State Taxes and Duties (LAWS70130)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5Not available in 2017
About this subject
Overview
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The Australian states and territories levy a wide number of taxes on business and individuals, including payroll tax, land tax, duties on conveyances, leases and other transfers, workers’ compensation levies and numerous smaller taxes. Interpreting and complying with this multitude of taxes, only some of which are harmonised across state borders, poses significant challenges for Australian businesses and state revenue agencies alike. Many jurisdictions are enacting more comprehensive anti-avoidance and business entity rules in key state taxes, for example, those applying to trusts or corporate groups, and there is increasing litigation on state taxes in courts around the country. Greater attention is also being paid to fundamental reform of state taxes. This subject will provide tax professionals with an advanced knowledge of the structure and practical operation of state taxes and duties in a commercial context, taking account of the most recent trends and developments in this field.
This subject will consider in detail the operation of various state taxes and duties, in particular:
- Stamp duties
- Land tax
- Payroll tax and workers’ compensation levies.
Principal topics will include:
- Detailed analysis of the new ‘uniform’ stamp duties legislation adopted in Victoria and various other jurisdictions
- Consideration of stamp duty liabilities on various business and commercial transactions
- Comparison to the ‘old style’ stamp duty legislation retained in other jurisdictions
- Consideration of Victorian land tax and comparison to the position in other jurisdictions
- Consideration of Victorian payroll tax and workers’ compensation levies, and comparison to the position in other jurisdictions.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should have:
- An advanced understanding of the structure and practical operation of various state taxes and duties, including in particular:
- The operation of stamp duties legislation on conveyances, transfers, leases and other business and commercial transactions
- The structure of land tax and its implications for different land-holding structures
- The structure of the payroll tax and workers’ compensation levies and their implications for different labour arrangements.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Assignment (30%)
Take-home examination (70%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2017
Time commitment details
The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Tax Course Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies Course Graduate Diploma in Tax Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in Corporations and Securities Law - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 3 November 2022