Videos - Waterhouse Lawyers

Videos

How we can help

Our range of videos demonstrate how we can help you with your tax affairs

Introduction

Waterhouse Lawyers are expert tax lawyers.

Tania Waterhouse, the firm’s principal, is a former ATO director, with specialist knowledge of all tax matters.

The Waterhouse team are all passionate about tax law and wanting to help their clients.

Our range of videos show how we can help you with your tax affairs.

Managing ATO audits and disputes

What do you do when the ATO comes knocking on your client’s door? High wealth individuals and SMEs – often your best clients – are the most likely targets. Learn the best way to handle an audit based on the inside knowledge of a 40-year ATO veteran and former Deputy Commissioner.

  • Find out how to ensure your clients receive a fair go during an audit
  • Understand the mindset of ATO officials and what they are looking for
  • Discover how to present the best possible face to increase the chance of a successful, quick outcome

Taxation Debt

Being served with a ATO notice is worrying at the best of times – even more so if you have a tax debt and you cannot pay immediately.

We understand the trauma of receiving a debt notice from the ATO. We can help you to enter into a payment plan, or seek a remission of interest. We can also help explore alternative options.

All of our clients appreciate our sensitive and caring approach to their tax crisis. They have all stated how relieved they are to have sought our assistance.

This video shows you how we can help in this situation.

Tax Residency

Australians working overseas need to know whether they are a resident or non-resident of Australia. This will determine their tax liability in Australia.

Just because you are working living and working full time doesn’t mean you are automatically a non-resident. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account.

We have particular expertise with crew on superyachts, pilots, IT workers and can help determine your tax residency status.

See our video for more information.

High Wealth Individuals

High Wealth Individuals in Australia need to structure their affairs in the most tax advantageous manner.

Likewise an offshore investor in Australia needs to understand their taxation obligations if they invest in Australia.

Here we discuss how we can help your entity to structure your taxation affairs or give advice on investing in Australia.

Audit/Objection

If you disagree with a tax assessment you are entitled to make an objection to that decision. We can prepare an objection which puts your case in the most favourable light possible. We have a very high success rate in the outcome of objection decisions.

Being audited is a particularly stressful experience. Taxpayers unintentionally give the wrong message because, for instance, they may not understand the auditor’s queries, perhaps due to language difficulties. We can help reduce that stress by liaising directly with the ATO and ensuring that the taxpayer’s affairs are being accurately represented to the ATO.

To learn more, see our video.

Audits Uncovered

ATO activity and tax audit predictions 2024

 

 

 

Audits Uncovered -Fairness Under Review - The ATO’s Interest Charges in Focus

Learn how escalating GIC and ATO remission practices are driving audit-to-debt risks for clients and accountants.

 

 

Need tax advice?

How we can help

We can liaise with the ATO if you are being audited; obtain a payment plan for a tax debt; and represent you in a tax court case.

Testimonials

SATISFIED CLIENTS

Saving my life and company

Hello Tania,

I hope this note finds you well.

You may or may not recall our case.

I will keep this short, as I can imagine you are very busy, but wanted to update you of the outcome. After you went into bat for me against the ATO in 2018, due to them issuing a garnishee over the company leaving me nowhere to go.
With your persistence we reached an agreement…saving my life and my company!

In our last conversation you asked me to let you know how we ended up and told me “show them that we would make it”!

Today I am emailing you with an enormous smile on my face…our ATO Super Guarantee Account debt was finalised in August, 2020 and today we received the attached statement from the ATO…as of 8th December, 2020 this is also finalised.
It has not been an easy journey, especially with the additional challenges of COVID…but we survived!

Thankyou Tania from the bottom of my heart, as without you I would not be sitting here typing this email.
May I wish you, your family and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.

Warm Regards,

Trisha F

Trisha F – December 2020

Court hearing for failure to lodge tax returns less daunting

HI Tania,

Whilst daunting, your assistance and representation at the hearing for my failure to lodge tax returns made it possible, and easier than anticipated.

 

I didn’t realize how much it was weighing on me until I decided to take my first afternoon off in over 20 years (apart from illness) and have just woken up…

Looking around the courtroom I feel for some of those people in a similar position who had no representation

Louisa A—February 2019

Some sanity returns to my life

For many years I have lived overseas and paid tax in my country of family residence and employment. You can imagine my surprise when I received a letter from ATO suggesting I might owe a return for the past 2 years including a list of overseas income. Alarm bells rang as I did indeed owe some returns, but fixing the issue opened a whole Pandora’s Box of issues that I knew could only be solved by a professional expert in Taxation Law.

I trolled the Internet for hours looking for a Tax Lawyer in my home city, most of whom were from very big firms. When I came upon Waterhouse Lawyers I immediately felt that I had found the right people even though we were miles apart. I engaged Tania and her team without a moment’s hesitation and was on board as a client minutes after discussion with one of her team.

Tania and her team have exceeded my expectations in all respects. At last I can sleep at night and find speaking to them a bright spot in my day. They quickly put me at ease by breaking down my issues into separate parts and providing solutions for each. Their honesty and really profession approach to client interactions is enhanced with their ability to make you feel that they are part of your family and really do care about outcomes that are in your best interest rather than feeding the corporate revenue stream.

I unreservedly commend Tania and her team to anyone with a Tax related issue.

Philip K—November 2015

Tania and her team supported me through a really difficult time dealing with the ATO following a long illness. Tania was able to ensure that I was remitted the full amount of general interest charges that had been imposed by the ATO, in circumstances when my initial request for remission had been rejected with seemingly no proper consideration or good reason. The entire team were so supportive throughout. Without her support, I may not have proceeded to push for remission of the charges and, without her knowledge of the ATO and lobbying of relevant persons, I do not have confidence that my case would have been properly considered by the ATO the second time round. My heartfelt thanks to the entire team at Waterhouse Tax Lawyers.

GIC remission success

Integrity shines

I would like to thank you once again for being so honest and fair with me and I very much appreciate your gesture to reduce your fees.

I would certainly recommend you to anyone looking for a good lawyer and one with integrity.

John

John T—February 2015

Credentials

Recognition

Law Council of Australia logo - Tax Lawyer Sydney Melbourne
law society of new south wales logo - Tax Lawyer Sydney Melbourne
the tax institute logo - Tax Lawyer Sydney Melbourne
Transfer Pricing Association Global logo - Tax Lawyer Sydney Melbourne