Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]


TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2010 MEASURES NO. 1) BILL 2010



                               2008-2009-2010





               THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA











                                   SENATE











             Tax Laws amendment (2010 measures no. 1) bill 2010














                    SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM





             Amendments to be moved on behalf of the Government











                     (Circulated by the authority of the
                      Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP)



Table of contents


Glossary    1


General outline and financial impact    3


Chapter 1    Amendments 1 to 7 to Schedule 3 - Managed investment trusts:
              capital treatment and taxation of carried interests   5


Chapter 2    Amendments 8 to 18 to Schedule 5 - Consolidation 7








Glossary

         The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this
         supplementary explanatory memorandum.

|Abbreviation        |Definition                   |
|Commissioner        |Commissioner of Taxation     |
|ITAA 1997           |Income Tax Assessment Act    |
|                    |1997                         |
|MEC group           |multiple entry consolidated  |
|                    |group                        |
|MIT                 |managed investment trust     |
|TAA 1953            |Taxation Administration Act  |
|                    |1953                         |




General outline and financial impact

Amendments 1 to 7 to Schedule 3 - Managed investment trusts:  capital
treatment and taxation of carried interests


         Amendments 1 to 7 amend Schedule 3 to the Tax Laws Amendment (2010
         Measures No. 1) Bill 2010, including some technical corrections.


         Certain provisions dealing with trusts that are to be treated in
         the same way as a managed investment trust (MIT) will be removed.
         As a consequence of these amendments a 'closely held' test in
         relation to trusts that are treated in the same way as a MIT will
         no longer be required.  Therefore, the closely held trust provision
         in Schedule 3 will also be removed.


         It is proposed that trusts, that would have been treated in the
         same way as a MIT under the removed provisions, will be covered by
         proposed changes to the general definition of 'managed investment
         trust' in Subdivision 12-H of Schedule 1 to the Taxation
         Administration Act 1953, to be introduced into Parliament at a
         later date.


         Date of effect:  The changes made by Amendments 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7
         will apply from the 2008-09 income year.


         Amendments 1 and 4 simply remove provisions from Schedule 3 to the
         Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010.


         Proposal announced:  These amendments were announced in the
         Assistant Treasurer's Media Release No. 020 of 10 February 2010 and
         released for public consultation on 16 April 2010.


         Financial impact:  Nil.


         Compliance cost impact:  Low.


Amendments 8 to 18 to Schedule 5 - Consolidation


         Amendments 8 to 18 amend various Parts of Schedule 5 to the Tax
         Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010, which amends the
         consolidation regime.  The amendments:


                . clarify the treatment of the tax cost setting amount
                  allocated to assets that are rights to future income in
                  Part 1;


                . ensure that the amendments in Part 16, which make it
                  easier for widely held companies to satisfy the loss
                  multiplication rules, apply appropriately to foreign owned
                  consolidated groups;


                . alleviate concerns that the amendments in Part 18, which
                  relates to consolidation choices, could have an adverse
                  retrospective impact on taxpayers in some very limited
                  circumstances; and


                . make some technical corrections.


         Date of effect:  The amendments apply from the date of effect of
         the relevant Parts of Schedule 5 to the Bill.


         Proposal announced:  The amendments have not previously been
         announced.


         Financial impact:  The explanatory memorandum to the Bill states
         that the amendments in Schedule 5 to the Bill, other than Part 20,
         have a small but unquantifiable cost to revenue.  Since the Bill
         was introduced, more information has become available which impacts
         on the financial impact of the amendments in Schedule 5.


         First, it has become apparent that the amendments in Part 1 (use of
         the tax cost setting amount) will have a significant but
         unquantifiable cost to revenue.  Amendments 8 to 12 will reduce
         that revenue impact.  However, the revenue impact will still be
         significant.


         Second, it also has become apparent that the amendments in Part 20
         (non-membership equity interests) are expected to have a greater
         revenue gain than was previously expected.  The revenue gain, as
         revised, is expected to be:

|2009-10   |2010-11   |2011-12   |2012-13   |2013-14   |
|-         |$25m      |$50m      |$110m     |$200m     |


         Compliance cost impact:  Low.



Chapter 1
Amendments 1 to 7 to Schedule 3 - Managed investment trusts:  capital
treatment and taxation of carried interests

Explanation of amendments


Amendment 1


      1. Amendment 1 removes sections 275-5 and 275-10 of item 4 in Schedule
         3 to the Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010.  These
         provisions would have treated certain widely held trusts (including
         certain wholesale trusts and certain Government-owned entities) in
         the same way as a managed investment trust (MIT).


      2. Broadly, as a consequence of Amendment 1, an Australian resident
         trust will be a MIT if it meets the general definition of 'managed
         investment trust' in Subdivision 12-H of Schedule 1 to the Taxation
         Administration Act 1953 (TAA 1953) or will be treated in the same
         way as a MIT if every member of the trust is a MIT.


      3. Trusts that would have been treated in the same way as a MIT under
         the removed provisions will now be covered by proposed changes to
         the general definition of 'managed investment trust' in
         Subdivision 12-H of Schedule 1 to the TAA 1953, to be introduced
         into Parliament at a later date.


Amendment 4


      4. Amendment 4 removes section 275-25 of item 4 in Schedule 3 to the
         Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010.  Under proposed
         section 275-25, a trust would not have been treated in the same way
         as a MIT in relation to an income year, if it was a closely held
         trust at any time during the income year.


      5. As a consequence of Amendment 1 a 'closely held' test in relation
         to trusts that are treated in the same way as a MIT is no longer
         required.  Such a test is to be incorporated with the proposed
         changes to the general definition of 'managed investment trust' in
         Subdivision 12-H of Schedule 1 to the TAA 1953, to be introduced
         into Parliament at a later date.


Amendments 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7


      6. These amendments make minor technical corrections to Schedule 3.


      7. Amendments 2 and 3 replace paragraphs 275-15(1)(b) and 275-20(b)
         and (c) in item 4 of Schedule 3.  As a consequence of these
         amendments the provisions will refer to a trust being 'treated in
         the same way as a MIT' through the operation of Subdivision 275-A
         of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.


      8. Amendments 5 and 7 replace references to 'year of income' with
         'income year' in paragraphs 275-110(1)(a) and (b) in item 4 of
         Schedule 3.


      9. Amendment 6 inserts 'of Part III' after 'Division 6C' in paragraph
         275-110(1)(b) in item 4 of Schedule 3.








Chapter 2
Amendments 8 to 18 to Schedule 5 - Consolidation

Explanation of amendments


Amendments 8 to 12


     10. Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No.
         1) Bill 2010 contains amendments to clarify the use of the tax cost
         setting amount allocated to an asset under the consolidation tax
         cost setting rules.


     11. Amendment 8 inserts new item 3A into Part 1 of Schedule 5 to add a
         reference to new subsection 701-55(5C) of the Income Tax Assessment
         Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) in subsection 701-58(2).


     12. Item 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 inserts, among other things, new
         sections 716-405 and 716-410 into the ITAA 1997.  Those sections
         specify the treatment of the tax cost setting amount allocated to
         rights to future income held by a joining entity.


     13. Amendments 8, 11 and 12 clarify the circumstances in which an asset
         is covered by section 716-410.


     14. Amendment 8 will insert new section 701-90.  That section clarifies
         that certain valuable rights are treated as separate assets for
         consolidation purposes.  This will ensure that the asset will be
         allocated a tax cost setting amount under the consolidation tax
         cost setting rules.


     15. A valuable right (including a contingent right) will be treated as
         a separate asset under subsections 701-90(1) and (2) if:


                . the valuable right is a right to receive an amount for:


                  - the performance of work or services; or


                  - the provision of goods (other than trading stock);


                . the valuable right forms part of a contract or agreement;
                  and


                . the market value of the valuable right (taking into
                  account all the obligations and conditions relating to the
                  right) is greater than nil.


     16. When a valuable right is treated as a separate asset under
         subsection 701-90(2), all the obligations and conditions relating
         to that valuable right must be taken into account for the purpose
         of working out the market value of that separate asset
         (paragraph 701-90(4)(a)).


     17. If the valuable right forms part of a broader contract or agreement
         that includes one or more other rights that have a market value of
         greater than nil, then that contract or agreement (excluding the
         valuable right that is covered by subsection 701-90(1)) is also
         treated as a separate asset (subsection 701-90(3)).


     18. When a contract or agreement (excluding the valuable right) is
         treated as a separate asset under subsection 701-90(3), all the
         obligations and conditions relating to each right (other than the
         valuable right) that forms part of the contract or agreement must
         be taken into account for the purpose of working out the market
         value of that separate asset (paragraph 701-90(4)(b)).


     19. The purpose of limiting the assets that are covered by
         subsection 701-90(1) to a right to receive an amount for the
         performance of work or services, or the provision of goods (other
         than trading stock) is to ensure that the subsection applies only
         to rights that result in the derivation of active business or
         trading income.


     20. Rights which result in the derivation of passive income that is not
         part of an entity's ordinary business operations are not covered by
         subsection 701-90(1).  Examples of such rights include:


                . rights to income under a leasing agreement;


                . rights to future interest income;


                . rights to an annuity under an annuity contract; and


                . rights to royalty income.


     21. For tax cost setting purposes, the relevant asset of such passive
         income rights will generally be the underlying plant, improvement,
         real property, cash or intellectual property asset that gives rise
         to the right.


     22. Amendments 11 and 12 modify section 716-410.  As a consequence,
         section 716-410 will cover an asset held by a joining entity at a
         particular time only if:


                . the asset is a valuable right covered by subsection 701-
                  90(1), and is therefore treated as a separate asset under
                  subsection 701-90(2);


                . the asset is held by an entity just before the time that
                  it becomes a subsidiary member of a consolidated group;


                . it is reasonable to expect that an amount attributable to
                  the asset will be included in assessable income after the
                  joining time; and


                . Division 230 does not apply in relation to the asset
                  (disregarding section 230-455).


     23. The effect of paragraph 716-410(d) is to ensure that section 716-
         410 does not cover an asset that is a financial arrangement which
         comes within the scope of Division 230.  This includes an asset
         that is a financial arrangement held by a joining entity which is
         not covered by Division 230 because of the operation of the
         Division 230 thresholds tests.


     24. Note that paragraphs 2.3 to 2.14 effectively replace
         paragraphs 5.33, 5.35 and 5.36 of the explanatory memorandum to the
         Bill.


     25. Amendments 9 and 10 modify the amount of the tax cost setting
         amount that can be deducted in an income year.  Consequently,
         unless paragraph 716-405(2)(b) applies, the amount of the deduction
         is the lesser of:


                . the unexpended tax cost setting amount for the asset for
                  that income year; and


                . the unexpended tax cost setting amount for the asset for
                  the first income year ending after the joining time,
                  divided by the lesser of:


                  - 10; or


                  - if the contract or agreement giving rise to the valuable
                    right mentioned in paragraph 716-410(a) is for a
                    specified period - the number of days in the period
                    between the joining time and the end of that specified
                    period, divided by 365 and rounded upwards to the
                    nearest whole number.


     26. The effect of Amendments 9 and 10 is to spread the deduction for
         the tax cost setting amount allocated to an asset that is a
         valuable right covered by section 716-410:


                . if the contract or agreement giving rise to the valuable
                  right is for a specified period that is less than 10 years
                  - over that specified period; or


                . if the contract or agreement giving rise to the valuable
                  right has no specified period or is for a specified period
                  of 10 years or more - over 10 years.


     27. However, if it reasonable to expect that no amount will be included
         in the assessable income of an entity that is qualified to deduct
         an amount under section 716-405 for any later income year, the
         balance of the unexpended tax cost setting amount can be deducted
         in that year (paragraph 716-405(2)(b)).


     28. As a consequence of these amendments, Examples 5.7, 5.8, 5.9 and
         5.11 of the explanatory memorandum to the Bill are replaced with
         the following examples.


     29. Example 5.10 of the explanatory memorandum no longer applies and
         has not been replicated.  That example concerned a right of a
         retirement village operator to deferred management fees.  This
         depends on the terms of the contract between the operator and the
         retirement village resident.


     30. As there are many different contractual arrangements offered by
         retirement village operators, the basis on which deferred
         management fees may arise also varies widely.


     31. Whether a right to deferred management fees is an asset covered by
         subsection 701-90(1) will depend on the facts (including the terms
         of the particular contract) in each case.


      1. :  Right to future income under a long term construction contract


                This example replaces Example 5.7 of the explanatory
                memorandum.


                Head Co acquires all of Company J's membership interests on
                1 July 2010.  Consequently, Company J joins Head Co's
                consolidated group.


                Company J has a partially completed construction contract at
                the joining time - that is, broadly, it has partially
                performed some work under the contract that has not yet been
                completed to a stage where a recoverable debt has arisen.
                The remaining term of the contract at the joining time is
                12 years.


                For accounting purposes, Company J has estimated the amount
                of partly earned unbilled income as $15,000.


                Substantial gross revenues are expected to be generated
                under the contract with an estimated profit over the period
                of the contract of $500,000.


                Taxation Ruling TR 2004/13 addresses the question of what is
                an asset for the purposes of the tax cost setting rules.
                Section 701-90 also specifies that a valuable right to
                receive an amount for the performance of work or services or
                the provision of goods (other than trading stock) is to be
                treated as a separate asset for the purpose of those rules.


                The construction contract includes a right to receive an
                amount for the performance of work.  This is the only right
                of any market value under the contract.  Therefore, the
                construction contract will be an asset that is covered by
                subsection 701-90(1).


                In working out the market value of the asset, any
                obligations and conditions relating to the right must be
                taken into account.  In this regard, a valuer will typically
                have regard to a number of factors in determining the market
                value of the asset, such as:


              . the value of future work yet to be performed;


              . the remaining life of the asset;


              . forecast revenue;


              . the cost and charges of other assets that are related to the
                work that is yet to be performed; and


              . appropriate discount rates.


                Having regard to these factors, the market value of the
                construction contract is determined to be $215,000.


                The construction contract is a reset cost base asset to
                which section 705-40 applies.  The tax cost setting amount
                allocated to the asset under the tax cost setting rules is
                $180,000.


                Section 716-410 covers the asset because:


              . the asset is a valuable right covered by subsection 701-
                90(1);


              . it is reasonable to expect that an amount attributable to
                the asset will be included in assessable income after the
                joining time; and


              . the asset is not a financial arrangement that comes within
                the scope of Division 230 (disregarding section 230-455).


                Therefore, Head Co can deduct the tax cost setting amount
                for the right under the construction contract under section
                716-405.


                The unexpended tax cost setting amount for the asset (worked
                out under subsection 716-405(4)) is $180,000.


                As the remaining term of contract at the joining time
                exceeds 10 years, the amount that can be deducted under
                section 716-405 in the 2010-11 income year is $18,000
                ($180,000/10).  This amount can also be deducted in each of
                the following nine income years.


                If the contract is completed or comes to an end in less than
                10 years, then the balance of the unexpended tax cost
                setting amount would generally be deductible under section
                716-405 at that time.


                Taxation Ruling IT 2450 specifies two methods that are
                acceptable for accounting for the taxable income from long-
                term construction contracts - the basic approach and the
                estimated profits basis.  The amount that can be deducted
                under section 716-405 is the same for both methods.


      2. :  Right to receive trailing commissions


                This example replaces Example 5.8 of the explanatory
                memorandum.


                Head Co acquires all of Company J's membership interests on
                1 July 2010.  Consequently, Company J joins Head Co's
                consolidated group.


                Company J is a mortgage broker and receives commission
                income from various finance companies on customer loans
                written.  The commission income is of two types:


              . a single upfront commission when the customer loan settles,
                calculated as a percentage of the loan amount; and


              . ongoing trailing commissions, which continue for the life of
                the loan calculated as a percentage of the customer loan
                balance at the end of each income year.


                Under an agreement between Company J and Finance Co, Company
                J expects to receive trailing commission income from loans
                written in the 2008-09 income year.


                Although no recoverable debt exists at the joining time, it
                is reasonable to expect that trailing commissions of $40,000
                will be received during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 income year
                ($20,000 per year) from loans written for Finance Co in the
                2008-09 income year.


                Taxation Ruling TR 2004/13 addresses the question of what is
                an asset for the purposes of the tax cost setting rules.
                Section 701-90 also specifies that a valuable right to
                receive an amount for the performance of work or services or
                the provision of goods (other than trading stock) is to be
                treated as a separate asset for the purpose of those rules.


                If, applying the principles in Taxation Ruling TR 2004/13
                the commission agreement is identified as an asset, the
                right to receive trailing commissions from Finance Co will
                be covered by subsection 701-90(1) and therefore treated as
                a separate asset.  This is because it is a right to receive
                an amount for the performance of mortgage broking services
                (the writing of loans).


                The right to receive trailing commissions is the only right
                of any market value under the commission agreement with
                Finance Co.  Therefore, the right will be an asset that is
                covered by subsection 701-90(1).


                In working out the market value of the asset, any
                obligations and conditions relating to the right must be
                taken into account.  Taking these things into account, the
                market value of the commission contract is determined to be
                $30,000.


                The commission agreement is a reset cost base asset to which
                section 705-40 applies.  The tax cost setting amount
                allocated to the asset under the tax cost setting rules is
                $30,000.


                Section 716-410 covers the asset because:


              . the asset is a valuable right covered by subsection 701-
                90(1);


              . it is reasonable to expect that an amount attributable to
                the asset will be included in assessable income after the
                joining time; and


              . the asset is not a financial arrangement that comes within
                the scope of Division 230 (disregarding section 230-455).


                Therefore, Head Co can deduct the tax cost setting amount
                for the commission agreement under section 716-405.


                The unexpended tax cost setting amount for the asset (worked
                out under subsection 716-405(4)) is $30,000.


                The remaining term of commission agreement at the joining
                time is dependant on how long the customer continues to hold
                the loan, and therefore is unknown.  Consequently, the
                amount that can be deducted under section 716-405 in the
                2010-11 income year is $3,000 ($30,000/10).  This amount can
                also be deducted in each of the following nine income years.


                If the commission agreement is completed or comes to an end
                in less than 10 years, then the balance of the unexpended
                tax cost setting amount would generally be deductible under
                section 716-405 at that time.


      3. :  Land development agreement


                This example replaces Example 5.9 of the explanatory
                memorandum.


                Head Co acquires all of Company J's membership interests on
                1 July 2010.  Consequently, Company J joins Head Co's
                consolidated group.


                Company J is a land development company that has entered
                into an agreement with a land owner to develop and sell land
                to customers as the owner's agent.  Under the agreement,
                Company J is entitled to receive a proportion of the land
                sale proceeds as its fee.  The remaining term of the
                agreement at the joining time is eight years.


                Taxation Ruling TR 2004/13 addresses the question of what is
                an asset for the purposes of the tax cost setting rules.
                Section 701-90 also specifies that a valuable right to
                receive an amount for the performance of work or services or
                the provision of goods (other than trading stock) is to be
                treated as a separate asset for the purpose of those rules.


                The development agreement includes a right to receive an
                amount for the performance of work (being the development
                and sale of land).  This right is the only right of any
                market value under the development agreement.  Therefore,
                the right under the development agreement will be an asset
                that is covered by subsection 705-90(1).


                In working out the market value of the asset, any
                obligations and conditions relating to the right must be
                taken into account.  Taking these things into account, the
                market value of the development agreement is determined to
                be $6 million.


                The development agreement is a reset cost base asset to
                which section 705-40 applies.  The tax cost setting amount
                allocated to the asset under the tax cost setting rules is
                $5 million.


                Section 716-410 covers the asset because:


              . the asset is a valuable right covered by subsection 701-
                90(1);


              . it is reasonable to expect that an amount attributable to
                the asset will be included in assessable income after the
                joining time; and


              . the asset is not a financial arrangement that comes within
                the scope of Division 230 (disregarding section 230-455).


                Therefore, Head Co can deduct the tax cost setting amount
                for the right under the development agreement under section
                716-405.


                The unexpended tax cost setting amount for the asset (worked
                out under subsection 716-405(4)) is $5 million.


                As the remaining term of development agreement at the
                joining time is eight years, the amount that can be deducted
                under section 716-405 in the 2010-11 income year is $625,000
                ($5m/8).  This amount can also be deducted in each of the
                following seven income years.


                If the development agreement is completed or comes to an end
                in less than eight years, then the balance of the unexpended
                tax cost setting amount would generally be deductible under
                section 716-405 at that time.


      4. :  Rights to unbilled income for the supply of gas


                This example replaces Example 5.11 of the explanatory
                memorandum.


                Company J carries on the business of supplying gas to its
                customers (being both domestic and commercial gas consumers)
                in very similar circumstances to those in FC of T v
                Australian Gas Light Co 83 ATC 4800; (1983) 15 ATR 105.


                The company has an agreement with each of its customers to
                supply gas.  In respect of its domestic customers each
                agreement, has a term of three months, equating to Company
                J's quarterly billing cycle.


                In its profit and loss statement for the income year ended
                30 June 2010, Company J recorded unbilled gas income of
                $25,000 for gas supplied to domestic customers as at the 30
                June 2010.  Its balance sheet contained an unbilled gas
                asset of the same amount.  The unbilled gas income is
                recognised as income for accounting purposes but has not yet
                been recognised as assessable income for income tax purposes
                in accordance with Taxation Ruling No. IT 2095.


                On 1 July 2010, Head Co acquires all of Company J's
                membership interests.  As a result, Company J joins Head
                Co's consolidated group.


                Taxation Ruling TR 2004/13 addresses the question of what is
                an asset for the purposes of the tax cost setting rules.
                Section 701-90 also specifies that a valuable right to
                receive an amount for the performance of work or services or
                the provision of goods (other than trading stock) is to be
                treated as a separate asset for the purpose of those rules.


                The domestic customer agreements include a right to receive
                an amount for the provision of goods, other than trading
                stock (being the supply of gas).  This is the only right of
                any market value under the agreements.  Therefore, the
                domestic customer agreements will be assets that are covered
                by subsection 705-90(1).


                The asset recognised for tax cost setting purposes is each
                domestic customer agreement in respect of which the unbilled
                gas has been supplied.


                In working out the market value of the asset, any
                obligations and conditions relating to the right must be
                taken into account.  Taking these things into account, these
                agreements collectively have a market value of $25,000,
                which equates to the value of the gas supplied but not yet
                billed as at the joining time.


                Each customer agreement is a reset cost base asset to which
                section 705-40 applies.  The tax cost setting amount
                allocated in respect of all the domestic customer agreements
                under the tax cost setting rules is $20,000.


                Section 716-410 covers the asset because:


              . the asset is a valuable right covered by subsection 701-
                90(1);


              . it is reasonable to expect that an amount attributable to
                the asset will be included in assessable income after the
                joining time; and


              . the asset is not a financial arrangement that comes within
                the scope of Division 230 (disregarding section 230-455).


                Therefore, Head Co can deduct the tax cost setting amount
                for the domestic customer agreements under section 716-405.


                The unexpended tax cost setting amount for the domestic
                customer agreements (worked out under subsection 716-405(4))
                is $20,000.


                As the remaining term of contract of each domestic customer
                agreement at joining time is less than three months, the
                amount that can be deducted under section 716-405 in the
                2010-11 income year in respect of these agreements is
                $20,000.


Amendment 13


     32. Amendment 13 modifies the time for making a choice to apply the
         transitional rule in item 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Bill
         (Use of the tax cost setting amount).  The transitional rule allows
         the head company of a consolidated group to make a choice to
         preserve the pre-capital gains tax treatment of an asset that is a
         foreign currency trade receivable prior to the withdrawal of Draft
         Taxation Determination TD 2004/D80.


     33. Amendment 13 allows the choice to be made on or before 30 June 2011
         or within such further time allowed by the Commissioner of Taxation
         (Commissioner).


Amendment 14


     34. Amendment 14 modifies item 84 in Part 7 of Schedule 5 to the Bill
         (Leaving time liabilities) so that the amendment to paragraph 713-
         265(4)(a) appropriately refers to a partnership (rather than a
         leaving entity).


Amendments 15 to 17


     35. Part 16 of Schedule 5 to the Bill (Loss multiplication rules for
         widely held companies) amends the inter-entity loss multiplication
         rules to make the rules easier to apply for widely held companies.
         In the case of a multiple entry consolidated group (MEC group), the
         amendments in Part 16 apply when the foreign top company of the MEC
         group is a widely held company.


     36. Amendments 15 to 17 modify Part 16 so that the amendments in Part
         16 apply appropriately to the head company of a consolidated group
         that is wholly owned by a widely held foreign parent company.


     37. Amendment 15 makes a consequential amendment to the note in
         section 715-230.


     38. Amendment 16 inserts section 715-265, which modifies the operation
         of the inter-entity loss multiplication rules (Subdivision 165-CD)
         where:


                . the head company of a consolidated group is also an
                  eligible tier-1 company of a foreign top company ; and


                . the foreign top company is a widely held company.


     39. In these circumstances, the head company of the consolidated group
         will not have a relevant equity interest or relevant debt interest
         in a loss company at a particular time if the top company does not
         have such an interest at that time.


     40. Amendment 17 modifies section 715-610 so that inter-entity losses
         are cancelled if, at some time during the ownership period when the
         owner owned the realised interest:


                . the realised interest was an equity or loan interest, an
                  indirect equity or loan interest, or an external indirect
                  equity or loan interest in the head company of the group;


                . the owner was not a member of the group; and


                . the head company was an eligible tier-1 company of a top
                  company.


     41. Amendment 17 also makes some consequential amendments to:


                . the note in section 715-450;


                . the heading to Subdivision 715-H; and


                . paragraph 715-610(2)(d) and subsection 715-610(3).


Amendment 18


     42. Amendment 18 modifies item 193 in Part 18 of Schedule 5 to the Bill
         (Choice to consolidate).  The amendments in that Part apply from
         1 July 2002.


     43. However, to ensure that no detriment arises as a result of the
         retrospective application of the amendments in Part 18, taxpayers
         can make a choice to apply the existing law before 10 February 2010
         (that is, the date of introduction of the Bill).  This choice must
         be made in writing on or before 30 June 2014 or within such further
         time allowed by the Commissioner.


     44. If a taxpayer makes a choice to apply the law that existed before
         10 February 2010, any discretions available to the Commissioner
         under that law may also be applied.





Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]