Tax Controversy

Minter Ellison has extensive experience in assisting clients to establish robust tax governance policies and procedures, and a proven track record of resolving and finalising tax investigations and disputes to the satisfaction of our clients. We work together with experienced litigators to advocate tax disputes before the courts. We bring a practical and commercial focus to tax controversy work; we understand the Australian Taxation Office and state revenue authorities; and we appreciate the sensitivities of investigations for our clients.

Our team includes tax controversy experts in income tax and capital gains tax, petroleum resource rent tax, indirect taxes such as GST and customs duty, fringe benefits tax and other employment-related taxes, and state taxes such as stamp duty, land tax, and payroll tax.

We have been involved in a number of significant tax cases and investigations – including Part IVA cases, cases relating to the application of double tax treaties, GST cases, stamp duty ‘land rich’ investigations in a number of states, payroll tax, disputes relating to the application of legal professional privilege in the context of an investigation, and negotiations with and managing investigations by the Australian Taxation Office’s High Wealth Individuals Taskforce and Project Wickenby team.

We work closely and effectively with our clients’ other advisers and we respect the relationships clients have with their existing advisers. We bring strong long-standing relationships with experienced tax counsel at the Bar and national coverage, which means we can we match the national reach of the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Government Solicitor. Our skills and reputation have been acknowledged by the Australian Taxation Office, which has recommended us to conduct government funded test case litigation on behalf of taxpayers.