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- The 30% minimum tax on trusts options explained
Who and what is impacted? How does the minimum tax work? The 30% minimum tax will apply to the net income of discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028. From this point forward, where the tax on the relevant net income of the trust falls below 30% in a given income year, the tax payable is ‘topped up’ to 30%. Non-corporate beneficiaries will be entitled to a non-refundable tax offset where the minimum tax has been paid on their share. Any rebates the beneficiary is entitled to cannot reduce the 30% minimum tax. To ensure that franked distributions cannot ‘flow-through’ to beneficiaries, trustees that receive franked dividends will be required to use franking credits when paying the minimum tax. Any excess franking credits can be claimed as a refund. This means the trustee will include the franking credits in its assessable income and claim the franking credits as an offset to reduce its minimum tax. Any excess franking credits will be refunded to the trustee. For example, if the trustee has $1,000 net income, including a $400 franking credit, the trustee’s minimum tax is $300, which can be reduced by offsetting against the $400 franking credit. The excess franking credit of $100 will be refunded to the trustee. If a non-corporate beneficiary is presently entitled to 100% of the trust income, the beneficiary can claim a non-refundable tax offset of $300, being the minimum tax paid by the trustee to reduce their income tax liability. The beneficiary is not entitled to any franking credit attached to the dividend. What trust structures are impacted? Not all discretionary trusts are impacted by the impending rules. The legislation introduces a new concept of a “minimum tax trust”. This is a discretionary trust that is not: a fixed trust a special disability trust the trust estate of a deceased person a complying superannuation entity (including SMSFs) or a trust determined by the Government in the future (by legislative instrument). A series of other types of trusts by their nature are not minimum tax trusts. These include widely held trusts such as MITS and AMITS, CCIVs and CCIV sub-funds, exempt entities such as charitable trusts, bare trusts because they will now fall within the new definition of a fixed trust[i], and employee share trusts and worker entitlement funds. Not all trust income is included Not all income of a minimum tax trust is included in the calculation of net income. The minimum tax will not apply to: taxable primary production income; amounts subject to non-resident withholding tax; And, where certain conditions are met[ii]: a minor’s proportionate share of income of the trust estate; a registered charity’s, DGR’s or exempt entity’s proportionate share of income of the trust estate; income of a testamentary trust. Any trust capital gains included in the net income distribution can also be excluded from the minimum tax where the above exclusions apply. The three options for trustees There are three options for Trustees impacted by the changes: Do nothing and accept a minimum 30% tax rate – if you want to keep the flexibility and the tax is inconsequential; Put in place a one-off election in the 2028-29 income year fixing beneficiaries and their income and capital entitlements – if you distribute to the same beneficiaries; or Utilise the temporary rollover relief provisions and restructure by 30 June 2030 – if the current structure is no longer fit for purpose. 1. The one-off election option The minimum 30% tax will not apply if the trustee elects to nominate the beneficiaries it intends to distribute to. This excluded election trust (EET) nomination sets out: Each beneficiary the trustee intends to make presently entitled to a share of the income and capital of the trust in each year of income. Must be an eligible beneficiary, as defined under the trust deed as at 1 July 2028. Be consistent with any other elections in place, i.e., family trust elections interposed entity elections. A company or another trust can be a beneficiary as long as it existed prior to 1 July 2028, is an object of the trust deed (i.e., no super funds or partnerships), and there are no material discretionary elements affecting the rights or interests of the company’s members. the relevant percentage share for each beneficiary (totalling 100%) of the income and the capital (i.e. cannot allocate 100% of the income to one beneficiary and 100% of the capital to another). No percentage can be retained by the trust. In effect, you specify who/what and how much of the income and capital of the trust the beneficiary is entitled to. Once in place, the election cannot be changed unless a beneficiary dies, there is a family breakdown or the election is revoked. There is no provision for new children or a marriage. The controls on the election are stringent: the election can only be made once and must be in place by 30 June 2029 (notified by the earlier of the due date of the trusts tax return or the lodgement of the return), nominees can only change on a beneficiary's death (share is reallocated to existing beneficiaries or beneficiaries of the deceased estate) or a family breakdown (court order or enforceable agreement), if the trustee distributes inconsistently to the election, it is automatically revoked, and If a company nominated as a beneficiary is wound up, deregistered or the shareholders change (other than death or divorce), the election is automatically revoked. If revoked, either deliberately or by default, the trustee will be taxed at 47% on the net income in the income year in which the election is revoked, with the 30% minimum tax applying in future years. The trustee can choose the election or rollover relief, not both. For example, if the trustee chooses to put an election in place and then decides that the election is not workable, they cannot then access the transitional rollover relief. The only remaining options would be to pay the minimum tax, or the trust vests or is wound up. Before an EET is made, there are some legal issues to consider including whether the trust deed allows the trustee to fix the beneficiaries’ entitlements to income and capital, and the implications of doing so for the trust and its beneficiaries as a whole. 2. Rollover relief for restructuring out of a discretionary trust For some, a discretionary trust will no longer be fit for purpose come 1 July 2028. In these cases, the transitional rollover relief enables trustees to restructure from a discretionary trust into another structure without triggering the income and capital gains tax consequences that would otherwise arise. Assuming the trust deed allows it, the rollover relief applies where both the transferor and transferee have chosen to apply the rollover and: All relevant assets are held and transferred by an entity in its capacity as trustee; the asset is transferred to an eligible transferee such as a company, individual, partnership (with some special rules at partnership level) or another trust that is not a minimum tax trust (no super funds or exempt entities). Continuity must be maintained between the transferor and transferee; there are no material discretionary elements that affect the rights or interests of the members of the transferee; and the transferor and transferee satisfy the residency requirements. Trustees of a minimum tax trust have until 30 June 2030 to complete the rollover. If the conditions are met and the rollover completed within the timeframes, the transfer has no direct consequences under the income tax law, and the transferee generally inherits the transferor’s tax cost and the relevant tax history for the assets. Some assets are excluded and do not have to be rolled out of the trust. These include those not capable of transfer (e.g. carried forward tax losses), a CGT asset used to generate primary production income, and assets used to discharge any liabilities (debts, tax, rights of indemnity or reimbursement for liabilities, and if winding up, any expenses required to cover the cost of the wind-up). The notification for rollover relief is made to the Commissioner each income year where the restructure occurs over more than one income years (prior to the earlier of the due date of the return or the income tax lodgement of the transferee and transferor). The Commissioner is also notified if the transfer is in progress across income years. Next steps While the proposed changes to the taxation of discretionary trusts, including the 30% minimum tax, EET and transitional rollover relief, are in exposure draft form, it’s essential to plan ahead. Identify trusts potentially affected by the new rules, including reviewing the current group entities and structures. Review the trust deeds and seek professional advice, in particular if an EET is being considered. Identify the potential beneficiaries and assess the medium to long-term implications of an EET, including any potential changes to the beneficiaries’ circumstances. Assess an appropriate transferee structure if the restructuring rollover is being considered, having regard to your broader commercial, tax and succession objectives. We will continue to monitor the development of the legislation and provide updates to assist you in making an informed decision. If you need assistance, Collins Hume's tax specialists can assist by clarifying the issues, options and your go forward position. [i] Under the new definition, the trust is a fixed trust where: the trust’s beneficiaries have fixed entitlements to all of the income and capital of the trust; or there are no material discretionary elements affecting the entitlements or rights of the trust’s beneficiaries. Further details are provided in the explanatory materials. [ii] See the explanatory materials for full details on the criteria. The criteria are consistent with existing principles.
- Don’t let a formula decide when your business created its value
If you may sell your business after 1 July 2027, the value established at that date could materially affect how a future capital gain is divided and taxed. Under the new capital gains tax rules, gains accruing before 1 July 2027 will remain under the existing CGT discount regime, if eligible. For affected taxpayers, gains accruing from that date will be subject to cost base indexation and a minimum 30% tax rate, subject to applicable exemptions and concessions. For business owners, this makes 1 July 2027 an important dividing line. Establishing a defensible market value at the transition date can provide a stronger basis for separating the value already created from future capital growth. Leaving that exercise until the business is sold may mean relying on Treasury’s proposed apportionment formula or attempting to reconstruct the business’s former position years later. Why Treasury’s formula may not reflect your business The proposed formula is intended as an alternative to obtaining a formal market valuation for property and assets without a readily ascertainable market value, including interests in private businesses. As currently drafted, it estimates value at the end of 30 June 2027 by assuming the asset grew at a compounded daily rate across the entire ownership period. Important parts of the calculation are also driven by the original acquisition cost rather than necessarily reflecting the owner’s full economic investment. Businesses rarely grow in such a smooth or predictable way. Value may change sharply following: A major contract win or loss The launch of a new product or service An acquisition or restructure Investment in systems, staff or intellectual property Improved profitability or recurring revenue The loss of a key person or customer Changes in the industry or competitive environment A formula calculated at the time of a future sale may allocate growth across the ownership period in a way that does not reflect when the value was actually created. Depending on the circumstances, this could produce a better or worse tax result. The concern is that the formula – not the commercial history of the business – may determine how much growth is attributed to each CGT regime. Establish the 1 July 2027 position while the evidence is current A professional business valuation prepared as at the transition date can capture the factors influencing the business at that time, including: Maintainable earnings and cash flow Customer and supplier concentration Key-person reliance Management capability and business systems Contracts and recurring revenue Intellectual property and goodwill Industry conditions Identifiable risks and growth prospects The valuation does not necessarily need to be commissioned on 1 July 2027. A retrospective valuation may be prepared when the business is eventually sold. However, the longer owners wait, the harder it may become to recreate an accurate picture. Management accounts may be archived or lost. Contracts may expire. Employees may leave. Systems may change. Later success can also make it difficult to separate what was genuinely known or achievable at the transition date from opportunities developed afterwards. Preparing now allows owners to preserve the financial records, forecasts, contracts, board papers, customer information and commercial evidence required to support a future valuation. A stronger basis for future CGT planning Consider a business that experienced substantial growth before 1 July 2027 following years of investment, improved systems and major contract wins. Its performance then stabilises before the owners sell several years later. Treasury’s formula may assume the value grew continuously throughout the entire ownership period. This could attribute some of the earlier commercial growth to the post-2027 period, even though the value had already been created by the transition date. A defensible market valuation can provide evidence of the business’s actual position at that date. This does not guarantee a lower tax bill. In some circumstances, Treasury’s formula may produce the more favourable result. Establishing the transition-date value gives owners and their advisers a stronger basis for comparing the available outcomes instead of discovering the issue only after a buyer appears, or a decision to transition ownership emerges. It may also support earlier decisions about: The timing and structure of a future sale Succession or ownership changes Eligibility for small business CGT concessions Business improvements that could increase future value The records needed to support the eventual tax position Prepare now (not when the sale is underway) A future business sale or transition of ownership is likely to involve due diligence, negotiations and significant commercial decisions. Reconstructing the business’s value as at 1 July 2027 should not become another urgent task during that process. Establish your 1 July 2027 asset cost base while the evidence is current The CGT reforms are coming. If you leave your business valuation until a future sale, important financial and commercial evidence may be difficult to reconstruct, and Treasury’s proposed apportionment formula may not reflect when your business created its value. Strategy360’s Business Position Assessment provides a structured, cost-effective way to document your business’s financial performance, risks and value drivers, supporting a defensible valuation position for future CGT purposes. Whether you are a Collins Hume client or not, our Business Valuation Specialists can help you prepare for the transition date, establish your business value and preserve the evidence needed to support future CGT planning. We also work with accountants, advisers and property valuers who require specialist business valuation expertise for their clients. Talk with Strategy360 about preparing your 1 July 2027 asset cost base now. View our factsheet Important: The first stage of the CGT reforms has become law, but the detailed apportionment method discussed above remains in exposure draft at the date of publication and may change. This article provides general information only. Obtain professional tax and valuation advice for your circumstances. Further reading Australian Treasury, Capital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing – Tranche 2 Legislation Australian Financial Review (19 August 2026), Inside Treasury’s nine-step CGT formula: are you set to win or lose?
- NSW Government Small Business Advisory program
Free and independent advice to help small business owners move forward with confidence. NSW small business owners can now access up to four hours of free, independent business advice each financial year through the Service NSW Small Business Advisory program. The program is designed to help people who are thinking about starting a business, owners already running a business or business owners planning for change. Eligible businesses can receive advice in person, online or over the phone. What small business support is available? The Small Business Advisory program provides access to independent business advisors with experience running a small business, together with workshops, webinars, networking opportunities and online learning resources. Eligible businesses can access up to four hours of advice each financial year across areas including: business planning marketing finance staffing digital skills artificial intelligence (AI). For micro and smaller businesses in particular, the program provides an opportunity to bring a business issue or idea to an experienced advisor and experience first-hand the benefits that external advice can bring. Appointments can be managed through a self-service booking system. Who can access the program? You may be eligible if you own or operate a small business in NSW or are thinking about starting one. Eligibility requirements apply. Explore the Small Business Advisory program website to find an advisor, book free business advice, register for workshops, networking events and webinars, or access practical online resources and tools to help build your business skills: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/small-business-advisory-program How Strategy360 By Collins Hume helps Northern Rivers small business Strategy360 are Business Valuation Specialists who work with business owners to grow earnings and business value by creating clarity around profit, cash flow, growth opportunities and business risk. Thinking about the value of your business or how to improve it? Contact the Strategy360 team to discuss your circumstances and the options available to you.
Other Pages (22)
- Fact Sheets | Collins Hume | Ballina & Byron Bay
Collins Hume | We have one focus — YOU —with us, you'll be looking way beyond the traditional horizons most accountants are restricted to. Welcome to Collins Hume (Flipbook) TAX PREPARATION FEES GUIDE Capital Gains Reform Now Law Factsheet Payday Super FAQs for Business Owners Payday Super Readiness Checklist Payday Super 2026-2027 Federal Budget Report Individual Tax Return Preparation Checklist Property Investors Tax Return Checklist Is It Tax Deductible? Tax Deduction Checklist Tax Items to Consider Deduction substantiation requirements ATO Crackdown on Late BAS Lodgement Rental Property Tax Deductions (ATO Factsheet) FBT01 What You Need to Know About 2025 FBT FBT13 Should you lodge an FBT return? FBT14 Potential FBT Audits FBT15 What is a car fringe benefit? FBT16 Providing cars to employees FBT17 Entertaining, meals and FBT FBT18 Minor and infrequent benefits exemptions FBT20 Workhorse Vehicles Client to Agent linking_Online Services for Business already set up Client to Agent linking_Online Services for Business not set up Achieve Ultimate Financial Freedom
- Accountants | Ballina & Byron Bay
Collins Hume | YOU. That’s all we focus on. You, your family, your wealth and the legacy you (and we) leave. That’s it. Join us on this amazing journey. YOU. That’s all we focus on. You, your family, your wealth, your business and the legacy you (and we) leave. That’s it. Join us on this amazing journey. Let's Begin NEWS. 1 2 3 4 5 Our purpose is to inspire business owners to achieve success in powerful and meaningful ways. Giving. Always give more than we receive. Inspiring. Today and every day, we will inspire others to achieve their best. Caring. We care for our team, clients and everyone we connect with. Lifestyle. We work to live, not live to work. Make it enjoyable and meaningful in every way.
- Privacy | Collins Hume
Collins Hume | We have one focus — YOU —with us, you'll be looking way beyond the traditional horizons most accountants are restricted to. PRIVACY. INTRODUCTION Collins Hume recognises the importance of safeguarding the information entrusted to us by clients and others who engage with our business. As an accounting and professional services business, we may receive and hold information about individuals in connection with the services we deliver, our day-to-day operations, recruitment, supplier relationships, enquiries and use of our website. This Privacy Policy outlines the approach we take to managing that information, including the circumstances in which it may be obtained, used, shared, retained, accessed or corrected. Collins Hume is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), which establish requirements for the management of personal information by organisations in Australia. For the purposes of this Policy, references to “Collins Hume”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean Collins Hume and any related entities that are covered by this Policy. This Policy is relevant to individuals whose personal information is held by Collins Hume, including clients, prospective clients, employees, contractors, job applicants, suppliers, professional contacts and other people who interact with the business. Additional information about privacy may also be provided at the time information is collected or in connection with a particular service or activity. Any such notice should be considered together with this Policy. HOW WE COLLECT, HOLD, USE AND MANAGE PERSONAL INFORMATION What personal information do we collect and hold? We collect and hold personal information where it is reasonably necessary for us to provide accounting, taxation, advisory and related professional services, operate our business, manage relationships with clients and suppliers, and meet our legal and professional obligations. The types of personal information we may collect include: name, residential and postal address, telephone number and email address; date and place of birth; employment information and organisational role; financial information; bank account details; tax returns, tax file numbers and other taxation information; credit information; information provided in connection with accounting, taxation, advisory or other professional services; information relating to prospective employees, employees and contractors; information obtained through enquiries, events, business development activities or communications with us; and any other personal information reasonably required for us to provide our services or conduct our business. We may collect sensitive information where it is reasonably necessary for the services we provide, including where it is required to complete an application, verification or compliance process with a third party. Depending on the circumstances, this may include health information, information about religious beliefs or affiliations, political opinions, or membership of professional associations or trade unions. We will only collect sensitive information with the individual’s consent, unless the collection is otherwise authorised or required by law. We will not collect or use sensitive information for purposes unrelated to the services we provide. How do we collect personal information? Where practicable, we collect personal information directly from the individual concerned. Information may be provided to us through: meetings and discussions with our team; telephone calls and email correspondence; forms, questionnaires and other documents; our website, online portals and other electronic systems; accounting, taxation and financial records supplied to us; seminars, events and other business activities; and applications for employment or engagement as a contractor. We may also obtain personal information from other sources where this is appropriate, including: clients who provide information about other individuals in connection with services we are performing; government departments and agencies, including the Australian Taxation Office; professional advisers, referral partners and other service providers; suppliers and technology providers; recruitment, reference, background checking and screening providers; publicly available records and databases; and other third parties authorised to provide information to us. Where a client or other person provides us with personal information about another individual, we expect that they are authorised to provide that information to us. If information reasonably required for a service is not provided, we may be unable to provide some or all of the requested services. How do we hold and protect personal information? Personal information may be held in electronic or physical form, including: within our offices and secure filing systems; on secure servers and cloud-based systems; within accounting, taxation, document management and client management systems; through secure client portals; by authorised technology and data storage providers; by authorised overseas service providers where required to support our business operations or deliver services; and within other systems used to operate our business and deliver our services. We maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. These measures may include: controlled access to our premises; individual user accounts and access permissions; passwords, multi-factor authentication and other security controls; secure servers, cloud environments and client portals; monitoring and audit trails relating to system and document access; secure handling and storage of confidential documentation; data loss prevention and other information-security controls; monitoring designed to identify malicious, fraudulent or suspicious electronic communications; employee privacy and information-security training; supervision of employees who regularly handle confidential or personal information; procedures for identifying and responding to privacy incidents and complaints; and oversight of privacy compliance within the business. Access to personal information is limited to people who require it for legitimate business, professional or regulatory purposes. Why do we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information? We generally collect, hold, use and disclose personal information so that we can provide accounting, taxation, advisory and other professional services and properly manage our relationship with clients. We may also use or disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to: perform our obligations under client engagement terms and other agreements; respond to enquiries, requests and instructions; communicate with clients, prospective clients and other business contacts; administer client matters and maintain client records; verify identity and undertake client acceptance and due diligence procedures; satisfy taxation, regulatory, professional and legal requirements; undertake anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, know-your-client, sanctions or other screening activities where applicable; process invoices, manage accounts and recover outstanding amounts; conduct internal reporting, risk management and business administration; undertake quality assurance reviews, professional supervision, training and improvement activities; develop, assess and improve our methodologies, systems, technology, products and services; undertake research, benchmarking and internal analysis using information in a manner permitted by law; protect our systems, information, personnel, clients and business from fraud, cyber threats, unauthorised access and other security risks; recruit employees and contractors and manage employment or contractor relationships; communicate information about services, developments or events that may be relevant to clients and business contacts; manage a sale, acquisition, merger, restructure or transfer of all or part of our business or assets; and comply with any other obligation or purpose permitted or required by law, regulation, professional standard or applicable rule. Where appropriate, information may be aggregated or de-identified for internal analysis, research, service improvement or other legitimate business purposes. Who may we disclose personal information to? We may disclose personal information to third parties where reasonably necessary to provide our services, operate our business or meet our legal and professional obligations. These third parties may include: the Australian Taxation Office and other government or regulatory bodies; professional advisers, including lawyers and consultants; external auditors and quality reviewers; insurers; banks and payment service providers; technology, software, cloud, cybersecurity and data storage providers; identity verification, background checking and screening providers; debt recovery and credit management providers; document storage, mailing and administrative service providers; event, travel and other business service providers; recruitment providers; referral partners and other professional service providers; contractors, consultants and outsourced service providers engaged to assist us in providing services; and other parties where disclosure is authorised or required by law. In some circumstances, external service providers may have access to personal information while performing services for us. We take reasonable steps to ensure those providers handle personal information appropriately and only for the purposes for which access is provided. Where identity verification or regulatory screening is required, limited personal information may be provided to an external verification provider or other authorised organisation for the purpose of confirming identity or satisfying legal and regulatory obligations. Such information is not provided for the purpose of assessing an individual's creditworthiness unless that is separately authorised or required. Where personal information is disclosed to an overseas service provider or offshore resource, we take reasonable steps to manage that disclosure in accordance with applicable privacy requirements. Managing personal information We maintain internal processes designed to support appropriate handling of personal information at all stages of its use and management. This includes: monitoring compliance with our privacy obligations; maintaining processes for responding to privacy enquiries and complaints; reviewing access to systems containing personal information; providing ongoing privacy and information-security training; applying confidentiality requirements to employees, contractors and service providers; reviewing the suitability and security of third-party service providers; maintaining incident response and data breach procedures; and reviewing our information-management practices as our business, technology and regulatory obligations change. Where personal information is no longer required for a permitted purpose and we are not required to retain it by law or professional obligation, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy it or permanently de-identify it. Anonymity and pseudonyms In some circumstances, individuals may be able to interact with us anonymously or by using a pseudonym. However, because of the nature of accounting, taxation and financial services, we will often be required to establish or verify an individual's identity before providing services. This may arise from taxation laws, professional standards, regulatory requirements or the nature of the engagement itself. Where an individual wishes to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym, they should raise this with us at the earliest opportunity so that we can determine whether this is practicable in the circumstances. Professional obligations As an accounting and professional services business, we are also subject to legal, regulatory and professional obligations that may affect how we collect, retain, use or disclose personal information. These requirements may include obligations relating to taxation, record keeping, professional standards, client identification, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements, confidentiality and regulatory reporting. Marketing Information We may use personal information we hold about clients, prospective clients and business contacts to provide information about our services, updates, events and other matters we consider may be relevant or of interest. Personal information used for these purposes may be obtained through our existing or previous dealings with you, enquiries made to the business, or through your attendance at or participation in business events. We will only use personal information for direct marketing where permitted by applicable privacy laws. We do not use sensitive information for marketing purposes without consent. Marketing communications sent electronically will include a clear and simple way to unsubscribe. You may also ask us at any time to stop sending you marketing communications by contacting our Privacy Officer. We will action your request and cease using your personal information for direct marketing in accordance with applicable requirements. Disclosure of information outside of Australia We may disclose personal information to overseas service providers, including service providers located in India and other locations from time to time, who assist us in operating our business and delivering services to our clients. Where personal information is disclosed outside Australia, we take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients are subject to appropriate privacy, confidentiality and information security obligations and handle personal information consistently with applicable Australian privacy requirements. We remain committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of personal information disclosed overseas and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are maintained. How we manage your credit information In the course of providing accounting or financial services, we may collect and hold the following kinds of credit information: a. your identification information; b. information about any credit that has been provided to you; c. your repayment history; d. information about your overdue payments; e. if terms and conditions of your credit arrangements are varied; f. if any court proceedings are initiated against you in relation to your credit activities; g. information about any bankruptcy or debt agreements involving you; h. any publicly available information about your credit worthiness; and i. any information about you where you may have fraudulently or otherwise committed a serious credit infringement. Where relevant to services we provide, we may collect credit information and personal information from credit reporting bodies. We may also collect personal information from other credit providers that collect information. Generally, we will only collect credit information where it is disclosed to us and is relevant in providing accounting or financial services. We may also collect the credit information to process payments. Access and corrections to credit information, or for complaints about a breach or suspected breach of privacy contact our Privacy Officer. ACCESS AND CORRECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION You may request access to personal information we hold about you or ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. Requests should be directed to our Privacy Officer using the contact details below. We may need to verify your identity before providing access to personal information or making a correction. We will respond to requests within a reasonable period and provide access as soon as reasonably practicable, subject to the circumstances of the request and any applicable legal or professional obligations. We may refuse access where permitted by law, including where the request is unreasonable, access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of another person, access would pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of an individual or to public health or safety, access would compromise our professional obligations, or where another legal basis for refusal applies. Where access is refused, we will provide reasons where required by law and advise of any available complaint options. We may charge a reasonable fee for costs incurred in providing access to personal information. Any applicable fee will be advised before it is incurred. Where personal information we hold is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, we will take reasonable steps to correct it where appropriate. COMPLAINTS We are committed to providing high-quality professional services and responding appropriately to the needs and concerns of our clients including when dealing with privacy complaints. Submission of a complaint about an alleged privacy breach can be made to our Privacy Officer. Complaints should preferably be submitted in writing to help ensure that all relevant information is complete and accurately recorded. To review a complaint, the following information must be included: Name and contact details; Nature of your relationship with us; Details of the complaint; Relevant dates; People involved; and Any supporting information. Response to a complaint will be made within 30 days, or in the event there is a delay a notification will be made clarifying the reason for the delayed response. When the review of a complaint has been completed a response will be provided and, where appropriate, advise of any available escalation or review options. While we hope to be able to resolve complaints received without needing third party involvement, if the outcome of any complaint is not satisfactory, complaints can be referred to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. PRIVACY OFFICER Naomi Monk mail@collinshume.com.au PO Box 731, Ballina NSW 2478 (02) 6686 3000 EFFECT OF POLICY Collins Hume may revise this Policy where necessary to account for changes in legal requirements, professional obligations, business operations or the way in which information is managed. We may update, modify or remove this policy at any time without prior notice. Any changes to the privacy policy will be published on our website.





