To help pensioners who are rich in assets but poor in income, the government launched a version of a commercially available financial product, the reverse mortgage.

The government's answer for pensioners who find themselves in the above situation is its pension loans scheme (PLS), whereby a pensioner can apply for a non-taxable loan using some form of real property as security.  The PLS does not provide a lump sum, but a regular fortnightly payment.

At present the scheme is only open to those on a full pension, but...

It is sometimes said that a superhero like the DC Comics character Superman can be uninteresting because he is, for all practical purposes, indestructible.  Critics have said the knowledge that he will most likely win can make Superman's adventures monotonous.

A similar accusation could be leveled at the Federal Commissioner of Taxation (the flesh and bone personification of the ATO).  To most people, including a hefty majority of small and medium businesses, the Commissioner appear to be immune from defeat.   He...

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the government body responsible for enforcing the Franchising Code of Conduct, and if you or someone you know are considering entering into a franchise arrangement, this will probably be a good starting point to get an idea of what to expect.

The code imposes strict obligations on franchisors to make sure that franchise agreements are fair (you can use the search tool on the ACCC's website to find it).

It is a requirement that both franchisees and franchiso...

While bitcoin may be the most well known cryptocurrency, there are nearly 1,500 in existence.  In its simplest form, a cryptocurrency is a "peer-to-peer electronic cash system", which means that the currency is not in a physical form like cash but sits in an electronic register.

What makes bitcoin work, where previous attempts at electronic cash did not, is in the magic of something called blockchain.  One of the problems with earlier electronic cash was that it was possible for those with the skills to fool the s...

Where some businesses have tripped up in the past is where the source of benefits provided is not clear cut - that is, where non-cash components of remuneration are sourced not directly from an employer, but from an associate, a related company or from a third-party provider.
 

For fringe benefits tax (FBT) to apply, the conventional wisdom is that the benefits involved are provided instead of cash salary, and further that such benefits are usually paid in respect of an employment relationship. Hence the pool of a...