25 September 2026

21 September 2026 to 24 September 2026 Weekly Bulletin Contents TAX MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 TPB guidance on reforms to sanctions powers The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has published information about the new sanctions powers that will enable the TPB to respond more effectively to serious…

21 September 2026 to 24 September 2026

Weekly Bulletin Contents

TAX

MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

TPB guidance on reforms to sanctions powers

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has published information about the new sanctions powers that will enable the TPB to respond more effectively to serious misconduct and non-compliance by registered tax practitioners and unregistered entities. The TPB said the enhanced sanctions framework provides it with a broader range of regulatory tools that should strengthen consumer protection and support confidence in the tax profession. The TPB also said that the enhanced sanctions framework gives it greater flexibility to take action that reflects the seriousness of the conduct and the level of risk it presents.

GST determination for GST-free adult and community education courses

The A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Adult and Community Education Course) Determination 2026 has been made. It determines the kinds of courses, and the courses, that are an adult and community education course to enable the GST-free treatment continues to apply to such courses.

NSW payroll tax: Exemptions for employment agency contracts

The NSW Revenue office has published a new webpage dedicated to businesses who hold employment agency contracts with employers exempt from payroll tax to help them better understand payroll tax exemptions for employment agency contracts. The webpage explains: when wages paid under an employment agency contract may be exempt from payroll tax; what employment agency wages are exempt; when a Relevant Declaration from the client is required; how to complete the declaration; and record keeping requirements for the exemption.

Vic duty: Livestock duty resumes on 1 October 2026

The Victorian State Revenue Office has advised that the temporary pause on livestock duty ends on 30 September 2026. From 1 October 2026, livestock duty applies to cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Approved agents, vendors and owner’s agents should prepare for the resumption of livestock duty on sales made from 1 October 2026. Approved agents must resume collecting duty from customers on sales from 1 October 2026 and must lodge and pay the October 2026 return by 21 November 2026. Vendors who sell their own livestock and owner’s agents must likewise lodge a statement and pay duty on sales made in October 2026 by 21 November 2026.

Happy 41st Birthday CGT

Yesterday marked the 41st anniversary of the introduction of CGT regime into Australian tax law. It has come a long way since those days when CGT liability was determined primarily on the basis of whether there had been a “disposal” of an asset (per s 160U of the ITAA 1936). Now it is determined by whether there is a “CGT event” (some 50 plus of them) following the rewrite of the tax law into “plain English” in the late 1990s and the controversial decision of the High Court in Hepples in 1994 about whether a restrictive covenant payment was subject to CGT. And now it is undergoing another transformation with the removal of the CGT discount and the return to “indexation” - albeit, without averaging. “And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time” – T S Eliot, Four Quartets.

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2026

Intergenerational report released

The Government has released its second Intergenerational Report, which shows the pace of change is accelerating and intensifying globally and here at home - and that risks to the Australian economy and the pressures on the budget are serious. But the report confirms Australia is better placed and better prepared to deal with rapid change than most countries, but despite our advantages we cannot be complacent. This IGR’s projections show that in 2066, Australians are expected to live longer, healthier lives, with higher living standards and more secure retirements. At the same time, families will have fewer kids, the population will grow more slowly and our industries will be transformed by AI and clean energy.

ATO: Department of Home Affairs visa – data-matching program

The ATO has released information on its Department of Home Affairs visa data-matching program (for the period of 2020 -21 to 2028 -29). The ATO said that the data is matched against its records to ensure visa holders, visa sponsors and migration agents are meeting their tax, super and foreign investment obligations. The ATO also explained other matters about the programme - including how it undertakes the matching and its reliance on “data quality”.

Distribution of special levy for the CSLR- consulatation

The Government has advised that it is commencing targeted consultation on the distributions of the 2026-27 special levy for the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR). In July, the CSLR operator advised that estimated claim costs for 2026-27 were $190.3m. As these costs exceed the annual levy cap, the CSLR legislation provides for the imposition of a special levy to fund the excess costs so that the scheme can continue paying compensation to eligible consumers. The Government has announced a package of reforms to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the CSLR, including a new waterfall framework to allocate special levy costs. See Treasury website for consultation process, here. Comments due by 5 Oct 2026.

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2026

ATO: Check your clients’ rental income and expenses are correct

The ATO has advised tax agents to ask their clients about the use of any properties they own to ensure they are included correctly in their tax return. The ATO also said that it is sending letters to taxpayers where its data shows the rental income they've received is significantly lower than the expenses they've claimed over multiple years. The ATO said that it is encouraging recipients of these letters to review their claims and correct any errors they may have made.

GST payable on supply made under a “Container Deposit Scheme”

The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal of the taxpayer, “a Material Recovery Facility operator under the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS)” introduced by the NSW Government, who objected to an amount of some $161,000 being included as “GST Sales” in its BAS. The ATO argued that the taxpayer made a taxable supply of recycling services to the Scheme Coordinator of the CDS, and that the CDS refund made to it was consideration for the taxpayer’s supply of the particular recycling services to the Scheme Co-ordinator. Accordingly, the ATO said that as there was a taxable supply made to the Scheme Coordinator, then there was no excess GST and Div 142 of the GST Act 1999 did not apply. In the alternative, the ATO argued that if it was wrong on this matter, then the taxpayer had not shown that it had not passed on the excess GST to the Scheme Co-ordinator for the purpose of Div 142. In dismissing the taxpayer’s appeal, the Federal Court agreed with the ATO’s position. (IQ Renew Pty Ltd v FCT [2026] FCA 1393, 22 September 2026)

ATO: Top 5 myths busted – cents per kilometre method

The ATO has advised that most taxpayers claiming car expenses use the cents per kilometre method - but there are some common misconceptions that lead to lodgment errors. In this regard, it has listed the top 5 myths: Myth 1: Claim travel between home and work; Myth 2: Just claim 5,000 kms, no records needed; Myth 3: It doesn't matter what type of lease you have, you can claim car expenses; Myth 4: You can claim the car's decline in value using both cents per kilometre and logbook methods; and Myth 5: You can use cents per kilometre and logbook methods for different periods during the income year to maximise deductions. Accordingly, the ATO has said to always ask your clients how they use their car and check they have the appropriate records.

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2026

GST: Simplified Accounting Method for Restaurants, Cafes etc

The A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Simplified Accounting Method for Restaurants, Cafes and Caterers) Determination 2026 has been made. It provides eligible retailers such as restaurants, cafes and caterers with a choice of using a simplified accounting method (SAM), commonly referred to as the ‘purchases snapshot method’, to work out their net amounts (GST less input tax credits). By using the SAM, these businesses can work out an estimate of their input tax credits (ITCs) for creditable acquisitions of trading stock for a tax period using actual trading stock purchases data recorded over two 4 week sample periods in a financial year.

Tribunal refuses tax agent’s application for stay of 1 year ban

The ART has refused a tax agent’s request for a stay of the decision of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to terminate his registration for 1 year for contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009. In doing so, the ART considered the following matters: whether a stay was desirable for purpose of ensuring effectiveness of the agent’s review before it on the substantive matter of termination; the agent’s prospects of success in that matter; the previous decision of Federal Circuit and Family Court in relation to conduct of the agent; the personal circumstances of the agent; any prejudice to agent if the stay was not granted; potential financial hardship and reputational damage; the public interest; and any prejudice to the TPB if stay granted. Having weighed these matters the ART concluded that there were insufficient grounds for granting a stay – despite saying that the agent had some prospects of success in the substantive matter. (Nicolaou and Tax Practitioners Board (Practice and Procedure) [2026] ARTA 2075, 17 September 2026)

Consultation paper to address gaps in regulation of MISs

Treasury has released a consultation paper to address gaps in the regulation of managed investment schemes (MISs). The Government said that the sector now comprises thousands of schemes and around $3 trillion invested in registered and unregistered MISs. The proposals aim to address key information gaps by collecting better data - to help to identify and respond to risks of consumer harm. Comments due: 23 September 2026. See Assistant Treasurer’s media release, here.

Tas: Factsheet on recent state tax amendments

The State Revenue Office Tasmania has released a factsheet outlining recent amendments to Tasmania's taxation and grant legislation which will affects a range of duties, land tax, first home owner grant and taxation administration provisions. The amendments relate to: Foreign Investor Duty Surcharge and Foreign Investor Land Tax Surcharge relief; intergenerational rural transfer exemptions; corporate reconstruction and consolidation provisions; SMSF concessions; land tax instalment arrangements; tax refunds and reassessments; and principal residence land tax rebate provisions.

SUPER & FINANCIAL SERVICES

ATO highlights downsizer contribution take-up

The ATO has published a reminder on downsizer super contributions, noting that around 123,000 individuals have contributed $31.8 billion since the scheme started in 2018.

Eligible individuals aged 55 or over can contribute up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling their home, or up to $600,000 for a couple. Downsizer contributions do not count towards the concessional or non-concessional caps, and there is no upper age limit or work test. Eligibility conditions apply, including the 10-year ownership requirement and the 90-day contribution window after settlement.

Pension rates, deeming and cut-off thresholds increased on 20 September

The regular September social security indexation took effect on 20 September. The table below summarises some of the key changes.

Measure	To 19 Sep 2026	From 20 Sep 2026	Change
Age Pension, single (pf)	$1,200.90	$1,237.70	+$36.80
Age Pension, couple combined (pf)	$1,810.40	$1,866.00	+$55.60
Deeming rate, lower	1.25%	1.75%	+0.50%
Deeming rate, upper	3.25%	3.75%	+0.50%
CSHC income limit, single (pa)	$101,105	$105,048	+$3,943
CSHC income limit, couple combined (pa)	$161,768	$168,076	+$6,308

The lower thresholds for a full pension are unchanged, as they are indexed on 1 July. The deeming thresholds remain unchanged at $66,800 for singles and $110,600 for couples.

Super for under-18s inquiry closes submissions

Submissions closed on 18 September for the Senate Economics Legislation Committee inquiry into the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Fair Super for Young Workers) Bill 2026. The bill, a private senator's bill from Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, would remove the exemption that excludes most workers under 18 from the superannuation guarantee.

Under the current rules, an employer must pay superannuation guarantee for an employee under 18 only in a week where the employee works more than 30 hours. The test is applied week by week, so a student who works 32 hours during school holidays is entitled to SG for that week even if they usually work far fewer hours. There is no minimum earnings test, as the $450 per month threshold was removed from 1 July 2022. Where SG is payable, it is calculated at the standard rate of 12% of ordinary time earnings. The bill would remove the 30-hour test so that employees under 18 are treated the same as other workers.