Protecting against cyber-crimes means more than just having up to date firewalls and solid IT protocols. Most of the time, it is human error which allows fraud to be perpetuated. The property law market is a high-risk area for social engineering, phishing, scams and fraud. With the rise of AI it has never been easier for emails and property law documents (including Power of Attorneys and written instructions from clients) to be forged. Property lawyers need to be informed and alert to be able to identify the risks and understand what steps can and need to be taken to avoid facilitating and being an inadvertent accomplice to fraud and cyber-crimes in everyday practice. To help upskill property lawyers in this regard, this session shall:

• Take a deeper dive into how scams and fraud are currently perpetrated in the property law sector including the risks inherent in e-conveyancing transactions
• Identify the various steps at which the risk should have been identified by those in a legal practice - what systems/policies should be present to facilitate this?
• Explore the practicalities of verifying client instructions and source of funds in the current e-conveyancing platforms
• Look at the practical steps property lawyers should be taking to properly identify and respond appropriately to scams and fraud

It's not always the case that the structure chosen at the outset remains the optimum structure to use as time goes on. However, changing a structure midstream can trigger unwanted tax costs if the change isn't handled in a tax effective manner. This session looks at the options available to change a structure to a company and how the tax costs can be minimised in the process, including: 

• A refresher on how the tax attributes of a company differ from the tax attributes that apply to:
  • a sole trader
  • a partnership
  • a discretionary or unit trust 
• Structures and situations that may benefit from a change to a company
• The trends occurring in practice:
  • Are trusts getting too complex to administer?
  • Is the base rate entity company tax rate getting too tempting?
• A comparison of the various restructure/CGT rollovers and concessions available to change an existing structure to a company
• Why you would choose one restructure/CGT rollover or concession option over another based on various situations
• The GST issues to consider
• Tips and traps to be mindful of when making the change
• Case study

The Victorian government is replacing stamp duty on commercial and industrial properties with an annual property tax. This major shift brings significant implications for businesses, property investors, and their advisors. This session unpacks the key details and practical considerations for accountants, including:

• The shift from stamp duty to annual tax – how the transition works and key dates to be aware of
• Who is affected? – Identifying clients impacted by the new tax regime
• Calculating the tax – Understanding rates, exemptions, and ongoing obligations
• Transitional provisions – How pre-existing property owners are impacted
• Impact on business and investment decisions – Key considerations for structuring property transactions
• Accounting and compliance challenges – What accountants need to prepare for
• Practical case studies – How the new tax applies in different scenarios