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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.

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.

The NPA practice note sets out the arrangements for the management of tax proceedings:

Other practice notes which may be relevant to this NPA include:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

For further procedural and case management information you should refer to the Central Practice Note and the Taxation Practice Note.

• 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)

• 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

• 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.

• Australian Taxation Office Legal Database
  
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal
  
• The Tax Institute