More
About this NPA
The Taxation National Practice Area (NPA) includes any proceeding relating to:
- tax appeals to the Federal Court from decisions pursuant to Part IVC of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth) (Taxation Administration Act) that are relevant to decisions made by the Commissioner of Taxation
- appeals from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) pursuant to s 44(1) of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) (AAT Act) which involve taxation disputation and referrals of questions of law pursuant to s 45 of the AAT Act
- applications to set aside Departure Prohibition Orders (DPO Appeals)
- applications relating to civil penalties under the promoter penalty provisions
- other proceedings in the original jurisdiction of the Federal Court including applications invoking the jurisdiction conferred by s 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) (Judiciary Act) and orders for review pursuant to the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) (ADJR Act)
- any recovery or other proceeding collateral to a tax dispute.
Case Management
The Court’s case management objectives for tax cases is to:
- provide uniform treatment and management
- provide the just and efficient determination in a timely manner
- facilitate the identification and development of alternative procedures with a view to expediting resolution where possible.
Practice Notes
All practice notes are to be read with the Central Practice Note. It is the essential guide to practice in the Federal Court in all proceedings.
Central Practice Note (CPN-1)
The NPA practice note sets out the arrangements for the management of tax proceedings:
NPA Practice Note: |
|
Other practice notes which may be relevant to this NPA include:
General Practice Notes: |
|
Forms, Rules & Fees
Filing fees for commencing a proceeding in this NPA may apply. Information about Court fees, including the fees payable and circumstances where an exemption or deferral can be given is available in Forms, Fees & Costs or from the Registry.
Parties should consider whether it is necessary to file a Genuine steps statement (Form 16) in certain proceedings in this NPA - see r 8.02 of the Federal Court Rules (2011) (Federal Court Rules) and the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth) (including sections 6, 7 and 16).
The Taxation NPA comprises the following types of proceedings:
1. Appeals pursuant to Part IVC of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 against an objection decision including private rulings
A taxpayer may appeal against a reviewable objection decision including with respect to private rulings under s 14ZZ of the Taxation Administration Act (AOD appeal) by filing:
Forms: |
|
Rules: |
|
Notes: |
|
2. Appeals from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
The Commissioner or the taxpayer may commence an appeal from the AAT on a question of law pursuant to s 44(1) of the AAT Act by filing:
Forms: | |
Rules: |
|
Notes: |
|
3. Applications for judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act
The scope of judicial review in tax cases is limited. A taxpayer may apply for judicial review under s 39B of the Judiciary Act by filing:
Forms: | |
Rules: |
|
4. DPO Appeals (appeals against departure prohibition orders)
A person may apply to the Court to appeal against the making of a departure prohibition order (DPO appeal) under s 14V of the Taxation Administration Act by filing:
Forms: |
|
Rules: |
|
Notes: |
|
5. Judicial review applications
A taxpayer may seek a review of an administrative decision of the Commissioner under the ADJR Act subject to certain decisions set out in Schedule 1 of the ADJR Act that are excluded from review by filing:
Forms: |
|
Rules: |
|
Notes: |
|
6. Other taxation disputes
Other taxation disputes may be commenced including the Commissioner applying to the Court for civil penalties under the promoter penalty regime. These can be commenced by filing:
Forms: | |
Rules: |
|
For further procedural and case management information you should refer to the Central Practice Note and the Taxation Practice Note.
Legislation
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth)
- Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth)
- Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth)
- Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
- Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth)
- Income Assessment Act 1936 (Cth)
- Income Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)
- A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth)
Latest Judgments
- 29 Jun 2022:
JMC Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 750
TAXATION - applicant provides accredited higher education creative industries courses - Mr Harrison engaged by applicant as lecturer - respondent deemed Mr Harrison an employee of applicant under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) - applicant issued notices of assessment of superannuation guarantee charges - applicant…
Judge: Wigney J - 27 Jun 2022:
Comptroller-General of Customs v Alstom Transport Australia Pty Ltd [2022] FCAFC 109
TAXATION - customs and excise - tariff concession order (TCO) - core criteria - substitutable goods - appeal from decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) - where Tribunal set aside decision of the applicant to refuse the respondent's application for a TCO - whether Tribunal erred in applying s 269B and 269C of the Customs Act…
Judge: Markovic, Thawley and Hespe JJ - 21 Jun 2022:
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Grid International Australia Development Company Limited (Application for Non-Publication Orders No 2) [2022] FCA 719
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - application for non-publication orders pursuant to s 37AF Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) - whether orders necessary to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice - whether orders necessary to protect the safety of directors of the respondent company - where information claimed to be personal…
Judge: Thawley J - 9 Jun 2022:
Parr v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 678
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - application for extension of time to appeal against a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to refuse to reinstate application - where proposed notice of appeal filed two days late - matters to be taken into account on extension application - extension granted
Judge: Banks-smith J - 24 May 2022:
Hurley v Collector of Customs [2022] FCAFC 92
TAXATION - customs duty - where the Collector of Customs served a demand for payment on the applicant under s 35A of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth) - where the relevant goods (alcoholic beverages) were the subject of a periodic settlement permission under which the goods could be delivered into home consumption without being entered for that purpose - …
Judge: Moshinsky, Banks-smith and Colvin JJ - 20 May 2022:
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Miraki [2022] FCAFC 96
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - application for leave to appeal - where the primary judge made an interlocutory order requiring the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation to lodge a "Request" that the Registrar-General remove notifications of certain freezing orders - whether the decision of the primary judge was attended with sufficient doubt to warrant its…
Judge: Perram, Moshinsky and Hespe JJ - 20 May 2022:
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Huang (No 4) [2022] FCA 618
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE -- application to vary freezing order to prevent use of Australian assets to pay legal expenses -- where substantial judgment debt for income tax and penalties unpaid by respondent -- where enforcement of debt will be far easier against remaining Australian assets than overseas assets -- where substantial overseas assets…
Judge: Jagot J - 18 May 2022:
Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Grid International Australia Development Company Limited (Application for Non-Publication Orders No 1) [2022] FCA 577
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - application for non-publication orders pursuant to s 37AF Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) - whether orders necessary to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice - where information claimed to be commercially sensitive - where information claimed to concern commercial transactions of third parties …
Judge: Thawley J - 18 May 2022:
Whiteman v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 568
BANKRUPTCY - application for extension of time within which to seek leave to appeal made prior to sequestration order - where action was stayed by operation of s 60(2) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) - whether in the circumstances the action should be stayed or dismissed - question of costs.
Judge: Wheelahan J - 9 May 2022:
Landcom v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 510
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - s 114 of the Constitution prohibits the Commonwealth imposing "any tax on property of any kind belonging to a State" - where GST is not imposed on States, but States have voluntarily agreed to pay notional GST - where the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) addresses notional GST, including the amount…
Judge: Thawley J
Latest Speeches & Papers
- 29 Oct 2019:
Tax stability
Presented at the Melbourne Law School 14th Annual Tax Lecture, by Justice Davies. - 9 Mar 2018:
The continuing evolution of the 'best interests' duty for superannuation trustees from Cowan v Scargill to the current regulatory framework
Presented at the 2018 Superannuation Conference, Canberra, by Justice Moshinsky. - 6 Nov 2014:
Deductions - Revenue v capital - What’s good for the goose is good for the gander?
A Paper delivered at the Tax Institute’s 22nd National Tax Intensive Retreat, Sheraton Noosa Resort, Queensland. - 29 Aug 2013:
Tax reform political parties and the prisoners' dilemma: address to the Treasury
Address to the Treasury by Justice Perram.
Tax seminars
- 24 Mar 2017: Tax Bar Association: The ethical considerations of alleging conscious maladministration or improper purpose
- 03 Aug 2016: The VAT/GST Seminar: Input tax deductibility and neutrality Chaird by Justice Davies
- 07 Jun 2016: Tax Bar Association Ethics Seminar Series: Direct briefing: How to do it, when to do it and ethical considerations Chaired by Justice Middleton
- 15 Mar 2016: Tax Ethics Seminar - Model litigation obligations what are they, what do they add and how are they enforced? Chaired by Justice Davies
- 02 Oct 2014: Tax Bar Association - In dispute with the ATO: What to expect Chaired by Justice Davies
Subscribe
To stay up-to-date with news in the Federal Court, including developments in this NPA, subscribe to our email subscription services.
We provide subscriptions to the latest judgments and events (by NPA); Practice News to keep up-to-date with changes to practice and procedure; and Daily Court Listings.
Important note: This information is procedural advice only. You should seek your own legal advice about legal cases and procedure in the Federal Court and in this area of law.