For more than six years Damian Welshe & Associates has offered the specialist GST expertise and experience usually only found in the large top tier legal or accounting firms, but with service provided by a registered tax agent on a more personal, practical and cost-effective basis.

Based in Brisbane, Queensland, but able to service clients from all around the globe, the firm provides GST consulting services primarily involving the following:

• Provision of advice regarding the Australian GST implications of transactions or arrangements, and recommendations of structures or other actions
• Preparing submissions to the ATO for GST private rulings, responses to ATO audit position papers, and objections against assessments
• Managing or assisting clients with ATO GST audits, including liaising with the ATO for remission of penalty and interest assessments
• Pre-ATO audit GST compliance reviews for clients
• Conducting GST training sessions for client staff.

These services may be provided on an ad hoc basis or as part of a collaborative quasi in-house GST role (an “external internal”).

Previous assignments

Examples of previous assignments include:

• Structure and GST classification of transactions for residential property developments
• Preparation of objections against ATO assessments for GST margin scheme disputes
• Structure and GST classification of transactions involving collaborations between parties in the property and mining industries, including development lease arrangements
• GST review of the operations of a network of retirement villages
• Commercial disputes regarding contractual rights to recover GST
• Reviews of GST-related claims processes and procedures for an insurance company
• Apportionment and reduced input tax credit (RITC) reviews for financial institutions making financial supplies
• GST advice for structured financing and securitisation arrangements
• GST advice for card product arrangements and other financial services transactions
• GST implications of major capital raisings and M&A deals, including tax due diligences, classification of transactions, and input tax credit entitlements
• Review of the GST structure for new investments by an international investment business
• GST advice and ATO challenges in relation to supplies made by barter scheme operators
• GST advice for structuring of fund-raising activities by a charitable organisation
• Reviews of the GST/FBT interaction for financial institutions
• Reviews of the GST implications of lease incentive arrangements
• Analysing cross-border transactions, including GST implications for non-residents with supply and install contracts in Australia.