Existing literature has established the regressive nature of tax compliance costs, and in particular, the compliance costs associated with indirect taxes such as value added taxes (VAT) (known in Australia as Goods and Services Tax (GST)). Costs of compliance impact on the willingness of...

This article presents the findings of a pilot research project designed to evaluate the merits of a prototype diagnostic tool for gauging the nature and likely overall incidence of value added tax (VAT) compliance costs at the country level, and to assess its use in comparative cross-country...

This report sets out the findings of an extended study designed to test a diagnostic tool that has been developed for use in comparative cross-country assessments of the VAT compliance burden and its main drivers. It is based on data gathered from surveys conducted in the 47 member countries of...

This paper considers the legal meaning of goodwill and thereafter identifies sources of goodwill such as licences, marks, and designs. The discussion of assets as sources of goodwill leads to a discussion of Div 40 and subsequently to the application of CGT to goodwill. There is detailed...

The taxation of financial services is one of the most vexing aspects of a VAT. Conceptually, VAT should apply to any fee for service but where financial services are concerned there is a difficulty in identifying the taxable amount, ie the value added by financial institutions. As a result, most...

This paper describes the principal outcomes of research conducted to establish an estimate of the total compliance costs faced by taxpayers in Australia paying Federal taxes. It also draws comparisons between those costs and compliance costs in other OECD countries, particularly the United...

This article explores the influence of UK tax concepts on the development of the income tax in Australia. It shows how certain aspects of the UK's 1842 Income Tax Act found their way initially into the various income taxing provisions enacted by the Australian states in the second half of the...

The traditional view with regard to general consumption taxes is that excluding certain products from the base decreases their natural regressivity. Whilst this view has been consistently questioned over the last 40 years, public perceptions are still heavily influenced by it. Based upon...

The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftershocks have put into strong focus the tax issues faced by financially vulnerable individuals and small business. With this economic backdrop, it is likely that more taxpayers will be in severe financial stress, which will in turn increase the need for...

Australia, in line with other common law countries, operates under the doctrine of the separation of powers, derived from the writings of Montesquieu and Locke. Of course that pure version is no more evident in the Australian context than it is in other jurisdictions. Indeed, the Constitution...