Australia: Trusts

Subscribe
Business law and corporate law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics that involve business and corporate law produced by specialists working in this area every day.
Article
Understanding Special Disability Trusts: A Guide For Families
For families caring for a person with a severe disability, understanding how to provide long-term financial security while maintaining access to social security benefits presents unique challenges. Special Disability Trusts offer a structured legal solution with significant asset-test exemptions and gifting concessions, but navigating the complex eligibility requirements, compliance obligations, and determining whether this structure suits your family's circumstances requires careful consideration.
Australia Family
CG
Coleman Greig Lawyers
Article
Asset Protection And Bankruptcy In Australia
Australian bankruptcy law grants trustees powerful tools to investigate and reverse asset transfers made before bankruptcy. Understanding the distinction between legitimate long-term planning and transactions designed to defeat creditors is critical, as the timing, consideration, relationships, and statutory provisions governing recovery can determine whether pre-bankruptcy arrangements will withstand scrutiny under the Bankruptcy Act 1966.
Australia Insolvency
SL
Stonegate Legal
Article
Bendel – The High Court Has Spoken, But Is This The Final Word On Taxation On Unpaid Present Entitlements?
The High Court of Australia has delivered its landmark judgment on whether unpaid present entitlements from a trust to a corporate beneficiary constitute a loan under Division 7A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. This decision resolves a critical question that has significant implications for how trusts structure distributions to corporate beneficiaries and whether such arrangements trigger deemed dividend treatment under Australia's tax integrity provisions.
Australia Tax
PA
Piper Alderman
Article
Tax Reform Update – Government’s Post-Budget Carve-outs And The New Start-up CGT Concession
The Australian Government has announced significant revisions to its 2026 tax reform package following intensive consultation, including expanded small business CGT concessions, a new innovative business CGT discount for early-stage investors, and broadened exemptions for testamentary trusts. These adjustments respond to industry feedback while maintaining the fundamental architecture of replacing the 50% CGT discount with cost base indexation and introducing a 30% minimum tax on trust distributions.
Australia Tax
PA
Piper Alderman
Podcast
Podcast: The 2026 Federal Budget With CGW – Discretionary Trusts
Partners Scott Hay-Bartlem and Linda Tapiolas break down the 2026 federal Budget's proposed changes to discretionary trusts, examining new tax rates, beneficiary credits, and exemptions. As legislation continues to evolve, they explore the complexities of restructuring trust and company arrangements and explain why businesses should adopt a cautious approach to these significant reforms.
Australia Tax
CG
Cooper Grace Ward
See more