A Question of Balance: The Tax Treatment of Small Business

A Question of Balance: The Tax Treatment of Small Business

28 June 1995

© Commonwealth of Australia 1995

View the report as a single document - (PDF 977KB)


View the report as separate downloadable parts:

Membership of the Committee (PDF 20KB)
 
Terms of Reference (PDF 16KB)
 
Appendices (PDF 33KB)
 
Conduct of the Inquiry (PDF 12KB)
 
Abbreviations (PDF 16KB)
 
Recommendations (PDF 61KB)
 
Introduction - The importance of small business (PDF 42KB)

Definitions
The Importance of Small Business
The Beddall Committee Report
This Report
Legislation
The Tax Treatment of Small Business

 
PART 1 - The taxes affecting small business
Chapter 1 - Provisional tax (PDF 106KB)

Definition
The Provisional Tax System
Conclusion
Timing of Provisional Tax Payments Under The Existing System
Tax Office Proposal - PAYG
The Winegrape Growing Industry

 
Chapter 2 - Provisional tax uplift factor (PDF 124KB)

Rationale
Efficacy of the PTUF
Consequences of a High PTUF
Alternatives to the Current PTUF
Conclusion
An Alternative - The Individual Uplift Factor
Penalties

 
Chapter 3 - Wholesale sales tax (PDF 117KB)

Introduction
  Streamlined Sales Tax
  Sales Tax Rates
  Sales Tax Payments
Sales Tax Issues
  Taxpayers as Tax Collectors
  Timing of Sales Tax Payments
Exemptions and Classifications
  Problems with Exemptions and Classifications
  Example of Ambiguity - Rice Milk
  Consequences of Technological Innovation
  Conclusion
Small Business Exemptions
The Wine Industry
  Wine Industry Inquiry
  The Wine Industry Position
  Conclusion

 
Chapter 4 - Fringe benefits tax (PDF 70KB)

Introduction
Government Review of the Costs of FBT
FBT Issues Raised in Evidence
  Broadening the FBT Base
  Compliance Costs
  Complexity of FBT and Lack of Understanding
  Exemption Threshold
  Compulsory Benefits
  Car Parks
  Child Care

 
Chapter 5 - Company tax (PDF 76KB)

Compliance Dates
  'Small' Taxpayers
  'Medium' Taxpayers
  Small 'Medium' Taxpayers
Threshold to Quarterly Payments
Company Tax Rate

 
Chapter 6 - CGT, PPS, PAYE, SG AND TSV (PDF 76KB)

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
  The Complexity of CGT
  Rollover Relief
  Goodwill
  Long Term Assets
     Section 47(1A) of the ITAA
Prescribed Payments System
  PAYE Tax
  Superannuation Guarantee (SG)
  Trading Stock Valuation
     Effect on Working Capital
     The Wine Industry

 
PART 2 - The impact of small business
Chapter 7 - The timing of tax payments (PDF 130KB)

Major Problems
  Provisional Tax
  PAYG
  Provisional Tax Uplift Factor
  Wholesale Sales Tax
  Company Tax
  Capital Gains Tax
  Prescribed Payments System
  Fringe Benefits Tax
Other Matters
  Wine Industry
  Accruals vs Cash Basis of Accounting
  Cash Flow Management
  Carry Back of Losses and Carry Forward of Profits
  Statutory Warranties and Accrued Leave
  Income Averaging and Income Equalisation
     Deposit Scheme
  Training and Establishment Costs
  Imputation Credits

 
Chapter 8 - The burden of tax (PDF 69KB)

Changes in Taxation Rates
  Wholesale Sales Tax Excise
  Company Tax
Compliance Costs
  Wholesale Sales Tax
  Fringe Benefits Tax
  Notification of Changes
  Double Taxation
Small Business Statistics
Conclusion - The Burden of Tax

 
PART 3 - Minority report
Minority Report (PDF 15KB)
 
Appendix 1 - List of organisations and individuals who made submissions (PDF 35KB)
 
Appendix 2 - List of witnesses (PDF 35KB)
 
Appendix 3 - Tax office discussion paper on PAYG (PDF 50KB)
 
Appendix 4 - Lodgement arrangements for companies and superannuation funds (PDF 39KB)
 
Appendix 5 - Government review of FBT compliance costs (PDF 51KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3540
Fax: +61 2 6277 5719
Email: economics.sen@aph.gov.au