitable giving, to realise your client’s vision for securing and ultimately distributing their assets. Your client’s estate plan is much more than a Will.

Advising on charitable endeavours

If your client is involved with a charity or would like to establish their own charitable foundation, we can help. Our significant experience dealing with charities, combined with our tax expertise, makes us ideally placed to advise your client on the most appropriate structure and on maximising the tax concessions available to them.