Students are to prepare an academic paper addressing one of the topics below (it must be the same topic that you chose for the draft introduction and reference list). Students should research...

Students are to prepare an
academic paper
addressing one of the topics below (it must be the
same topic
that you chose for the draft introduction and reference list).

Students should research extensively and reference relevant legislation, case law and journals to support their conclusions. This referencing should be done via
footnotes. A student’s paper should also contain a
reference list. The footnotes and bibliography should be done in accordance with the Style Guide as provided by your lecturer – which is the
Chicago style. The paper should be of
1,500 to
2,000 words
(footnotes and reference list are not included in the word count); and is worth
35%.

1. 
   “Trusts – a viable business form for SMEs or just tax avoidance”.
   Australia is unique compared to other countries in terms of the use of trusts for commercial operations. In particular, a large percentage of trusts are used to conduct micro businesses (turnover less $2M). Some consider that the use of trusts in such operations is purely tax driven, while others point to valid commercial considerations (see:
   http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2224405
   and
   http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P428%20Trusts%20and%20Tax%20Avoidance%20-%20Richardson%20-%20FINAL_0.pdf).
   In an academic paper:
   




1. Provide data about the current utilisation of trusts for business operations in Australia – particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).


2. 
   Outline some of the issues that can face SMEs and consider whether the use of trusts assists or hinders in addressing these issues.


3. 
   Consider is there any evidence to support either contention (tax avoidance or valid commercial reasons) for the use of trusts by Australian SMEs.


4. 
   Provide conclusions and recommendations about the commercial use of trusts by Australian SMEs. These journals will be of use to you when you are searching for quality references (e.g. peer reviewed articles) for use in your assignments.


5. 
   
   
   
   • 
     Journal of Australian Taxation
     
   
   
   • 
     Australian Tax Forum
     
   
   
   • 
     Australian Tax Review
     
   
   
   • 
     eJournal of Tax Research
     
   
   
   • 
     Journal of Australasian Tax Teachers Association
     
   
   
   • 
     Revenue Law Journal
     
   
   
   
   

   N.B. These journals can also be accessed via the Readings area in the course menu.