Response to Impact of COVID 19

Lowe Lippmann Chartered Accountants

Response to Impact of COVID-19

The business disruption of COVID-19 is real and moving fast.  We understand the social and economic implications this is causing and the importance of implementing management policies and strategies to get through this crisis from a financial and operational perspective.

How we can assist you

The significant threat of COVID-19 and its impact on many businesses is of huge concern. The current uncertainty of the global economy is creating risks that entities may not have encountered before. Management and governance bodies need to assess:

  • What type of financial effect might COVID-19 have on my entity?  
  • What do cash flow forecasts look like with new business disruption assumptions and worst case scenarios previously not contemplated?
  • What levers can I pull to improve cash flows during the crisis?
  • Is my entity still a going concern having taken into account the above?

Maintaining control over finances and financial reporting is more important than ever. We are here to assist you and advise you during these uncertain times. Please feel free to contact us if required.

 In addition to the links below , we will forward to you in due course a summary of the latest tax and cash flow incentives we have prepared which are available to many businesses.  

The greatest thing we can do for you, our clients is talk to you about how to solve your most challenging problems right now. Whether it is managing and shoring up cash flow; taking advantage of the SME tax concessions recently announced; assisting with meeting reporting obligations or just acting as a sounding board.  We are here for you!

Our teams are working remotely

We have taken the measure for our staff, were possible, to work remotely until further notice. Our staff have been equipped with the necessary equipment to work remotely and are readily accessible via email and telephone. We will be conducting all face-to-face meetings  remotely via telephone, teleconference or video conferencing. We are adapting to this new working arrangement by increasing the usage of online platforms to communicate and share information between staff and clients in different locations.


    Tax Alert - High Court decision and ATO statement on Bendel’s Case

    July 7, 2026
    High Court decision and ATO statement on Bendel’s Case The High Court recently handed down its decision in Bendel’s Case, confirming that an unpaid present entitlement (or UPE) between a discretionary trust and a beneficiary company does not fall within the extended definition of a “loan” for Division 7A purposes. The Australian Taxation Office released a Decision Impact Statement in response to the High Court findings, concluding the High Court's reasoning makes it clear that where a beneficiary company is entitled to a share of trust income that remains unpaid (a UPE) and the company takes no positive actions to call for payment of the entitlement, this will not fall within the expanded definition of a "loan" for Division 7A purposes. This is in contradiction to the ATO’s historical position that treated UPEs as "loans".

    Practice Update – July 2026

    July 5, 2026
    Government's tax reform package The Government has recently legislated several of the tax reform measures announced in the 2026 Federal Budget (and in later media releases). These include, among other things: Replacing the CGT discount with cost base indexation and a 30% minimum tax on gains accruing from 1 July 2027 (including gains on pre-CGT assets); Increasing the small business turnover threshold for the 50% active asset reduction from $2 million to $10 million; Limiting negative gearing for residential property to new residential dwellings from 1 July 2027 (subject to transitional rules); and Introducing the Working Australians Tax Offset from 1 July 2027, and the $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses from 1 July 2026. After a round of consultation, the Government has also announced further proposed measures, broadly including (among others): A new targeted CGT discount for investors in innovative start-ups; Barring SMSFs from utilising future limited recourse borrowing arrangements ( LRBAs ) to acquire residential property; and  Exempting income of discretionary testamentary trusts from the minimum tax proposed for trusts. We recently released a Tax Alert considering the legislation restricting SMSFFs using residential property LRBAs – to read click here . For full details of each of the 2026 Federal Budget announcements, please see our Federal Budget Tax Alert – to read click here .

    Tax Alert - Legislation restricting SMSFs using residential property LRBAs has now passed Parliament

    June 28, 2026
    Legislation restricting SMSFs using residential property LRBAs has now passed Parliament The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No 1) Bill 2026 ( the Reform No 1 Bill ) was passed by Parliament on Thursday 25 June 2026. Schedule 5 of the Reform No 1 Bill amends section 67A of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to restrict future limited recourse borrowing arrangements ( LRBAs ) on real property to investments in “business real property” (as defined in section 66 of the SIS Act). Residential property of any kind is excluded from the definition of “business real property” in section 66 of the SIS Act. We note this also excludes newly constructed residential property, which is a distinction at odds with recent exemptions being given to new-builds with other Budget Night tax changes relating to negative gearing and restricting the CGT 50% discount. Super funds are not generally allowed to borrow for investments, but there has been a concession allowing a self-managed super fund ( SMSF ) to borrow money to buy single assets like property, if their loans were set up in line with particular requirements, known as LRBAs. This change means an SMSF will not be able to borrow to buy residential property after the start date of these changes.
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