This course introduces students to Division 7a of the Income-tax Assessment Act (1936) which has significant effects on private companies operating within Australia wishing to take funds or assets from their business. The course focuses on how the division operates and how and to who it is applicable, it also includes the tax consequences of the division and discusses some potential options to limit the effects on private companies and their shareholders. The topics covered in the course are: 1. What is division 7a and why was it introduced 2. What will be treated as a dividend 3. Important sections of the division (excluding exceptions) 4. Exceptions to Division 7a Activating, 5. General Rules applicable to dividends declared under division 7a 6. Characteristics and Withholding Tax 7. Fringe Benefits 8. Loans Under Division 7a compared to a deemed dividend 9. Loans vs Payments 10. Distributable Surplus 11. Complying loans 12. Example 13. Things to avoid when making a loan under division 7a 14. Non-compliance 15. Approaches to division 7a (standard vs alternative)