“ Everyone gets the experience. Some get the lesson.
— T. S. Eliot, born in 1888
If we design workplaces that permit people to find meaning in their work, we will be designing a human nature that values work,”psychologist Barry Schwartz wrote in his inquiry into what motivates us to work. But human nature itself is a moody beast. “Given the smallest excuse, one will not work at all,” John Steinbeck lamented in his diary of the creative process as he labored over the novel that would soon earn him the Pulitzer
GOVDXP, which will eventually replace the existing myGov digital services platform, aims to give citizens a single, personalised view of all their actions with government.
Peter Kay, the brother-in-law of colourful Sydney construction identity George Alex, has been charged over the alleged $20 million tax fraud and money laundering scheme run by Mr Alex and jailed crime figure Michael Ibrahim.
Mr Kay, 54, who is married to Mr Alex’s sister Athina, is the 14th person to be arrested in relation to the alleged scheme
Source: GCN
https://gcn.com/articles/2021/09/17/irs-cryptowallet.aspx
Law Review Article Describes Private Equity as Bargaining Failure, Indictment of Law and Economics Fetishization of Contracts
An important new paper puts another big chink in private equity’s armor.
Last week two men were extradited from Dubai to Australia accused of importing tonnes of methamphetamine and MDMA worth hundred of millions of dollars into Australia in shipping containers.
Further disturbing details have recently emerged which link a major drug syndicate with Australian authorities.
According to a police statement of facts the investigation which involved the NSW police, Australian Federal Police and the NSW Crime Commission also revealed links between organised crime and the Australian Tax office.
It is alleged by NSW Police that a member of the international drug syndicate allegedly tried to launder money to the value of $150,000 via a compliance officer at the Australian Tax Office in Sydney.
Australia: Links between major drug syndicate and the Australian Tax Office in New South Wales
Last week, NSW Police trumpeted the extradition from Dubai of Battah, 36, and co-accused Benjamin Neil Pitt, 38, who left Australia 10 days before Battah, as alleged key figures in a major drug importation and distribution network
One syndicate member allegedly attempted a money laundering cash drop valued at $150,000 to a cash collector employed as a senior compliance officer at the ATO outside the tax office headquarters in Sydney as the pair headed for the lifts that would take them inside. Arresting police stopped them both.
Sparky and Gangster: inside the rise and fall of a major drug syndicate
As Kurtulmus waited on Goulburn Street in central Sydney, a man with ATO photo ID attached to a lanyard around his neck emerged from the office tower holding a manila folder.
He approached and greeted Kurtulmus.
But rather than heading to an out-of-the-way location, police alleged that the ATO employee, dubbed MS03 by police, had arranged for the meeting to be held, incredibly, at "my place" - in the inner sanctum of the ATO.
"I'll book a room in the office," he had messaged Kurtulmus the day before.
Drug ring’s $150k cash drop’ at Australian Tax Office
Ivermectin Research Has a Big Fraud Problem, Scientists Say
COVID - Heartbreaking plea from ICU nurse: 'Bodies are piling up'
POLITICS Moderna CEO Predicts End Of COVID-19 Pandemic Within A Year
Until 25 March 2015 or further order of the Court, the respondent be restrained, by himself or through any employee, agent or delegate of the respondent, from making any future use, or taking any future action on the basis of: any documents (including copies and electronic versions thereof) relating to the applicant, or any entity in relation to which the applicant is a related entity within the meaning of s 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), provided by Simeon Moore to the respondent or any employee, agent or delegate of the respondent; or any of the information contained therein, including (without limitation) for the purpose of:
Melbourne riots shake public trust in reliability of mainstream media
There is strong evidence that Melbourne’s four days of street riots by angry young men claiming to be construction workers were fomented by right-wing extremists who used social media to radicalise unemployed or locked-down young men. They look to have modelled themselves on Trump supporters storming the Capitol.
Article on German Wealthy Renewed Interest in Swiss Financial Institutions Because of Potential Tax Increase (9/26/21)
This is an interesting phenomenon about German wealthy fearing higher taxes to try to move and hide assets (and related taxable income). See Oliver Hurt, German millionaires rush assets to Switzerland ahead of election (Reuters 9/24/21), here.
Some excerpts:
ZURICH, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A potential lurch to the left in Germany's election on Sunday is scaring millionaires into moving assets into Switzerland, bankers and tax lawyers say.
If the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), hard-left Linke and environmentalist Greens come to power, the reintroduction of a wealth tax and a tightening of inheritance tax could be on the political agenda.
"For the super-rich, this is red hot," said a German-based tax lawyer with extensive Swiss operations. "Entrepreneurial families are highly alarmed."
The move shows how many rich people still see Switzerland as an attractive place to park ealth, despite its efforts to abolish its image as a billionaires' safe haven.
* * *
The SPD wants to reintroduce a wealth tax and increase inheritance tax, while the Greens - a likely potential coalition partner - plan to tax fortunes more heavily. Although both envision raising income tax for top earners, a tax on assets would raise much more money, the tax lawyer said.
He was seeing increased demand for advice from clients, he said, noting some entrepreneurs had sought to protect themselves by making new investments through a company in Switzerland or transferring assets to a foundation in Liechtenstein.
Simply transferring cash to a Swiss bank account, on the other hand, no longer helps. Under immense international pressure, the Swiss now share such account data with tax authorities in clients' home countries.
"Switzerland as a financial centre is characterized by stability, legal security and a high level of financial competence. However, it does not offer any protection against tax evasion," said a spokesperson for the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF).
Some questions
2. Is there a similar phenomenon among U.S. taxpayers to continue to try to exploit whatever benefit they now perceive in Swiss financial institutions are a place for their wealth?
New York Post, Biden Could Owe As Much As $500K in Back Taxes, Government Report Indicates:
Republicans say a new nonpartisan report indicates President Biden improperly avoided paying Medicare taxes before he took office — raising eyebrows and the possibility that he owes the IRS as much as $500,000 in back taxes. ...
A House Ways and Means Committee draft of the bill would end the accounting trick apparently exploited by Biden and boost IRS funding for audits — but the new report, drafted by the Congressional Research Service and provided to The Post, suggests Biden owes taxes under current rules, according to the congressman who requested it.
“Joe Biden wants to raise taxes by $2.1 trillion while claiming the rich need to pay their ‘fair share.’ But in 2017, multimillionaire Joe Biden skirted his payroll taxes — the very taxes that fund Medicare and ObamaCare,” said Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee. ...
Banks said the report shows Biden improperly used “S corporations” to avoid paying Medicare tax on speaking fees and book sales in 2017 and 2018.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden routed more than $13 million through S corporations and counted less than $800,000 of it as salary eligible for the Medicare tax — exempting the rest from what would have been a 3.8 percent rate, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Dealing with community despair in the time of Covid
As the public health measures work to suppress the pandemic, community relations and connections are at risk. A sense of community, togetherness and mutual support is needed, now and in the long-term.