Business advice
and accounting

Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

Your partners for Business Service and Advisory, Taxation, Audit, Fraud and Risk.

Whatever your business, industry or family office, from local or international institutions we bring extensive expertise.

We're one team with a purpose and passion for what we do. Learn about our culture and career opportunities available to you.

Uncovering insights, trends and inspiration to help business grow in an ever-changing world.

We are always looking for ways to engage and give back to our community.

Telephone: +612 9283 1666
Email: admin@esvgroup.com.au

Level 13, 68 York Street,
Sydney NSW 2000

Why us

Our purpose is to help you on your journey as you grow. Learn more about our history, partners and purpose.

What we do

Your partners for Business Service and Advisory, Taxation, Audit, Fraud and Risk.

Who do we help

Whatever your business, industry or family office, from local or international institutions we bring extensive expertise.

Work with us

We're one team with a purpose and passion for what we do. Learn about our culture and career opportunities available to you.

What we think

Uncovering insights, trends and inspiration to help business grow in an ever-changing world.

Working to give back

We are always looking for ways to engage and give back to our community.

Contact us

Telephone: +612 9283 1666
Email: admin@esvgroup.com.au

Level 13, 68 York Street,
Sydney NSW 2000

Medical Practitioners – Getting the Structure Right!

3 July 2019

by Maree Macphail

Having dealt with a wide range of medical specialists over the years, we have seen many structures established by sole practitioners, a group of doctors and medical practices.

Whilst different structures impact the overall business in different ways, sound structuring provides practitioners with asset protection and facilitates tax efficiencies. It is important to note that a practitioners’ set of circumstances are specific to them when evaluating the most appropriate structure.

When considering a suitable structure for medical practitioners several key attributes should be considered:

  • Provision of services– what services are being provided to assist the medical practitioner in conducting their business?
  • In business with others? Service agreements form a basis for which doctors share expenses and ultimately contribute to the provision of such services. A well formulated management/service agreement is key to outlining the set of rules in which each party follows.
  • Do you have business real property? It is typical for medical practitioners to hold their place of practice in an entity that is separate from where the business is conducted – a key form of asset protection.
  • Tax Efficiencies– By structuring a practice in an appropriate manner equitable outcomes can be achieved through creating tax efficiencies through an overall reduction in a group’s effective tax rate.
  • Acquiring existing businesses or joining a practice?Buying into an existing practice requires due diligence and a thorough review of legal and other documents to know ‘what you are buying into’.

It is imperative that advice is sought with regards to any service entity arrangements contemplated. The Australian Taxation Office has firm views on what it believes are appropriate commercial profits from a variety of business structures, and medical practitioners are no different. For any arrangements entered where the ATO perceives there is excessive shifting of income, Part IVA may apply to disallow deductions made by a practitioner to a service entity.

For this reason, we like to gain a deep understanding of what our clients wish to achieve in both the short term and long term to enable us to determine the most suitable structure for their specific circumstances, this includes the ability to enter or exit any arrangement made upon retirement in the future.

For further questions on how developing your own plan or your medical business in general, please contact us or speak to Maree Macphail on 02 9283 1666.