“My passion for tax allows me to have a genuine impact on people and their businesses.”
Greg Derlacz
Partner, Tax Services
A self-confessed “Tax Geek’, Greg has enjoyed a varied career across all dimensions of tax during his 14 years as an advisor in the Big 4 accounting firms, a policymaker at Treasury (designing and reforming parts of the tax law), and as an audit director and tax specialist at the Australian Taxation Office. His experience covers corporate tax, small business concessions, R&D incentives, tax policy, advocacy, M&A, and tax due diligence.
Greg’s passion for helping private clients navigate complex tax issues including Division 7A, trust taxation, asset protection, succession planning and project structuring has prompted his return to public practice.
His unique background, having both designed and administered the tax law, means he is able to bring both a practical and theoretical lens to tax problems and understand what arrangements are likely to draw the attention of regulators. This lets Greg ensure his clients have robust positions that stand up under scrutiny and provide peace of mind.
Greg’s experiences have built an appreciation of the benefits of proactive engagement with regulators and managing risks through robust advice and documentation; “A small investment early on can save significant time and effort later, especially when regulators get involved. It is always better to aim to be ‘audit ready’ than to try to justify positions after the fact”, he says.
Greg is committed to using his skills and experience to help his clients succeed and achieve their objectives. “I believe in being up front about the risks and benefits of different courses of action and always strive to deliver the best possible outcomes for my clients under the tax law”.
When not poring over tax legislation, Greg can be found snowboarding at home and abroad, working on his golf swing or hiking in the Canberra hills.
The Facts:
Core Expertise
- Tax advisory and policy
- Cross-border taxation
- Government incentives
- Business and investment structuring
- M&A
- Tax due diligence
- Management of ATO audits and early engagement
Qualifications & Associations
- Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Business law)
- Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- Fellow of the Tax Institute of Australia
Industries & Specialisations
- Private businesses and family groups
- Government
- Mining and Resources
- Infrastructure
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Property