EXCLUSIVE
On March 27, 2018 Andrew Watson, Scheme Administrator for the Black Saturday class action law firm Maurice Blackburn filed proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia as litigants for the ongoing tax dispute with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
If successful there will be a second distribution to Kilmore East – Kinglake and Murrindindi – Marysville Bushfire Class Action participants. The amounts are likely to be less then three per cent of amounts previously paid.
“Until the Federal Court makes a decision, it is impossible to calculate how much you might receive if there is a further distribution.
“Be aware that because the amount in dispute is a very small proportion of the total settlement sum, the amounts involved in any potential second distribution are likely to be comparatively small (probably less than three per cent of amounts previously distributed),” Watson said.
Maurice Blackburn advised the court regarding a dispute between the Black Saturday Scheme Administrator and the ATO about taxation treatment of interest earned on settlement monies.
“The Scheme Administrator was working closely with our tax lawyers and the ATO to resolve the issue, but that litigation might be necessary,” Watson said.
The Federal Court proceedings will use one tax year in the Murrindindi Bushfire Class Action as a test case to resolve and clarify issues in dispute.
The Court has listed the proceedings for a case management hearing in early June and Maurice Blackburn tax lawyers are preparing the case.
Class action participants will not be required to be directly involved in the case and participants can contact the Bushfire Class Action information line on 1800 99 55 70.
