Tax professional · Melbourne, Australia
Practical thinking on tax, property and wealth.
I’m Rajesh Pawar, a tax professional and registered tax agent with nearly two decades of experience across professional services and in-house tax leadership.
I currently lead the tax function for a large Australian property investment and development group with a multibillion-dollar portfolio.
Through this site, I share practical insights on property taxation, tax governance, privately owned groups and the way technology is changing the tax profession.
Nearly two decades in tax
Professional services and in-house leadership
Property and privately owned groups
Australian and international experience
About
Tax is technical. Good tax outcomes are also practical.
My career has taken me through professional-services firms, multinational businesses and senior in-house tax leadership in Australia and the United Kingdom.
I have worked across corporate and international tax, transactions, compliance, property, privately owned groups and tax governance. That experience has shown me that technically correct advice is only part of the answer. Good tax outcomes also depend on sound processes, clear documentation, reliable information and decisions that can be implemented in the real world.
Today, I lead the tax function for a large Australian property investment and development group. My role involves managing tax across a complex portfolio, strengthening tax governance and working with finance teams, executives, boards, advisers and revenue authorities.
I am also a registered tax agent with experience advising individuals and businesses. This gives me a perspective that spans complex organisations as well as the practical tax issues faced by private clients.
I am interested not only in what the tax law says, but in how tax decisions work in practice.
Areas of focus
What I write and think about
My work and writing are centred on three connected areas.
Tax and property
Practical insights into the taxation of property investment and development, including the decisions, structures and obligations that can affect a property over its lifecycle. Topics may include property taxation, income tax, capital gains tax, GST, land-based taxes, property investment structures and the relationship between tax decisions and long-term financial outcomes.
Tax governance and privately owned groups
How organisations can manage tax risk, document important positions and build tax processes that are consistent, accountable and workable. Topics may include tax governance, ATO reviews, tax risk registers, tax position papers, controls, privately owned structures, trusts and the practical management of multiple taxes and entities.
The changing tax profession
How regulation, technology and artificial intelligence are changing the work of accountants and tax practitioners. Topics may include practical guidance for tax practitioners, AML/CTF obligations, better tax workflows, professional judgement, accountability and the responsible use of technology in tax work.
Professional interests
Learning beyond the tax return
I have a strong interest in how better systems and technology can improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of tax work.
Technology
Technology should not replace professional judgement. Used well, it can reduce repetitive work, improve documentation and give professionals more time to focus on the decisions that require experience and accountability.
Financial planning
I am also continuing my study of financial planning and wealth management in my own time. My interest is in better understanding how taxation fits within broader property, investment and long-term financial decisions.
Experience
A career across advisory and in-house tax
My experience spans professional services, multinational organisations and senior in-house tax leadership.
Current focus
Group Tax Manager — Australian property investment and development
Leading the tax function for a large privately owned property group with a multibillion-dollar portfolio.
Professional services
BDO · Pitcher Partners · KPMG · Deloitte
Corporate and international tax advisory and compliance experience across privately owned groups, listed businesses, multinational organisations, transactions and complex tax matters.
International in-house experience
FM Global · Honeywell
Tax compliance and in-house tax experience involving operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and India.
Qualifications
- Master of TaxationUniversity of Sydney
- Chartered Tax AdviserThe Tax Institute
- Chartered Accountant
- Registered Tax Agent
- International taxation studiesChartered Institute of Taxation
Insights
Latest writing
The Tax Practitioners' Code
A plain-English guide to the Code of Professional Conduct for registered tax and BAS agents — 24 practical duties across honesty, independence, confidentiality, competence and professional responsibility.
Building a Tax Governance Framework: A Practical Guide for in-house Tax Managers
A six-step roadmap for in-house tax managers asked to design and implement a tax governance framework from the ground up.
Payday Super Is Not a Timing Change - It Is a System Redesign
Payday Super turns a point-in-time super payment into a continuous lifecycle of calculation, validation and correction — a system redesign, not just a tighter deadline.
Contact
Start a professional conversation
Existing clients, tax practitioners and others interested in my work are welcome to get in touch.
You can contact me about a tax matter, an article, a professional collaboration or a topic you believe would be useful for me to explore.