What is an unpaid present entitlement or ‘UPE’?

What is a UPE?

If you have a discretionary family trust, then chances are your accountant has mentioned ‘unpaid present entitlements’ or ‘UPEs’. No doubt you have just nodded wisely, but deep down, do you really know what this means?

Are you about to pay off your SMSF ‘limited recourse borrowing’ loan?

Are you about to pay off your SMSF ‘limited recourse borrowing’ loan?

If you are about to pay off your limited recourse borrowing loan (or have recently done so), you are probably wondering what to do next. You might want to simplify your super fund investments and wind up the custodian trust. Or you might be planning your next property purchase. In this article, we answer the […]

Why do all doctors have a trust?

Why do all doctors have a trust?

Doctors earn their money by ‘doing things’. Performing surgery, diagnosing an illness. This is great from a ‘personal fulfilment’ perspective, but not so great from a ‘personal tax’ perspective.

Are trusts a ‘tax loophole’ exploited by the wealthy?

Are trusts a ‘tax loophole’ exploited by the wealthy?

People who say this are just demonstrating their ignorance. Here’s why. The ability to use a trust as a ‘tax loophole’ was pretty much closed out in the 1970-80s. To suggest that trusts somehow make tax disappear for the ‘wealthy’ is plain silly.

Are your trade secrets walking out the door?

Are your trade secrets walking out the door?

Losing an employee, whether by dismissal or resignation, is never easy. But it’s even harder when the employee walks out the door with a head (and possibly a briefcase or USB) full of your confidential information.