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Leisa Rafter

Partner, Tax

Speciality Taxes

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Leisa is a Tax Partner with BDO in Brisbane. Leisa has a good reputation for providing commercial solutions on complex transactions.

Leisa specialises in indirect tax, GST, and state duties and taxes.  She has gained significant experience supporting the financial services sector, particularly with GST consulting and reviews to managed investment schemes and funds.  With a thorough understanding of the various state taxes across Australia (including stamp duties, land tax and pay-roll tax), Leisa has advised on the implications of GST on various state and federal government grants, levies and charges. She consults on GST compliance, dispute resolution and transaction support, as well as providing assistance with ATO and OSR audits and reviews.

In 2009 Leisa joined BDO as a Manager. She became Partner in 2014.  Prior to BDO, Leisa gained extensive experience working with the big four firms as a taxation specialist.

Services

  • Indirect tax
  • Prudential indirect tax reviews and due diligence
  • Tax due diligence
  • Government incentives
  • Goods & Services Tax
  • Taxation audits, rulings & litigation
  • State tax

Sectors

  • Government & public sector
  • Financial services

Key assignments

  • Advice on the GST implications of various grants, levy charges and fees imposed by a government department
  • Transaction support and GST compliance review services for various government related entities
  • Attaining successful ruling applications for an Australia wide restructure of a corporate group resulting in $10 million in tax savings
  • Successful outcomes on behalf of client with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)
  • Successful negotiations with the ATO for Queensland's first GST Advanced Compliance Agreement
  • Indirect tax advice for the establishment of a listed Managed Investment Scheme of an underlying commercial project (A$2 billion)

Qualifications

  • Solicitor, Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting)

Affiliations

  • Lecturer, Taxation Institute of Australia
  • Member, Queensland Law Society Inc
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