GST Lawyers

GST affects every stage of a transaction – from quoting and contract drafting through to settlement and reporting. Missteps can mean denied credits, misclassified supplies, ATO reviews or delayed settlements.

Our GST lawyers advise on input tax credits, taxable vs GST-free supplies, enterprise tests, going concern sales and residential property transactions and more.

We cut through the complexity, manage risk and prepare positions that hold up in practice and under ATO scrutiny – giving you certainty and keeping your business moving.

What is goods and services tax?

GST, imposed under the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth), is a 10% tax on most sales of goods, services and property in Australia.

Businesses collect GST on taxable sales, claim credits on eligible purchases and report the net position on their activity statements.

Some supplies are GST-free, others are input-taxed.

Getting the classification right matters — it affects your pricing, how contracts are drafted, the wording of tax invoices and whether input tax credits can be claimed.

Mistakes here don’t just cost money, they create risk in transactions and audits.

GST Legal Advice for Business and Property

GST touches every transaction – from contracts and property sales to BAS reporting and ATO reviews. These are the most common GST issues we help clients solve.

GST Advice

From registrations to complex transactions, we provide clear, practical GST advice that keeps your business compliant and your cash flow on track.

Property Transactions

We manage GST on sales and developments, including GST withholding, going concern supplies, and residential premises. Our advice ensures settlements proceed without delay.

Residential Property

GST on new vs existing premises, the margin scheme, and input-taxed supplies can be confusing. We clarify obligations and secure positions that stand up in audits and transactions.

Sale of Business

We structure business sales to maximise GST outcomes, including GST-free going concern treatment, correct contract drafting, and smooth settlements.

Input Tax Credits

We make sure you claim the credits you’re entitled to, apply defensible apportionment methods, and avoid common errors that trigger ATO attention.

Contract Drafting

We draft and review GST clauses so contracts match the commercial deal. This prevents disputes over whether supplies are taxable, GST-free, or input taxed.

ATO Audits

Large refunds, property sales, or data mismatches often trigger reviews. We lead the response, frame your GST position clearly, and work toward practical resolutions.

Voluntary Disclosures

When errors happen, a well-prepared voluntary disclosure can reduce penalties and interest. We scope the issue, correct past positions, and negotiate outcomes with the ATO.

Industry-Specific Issues

Different industries face unique GST risks. We tailor advice for construction, property development, professional services, and not-for-profits, keeping your systems aligned and defensible.

What triggers a GST audit?

The ATO often reviews businesses where it sees red flags — large or unusual refund claims, property transactions subject to GST withholding, mismatches between BAS and income tax data, outlier industry ratios, inconsistent contract or invoice treatments or repeated late lodgements.

If you’re reviewed, we take the lead.

We present a clear position backed by evidence, scope issues and timelines and correct genuine errors in a way that limits exposure.

Where appropriate, we make voluntary disclosures to reduce penalties and we negotiate practical outcomes that protect cash flow.

If escalation is required, we pursue objections or reviews while preserving privilege and keeping your business moving.

Clear GST, confident deals

GST doesn’t have to be a roadblock. Our legal team combines technical knowledge with practical execution, helping businesses navigate the ATO and gain confidence in every transaction.

Further Tax Solutions

Why seek advice on GST?

Good GST advice safeguards your margins, avoids costly mistakes in contracts and reporting, and improves cash flow through timely credits. It also positions you to manage any ATO review with confidence.

Clarity

GST rules can be dense and contradictory. We give you certainty by explaining how they apply to your business as a whole, then documenting a practical position you can rely on.

Compliance

ATO disputes rarely start with fraud, they start with inconsistency. We make sure your contracts, invoices and records all line up so your GST position is less likely to be challenged.

Cash Flow

Correct GST treatment maximises input tax credits, avoids settlement delays, and prevents nasty surprises like unexpected repayments.

Audit Defence

If the ATO reviews your GST, we take the lead, frame a clear position with evidence and work toward a fast, fair resolution that protects your business.

We're here to make GST simple

Tell us your transactions, structure and goals. We set a defensible GST position, fix issues quickly and provide clear, practical guidance your team can apply with confidence.

Why choose us for your GST matter?

When GST issues arise, you need more than technical knowledge – you need advice that keeps your business moving. We combine legal precision with commercial insight to deliver practical outcomes that stand up under scrutiny.

Practical Strategies

We give clear, practical guidance on registrations, taxable supplies, GST-free supplies, input taxed supplies and input tax credits. We anticipate ATO positions and turn the rules into actionable steps that work in practice.

Proven Results

We steer clients through ATO reviews, resolved BAS errors and kept property and business deals on schedule. The result is fewer liabilities, less stress and transactions that settle without surprises.

Tailored Solutions

Every business has its own systems, contracts, and supply chains. We take the time to understand yours, then craft GST treatments and documentation that fit seamlessly and stand up under review.

Cost Effective Approach

Effective advice doesn’t need to be expensive. We focus on what makes the biggest difference, keep our drafting lean and scope issues clearly from the start.

Client Testimonials

After receiving tax advice from Axe Legal for myself and my business, I am confident that Boris is able to address any technical tax matter quickly and thoroughly. During the initial consultation, Boris wanted to understand my circumstances so that he could provide me with tax advice that I could understand and implement. To say that I am happy with his advice is an understatement. I am so glad I engaged Axe Legal and would gladly recommend them to anyone facing tax issues.

I contacted Axe Legal after the ATO questioned a large GST refund on a property development. Boris immediately identified where the ATO’s concern stemmed from and prepared a clear submission that resolved the review within weeks. I was impressed by how calm and in control the team were throughout what could have been a stressful audit.

When selling my business, Stefan advised that the sale could qualify as a GST-free going concern. He reviewed our contracts and ensured the documentation met the ATO’s strict requirements. The deal settled smoothly and I saved thousands in unnecessary GST. Axe Legal made a complex process simple.

We realised that our BAS had been incorrectly reporting mixed use property supplies for over a year. Stefan reviewed our records, explained the correct GST apportionment method and prepared a voluntary disclosure that minimised penalties. The ATO accepted it without issue. I’m very grateful for the clarity and efficiency of their advice.

As a builder, I’d received conflicting advice about GST on residential versus commercial projects. Stefan walked me through the difference and updated our contracts so we could avoid future errors. The team’s practical approach and deep knowledge of construction industry GST rules were invaluable.

Axe Legal helped my company respond to an ATO GST review that had dragged on for months. Boris consolidated all the correspondence, corrected several small errors and negotiated a quick resolution with no penalties. His professionalism and attention to detail saved me from what could have been a long dispute.