Tax Audits, Tax Litigation and Dispute Resolution

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is increasing the number of tax audits and reviews of risk areas across business and personal tax. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the ATO tax audit, objection and litigation processes, and how to achieve a desirable result for your client and/or organisation.

This comprehensive session will clarify the complexities of an ATO tax audit and will explore how best to manage tax audits by the ATO, as well as highlighting the objection and appeal processes in the event that a resolution cannot be reached.

The session will discuss the management of tax audits conducted by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), including:

• The life cycle of a review by the ATO, from initial contact until resolution


• Managing information gathering and establishing process and procedures


• Establishing and managing relationships with the ATO


• Minimising costs to the taxpayer


• Determining and achieving acceptable outcomes for the taxpayer


• Taxation objections and the appeal process


• Litigating against the ATO:

- The Federal Court or Administrative Appeals Tribunal?
- The role of administrative law and judicial review.

• Alternative dispute resolution and the role of mediation


• Negotiating settlements with the ATO

By the end of this seminar participants should be able to:

• Explain the life cycle of a review by the ATO


• Establish projects and procedures to manage information gathering


• Identify ways in which to minimise costs to tax payer


• Explain the ATO’s objections and appeals process


• Identify the best form of resolution including litigation and dispute resolution options and discuss other alternatives

Who Should Attend?
Tax agents, tax practitioners/advisers, tax accountants and tax lawyers.
Those who perform the company tax function for a company - Head of Tax, Tax Counsel, Tax Manager and Tax Specialist/Consultant.