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2004-2005
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (LOSS RECOUPMENT RULES AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2005
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the
Treasurer, the Hon Peter Costello MP)
Table of contents
Glossary 1
General outline and financial impact 3
Chapter 1 Loss recoupment rules for companies:
modified continuity of ownership test 11
Chapter 2 Loss recoupment rules for companies:
same business test income ceiling 63
Chapter 3 Loss recoupment rules for companies:
other amendments 79
Chapter 4 Loss recoupment rules for companies:
regulation impact statement 80
Chapter 5 Conduit foreign income 80
Chapter 6 Denial of deductions for illegal activities 80
Chapter 7 Copyright in film to be included in effective
life depreciation 80
Chapter 8 Relief for employee share scheme participants
in the event of a corporate restructure 80
Chapter 9 Allow the offsetting of a late payment of
contributions against an employer's
superannuation guarantee charge 80
Chapter 10 Applying superannuation guarantee to
back payments of wages 80
Index 80
Glossary
The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this
explanatory memorandum.
|Abbreviation |Definition |
|APRA |Australian Prudential |
| |Regulation Authority |
|ATO |Australian Taxation Office |
|CGT |capital gains tax |
|Commissioner |Commissioner of Taxation |
|COT |continuity of ownership test |
|declared CFI amount |declared conduit foreign |
| |income amount |
|ESS |employee share scheme |
|ITAA 1936 |Income Tax Assessment Act |
| |1936 |
|ITAA 1997 |Income Tax Assessment Act |
| |1997 |
|MEC group |multiple entry consolidated |
| |group |
|received CFI amount |received conduit foreign |
| |income amount |
|SBT |same business test |
|TAA 1953 |Taxation Administration Act |
| |1953 |
General outline and financial impact
Loss recoupment rules for companies
Schedule 1 to this Bill reforms the loss recoupment rules for
companies by:
. introducing a new modified continuity of ownership test
(COT) to replace the existing modified COT in Division 166
of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997;
. removing the same business test (SBT) for companies whose
total income is more than $100 million in the year of
recoupment; and
. removing certain anomalies and clarifying some aspects of
the existing law.
Companies that are widely held are eligible for the new modified
COT, which:
. requires testing for continuity of ownership at the end of
each income year, following a takeover bid or similar
transaction and after a substantial capital raising; and
. contains tracing rules that simplify the tracing of
ownership interests.
Date of effect: The new modified COT applies to losses incurred in
income years commencing on or after 1 July 2002. It also applies
to certain eligible pre-1 July 2002 losses.
The SBT amendments apply to losses incurred in income years
commencing on or after 1 July 2005.
The other amendments to the loss recoupment rules have a variety of
application dates.
Proposal announced: This measure was announced in the
former Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer's Press Release
No. C021/04 of 7 April 2004 and the Minister for Revenue and
Assistant Treasurer's Press Release No. 011 of 11 February 2005.
Financial impact: The financial impact of this measure is
unquantifiable. There is expected to be an unquantifiable cost to
revenue over the forward estimates period because the new modified
COT takes effect from an earlier date than the removal of the SBT
for large companies.
Compliance cost impact: This measure is expected to reduce
compliance costs. It will be easier for companies that are
eligible to apply the new modified COT to test for continuity of
ownership. Large companies will no longer be able to apply the SBT
if they fail the COT.
Summary of regulation impact statement
Regulation impact on business
Impact: The main impact will be on widely held companies whose
total income is more than $100 million.
The changes to the COT will impact on widely held companies and
companies owned by widely held companies.
The changes to the SBT will impact on large companies.
The companies that are affected by the removal of the SBT are those
most likely to benefit from the simplified COT.
Main points:
. Uncertainty and compliance costs associated with applying
the company loss recoupment rules to widely held companies
and companies owned by widely held companies will be
reduced.
. Administrative costs for the Australian Taxation Office
will be reduced as it is expected that there will be fewer
requests by taxpayers for rulings and company audits will
be simplified.
Conduit foreign income
Schedule 2 to this Bill provides tax relief for conduit foreign
income. Conduit foreign income is generally foreign income
received by a foreign resident via an Australian corporate tax
entity. This measure ensures those amounts are not taxed in
Australia when distributed by the Australian corporate tax entity
to its foreign owners. Generally, the measure only applies to
foreign income that is ordinarily sheltered from Australian tax
when it is received by the Australian corporate tax entity.
Chapter 5:
. describes how a corporate tax entity will calculate an
amount of conduit foreign income; and
. explains how conduit foreign income can pass through a
series of Australian corporate tax entities to ultimate
foreign owners free of Australian tax.
Date of effect: The amendments made by this measure will allow an
entity to calculate the amount of its conduit foreign income from
the beginning of its first income year that starts on or after 1
July 2005.
Transitional rules will affect the first year of this calculation
for all existing entities. They also ensure that an entity can
only declare an amount to be conduit foreign income where that
declaration is made on or after the date of Royal Assent.
Proposal announced: This measure was announced in the Treasurer's
Press Release No. 32 of 13 May 2003.
Financial impact: The cost to revenue of this measure is expected
to be $5 million in 2005-06, $20 million for each of the following
2 years and $25 million per annum thereafter.
Compliance cost impact: There may be an increase in compliance
costs for Australian corporate tax entities that choose to access
the benefits of this measure.
Where corporate tax entities choose to pass on conduit foreign
income amounts to their members, the benefits conferred by the
conduit foreign income rules would outweigh the additional
compliance costs incurred.
Summary of regulation impact statement
Regulation impact on business
Impact: This measure impacts on Australian corporate tax entities
making distributions to non-resident owners out of foreign profits
declared to be conduit foreign income.
Corporate tax entities that distribute amounts declared to be
conduit foreign income to other Australian entities are also
affected. These entities are affected as they will be required to
determine the amount of their conduit foreign income.
Main points:
. Providing tax relief for a broader range of foreign income
than the current foreign dividend account rules further
enhances the ability of Australian entities with foreign
investments to compete for foreign capital. This should
encourage those entities to remain Australian residents if
their foreign shareholding becomes significant. This
measure also improves the attractiveness of Australia as a
location for regional holding companies.
. There may be additional compliance costs for entities in
determining and distributing their conduit foreign income.
These costs have been minimised to the extent possible
while still having regard to integrity and effectiveness
concerns.
Denial of deductions for illegal activities
Schedule 3 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
to deny deductions for losses and outgoings to the extent that they
are incurred in the furtherance of, or directly in relation to,
activities in respect of which the taxpayer has been convicted of
an indictable offence. Similarly, the capital gains tax provisions
will be amended so that losses and outgoings incurred in relation
to illegal activities in respect of which the taxpayer was
convicted of an indictable offence do not form part of the cost
base or reduced cost base for capital gains purposes. This will
ensure that no capital loss or reduced capital gain can arise from
such expenditure.
Date of effect: This measure applies to losses and outgoings
incurred after 29 April 2005.
Proposal announced: This measure was announced in the Treasurer's
Press Release No. 038 of 29 April 2005.
Financial impact: Unquantifiable, but expected to be minor.
Compliance cost impact: Insignificant.
Copyright in film to be included in effective life depreciation
Schedule 4 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
to include copyright in a film in the general effective life
depreciation of the uniform capital allowances provisions in the
income tax law.
This measure will allow taxpayers to choose either the Commissioner
of Taxation's (Commissioner) 'safe harbour' effective life
determination or, self assess the effective life of their copyright
in a film.
When depreciating their copyright in a film using effective life,
taxpayers will have the choice of using the prime cost method or
the diminishing value method.
Date of effect: This amendment applies to copyright in a film
acquired on or after 1 July 2004.
Proposal announced: This measure was announced by the Government
as part of the 2005-06 Budget on 10 May 2005.
Financial impact: This measure is estimated to cost the revenue as
follows:
|2005-06 |2006-07 |2007-08 |2008-09 |
|-$15 million|-$35 million|-$55 million|-$70 million|
Compliance cost impact: This measure is expected to decrease
compliance costs by providing a shorter write-off period under the
general effective life depreciation than the current 25-year
period.
Summary of regulation impact statement
Regulation impact on business
Impact: This measure will have favourable implications for film
producers and investors of films that do not qualify as Australian
films.
Main points:
. Taxpayers may write-off their copyright expenses in a film
over a period based on its effective life rather than the
current statutory 25-year period for copyrights.
. Taxpayers may choose the Commissioner's safe harbour
effective life or, self assess the effective life of their
copyright in a film.
. This measure will increase slightly the administrative
costs for the Australian Taxation Office as the
Commissioner has to determine a safe harbour effective
life as soon as possible after the passage of this
legislation.
Relief for employee share scheme participants in the event of a corporate
restructure
Schedule 5 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
(ITAA 1936) to allow employee share scheme (ESS) participants - who
acquire shares in a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees who are assessed under section 26AAC of the ITAA 1936 -
to treat the new shares or rights they are issued because of a
corporate restructure as a continuation of their old shares or
rights.
These amendments also allow ESS participants - who have made an
election under Division 13A of the ITAA 1936 to be taxed upfront -
to treat the new shares or rights they are issued because of a
corporate restructure as a continuation of their old shares or
rights.
Amendments are also made to the Taxation Laws Amendment Act
(No. 3) 2003, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and the Income Tax
(Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to ensure the capital gains tax
provisions in those Acts reflect the amendments to the ESS
provisions.
Date of effect: This amendment will apply to corporate
restructures which occur on or after Royal Assent.
Proposal announced: This measure has not previously been
announced.
Financial impact: The cost to the revenue is unquantifiable but
expected to be small.
Compliance cost impact: This amendment is expected to have a
minimal impact on compliance costs.
Allow the offsetting of a late payment of contributions against an
employer's superannuation guarantee charge
Schedule 6 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 to allow the offsetting of a late payment
of contributions against an employer's superannuation guarantee
charge.
Date of effect: This measure applies to late payments of
contributions made on or after 1 January 2006.
Proposal announced: This proposal was announced in the 2005 Budget
on 10 May 2005.
Financial impact: This measure will have a cost to revenue as
follows:
|2005-06 |2006-07 |2007-08 |2008-09 |
|-$0.4 |-$0.9 |-$0.9 |-$0.8 |
|million |million |million |million |
Compliance cost impact: An employer may experience some cost in
providing evidence required by the Commissioner of Taxation to
prove the relevant superannuation contributions had been paid to
the superannuation fund or retirement savings account within the
specified offset period.
Applying superannuation guarantee to back payments of wages
Schedule 7 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 to clarify that mandatory employer
contributions under the superannuation guarantee arrangements are
payable on wages or salary paid in a quarter following the
termination of an employment relationship.
Date of effect: This measure applies to payments made on the first
day of the first full quarter after Royal Assent.
Proposal announced: This proposal was announced in the 2005-
06 Budget on 10 May 2005.
Financial impact: This measure will have a cost to revenue as
follows:
|2005-06 |2006-07 |2007-08 |2008-09 |
|Nil |-$3 million |-$3 million |-$3 million |
Compliance cost impact: Nil.
Chapter 1
Loss recoupment rules for companies: modified continuity of ownership test
Outline of chapter
1.1 Schedule 1 to this Bill reforms the loss recoupment rules
for companies by:
. introducing a new modified continuity of ownership test
(COT) to replace the existing modified COT in Division 166
of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997);
. removing the same business test (SBT) for companies whose
total income is more than $100 million in the year of
recoupment; and
. removing certain anomalies and clarifying some aspects of
the existing law.
1.2 This chapter explains the new modified COT for widely held
companies that applies from 1 July 2002.
Context of amendments
1.3 If a company's deductions exceed its assessable income and
net exempt income in an income year, the company has a tax loss,
which it can carry forward to use as a deduction in a future income
year. However, the company can only deduct the tax loss if it
satisfies either the COT or the SBT.
1.4 The COT is satisfied if the same people hold more than
50 per cent of voting power and rights to dividends and capital at
all times during the relevant test period. To apply the COT, a
company must trace its ownership through companies, trusts and
other entities to identify the people who ultimately hold (directly
or indirectly) voting power and rights to dividends and capital
distributions.
1.5 It is often difficult for companies to trace through
entities such as listed companies, superannuation funds and managed
funds to identify the ultimate individual owners. Accordingly,
companies owned by these entities may incur substantial compliance
costs in determining whether the COT has been satisfied. If such
companies cannot determine ultimate ownership, the deductibility of
their losses may be uncertain.
1.6 In addition to being a test for the recoupment of tax
losses, the COT is also relevant in other contexts:
. A company must satisfy either the COT or the SBT to apply
a prior year net capital loss or deduct a foreign loss or
bad debt.
. A company must satisfy either the COT or the SBT when
joining a consolidated group to transfer a loss of any
sort to the head company.
. If a company fails both the COT and the SBT in an income
year, it must work out its taxable income or tax loss and
net capital gain or net capital loss for that income year
in a special way.
. If a company fails the COT and has an unrealised net loss,
it cannot take into account future capital losses or
deductions in respect of capital gains tax assets that it
owned at the time it failed the COT (to the extent of the
unrealised net loss), unless it satisfies the SBT.
. If a company fails the COT, the tax attributes of
significant equity and debt interests in the company may
be adjusted to prevent multiple recognition of the
company's losses.
Summary of new law
1.7 These amendments replace the modified COT in Division 166
of the ITAA 1997 with a new modified COT. They simplify the
application of the COT for companies that are widely held by
providing tracing rules that make it unnecessary for an eligible
company to trace the ultimate owners of shares held by certain
intermediaries and small shareholdings. [Schedule 1, item 79,
section 166-3]
1.8 The new modified COT applies to widely held companies and
companies that are more than 50 per cent owned (directly or
indirectly) by widely held companies, certain entities that are
treated as ultimate owners, non-profit companies or charitable
bodies.
1.9 Companies applying the modified COT must test for
continuity of ownership at the end of each income year and at
certain other specified times, rather than continuously as required
by the ordinary COT.
1.10 The new modified COT contains tracing rules that assist the
company in testing continuity of ownership:
. A direct stake of less than 10 per cent is attributed to a
single notional entity.
. An indirect stake of less than 10 per cent is attributed
to the top interposed entity.
. A stake of between 10 per cent and 50 per cent (inclusive)
held by a widely held company is attributed to the widely
held company as an ultimate owner.
. A stake held by an entity deemed to be a beneficial owner
(a superannuation fund, approved deposit fund, special
company or managed investment scheme) is generally
attributed to that entity as an ultimate owner.
. An indirect stake held by way of bearer shares in a
foreign listed company is attributed to a single notional
entity in certain circumstances.
. An indirect stake held by a depository entity through
shares in a foreign listed company is attributed to the
depository entity as an ultimate owner in certain
circumstances.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|The modified COT is |The modified COT is |
|applicable to widely |applicable to listed |
|held companies and |public companies and |
|eligible Division 166 |their wholly-owned |
|companies. |subsidiaries. |
|Ownership is tested at |Ownership is tested at |
|the start of the test |the start of the test |
|period, the end of each |period, the time of each|
|income year and at the |abnormal trading in |
|end of certain corporate|shares in the company |
|changes. |and the end of each |
| |income year. |
|Direct stakes of less |Direct shareholdings of |
|than 10 per cent are |less than one per cent |
|attributed to a single |are treated as if they |
|notional entity and |were held by a single |
|indirect stakes of less |notional entity and all |
|than 10 per cent to the |shareholdings of less |
|top interposed entity. |than one per cent in an |
| |interposed listed public|
| |company are treated as |
| |if they were held by a |
| |different single |
| |notional entity. |
|Widely held companies |No equivalent. |
|with voting dividend and| |
|capital stakes of | |
|between 10 per cent and | |
|50 per cent are treated | |
|as the ultimate owners | |
|of their stakes. | |
|Superannuation funds, |Superannuation funds, |
|approved deposit funds, |approved deposit funds |
|special companies and |and special companies |
|managed investment |are treated as the |
|schemes are treated as |ultimate owners of their|
|the ultimate owners of |stakes. |
|their stakes. | |
|Voting, dividend and |No equivalent. |
|capital stakes in | |
|foreign listed companies| |
|held by way of bearer | |
|shares are attributed to| |
|a single notional | |
|entity, if certain | |
|conditions are met. | |
|Depository entities |No equivalent. |
|which hold voting | |
|dividend and capital | |
|stakes in the tested | |
|company are treated as | |
|the ultimate owners if | |
|certain conditions are | |
|met. | |
|The tracing rules do not|If shares are controlled|
|apply to stakes held by |by a person with a |
|controlling entities, |substantial shareholding|
|individuals with more |in the company those |
|than 25 per cent of |shares are not taken to |
|(associate-inclusive) |be owned by the notional|
|voting power or |shareholder. |
|companies and trusts | |
|with more than 50 per | |
|cent of | |
|(associate-inclusive) | |
|voting power in the | |
|tested company. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
1.11 The new modified COT applies to widely held companies and
eligible Division 166 companies. It modifies how the ownership
tests in Division 165 apply. Its key features are:
. companies are required to test for continuity of ownership
at the end of each income year and at the end of certain
corporate changes; and
. tracing rules assist companies in testing for continuity
of ownership.
Eligibility for the modified continuity of ownership test
1.12 Companies that are either widely held or are eligible
Division 166 companies throughout the relevant income year can
apply the modified COT. A company that is widely held for part of
the income year and is an eligible Division 166 company for the
rest of the income year can also apply the modified COT. [Schedule
1, item 79, subsections 166-5(1), 166-20(1), 166-40(1) and 166-
80(1) and section 166-220]
1.13 A company is eligible for the new modified COT if it is
widely held or an eligible Division 166 company for the income year
in which it seeks to deduct a tax loss. Companies that are neither
widely held nor eligible Division 166 companies continue to use
Division 165 to determine whether they satisfy the COT.
Widely held companies
1.14 A company is widely held if it is listed on an approved
stock exchange. [Schedule 1, item 168, section 995-1]
1.15 A list of approved stock exchanges is contained in Schedule
12 to the Income Tax Regulations 1936.
1.16 A company is also widely held if it has more than 50
members, unless:
. at any time in the income year, 20 or fewer people hold or
have the right to acquire or become the holder of shares
representing 75 per cent or more of the value of shares in
the company, other than shares entitled to a fixed rate of
dividend only;
. at any time during the income year, 20 or fewer people are
capable of exercising 75 per cent or more of the voting
power in the company;
. in that year, 20 or fewer people receive 75 per cent or
more of any dividend paid by the company; or
. the company did not pay a dividend in that year, but the
Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) is of the opinion
that, if a dividend had been paid by the company at any
time during the income year, 20 or fewer people would have
received 75 per cent or more of that dividend.
[Schedule 1, item 168, section 995-1]
Example 1.1: Eligibility of widely held companies
In the income year ending 30 June 2005, Jazz Limited (Jazz)
has 1,000 ordinary shareholders. The top 20 shareholders
hold 60 per cent by value of the shares and may exercise 60
per cent of the voting power in the company. Jazz is not
listed.
No dividend is paid during the income year. According to
the company's constitution, if any dividend was declared it
would have to be apportioned equally among all the shares in
the company. Therefore, the top 20 shareholders would have
rights to 60 per cent of dividends and the Commissioner
would be satisfied that there are not 20 or fewer people who
would have had the right to 75 per cent or more of any
dividend that was paid.
Therefore, Jazz is a widely held company during the income
year ended 30 June 2005 and can apply the modified COT in
testing whether it can deduct any tax losses in that year.
In the income year ending 30 June 2006, Jazz changes its
constitution and issues preference shares to 10 people. The
preference shares represent only 5 per cent by value of the
shares in the company and none of the voting power.
However, the only dividend the company distributes during
the income year is to the preference shareholders.
Accordingly, Jazz is not a widely held company for the whole
of the year ended 30 June 2006, because only 10 shareholders
received 100 per cent of dividends that the company paid.
Jazz is ineligible to apply the modified COT in testing
whether it can deduct tax losses in that income year.
Eligible Division 166 companies
1.17 A company is also eligible for the new modified COT if it
is an eligible Division 166 company - that is, more than 50 per
cent of the voting power, rights to dividends or rights to capital
distributions are held by one or more:
. widely held companies;
. superannuation funds;
. approved deposit funds;
. special companies;
. managed investment schemes ;
. entities that are prescribed under the tracing rule that
deems entities to be beneficial owners;
. non-profit companies; or
. charitable institutions, charitable funds or any other
kind of charitable bodies.
[Schedule 1, item 148, section 995-1]
1.18 Superannuation funds, approved deposit funds, special
companies, managed investment schemes and prescribed entities are
only taken into account if they meet the certain criteria. For
example, a superannuation fund must be a complying superannuation
fund or a superannuation fund established in a foreign country and
regulated under a foreign law. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-245(3)]
1.19 In order to qualify as an eligible Division 166 company for
an entire income year, it is not necessary for the same entities to
hold more than 50 per cent of voting power, dividend and capital
distribution rights throughout the income year. For example, one
widely held company may hold a 60 per cent interest in the tested
company from 1 July until 31 January and then sell its interest to
a different widely held company, which then holds the interest from
1 February to 30 June. In this case, the tested company qualifies
as an eligible Division 166 company for the entire income year.
Example 1.2: Eligible Division 166 company
This example is continued from Example 1.1.
Throughout the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2006, Blues
Limited (Blues) is 35 per cent owned by Jazz, 45 per cent
owned by companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange,
and 20 per cent owned by individuals.
Jazz is a widely held company throughout the income year
ended 30 June 2005. However, it is only a widely held
company for part of the income year ended 30 June 2006.
Blues would be an eligible Division 166 company throughout
the income year ended 30 June 2005, because it is 80 per
cent
(ie, 45% + 35%) owned by widely held companies.
Accordingly, it would be eligible to apply the modified COT
in that year.
Blues would not be an eligible Division 166 company for the
whole of the income year ended 30 June 2006, because it
would cease to be an eligible Division 166 company when Jazz
ceased to be a widely held company. Accordingly, Blues
would not be eligible to apply the modified COT in that
year.
Interaction between the modified continuity of ownership test and the
ordinary continuity of ownership test
1.20 The modified COT provides widely held and eligible
Division 166 companies with an alternative method for testing
continuity of ownership:
. Subdivision 166-A modifies the application of
Subdivision 165-A to deductions for tax losses [Schedule
1, item 79, section 166-5].
. Subdivision 166-B modifies the application of
Subdivision 165-B, which concerns the calculation
of income in a year of ownership change, and
Subdivision 165-CB, which concerns the calculation of net
capital gains in a year of ownership change [Schedule 1,
item 79, section 166-20].
. Subdivision 166-C modifies the application of
Subdivision 165-C to deductions for bad debts [Schedule 1,
item 79, section 166-40].
. Subdivision 166-CA modifies the application of
Subdivisions 165-CC and 165-CD in determining changeover
times and alteration times for the purposes of the
unrealised loss rules and inter-entity loss multiplication
rules [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-80].
. Subdivision 166-D explains how the ownership conditions
interact with the rules in Subdivision 165-D [Schedule 1,
item 79, section 166-135].
1.21 A company applying the modified COT satisfies the COT if it
has substantial continuity of ownership at each test time in the
ownership test period. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-5(3),
166-20(2), 166-40(3) and 166-80(2)]
1.22 For each of Subdivisions 166-A, 166-B, 166-C and 166-CA, a
widely held company or eligible Division 166 company has the right
to elect that the modifications in Division 166 do not apply in
relation to an income year. The choice must be made on or before
the day the company lodges its income tax return for the year, or
before a later day if the Commissioner allows. [Schedule 1, item
79, sections 166-15, 166-35, 166-50 and 166-90]
Tax losses
1.23 Subdivision 166-A modifies the application of the COT in
relation to deductions for tax losses of earlier income years. The
COT is satisfied if there is substantial continuity of ownership
between the beginning of the loss year and each test time in the
test period. [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-5]
1.24 The test period runs from the start of the loss year to the
end of the income year. The test times are the end of each income
year in the test period and the end of certain corporate changes.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-5(2) to (4)]
1.25 The test for substantial continuity of ownership is the
alternative test in Division 165, but with several modifications.
The alternative test requires a company to trace its ownership
through to persons who are not companies. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-145(5)]
1.26 If the company fails the modified COT, the company can
nevertheless deduct the tax loss if it satisfies the SBT for the
income year. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-5(5)]
1.27 The SBT compares the business carried on by the company in
the income year with the business carried on immediately before the
company failed the COT. If the company does have substantial
continuity of ownership at a particular test time, the SBT is
applied to the business carried on immediately before that test
time. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-5(6)]
1.28 The SBT can only be satisfied if the company's total
income is no more than $100 million in the income year for a loss
that was incurred in an income year commencing on or after 1 July
2005. [Schedule 1, item 76, section 165-212A]
Net capital losses, foreign losses and film losses
1.29 Subdivision 166-A is also relevant for net capital losses,
foreign losses and film losses.
1.30 A net capital loss from an earlier income year can only be
applied to reduce a net capital gain if it could have been deducted
were it a tax loss (section 165-96 of the ITAA 1997). Accordingly,
a company applies the tests in Subdivision 165-A to determine
whether it can apply a net capital loss.
1.31 Similarly, a foreign loss does not reduce foreign income if
Subdivision 165-A would have prevented a deduction had the foreign
loss been a tax loss (subsection 160AFD(6) of the Income Tax
Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)).
1.32 Film losses are a subset of tax losses and are subject to
the same rules regarding deductibility (with the addition of
quarantining provisions in Subdivision 375-G).
1.33 It follows that the modifications that Subdivision 166-A
makes to Subdivision 165-A are also relevant to determining
whether:
. a net capital loss can be applied;
. a foreign loss can be taken into account; or
. a film loss can be deducted.
1.34 The SBT applies for these types of losses if the COT is
failed. However, the SBT can only be satisfied if the company's
total income is not more than $100 million in the income year.
[Schedule 1, item 76, section 165-212A]
Transfer of losses
1.35 Subdivision 166-A is also relevant to the transfer of
losses to a head company under the consolidation regime and to the
transfer of losses under Division 170 of the ITAA 1997.
1.36 The transfer of losses of any sort from a joining entity to
the head company of a consolidated group depends on the joining
entity being hypothetically entitled to utilise the loss in a trial
year. Accordingly, in relation to a tax loss (including a film
loss), a net capital loss or a foreign loss, the joining entity
must meet the tests in Subdivision 165-A.
1.37 As a result, the modifications that Subdivision 166-A makes
to Subdivision 165-A are relevant in determining whether losses can
be transferred from a joining entity to a head company. Because
the trial year is treated as if it were an income year, the end of
the trial year is a test time for the purposes of the loss transfer
tests.
1.38 A condition for the transfer of a loss under Division 170
is that neither company is prevented from deducting the loss by
Division 165. Therefore, the modifications that Subdivision 166-A
makes to Subdivision 165-A are also relevant for the purpose of
Division 170 tax loss transfers.
Working out taxable income for a year of change
1.39 Subdivision 166-B modifies the operation of
Subdivisions 165-B and 165-CB. Broadly, these Subdivisions require
a company to divide its income year into separate periods for the
purpose of calculating its taxable income, net capital gains, tax
losses and net capital losses, if the company has had a change in
ownership during the income year and has not satisfied the SBT.
1.40 For the purpose of Subdivision 166-B, substantial
continuity of ownership is tested by comparing ownership at the
beginning of the income year with ownership at the end of each
corporate event during the year. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsections
166-20(2) and (3)]
1.41 A key difference between Subdivision 166-B and the
application of the modified COT in other contexts, is that in
Subdivision 166-B there is no test time at the end of the income
year. This is because an ownership change at the end of the year
is not relevant for the purposes of dividing the income year into
periods.
1.42 A company does not need to calculate its taxable income,
net capital gains, tax losses and net capital losses under
Subdivision 165-B or 165-CB unless either:
. there is a failure of substantial continuity of ownership
at a test time during the income year; or
. a person begins to control, or becomes able to control,
the voting power in the company for a purpose of getting a
benefit or advantage (whether for themselves or someone
else) in relation to how the ITAA 1997 applies (see
section 165-40 of the ITAA 1997).
1.43 In either case, the company only needs to calculate its
taxable income, net capital gains, tax losses and net capital
losses under Subdivision 165-B or 165-CB if the company does not
satisfy the SBT from the time immediately before the relevant test
time (or the time the person become able to control the voting
power) until the end of the income year. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsections 166-20(4) and (5)]
1.44 If the company does not satisfy the SBT, the company must
divide its income year into periods. Each period ends at the
earliest time that either:
. there is a failure of substantial continuity of ownership;
or
. a person begins or becomes able to control the voting
power in the company for a purpose of getting a benefit or
advantage (whether for themselves or someone else) in
relation to how the ITAA 1997 applies.
[Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-25]
Deducting bad debts
1.45 Subdivision 166-C modifies the application of
Subdivision 165-C for companies that are either widely held or
eligible Division 166 companies for the entire income year in which
the bad debt is written-off. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-
40(1)]
1.46 A company is taken to meet the conditions in section 165-
123 about maintaining the same owners if there is substantial
continuity of ownership at the relevant times. [Schedule 1, item
79, subsection 166-40(3)]
1.47 If a debt is written-off as bad in the income year in which
it is incurred, there must be substantial continuity of ownership
between the start of the income year and each test time in the
period ending at the end of the income year in which the debt is
written-off. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-40(2) and (3)]
1.48 If a debt incurred in a previous income year is written-off
as bad, the company has a choice as to when the test period starts.
The test period may start either on the day the debt was incurred
or the start of the income year in which the debt was incurred.
The company must establish substantial continuity of ownership
between this start time and each test time in the period ending at
the end of the income year in which the debt is written-off.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-40(2) and (3)]
1.49 If the company cannot establish substantial continuity of
ownership in the test period the company is not able to deduct the
bad debt unless either:
. the Commissioner exercises the discretion provided in
paragraph 165-120(1)(b) because it is considered to be
unreasonable to require the company to meet the COT,
having regard to the entities that beneficially owned
shares in the company when the debt became bad; or
. the company satisfies the SBT for the second continuity
period.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-40(4) and (5)]
1.50 The SBT is applied to the business the company carried on
immediately before the first test time on which there was no
substantial continuity of ownership. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-40(6)]
Changeover times and alteration times
1.51 Subdivision 166-CA modifies the application of
Subdivisions 165-CC and 165-CD in determining whether there is a
changeover time or alteration time during an income year in which a
company is either a widely held company or an eligible Division 166
company at all times. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-80(1)]
1.52 There is no changeover time or alteration time in a
particular income year if there is substantial continuity of
ownership between the reference time, the end of that income year
and any other test times in that year. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsections 166-80(2) and (3)]
1.53 The reference time is the date of the last changeover time
for the company for the purposes of Subdivision 165-CC and the date
of the last alteration time for the company for the purposes of
Subdivision 165-CD. If no changeover time or alteration time has
previously occurred, the reference time is the later of 11 November
1999 and the date the company came into existence.
1.54 If there is not substantial continuity of ownership at a
test time, the changeover time or alteration time (as the case may
be) occurs at the test time. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-
80(4) to (6)]
Substantial continuity of ownership
1.55 There is substantial continuity of ownership if (and only
if) the company satisfies the alternative tests for voting power
and rights to dividend and capital distributions. [Schedule 1,
item 79, section 166-145]
1.56 Broadly, the alternative tests are satisfied if during the
test period:
. the same persons other than companies and trustees,
directly or indirectly, hold more than 50 per cent of the
voting power in the tested company [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-145(2)];
. the same persons other than companies, directly or
indirectly, hold for their own benefit more than 50 per
cent of the rights to any dividends the tested company may
pay [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-145(3)]; and
. the same persons other than companies, directly or
indirectly, hold for their own benefit more than 50 per
cent of the rights to any distributions of capital the
tested company may make [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-145(4)].
1.57 When testing for substantial continuity of ownership, there
are two key modifications to the alternative tests in Subdivision
165-D:
. tracing rules can limit the tracing required by a company
in determining who holds voting power or dividend and
capital rights; and
. ownership is tested at the end of each income year and at
the end of certain corporate changes, not continuously.
1.58 Apart from section 165-165, the other provisions in
Subdivision 165-D apply for the purposes of substantial continuity
of ownership. However, provisions relating to arrangements
affecting the beneficial ownership of shares (section 165-180) and
variations or potential variations in rights attaching to shares
(sections 165-185 and 165-190) are read as if a reference to a
particular time were a reference to the ownership test time.
[Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-165]
Test times
1.59 To satisfy the COT in Division 165 of the ITAA 1997, a
company must maintain the same owners continuously from the start
of the loss year to the end of the income year.
1.60 This rule is modified for widely held and eligible Division
166 companies by requiring substantial continuity of ownership
between the start of the test period and certain specified times.
There is no need to satisfy the modified COT continuously.
1.61 The end of each income year in the test period is a test
time, other than for the purposes of Subdivision 166-B. The end of
a corporate change in the test period is also a test time.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-5(3), 166-20(2), 166-40(3)
and 166-80(2)]
1.62 The following are the end of a corporate change:
. the end of the bid period of a takeover bid for the
company (whether or not the takeover bid is successful)
[Schedule 1, item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(a) and
(2)(a)];
. the end of a court approved scheme of arrangement
involving more than 50 per cent of the company's shares
[Schedule 1, item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(b) and
(2)(b)];
. the end of any other arrangement involving the acquisition
of more than 50 per cent of the company's shares,
regulated under either the Corporations Act 2001 or a
foreign law [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(c)
and (2)(b)]; and
. the end of an offer period for an issue of shares in the
company that increases the issued capital or the number of
shares by 20 per cent or more [Schedule 1, item 79,
paragraphs 166-175(1)(d) and (2)(c)].
1.63 There is also a corporate change if one of those events
happens to another company that holds more than 50 per cent of
voting power, or dividend or capital rights in the tested company.
[Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-175(1)(e) and subsection 166-
175(2)]
1.64 In relation to the transfer of losses to a consolidated
group, continuity of ownership is tested for a trial year ending
just after the joining time (section 707-120). Because continuity
of ownership is tested as if the trial year were an income year,
the end of the trial year is a test time even if it does not
correspond to the end of an actual income year. The same principle
is relevant to other consolidation provisions that refer to trial
years (see Division 715) or debt test income years (see Subdivision
709-D).
Example 1.3: Testing continuity of ownership
In the income year ended 30 June 2006, Loss Company is
eligible for the modified COT because it is a widely held
company.
Loss Company incurred a tax loss in the year commencing 1
July 2002 and tests to determine whether it can deduct the
tax loss in the year ended 30 June 2006.
On 1 November 2003, Loss Company issued further shares that
increased its share capital by 30 per cent. It has had no
takeover bids, schemes of arrangement or any other events in
the nature of a takeover during the ownership period.
Loss Company will satisfy the modified COT if it can
establish substantial continuity of ownership between 1 July
2002 and each of 30 June 2003, 1 November 2003, 30 June
2004, 30 June 2005 and 30 June 2006.
[pic]
Tracing rules
1.65 The following tracing rules make it easier for companies to
test for substantial continuity of ownership:
. A direct stake of less than 10 per cent is attributed to a
single notional entity [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-
225].
. An indirect stake of less than 10 per cent is attributed
to the top interposed entity [Schedule 1, item 79, section
166-230].
. A stake of between 10 per cent and 50 per cent (inclusive)
held by a widely held company is attributed to the widely
held company as an ultimate owner [Schedule 1, item 79,
section 166-240].
. A stake held by an entity deemed to be a beneficial owner
(a superannuation fund, approved deposit fund, special
company or managed investment scheme) will generally be
attributed to that entity as an ultimate owner [Schedule
1, item 79, section 166-245].
. An indirect stake held by way of bearer shares in a
foreign listed company is attributed to a single notional
entity in certain circumstances [Schedule 1, item 79,
section 166-255].
. An indirect stake held by a depository entity through
shares in a foreign listed company is attributed to the
depository entity as an ultimate owner in certain
circumstances [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-260].
Direct stakes of less than 10 per cent
1.66 The tracing of small ownership interests gives rise to high
compliance costs for widely held companies. The modified COT is
designed to reduce compliance costs by removing the need to trace
ownership interests of less than 10 per cent.
1.67 For all registered shareholdings carrying less than 10 per
cent of voting power, the voting power is taken to be controlled by
a single notional entity. The same rule applies in relation to
rights to dividends and distributions of capital. [Schedule 1,
item 79, section 166-225]
1.68 The single notional entity is taken to be a person (other
than a company), and is therefore regarded as an ultimate owner for
the purpose of the alternative test. The persons who actually hold
the power or rights attributed to the single notional entity are
taken not to hold those rights for the purposes of the alternative
test. This prevents double counting of the voting power and rights
to dividends and capital. [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-
225(2)(c) and section 166-265]
1.69 Voting power and rights to dividends and capital are dealt
with separately. For example, if a particular shareholding
represents 5 per cent of voting power, but 15 per cent of dividend
rights, the voting power attached to the shareholding is allocated
to the single notional entity, but not the dividend rights.
Nominee shareholders
1.70 If a nominee company is the registered shareholder, but
holds the shares for more than one other entity, the tested company
may treat the parcels of shares held by the nominee company as
separate stakes for the purpose of this tracing rule. This means
that if the nominee company's registered shareholding carries 10
per cent or more of voting power or rights, but the entities for
which it holds the shares each have less than 10 per cent of voting
power or rights, each of the stakes of less than 10 per cent can be
attributed to the single notional entity. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-235(7)]
Example 1.4: Nominee shareholders
Beta Nominees Limited is the registered holder of 30 per
cent of shares in the tested company. It holds these shares
on behalf of 5 different entities, each of which
beneficially own 6 per cent of the tested company's shares.
Each stake of 6 per cent may be attributed to the single
notional entity.
1.71 The separation of stakes held by nominee companies is
optional. If the nominee company's registered shareholding is less
than 10 per cent, its stake could be attributed directly to the
single notional entity. In such a case, there would be no need for
the tested company to inquire as to the identity of underlying
stakeholders, provided the company is satisfied that the controlled
test companies rule would not apply.
Indirect stakes of less than 10 per cent
1.72 A tested company does not need to trace the beneficial
owners of indirect interests in the company that carry less than 10
per cent of the voting power and rights to dividends and capital.
This rule will reduce the compliance costs incurred by companies
identifying their indirect ownership. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-230(1)]
1.73 In relation to an indirect stake of less than 10 per cent,
the top interposed entity is taken to hold the relevant voting
stake, dividend stake or capital stake. The top interposed entity
is the entity in which the stakeholder with a less than 10 per cent
interest has a direct interest. This entity need not be a company.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-230(2)]
1.74 For example, a stakeholder may have an 8 per cent voting
stake in the tested company, which is held through a chain of
interposed companies. The top interposed entity is the company in
which the stakeholder is a shareholder. If a stakeholder holds an
indirect interest in a company as a beneficiary in a trust, the
trust would be the top interposed entity.
1.75 The tested company may treat a nominee company as holding a
separate indirect stake in respect of each entity for which the
nominee company holds shares. The effect is that each of these
stakes of less than 10 per cent may be attributed to the company in
which the nominee company holds shares as the top interposed
entity. Separation of stakes for the purpose of the top interposed
entity rule is optional. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-
235(7)]
1.76 The top interposed entity is taken to be a 'person (other
than a company)' and is therefore regarded as the ultimate owner of
the stake. [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-230(2)(d)]
1.77 The persons who actually hold the power or rights
attributed to the top interposed entity are taken not to hold that
power or those rights for the purposes of the alternative test.
This prevents double counting of the voting power and rights to
dividends and capital. [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-265]
1.78 Voting, dividend and capital stakes are dealt with
separately. For example, if an entity holds a voting stake of less
than 10 per cent and dividend and capital stakes of 10 per cent or
more, the voting stake would be attributed to the top interposed
entity, but not the dividend or capital stakes.
Example 1.5: Direct and indirect stakes of less than 10 per cent
[pic]
Loss Company is a listed company which is 40 per cent owned
by John Pty Ltd. Thirty other shareholders hold 2 per cent
each of its remaining shares. All shares in Loss Company
carry equal rights in relation to voting, dividends and
capital distribution.
The voting power, rights to dividends and rights to capital
attaching to each of the 2 per cent shareholdings will be
attributed to the single notional entity. This is because
they are each direct stakes of less than 10 per cent in Loss
Company. In total, the single notional entity will be taken
to hold 60 per cent of voting power and rights to dividends
and capital.
John Pty Ltd owns more than 10 per cent of Loss Company and
is not a widely held company. Accordingly, it will be
necessary to trace through John Pty Ltd.
John Pty Ltd is owned 20 per cent each by Omar Pty Ltd and
Kevin Pty Ltd and 60 per cent by Jason Pty Ltd. The stakes
of Omar Pty Ltd and Kevin Pty Ltd represent 8 per cent each
of Loss Company (20% × 40%). Because the stakes of Omar
Pty Ltd and Kevin Pty Ltd are each less than 10 per cent of
Loss Company they will be attributed to the top interposed
entity, which is John Pty Ltd.
The indirect stake of Jason Pty Ltd in Loss Company is 24
per cent (60% × 40%). Jason Pty Ltd is not a widely held
company. Accordingly, it will be necessary to trace through
Jason Pty Ltd.
Shares in Jason Pty Ltd are owned equally by 6 individual
shareholders, each of those shareholders will have a 4 per
cent indirect stake in Loss Company (16.7% × 60% × 40%).
Because their stakes in Loss Company are less than 10 per
cent, they will be attributed to Jason Pty Ltd as the top
interposed entity.
The outcome of tracing is that the single notional entity is
taken to hold 60 per cent of voting power and dividend and
capital rights,
John Pty Ltd is taken to hold 16 per cent of voting power
and dividend and capital rights and Jason Pty Ltd is taken
to hold 24 per cent of voting power and dividend and capital
rights.
Interposition of a holding company between stakeholders and a top
interposed entity
1.79 Ownership of a top interposed entity could be restructured
after the start of the test period so that a holding entity is
inserted between the top interposed entity and the less than 10 per
cent stakeholders. Without any modification, this would be
recognised as an ownership change and may lead to a failure of the
modified COT because the new interposed entity would become the top
interposed entity.
1.80 In such circumstances, provided certain conditions are met,
the new top interposed entity can be regarded as having held the
stake at all times the old top interposed entity did. The relevant
conditions are:
. the new entity must acquire all the shares in the old
entity;
. the new entity must have the same classes of shares or
other interests as the old entity (eg, if the old entity
is a unit trust, the interests in the new entity must be
units in a unit trust);
. if the new entity is a company, its shares must not be
redeemable; and
. each stakeholder must hold the same proportion of voting
stakes, dividend stakes or capital stakes in the new
entity just after the restructure as it did in the old
entity just before the restructure.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-230(3)]
1.81 The impact of introducing a new holding entity on the same
share same interest rule is disregarded, except for the purpose of
determining whether there is an alteration time. The introduction
of a new holding entity may lead to an alteration time. [Schedule
1, item 79, subsection 166-230(4)]
Stakes held by widely held companies
1.82 A widely held company is treated as the ultimate owner of a
direct or indirect stake in a tested company, if the stake is
between
10 per cent and 50 per cent (inclusive). The rule only applies if
the company is a widely held company for the whole of the income
year in which the ownership test time occurs. [Schedule 1, item
79, section 166-240]
1.83 Voting, dividend and capital stakes are treated separately.
For example, if a widely held company's voting stake in the tested
company is 40 per cent and its dividend stake is 55 per cent, it is
treated as an ultimate owner in relation to its voting stake, but
not its dividend stake.
Example 1.6: Widely held company
Listed Co holds interests in the tested company through 2 or
more different shareholdings. Listed Co owns a 20 per cent
interest in Loss Company through A Co and a 35 per cent
interest in Loss Company through B Co.
The shareholdings of Listed Co are aggregated to determine
its stake. Listed Co's stake in Loss Company is 55 per cent
and therefore the widely held company tracing rule will not
apply.
1.84 Stakes of less than 10 per cent are not subject to the
widely held company tracing rule. Instead they are attributed to
the single notional entity or the top interposed entity under those
tracing rules.
1.85 The persons who hold power or rights in the tested company
indirectly through the widely held company are taken not to hold
that power or those rights for the purposes of the alternative
test. This prevents double counting of the voting power and rights
to dividends and capital. [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-265]
Interposition of a widely held holding company above an existing
widely held company
1.86 If ownership of a company that is widely held is
restructured after the start of the test period by inserting a
holding company between the widely held company and its
shareholders, the existing company would cease to be widely held,
but the holding company may become widely held (eg, if it is
listed).
1.87 The new widely held company is taken to hold the same stake
at all times as the existing widely held company if the following
conditions are met:
. the new company acquires all the shares in the widely held
company;
. immediately before the acquisition, the shares of the
widely held company were listed on an approved stock
exchange;
. immediately after the acquisition, shares of the new
company are listed on an approved stock exchange;
. the new company has the same classes of shares as the
widely held company (which are not redeemable); and
. each entity that held stakes in the widely held company
immediately before the acquisition holds stakes in the new
company in the same proportions just after the
acquisition.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-240(4)]
1.88 The impact of introducing a holding entity on the same
share same interest rule is disregarded, except for the purposes of
determining whether there is an alteration time. The introduction
of a new holding entity may lead to an alteration time. [Schedule
1, item 79, subsection 166-240(5)]
Entities deemed to be beneficial owners
1.89 Generally, the COT requires a company to trace through all
corporate shareholders and trusts until it identifies the ultimate
individual holders of voting power and rights to dividends and
capital.
1.90 However, in the modified COT, a tracing rule treats some
types of entities as ultimate owners if they meet particular
conditions. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-245(1)]
1.91 The relevant entities are:
. superannuation funds;
. approved deposit funds;
. managed investment schemes; and
. special companies.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-245(2)]
1.92 In addition, other entities may be prescribed by the Income
Tax Regulations 1997. [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-
245(2)(e)]
1.93 If an entity deemed to be a beneficial owner has more than
10 members, the modified COT in Division 166 applies as if the
entity were a person (other than a company) who held the relevant
rights. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-245(6)]
1.94 If such an entity has 10 or fewer members at a test time,
each of the members is taken to hold the voting, dividend and
capital stakes in the entity equally. Each member is also treated
as a person (other than a company), regardless of whether the
member is actually an individual or other kind of entity.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-245(4)]
1.95 However, if each member's stake in the tested company is
less than 10 per cent, it is attributed back to the entity that is
deemed to be a beneficial owner. [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph
166-245(5)(b)]
1.96 The stakes of individuals who hold interests in the tested
company through an entity treated as an ultimate owner are
disregarded. [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-265]
1.97 This tracing rule does not apply to stakes of less than
10 per cent in the company. Instead, the tracing rule about direct
stakes of less than 10 per cent or indirect stakes of less than 10
per cent will apply. [Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-
245(1)(b)]
Superannuation funds
1.98 A superannuation fund is treated as an ultimate owner if
it is a complying superannuation fund. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subparagraph 166-245(3)(a)(i)]
1.99 A superannuation fund is also treated as an ultimate owner
if it is established in a foreign country and regulated under a
foreign law relating to the supervision of superannuation funds.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subparagraph 166-245(3)(a)(ii)]
Approved deposit funds
1.100 Approved deposit funds are deemed to be beneficial owners
if they are complying approved deposit funds. [Schedule 1, item
79, paragraph 166-245(3)(b)]
Special companies
1.101 Special companies are deemed to be beneficial owners.
[Schedule 1, item 79, paragraph 166-245(3)(c)]
1.102 Mutual insurance companies, mutual affiliate companies,
trade unions registered under an Australian law and sporting clubs
are 'special companies'. In addition, the regulations may
prescribe certain companies to be special companies (see subsection
995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997).
Managed investment schemes
1.103 A 'managed investment scheme' is deemed to be a beneficial
owner if it has more than 20 members and it is either registered
under Part 5C of the Corporations Act 2001 or is regulated as a
managed investment scheme under a foreign law. [Schedule 1, items
79 and 151, paragraph 166-245(3)(d) and subsection 995-1(1)]
Regulations
1.104 There is a regulation-making power to add other entities to
the list of those deemed to be beneficial owners. This will allow
other entities to be treated as ultimate owners if it is
demonstrated that there is difficulty in tracing ownership through
particular types of entities and there is little risk of loss
trafficking in deeming such entities to be beneficial owners.
[Schedule 1, item 79, paragraphs 166-245(2)(e) and (3)(e)]
Example 1.7: Entities deemed to be beneficial owners
[pic]
The shareholding of Loss Co Pty Ltd is:
XYZ Managed Investment Fund 12%
Australia-wide Insurance Ltd (a mutual insurance company)
25%
A Co Pty Ltd 40%
Mr Jones 23%
All shares in Loss Co Pty Ltd carry equal voting, dividend
and capital rights. Loss Co Pty Ltd is an eligible Division
166 company.
XYZ Managed Investment Fund is registered under Part 5C of
the Corporations Act 2001 and has more than 20 members.
Accordingly, it will be treated as the ultimate owner of its
12 per cent stake.
Australia-wide Insurance Ltd has more than 10 members and is
a mutual insurance company. Therefore, it will be treated
as the ultimate owner of its 25 per cent stake.
A Co Pty Ltd is 50 per cent owned by the North Doncaster
Softball club, which is a sporting club with more than 10
members. The other 50 per cent of A Co Pty Ltd is owned by
Mr Smith. North Doncaster Softball club is a sporting club,
a type of special company. Hence it will be treated as the
ultimate owner of its 20 per cent indirect stake in Loss Co
Pty Ltd.
Accordingly, the result of applying the Division 166 tracing
rules to Loss Co Pty Ltd is that the following owners are
identified:
XYZ Managed Investment Fund 12%
Australia-wide Insurance (a mutual insurance company)
25%
North Doncaster Softball Club 20%
Mr Smith 20%
Mr Jones 23%
Bearer shares
1.105 Bearer shares are negotiable instruments which accord
ownership of shares in a company to the person who possesses the
bearer share certificate. The owners of bearer shares are not
recorded in a register. Rather, the transfer of bearer shares
occurs through the physical handover of the share certificate.
Accordingly, it is not ordinarily practicable for a company to
trace ownership through bearer shares.
1.106 Bearer shares are common in many countries, although
Australian companies are prohibited from issuing bearer shares
(section 254F of the Corporations Act 2001).
1.107 A tracing rule applies to bearer shares carrying voting,
dividend or capital stakes in a foreign listed company which has a
direct or indirect stake in the tested company if the following
conditions are satisfied:
. There are persons (or it is reasonable to assume there are
persons), other than companies or trustees, who have a
voting stake, dividend stake or capital stake in the
tested company. (This condition would always be met
because there would be persons who hold voting stakes,
dividend stakes or capital stakes in the tested company,
even if such persons cannot be identified.)
. No other tracing rule has applied in relation to the
stake.
. A foreign listed company is interposed between those
persons and the tested company.
. The principal class of shares of the foreign listed
company is listed for quotation in the official list of an
approved stock exchange. The principal class of shares is
the ordinary or common shares of the company provided they
represent the majority of voting power and value of the
company. If there is no single class that represents the
majority of voting power or value it is the aggregate of
those classes that together do represent such a majority.
. Fifty per cent or more of the voting, dividend or capital
stakes in the foreign listed company are held by way of
bearer shares.
. The beneficial owners of some or all of the bearer shares
have not been disclosed to the foreign listed company.
[Schedule 1, items 79 and 159, subsections 166-255(1) and 995-1(1)]
1.108 If the tracing rule applies, a single notional entity is
taken to control the voting power in the tested company that is
carried by the bearer shares and to have the right to receive any
dividends and distributions of capital in the tested company that
those shares carry. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-255(2)]
1.109 However, this concession only applies to shares whose
beneficial owners have not been disclosed to the foreign listed
company. For example, if a foreign listed company received a
notice that disclosed substantial shareholdings, the tracing rule
would not apply in relation to those shares, even if the disclosure
was required under the corporate law of the relevant jurisdiction.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-255(2)]
1.110 The single notional entity that is taken to hold the voting
power and dividend and capital rights is a different single
notional entity to that which is taken to hold direct ownership
interests of less than 10 per cent in the tested company.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-255(3)]
Example 1.8: Bearer shares
[pic]
Beer Importers Pty Ltd is 60 per cent owned by German Beer
International GmbH, a company listed on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange. All of the shares in German Beer International
GmbH are held by way of bearer shares that carry equal
rights to voting, dividends and capital.
German Beer International GmbH has not been informed
directly of the identities of its bearer shareholders, but
it is aware that one of its directors, Mr Schwarz, owns 40
per cent of the German Beer International GmbH shares. Mr
Schwarz became a director after he acquired his 40 per cent
stake.
The other 40 per cent of shares in Beer Importers Pty Ltd
are held by a variety of individuals and companies and no
shareholding is 10 per cent or more.
German Beer International GmbH is listed on an approved
stock exchange and more than 50 per cent of its shares are
held as bearer shares. Accordingly, the bearer shares are
taken to be owned by a single notional entity. However, the
shareholding of Mr Schwarz is known to German Beer
International GmbH and therefore this interest is not
included in the shareholding attributed to the single
notional entity.
Voting power and dividend and capital stakes of Beer
Importers Pty Ltd are attributed as follows:
. twenty-four per cent to Mr Schwarz;
. forty-per cent to a single notional entity (the
interests of less than 10 per cent); and
. thirty-six per cent to a different single notional
entity (the bearer shares, minus Mr Schwarz's interest).
Depository entities
1.111 A depository entity is a central securities repository,
which provides custody of share certificates and services relating
to the exchange of shares. The Depository Trust Company in the
United States is an example of a depository entity. [Schedule 1,
item 79, subsection 166-260(5)]
1.112 If a law of the country in which a depository entity is
based prohibits the disclosure of shareholder information by the
depository entity, it may be impossible for an Australian company
to trace its ownership through the depository entity. If these
shareholders hold 50 per cent or more of shares in the company,
then the company would not be able to establish whether it
satisfies the COT.
1.113 A tracing rule applies to shares in a foreign listed
company held by a depository entity if the following conditions are
satisfied:
. There are persons (or it is reasonable to assume there are
persons), other than companies or trustees, who have a
voting stake, dividend stake or capital stake in the
tested company. (This condition would always be met
because there would be persons who hold voting stakes,
dividend stakes or capital stakes in the tested company,
even if such persons cannot be identified.)
. No other tracing rule has applied in relation to the
stake.
. A foreign listed company is interposed between those
persons and the tested company.
. The 'principal class of shares' of the foreign listed
company is listed for quotation in the official list of an
approved stock exchange. The principal class of shares is
the ordinary or common shares of the company provided they
represent the majority of voting power and value of the
company. If there is no single class that represents the
majority of voting power or value it is the aggregate of
those classes that together represent such a majority.
. Fifty per cent or more of the voting power or dividend or
capital rights in the foreign listed company are held
through one or more depository entities.
. A law of the foreign country, or part of the foreign
country in which the approved stock exchange is located,
prevents the disclosure of the beneficial owners of some
or all of the shares that are held by the depository
entity.
. The beneficial owners of some or all of the shares held by
the depository entities have not been disclosed to the
foreign listed company.
[Schedule 1, items 79 and 159, subsections 166-260(1) and 995-1(1)]
1.114 The tracing rule provides that the depository entity is
taken to be a person (other than a company) who holds all of the
voting power and dividend and capital rights carried by the
relevant shares. The rule does not apply to the extent that the
beneficial owners of the relevant shares have been disclosed to the
foreign listed company. For example, in a particular jurisdiction
a depository entity may be allowed to provide to the foreign listed
company the names of the beneficial owners who have advised the
depository entity that they do not object to their details being
revealed to the company. The stakes held by such shareholders
would not be attributed to the depository entity. [Schedule 1,
item 79, subsection 166-260(2)]
1.115 If one depository entity replaces another, the new
depository entity is taken to have held at all relevant times the
stakes that were held by the old depository entity. This rule
ensures that a change in the entity who has custody of the share
certificates which is not accompanied by a change in underlying
beneficial ownership does not cause failure of the modified COT.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-260(4)]
Example 1.9: Depository entities
[pic]
Loss Company Pty Ltd is 60 per cent owned by Worldwide
Holdings Inc, a company listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.
Fifty-five per cent of shares in Worldwide Holdings Inc are
held by the Depository Trust Company. A law of the relevant
jurisdiction prohibits the Depository Trust Company from
disclosing the names of the beneficial owners of the shares
which it holds.
All shares in Loss Company Pty Ltd and Worldwide Holdings
Inc carry equal rights to voting, dividends and capital.
The Depository Trust Company will be treated as holding 33
per cent (60% × 55%) of Loss Company Pty Ltd.
However, if Worldwide Holdings Inc was aware that 50 per
cent of the interests held through the Depository Trust
Company were held by Mr Jones, the Depository Trust Company
would not be attributed the interests of Mr Jones. In such
a case, Mr Jones would be attributed the 16.5 per cent
interest that he holds (50% of 33%), and the
Depository Trust Company would be attributed the remaining
16.5 per cent interest.
Same share same interest rule
1.116 In applying the normal COT, a company can only take account
of interests held by persons if they are the same interests and are
held by the same persons throughout the test period. The rule
ensures that a loss is not available for deduction if it has been
substantially duplicated through CGT events happening to direct or
indirect interests in the company.
1.117 The new modified COT contains a comparable rule, but it is
only applicable in respect of shares or other interests held by a
top interposed entity, a widely held company, an entity deemed to
be a beneficial owner or a depository entity [Schedule 1, item 79,
section 166-272]. The purpose is to ensure that a loss or
deduction is not available if it has been substantially duplicated
through capital gains tax (CGT) events happening to interests held
directly or indirectly by top interposed entities, widely held
companies, entities deemed to be beneficial owners or depository
entities.
1.118 For example, if a top interposed entity holds shares
directly in the tested company, those shares must be the same
shares at each test time to be taken into account for the modified
COT. Similarly, if a top interposed entity holds shares in another
company that holds shares in the tested company, both the shares
held by the top interposed entity and the interposed company must
be the same shares and held by the same persons at each test time.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-272(2)]
Example 1.10: Same share same interest rule
[pic]
Loss Company incurs a tax loss in the income year ending
30 June 2006. At the start of the loss year, Loss Company
is 60 per cent owned by Glass Supplies Pty Ltd. Glass
Supplies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glass Holdings
Limited. No entity holds a 10 per cent or greater stake in
Loss Company through Glass Holdings. Accordingly, Glass
Holdings is attributed stakes totalling 60 per cent by the
top interposed entity tracing rule.
Before the next test time, Glass Holdings undertakes a group
restructure. Shares in Loss Company are transferred from
Glass Supplies to Blown Glass Productions Pty Ltd, another
100 per cent subsidiary of Glass Holdings Limited.
At the second test time, the same share same interest rule
prevents the attribution of the stake to Glass Holdings
Limited. This is because Glass Holdings Limited no longer
holds its interest in Loss Company through the same shares.
However, if there is no substantial duplication of losses,
the savings provision may apply.
1.119 The same share same interest rule does not require that
shares or interests held by persons in a top interposed entity,
widely held company, entity deemed to be a beneficial owner or
depository entity be the same shares or interests. Nor does the
rule require that stakes attributed from less than 10 per cent
stakeholders to a top interposed entity, for example be the same at
each test time. Provided that the top interposed entity itself
holds the same shares or other interests, all stakes attributed to
it through the top interposed entity tracing rule can be taken into
account.
Example 1.11: Same share same interest rule and attribution of
stakes
Alpha Pty Ltd holds 30 per cent of shares in the tested
company throughout the test period. At the start of the
period, the top interposed entity tracing rule attributes
stakes totalling 15 per cent to Alpha. At the second time
in the test period, the top interposed entity tracing rule
attributes stakes totalling 30 per cent to Alpha.
Provided Alpha continues to hold the same shares, the fact
that the stakes attributed to it have increased from 15 per
cent to 30 per cent is irrelevant to the same share same
interest rule. It is also irrelevant that the people whose
stakes have been attributed to Alpha may have changed.
1.120 The same share same interest rule contains provisions that
ensure that share splits, unit splits, share consolidations and
unit consolidations do not affect continuity of ownership.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-272(3) to (6)]
Savings provision
1.121 The same share same interest rule is subject to a savings
provision. The savings provision in effect negates the same share
same interest rule if there is not substantial duplication of the
tax loss, notional loss, bad debt or unrealised net loss (as the
case may be) through CGT events occurring in respect of direct or
indirect interests in the tested company during the test period.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-272(8) and (11)]
1.122 Although the savings rule does not directly refer to net
capital losses or foreign losses of the tested company, the effect
of section 165-96 of the ITAA 1997 and subsection 160AFD(6) of the
ITAA 1936 is that it will also apply if there is not substantial
duplication of these types of losses.
1.123 In determining whether loss duplication has occurred the
only interests taken into account are those held by top interposed
entities, widely held companies, entities deemed to be beneficial
owners and depository entities, as well as entities interposed
between them and the tested company. The duplication of a loss at
the level of persons who hold stakes of less than 10 per cent, for
example will not prevent the savings provision applying.
1.124 A loss can only be reflected in ownership interests to the
extent that it represents an economic loss. Therefore, the savings
provision would apply if the relevant loss is predominantly a non-
economic loss.
1.125 Similarly, the savings provision would apply if losses
(or reduced gains) on the sale of shares were disregarded because
the shares were pre-CGT assets.
1.126 The savings provision will not apply if the loss will be
duplicated in the future because of a CGT event during the period.
This might occur if a capital loss has been recognised, but
deferred by Subdivision 170-D.
1.127 The savings provision does not apply for the purpose of
determining whether an alteration time occurs [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-272(9)]. Accordingly, in some cases the modified
COT may be failed because of the application of the same share same
interest rule for the purposes of Subdivision 165-CD, but not
failed for other purposes. Subdivision 165-CD can result in a
reduction of the reduced cost base of certain direct or indirect
interests in the tested company. This may be sufficient to prevent
the substantial duplication of a loss and therefore result in the
savings provision applying for other purposes.
Example 1.12: Savings provision
In Example 1.10, the savings provision may, however, apply
so that Loss Company can continue to satisfy the modified
COT in respect of its carry-forward tax loss.
The savings rule would apply if the tax loss is not
reflected in deductions, capital losses or reduced
assessable income for Glass Holdings, Glass Supplies or
Blown Glass Productions. This could be the case if:
. Glass Holdings, Glass Supplies and Blown Glass
Productions are part of a consolidated group, so no CGT
event occurs on the transfer of the shares; or
. the application of Subdivision 165-CD prevents a capital
loss arising for Glass Supplies on the transfer of its
shares to Blown Glass Productions.
Minimum interests rule
1.128 The same share same interest rule does not apply in respect
of stakes held by a single notional entity. The application of the
same share same interest rule to direct interests in the tested
company of less than 10 per cent would be inappropriate because it
would be contrary to the policy of allowing the tested company to
disregard interests of less than 10 per cent.
1.129 Instead, a minimum interests rule applies to stakes taken
to be held by a single notional entity under the tracing rule
relating to direct stakes of less than 10 per cent or the tracing
rule relating to bearer shares.
1.130 The minimum interests rule restricts the total proportion
of voting power, dividend rights and capital rights attributed to
the single notional entity to the proportion attributed to it at
the beginning of the test period. [Schedule 1, item 79,
section 166-270]
1.131 Changes among the less than 10 per cent stakeholders are
not relevant to the operation of the minimum interests rule. It is
only an increase in the aggregate proportion that is taken to be
held by the single notional entity that is prevented.
1.132 Further, an increase in the number of shares that carry
voting power or rights is not relevant if it does not correspond to
an increase in the proportion of voting power or rights. For
example, the tested company may raise capital during the test
period by issuing shares to existing shareholders. This may
substantially increase the number of shares holding voting power or
dividend or capital rights that are attributed to the single
notional entity. However, unless it causes an increase in the
proportion of voting power or rights, the minimum interests rule
has no operation.
Example 1.13: Minimum interests rule
At the start of the test period, there are 3 shareholders
with a less than 10 per cent stake in the tested company.
Simon holds 8 per cent, Natalie holds 6 per cent and Tim
holds 5 per cent. The tracing rule concerning direct stakes
of less than 10 per cent operates to attribute their stakes,
totalling 19 per cent, to the single notional entity.
At the next test time, Simon continues to hold 8 per cent,
Natalie holds 9 per cent and Fiona holds 7 per cent. Tim no
longer holds an interest in the tested company. Their total
interest of 24 per cent would be attributed to the single
notional entity. However, because this exceeds the
proportion at the start of the test period, the minimum
interests rule operates to reduce the amount taken into
account to 19 per cent.
No detrimental operation of tracing rules
1.133 The purpose of the tracing rules is to assist a company
trace its ownership interests to determine whether it satisfies the
COT. However, there may be cases where these rules make it more
difficult for a company to satisfy the COT. While the company
could choose not to apply the modified COT, that would not allow
the company to use any of the tracing rules.
1.134 The modified COT allows a tracing rule to be disregarded in
respect of a particular stake if it would cause the company to fail
the ownership tests. A company is taken to satisfy the relevant
conditions if the company believes on reasonable grounds that it
would not fail the conditions if the tracing rule did not apply in
respect of that stake. [Schedule 1, item 79, section 166-275]
1.135 The rule does not prevent other tracing rules potentially
applying to the relevant stake or the same tracing rule applying in
respect of other stakes. It merely allows tracing rules to be
disregarded in these circumstances to the extent that they would
cause a failure of the modified COT.
1.136 The company must hold a reasonable belief that it would not
fail the tests if the tracing rule did not apply. In most cases a
company would be expected to form this view by applying the test
for substantial continuity of ownership in the normal way, this is
without the use of that tracing rule in respect of the particular
stake. However, it is recognised that in some cases, despite its
best endeavours, a company may be unable to obtain sufficient
information to determine with certainty that it would pass the
ownership tests without the tracing rule. In such a case, the
modified COT allows a company to draw a conclusion about whether it
would satisfy the ownership tests based on any information that it
has reasonably been able to obtain. [Schedule 1, item 79, section
166-275]
1.137 Circumstances where the operation of a tracing rule could
cause the ownership tests to be failed and, therefore, might
trigger the operation of this rule include:
. a direct shareholder's interest in the tested company
rises to 10 per cent or more or drops below 10 per cent
during the test period;
. an indirect stakeholder's interest in the tested company
rises to 10 per cent or more or drops below 10 per cent
during the test period;
. a widely held company's interest in the tested company
rises above 50 per cent or drops to 50 per cent or less
during the test period;
. a company that has not more than a 50 per cent interest in
the tested company either becomes a widely held company or
ceases to be a widely held company during the test period;
or
. the holders of bearer shares or of interests through
depository entities become known to the tested company
during the test period.
1.138 In each of these cases, the application of the tracing rule
may imply a larger change in ownership than actually occurs.
Example 1.14: Increase of shareholding to more than 10 per cent
At the start of the ownership test period Lisa owns 9 per
cent of the shares in the tested company. In the following
year, Lisa increases her shareholding in the tested company
to 11 per cent.
At the start of the test period, the rule in section 166-225
about direct stakes of less than 10 per cent in the tested
company, would operate to attribute Lisa's interest to the
single notional entity. However, in the following year,
section 166-225 would not apply to the stake held by Lisa
because it exceeds 10 per cent. Accordingly Lisa, rather
than the single notional entity, would hold that stake for
the purpose of Division 166.
If the operation of section 166-225 in relation to the stake
held by Lisa at the start of the test period would cause the
tested company to fail the COT in the following year, then
the concessional tracing rule, section 166-275, would apply.
The effect of section 166-275 is to ignore the operation of
section 166-225 to Lisa's stake at the start of the test
period. Accordingly, the tested company could treat Lisa
herself as owning the 9 per cent interest at the start of
the test period and the 11 per cent interest at the later
point in the test period.
Controlled test companies
1.139 A tracing rule does not apply to modify how the ownership
tests apply in respect of voting power or dividend or capital
rights held directly or indirectly by an entity that sufficiently
influences the tested company. [Schedule 1, item 79,
subsection 166-280(1)]
1.140 Broadly, a company is sufficiently influenced by an entity
if the company, or its directors, are accustomed or under an
obligation to act in accordance with the directions, instructions
or wishes of the entity or would reasonably be expected to do so.
1.141 A minority shareholder would not generally be regarded as
having sufficient influence over a company merely because it is
assertive about how the company or its directors should act, or
because it has a representative on the company's board of
directors. In contrast, a shareholder may have sufficient
influence where under a formal or informal arrangement with other
shareholders it is able to control the majority of appointments to
the company's board of directors.
1.142 In addition, if the tested company is a widely held
company, the tracing rule does not modify how the ownership tests
apply in relation to the voting power of the tested company if:
. a natural person, together with any associates, directly
or indirectly, controls more than 25 per cent of the total
voting power in the tested company; or
. a company or trust, together with its associates, directly
or indirectly, controls more than 50 per cent of the total
voting power in the tested company.
[Schedule 1, item 79, subsection 166-280(2)]
1.143 The controlled test companies rule requires a company to
trace its ownership through to the entity who has sufficient
influence, the natural person who (with associates) controls more
than 25 per cent of the voting power, or the company or trustee
which (with associates) controls more than 50 per cent of the
voting power.
1.144 The controlled test companies rule prevents the strict
operation of the tracing rules hiding significant interests in the
tested company. For example, if a company indirectly holds more
than 50 per cent of the tested company, but does so through a
number of stakes in entities which directly hold less than 10 per
cent of the tested company, in the absence of the controlled test
company rule, the rule about direct stakes of less than 10 per cent
would attribute these interests to a single notional entity.
1.145 The controlled test companies rule only prevents tracing
rules applying to:
. stakes held by controlling entities (ie, entities with
sufficient influence or with associate inclusive voting
power of more than 25 per cent or 50 per cent, as the case
may be); and
. stakes held by entities interposed between the tested
company and controlling entities.
Tracing that is unaffected by controlled test companies rule
1.146 The controlled test companies rule does not prevent the
tracing rules applying in relation to stakes held indirectly
through a controlling entity. This is the case even if the
operation of the tracing rule causes the stake to be attributed to
the controlling entity.
Example 1.15: Controlled test companies rule
A widely held company holds 40 per cent of the tested
company and its associates hold 20 per cent. Because the
widely held company together with its associates holds more
than 50 per cent of the tested company, the tracing rule
regarding stakes of 50 per cent or less held by widely held
companies cannot apply.
In tracing through the widely held company the tested
company finds that all shareholders in the widely held
company have a less than 10 per cent stake in the tested
company. Those stakes can be attributed to the widely held
company through the application of the rule for indirect
stakes of less than 10 per cent.
1.147 Similarly, the controlled test companies rule does not
affect the operation of the bearer shares rule merely because the
foreign listed company referred to in that section holds more than
50 per cent of the shares in the tested company. Generally, the
controlled test companies rule could not apply in the context of
bearer shares, because the identity of bearer shareholders would
not be known.
1.148 The controlled test companies rule does not affect the
operation of the tracing rule for depository entities merely
because a depository entity holds more than 50 per cent of the
shares in a tested company. This is because the depository entity
does not control voting power in the tested company - it only has
custody of shares on behalf of other entities. Generally, the
controlled test companies rule could not apply in relation to
stakes held through a depository entity because the identity of
stakeholders would not be known.
Example 1.16: Controlled test company
Brooms and Brushes Limited is a listed company that has
incurred tax losses. Twenty per cent of the shares in
Brooms and Brushes Limited are held directly by Cleaning
Products Pty Ltd. Household Investments Limited holds 35
per cent of shares in Brooms and Brushes Limited and also 60
per cent of shares in Cleaning Products Pty Ltd. Household
Investments Limited is also a listed company.
All shares referred to in this example carry equal rights to
voting, dividends and capital.
[pic]
Household Investments Limited holds 2 stakes in Brooms and
Brushes Limited - a 35 per cent direct stake and a 12 per
cent indirect stake through Cleaning Products Pty Ltd. If
the controlled test companies rule in section 166-280 did
not apply, Household Investments Limited could be treated as
the ultimate owner of its 2 stakes in Brooms and Brushes
Limited because it is a widely held company with stakes of
not more than 50 per cent.
Cleaning Products Pty Ltd is an associate of Household
Investments Limited. This is because Housing Investments
Limited holds a majority voting interest in Cleaning
Products Pty Ltd (see subsection 318(2) of the ITAA 1936).
Household Investments Limited together with its associate
controls 55 per cent of Brooms and Brushes Limited (ie, 35%
+ 20%). Accordingly, the controlled test companies rule
prevents application of the tracing rule for stakes of 10
per cent to 50 per cent held by widely held companies that
would otherwise operate to treat Household Investments
Limited as the ultimate owner of its stakes in Brooms and
Brushes Limited.
Instead, Brooms and Brushes Limited must trace through
Household Investments Limited in respect of the 35 per cent
direct stake and 12 per cent indirect stake.
The controlled test companies rule does not prevent the
tracing rules applying to stakes held indirectly through
Household Investments Limited. Stakes of less than 10 per
cent in Brooms and Brushes Limited which are held by
shareholders of Household Investments Limited will be
attributed to Household Investments Limited through the
operation of the tracing rule for indirect stakes of less
than 10 per cent.
Example of the new modified continuity of ownership
1.149 Example 1.17 illustrates the operation of the new modified
COT.
Example 1.17
In the year ending 30 June 2005, Loss Company incurs a tax
loss of $10 million.
In the year ending 30 June 2006, Loss Company has sufficient
assessable income (net of deductions), against which to
deduct its $10 million loss. In determining whether it can
deduct the loss it needs to satisfy the COT.
Firstly, it must determine whether it is eligible to apply
the modified COT in Division 166.
At 30 June 2006 its ownership structure is:
[pic]
Eligibility of Loss Company for the modified COT
Loss Company is not a widely held company because it is not
listed and has less than 50 members.
Loss Company will nevertheless be eligible for the modified
COT if more than 50 per cent of the relevant rights in Loss
Company are owned (either directly or indirectly) by widely
held companies or entities deemed to be beneficial owners at
all times in the year ended 30 June 2006.
At 30 June 2006:
. Listed Company A directly owns shares carrying 60 per
cent of the voting power and dividend and capital
distribution rights and, because it is a listed company,
meets the definition of 'widely held company';
. Listed Company B indirectly owns shares carrying 17.5
per cent (50% of 35%) of voting power and dividend and
capital rights and, because it is a listed company,
meets the definition of 'widely held company'; and
. Complying super fund indirectly owns shares carrying
17.5 per cent (50% of 35%) of voting power and dividend
and capital rights and is an entity deemed to be a
beneficial owner.
Although 5 per cent of the relevant interests are held by a
natural person (Bob) this does not disqualify the company
from eligibility for the modified COT.
Because more than 50 per cent of the rights are held by
widely held companies, entities deemed to be beneficial
owners, non-profit companies or charitable bodies at all
times in the income year ending
30 June 2006, Loss Company is eligible for the modified COT.
Application of tracing rules at 1 July 2004
At 1 July 2004 (the start of the loss year), shareholdings
in
Loss Company were as follows:
[pic]
All shares carry equal voting power, rights to dividends and
rights to capital. Accordingly, this example refers to
shares and stakes in the Loss Company and does not
separately refer to voting power or rights to dividends or
capital distributions.
Listed Company A is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
and accordingly is a widely held company. However, it will
not be regarded as the ultimate beneficial owner under
section 166-240 because its stake in Loss Company is more
than 50 per cent. Accordingly, Loss Company will need to
trace through the interest held by Listed Company A:
. Julie's stake in Loss Company is 24 per cent (60% ×
40%) and is attributed to her.
. The other shareholders in Listed Company A have indirect
stakes in Loss Company. Each of these indirect stakes
is less than 10 per cent (60% × 16.6%). Accordingly
these stakes will be attributed to the top interposed
entity pursuant to section 166-230. The top interposed
entity is Listed Company A. Therefore, Listed Company A
is taken to hold a 36 per cent stake in Loss Company.
Bob holds exactly 10 per cent of shares in Loss Company. As
stakes of less than 10 per cent are attributed to the single
notional entity under the tracing rule in section 166-225,
this rule will not apply to Bob's stake. Consequently, Bob
is taken to hold his 10 per cent stake in Loss Company.
Australian Operations Pty Ltd holds 30 per cent of shares in
Loss Company. It is not a widely held company and therefore
Loss Company will need to trace its beneficial ownership
through Australian Operations Pty Ltd.
. Australian Operations Pty Ltd is wholly-owned by
Holdings Inc, a company which is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange. Holdings Inc is a widely held company
because it is listed on an approved stock exchange.
Since it has a not more than 50 per cent indirect stake
in Loss Company, Holdings Inc will be treated under the
tracing rule in section 166-240 as a person other than a
company that holds the stake. It will not be necessary
to trace beneficial ownership through Holdings Inc.
In conclusion, at 1 July 2004, the ownership of the tested
company is attributed as follows:
. Julie 24%
. Listed Company A 36%
. Bob 10%
. Holdings Inc 30%
Application of tracing rules at 30 June 2005
The ownership of Loss Company at 30 June 2005 is the same as
at 1 July 2004. Accordingly, the tracing of ownership at 30
June 2005 would give the same outcome as above.
Application of tracing rules at 30 June 2006
As at 30 June 2006, shareholders in Loss Company are as
follows:
[pic]
For the reasons discussed above, Loss Company needs to trace
through the shareholding of Listed Company A:
. Frank's indirect interest in the Loss Company is 12 per
cent (60% × 20%) and is attributed to him.
. All other shareholders have an interest in the
interposed Listed Company A less than 16.6 per cent,
representing less than 10 per cent stakes in Loss
Company. Hence these stakes, totalling 48 per cent (60%
× 80%), are attributed to Listed Company A.
Bob's 5 per cent interest is deemed to be held by a single
notional entity, as it is a direct interest amounting to
less than 10 per cent of total rights.
As Company C is not a widely held company or an entity
deemed to be a beneficial owner, beneficial ownership must
be traced through it:
. As Listed Company B is a widely held company which
indirectly owns between 10 per cent and 50 per cent of
relevant rights in Loss Company, it is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the 17.5 per cent interest.
. As Complying super fund is an entity deemed to be a
beneficial owner with more than 10 members, it is deemed
to be the beneficial owner of the 17.5 per cent
interest.
At 30 June 2006, the following stakes are identified:
. Frank 12%
. Listed Company A 48%
. Listed Company B 17.5%
. Complying super fund 17.5%
. Single notional entity 5%
Conclusion
Listed Company A is the only entity that was a stakeholder
at both points in time. The interest of Listed Company A at
the start of the test period was 36 per cent. However, its
full 48 per cent interest at the second test time can be
taken into account because it continues to hold the same
shares in Loss Company in the same way.
Bob's interest was attributed directly to him at the start
of the test period, but attributed to the single notional
entity pursuant to section 166-225 at 30 June 2006. If this
operation of section 166-225 causes Loss Company to fail the
COT, it can be ignored by Loss Company (under section 166-
275 because it would cause Loss Company to fail the COT) and
Bob's 5 per cent stake at 30 June 2006 can be attributed
directly to him.
Putting aside Bob's stake, the same people (ie, Listed
Company A) owns 36 per cent at 1 July 2004 and 48 per cent
at 30 June 2006. Accordingly, there is not substantial
continuity of ownership.
If Bob's stake is attributed to him rather than the single
notional entity, continuity of ownership in Loss Company
would be 46 per cent at the start of the period and 53 per
cent at the later time. Even with Bob's stake there is not
substantial continuity of ownership because the same persons
do not hold more than 50 per cent of voting power or
relevant rights at each test time.
Accordingly, Loss Company fails the modified COT.
Application and transitional provisions
1.150 The new modified COT applies to:
. tax losses incurred in income years commencing on or after
1 July 2002;
. net capital losses made in income years commencing on or
after 1 July 2002;
. deductions for bad debts that are claimed in income years
commencing on or after 1 July 2002; and
. determine whether a changeover time or alteration time
occurs at any time on or after 1 July 2002.
[Schedule 1, subitem 170(1)]
1.151 The new modified COT also applies in relation to an earlier
tax loss or net capital loss if:
. the tax loss could have been deducted (in accordance with
the loss recoupment rules in force at that time) in the
first income year commencing after 30 June 2002; or
. the net capital loss could have been applied (in
accordance with the loss recoupment rules in force at that
time) in the first income year commencing on or after 1
July 2002.
[Schedule 1, subitem 170(4)]
1.152 In determining whether a tax loss could have been deducted
in the first income year commencing after 30 June 2002, the fact
that it can only be deducted to the extent the company has
sufficient income (section 36-17) is ignored. [Schedule 1,
subparagraph 170(4)(a)(ii)]
1.153 In determining whether a net capital loss could be applied
in the first income year commencing after 30 June 2002, the fact
that a net capital loss may only be used to reduce capital gains is
ignored. [Schedule 1, subparagraph 170(4)(b)(ii)]
1.154 The effect of the amendments for a company with a
substituted accounting period is that the modified COT applies for
the first accounting period that commences after 1 July 2002.
1.155 For example, a company with a substituted accounting period
of 1 April to 31 March, will not be eligible for the modified COT
in respect of losses incurred in its income year commencing 1 April
2002, unless it could have deducted those losses under the existing
rules in its income year commencing 1 April 2003.
1.156 The new modified COT will apply to a foreign loss in the
same way as it would apply to a tax loss incurred in the same year
(subsection 160AFD(6)).
1.157 If a pre-1 July 2002 loss is eligible for the modified COT
(ie, it could have been deducted in an income year commencing on or
after 1 July 2002), the new modified COT rules apply at all test
times. For example, if the loss was incurred in 1998-99 income
year and the company is seeking to deduct it in 2006-07 income
year, the modified COT tracing rules are used to test ownership in
1998-99 and 2006-07 (as well as intervening years).
1.158 The new modified COT cannot apply to deductions for bad
debts written-off before 1 July 2002. Unlike losses, deductions
for bad debts can be claimed in the income year the debt is written-
off. If the company's deductions for that income year exceed its
income, the bad debt deduction merely contributes to the loss
(subject to the application of section 165-132).
1.159 In some cases, a tax loss or a net capital loss is taken to
have been made in the income year immediately before a changeover
time (section 165-115B). The modified COT will not apply to a loss
that is treated as having been made in an income year before
1 July 2002 unless the loss could have been used in the first
income year commencing on or after that date.
Consolidation interactions
1.160 Section 707-140 treats the head company of a consolidated
group as having made a loss of any sort that is transferred to it
in the income year in which it is transferred. Therefore, if a
loss is transferred to the head company of a consolidated group on
or after 1 July 2002, the loss will be eligible for the modified
COT if the income year in which the transfer occurred commenced on
or after 1 July 2002.
1.161 The assumptions contained in subsection 707-210(4) and
section 709-215 do not affect the application of the modified COT.
This is because these provisions do not deem the relevant loss or
bad debt to be incurred at a different time.
1.162 If a subsidiary company with losses joins a consolidated
group on 1 July 2002, it cannot use the new modified COT to
determine whether it can transfer its losses to the head company of
the group because it does not have an income year commencing after
30 June 2002. It is not recognised as a stand-alone company for
tax purposes after this date. However, if a company joins a
consolidated group later in that year, the modified COT can apply
as a transfer test to pre-1 July 2002 losses if the relevant
company has at least part of an income year (ie, a non-membership
period under section 701-30) in which it could have utilised those
losses commencing after 30 June 2002.
Choice to disregard amendments for prior years
1.163 If a tax loss was incurred, a net capital loss made or a
deduction claimed in respect of a bad debt, or if a changeover or
alteration time occurred in an income year that ends before the
date the Bill receives Royal Assent, the company may choose not to
apply the amendments made to the COT for those income years.
[Schedule 1, subitem 170(2)]
1.164 The company must make this choice before its first income
tax return is lodged after the Bill receives Royal Assent, or
within such further time as the Commissioner allows. Accordingly,
companies that have traced their ownership under the existing
modified COT for prior years are not required to apply the new
tracing rules unless they choose to do so. [Schedule 1, subitem
170(3)]
Consequential Amendments
1.165 Notes are inserted to alert readers of Division 165 or
Division 707 to the modifications made by the new modified COT.
[Schedule 1, items 14, 28, 42, 54 and 113]
1.166 Definitions that were relevant to the operation of the old
modified COT, but are not used in the new modified COT are
repealed. [Schedule 1, items 142, 146, 150, 153, 154, 155, 157,
158 and 166]
1.167 Definitions of 'test period' and 'test time' in the
Dictionary are updated to take into account changes resulting from
the new modified COT provisions. [Schedule 1, items 162 and 163]
Chapter 2
Loss recoupment rules for companies: same business test income ceiling
Outline of chapter
2.1 Schedule 1 to this Bill reforms the loss recoupment rules
for companies by:
. introducing a new modified continuity of ownership test
(COT) to replace the existing modified COT in Division 166
of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997);
. removing the same business test (SBT) for companies whose
total income is more than $100 million in the year of
recoupment; and
. removing certain anomalies and clarifying some aspects of
the existing law.
2.2 This chapter explains amendments that remove the SBT for
companies whose total income is more than $100 million in relation
to losses incurred in income years commencing on or after
1 July 2005.
Context of amendments
2.3 A company that fails the COT can nevertheless deduct a tax
loss if it satisfies the SBT.
2.4 A company satisfies the SBT if it carries on the same
business in the year it wishes to deduct the loss as it did
immediately before it failed the COT and it does not derive income
from a business or transaction of a new kind. Because of the
practical difficulties in applying the COT, some companies have
placed considerable reliance on the SBT to recoup prior year
losses.
2.5 The introduction of tax consolidation has highlighted
shortcomings with the SBT. It is difficult to compare the nature
of a large and diverse business across two points in time, which
may be several years apart.
2.6 This Bill introduces a ceiling for the SBT that prevents
large companies (including consolidated groups) from satisfying the
SBT if the total income is more than $100 million. The SBT ceiling
is introduced in conjunction with measures to make the COT easier
to apply. As a result, for large companies the focus of the loss
recoupment rules will shift toward testing for continuity of
ownership.
Summary of new law
2.7 An income ceiling of $100 million is introduced for the
SBT. A company or consolidated group cannot satisfy the SBT in an
income year in which its total income (including exempt income and
non-assessable non-exempt income) is more than $100 million.
2.8 The ceiling only applies in relation to losses incurred in
income years commencing on or after 1 July 2005.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|The SBT is satisfied for|The SBT is satisfied for|
|a period if the company |a period if the company |
|carried on the same |carried on the same |
|business, engaged in no |business and engaged in |
|new kinds of |no new kinds of |
|transactions or |transactions or |
|businesses and (in |businesses during that |
|relation to losses |period. |
|incurred in years | |
|starting on or after 1 | |
|July 2005) did not have | |
|total income of more | |
|than $100 million in the| |
|income year. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
2.9 A total income ceiling applies to large companies
(including consolidated groups) for the purposes of the SBT.
2.10 A company is not able to satisfy the SBT for the whole or a
part of an income year if its total income for the income year is
more than $100 million. The ceiling applies to losses incurred in
income years commencing on or after 1 July 2005. [Schedule 1,
items 76 and 172, section 165-212A]
2.11 Total income is tested for the income year in which the SBT
period occurs.
2.12 The SBT period for tax losses and net capital losses is the
income year in which the losses are recouped. Accordingly, a
company cannot satisfy the SBT if its total income is more than
$100 million in that year.
2.13 For example, a company incurs a tax loss in the income year
ending 30 June 2006 and the company wishes to deduct the loss in
the income year ended 30 June 2008. In determining whether it
satisfies the SBT, the company needs to calculate its total income
for the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. The total income of
the company for the income years ending 30 June 2006 and 30 June
2007 will not be taken into account.
2.14 The SBT period for the application of the current year loss
rules (Subdivisions 165-B and 165-CB) is that part of the year
after the company fails the COT. Total income is calculated for
the whole income year, even though the SBT period may only be part
of the year.
2.15 The SBT period for bad debts is the second continuity
period. The second continuity period is either the current income
year or part of the current income year. As with the current year
loss rules, the total income is calculated for the whole of the
current income year, even if the second continuity period is only a
part of the current income year.
2.16 If a company is a subsidiary member of a consolidated group
for part of an income year, it determines its taxable income for
each non-membership period as if that period were an income year
(section 701-30 of the ITAA 1997)). Accordingly, in determining
whether the SBT is satisfied in a non-membership period, total
income is calculated for the non-membership period. However, total
income is adjusted to a 12-month equivalent. [Schedule 1, item 76,
section 165-212C]
2.17 The failure of the SBT because the total income ceiling is
exceeded does not necessarily preclude a future deduction of a tax
loss or the future application of a net capital loss. The failure
of the SBT in a given income year does not extinguish a tax loss or
a net capital loss (other than in the context of a transfer to the
head company of a consolidated group). Accordingly, it would be
possible for the SBT to be satisfied and the loss claimed in a
subsequent year if total income falls below $100 million. The same
outcome does not arise in respect of a bad debt since a bad debt
can only be deducted in the income year in which it is written-off.
What is total income?
2.18 Total income consists of:
. assessable income;
. exempt income; and
. non-assessable non-exempt income.
[Schedule 1, item 76, subsection 165-212B(1)]
2.19 Total income is a calculation of gross income and
accordingly it is not reduced by current year deductions or tax
losses.
2.20 The total income of a head company of a consolidated group
or multiple entry consolidated group (MEC group) includes amounts
derived by subsidiary members of the group. This is an outcome of
the single entity rule in section 701-1 of the ITAA 1997.
2.21 Net capital gains are excluded from total income as they
are not reflective of the on-going income earning potential of the
company. Capital gains that are disregarded are also excluded from
total income, because these amounts are neither exempt income
nor non-assessable non-exempt income. [Schedule 1, item 76,
subsection 165-212B(1)]
2.22 Amounts that are non-assessable non-exempt income under
section 17-5 because they represent goods and services tax (GST)
collected by a company are excluded from total income. [Schedule
1, item 76, paragraph 165-212B(2)(a)]
2.23 Non-assessable non-exempt income is also excluded from
total income if it represents an amount that has been included in
assessable income. Such amounts are excluded from total income to
prevent double counting. [Schedule 1, item 76, paragraph 165-
212B(2)(b)]
2.24 Examples of non-assessable non-exempt income that are
excluded from total income are:
. Amounts received on the disposal of trading stock outside
the ordinary course of a business, where the market value
of the trading stock is included in assessable income
(section 70-90 of the ITAA 1997).
. Attribution account payments in cases where attribution
account debits arise. Broadly, attribution account
payments (eg, dividends from controlled foreign companies)
are exempt from tax because the profits of the foreign
subsidiary have already been included in the assessable
income of the Australian company under the controlled
foreign companies provisions (section 23AI of the ITAA
1936).
. Foreign investment fund attribution account payments where
attribution account debits arise. Broadly, foreign
investment fund attribution account payments (eg,
dividends from foreign investment funds) are exempt from
tax because the profits have already been included in the
assessable income of the Australian company under the
foreign investment fund provisions (section 23AK of the
ITAA 1936).
. Amounts distributed from a trust where the income has
already been attributed to the company pursuant to
Division 6AAA of Part III of the ITAA 1936
(paragraph 99B(2)(e) of the ITAA 1936).
. Dividends that offset a shareholder loan that has been
treated as a deemed dividend under Division 7A of Part III
of the ITAA 1936 (subsection 109ZC(3) of the ITAA 1936).
Example 2.1: Same business test total income ceiling
In the year ended 30 June 2006, Steel Limited incurs a tax
loss of $50 million.
On 1 August 2006, Minerals Limited acquires 60 per cent of
Steel Limited pursuant to a takeover bid. As a consequence,
Steel Limited fails the COT on that day.
In the year ended 30 June 2007, Steel Limited has assessable
income of $90 million and deductions (not including tax
losses) of $60 million. $10 million of its assessable
income comes from a net capital gain.
In the same year, a foreign company pays Steel Limited a
dividend of $25 million. The dividend is a non-portfolio
dividend that is non-assessable non-exempt income under
section 23AJ of the ITAA 1936.
Steel Limited's taxable income is $30 million (excluding any
tax loss deduction). Therefore, Steel Limited could deduct
up to $30 million of its tax loss if it satisfies the
relevant loss recoupment tests. Since Steel Limited has
failed the COT, it must rely on the SBT.
[pic]
Steel Limited has been a manufacturer of steel products
since 1990. It continues to conduct the same business of
steel manufacturing throughout the period 1 July 2006 to 30
June 2007 (the SBT period) as it did immediately prior to 1
August 2006.
Notwithstanding that it carries on the same business
activities, Steel Limited cannot satisfy the SBT for the
year ending 30 June 2007 because its total income for the
period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 is $105 million,
comprising $80 million of assessable income (not including
the net capital gain) and $25 million of non-assessable non-
exempt income. Accordingly, Steel Limited exceeds the
$100 million SBT ceiling in the income year ending 30 June
2007.
Because Steel Limited does not satisfy the SBT it cannot
deduct its tax loss in the income year ending 30 June 2007.
Grossing-up of total income for periods of less than 12 months
2.25 If the period in which total income is tested is not 12
months, the total income is adjusted so that it corresponds to a 12-
month period. This can occur if a company:
. comes into existence or ceases to be in existence during
the relevant income year; or
. is a subsidiary member of a consolidated group for part of
the relevant income year.
[Schedule 1, item 76, subsection 165-212C(1)]
2.26 The total income of a company whose income period is not
12 months is the amount that the company reasonably estimates would
be its total income for a complete 12-month period. [Schedule 1,
item 76, subsection 165-212C(2)]
2.27 For example, a company is only in existence for 3 months of
the year and has a total income of $30 million. Generally, the
amount adjusted for 12 months would be $120 million (4 × $30
million). However, a company's calculation of total income in
these circumstances may vary if seasonal factors affect the
company's business, or if total income is growing or falling
through the income year.
2.28 This adjustment mechanism applies instead of section 716-
850, which would otherwise operate to adjust thresholds for the
purpose of subsection 701-30(3) in respect of periods of less than
365 days. [Schedule 1, item 76, subsection 165-212C(3)]
Total income ceiling and consolidation
2.29 When a company joins a consolidated group, the company must
satisfy the loss recoupment tests to transfer its losses of any
sort (including tax losses, net capital losses and foreign losses)
to the head company of the consolidated group (section 707-120 of
the ITAA 1997). Losses not transferred to the head company cannot
be utilised after the joining time (section 707-150).
2.30 For the purpose of the transfer of losses to the head
company of a consolidated group, a company can only satisfy the SBT
if total income is $100 million or less in both:
. the income year in which the COT was failed; and
. the income year that ends during the trial year (or, if
there is no such year, the income year in which the
joining time occurs).
2.31 The SBT ceiling is not applied to a trial year because the
trial year generally overlaps 2 income years and is not a period
for which the joining company separately calculates its income.
Instead, the ceiling applies to the total income of the company for
the income year that ends during the trial year. A company does
not satisfy the SBT for a trial year if its total income is more
than $100 million for the income year that ends during the trial
year. [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-805(1)(a)]
2.32 In some cases, an income year does not end during a trial
year. This may occur when the company has recently exited a
consolidated group, or has recently come into existence. If an
income year does not end during the trial year, then the company
calculates its total income for the income year in which the
joining time occurs [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-
805(1)(b)]. In such a case, the company adjusts its total income
if the period is less than 12 months.
2.33 A company joining a consolidated group also has to satisfy
the SBT for the income year in which the SBT test time occurs, that
is, the year the company fails the COT (section 707-125).
Accordingly, the company's total income must also be $100 million
or less in the income year that the SBT test time occurs to satisfy
the SBT for the purposes of transferring a loss to the head company
of a consolidated group. [Schedule 1, item 133, subsection 716-
805(2)]
2.34 For losses incurred in income years commencing on or before
30 June 1999, the SBT only needs to be satisfied for the trial year
(section 707-125), but such losses are not subject to the total
income ceiling.
Example 2.2: Same business test total income ceiling and
consolidation
Continuing from Example 2.1, on 1 September 2007, Minerals
Limited acquires the remaining 40 per cent of shares in
Steel Limited. Minerals Limited is the head company of a
consolidated group and therefore Steel Limited joins the
consolidated group.
Deduction of tax loss before joining time
Steel Limited will treat the period 1 July 2007 to 31 August
2007 as if it were an income year (see section 701-30).
[pic]
Steel Limited's assessable income for the pre-joining time
period (1 July to 31 August) is $10 million and its
deductions (not including tax losses) are $8 million. It
has no exempt or non-assessable non-exempt income in this
period.
Steel Limited can only deduct $2 million of its tax loss in
the non-membership period if it satisfies the SBT.
Steel Limited's total income for the non-membership period
is the sum of its assessable income ($10 million), its
exempt income (nil) and its non-assessable non-exempt income
(nil). Its total income is adjusted by the length of the
period (see section 165-212C). There are no seasonal
factors affecting Steel Limited's income, so Steel Limited
grosses up its total income by reference to the proportion
of the income year that falls in the non-membership period.
In this case, the adjustment results in total income for
Steel Limited of $58.9 million ($10 million × 365/62).
Steel Limited continues to carry on the same business during
the non-membership period as it did immediately prior to 1
August 2006 (when it failed the COT). Accordingly, Steel
Limited satisfies the other conditions for the SBT and can
deduct $2 million of its tax losses, to reduce its taxable
income to nil.
Transfer of tax loss to Minerals Limited
Steel Limited will apply sections 707-120 and 707-125 to
determine whether it can transfer its remaining tax losses
of $48 million to Minerals Limited on joining the
consolidated group.
[pic]
Steel Limited must satisfy the SBT for the trial year, which
is 1 September 2006 to 1 September 2007 and the income year
in which it failed the COT, 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.
Steel Limited will only be able to satisfy the SBT for these
periods if its total income is $100 million or less for:
. the income year in which the test time occurred
(1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007); and
. the income year which ended during the trial year
(also 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007).
Steel Limited's total income is $105 million for the income
year
1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 (see Example 2.1), and will not
be able to satisfy the SBT. Accordingly, Steel Limited will
not be able to transfer its tax losses to Minerals Limited.
Interaction with consolidation bad debt rules
2.35 Subdivision 709-D concerns the interaction between
consolidation and the deduction of bad debts. Subdivision 709-D
applies if a debt is written-off as bad and is held by a company
that is a member of a consolidated group for some, but not all, of
the time between when the debt was incurred and when it was written-
off. In such a case, Subdivision 709-D divides the test period
into segments (debt test periods) for the purposes of applying the
COT and the SBT.
2.36 A company can only claim the bad debt deduction if each
entity that was owed the debt would have been entitled to deduct it
in its debt test income year. This requires each entity to satisfy
the COT or the SBT for its debt test income year.
2.37 A debt test income year (and hence the SBT period) ends
either at the end of the income year in which the debt is written-
off or the end of the debt test period. A debt test income year
that ends at the end of an income year may be a normal 12-month
income year or a shorter period if the debt test period starts
after the start of the income year (item 1 in the table in
subsection 709-215(3)).
2.38 In a case to which item 2 in the table in subsection 709-
215(3) applies, the debt test income year will only end at the end
of an income year if the debt test period ends at the end of an
income year. Regardless of the length of the debt test period, the
debt test income year will be no more than 12 months. However, it
could be shorter than 12 months or it could overlap 2 income years.
2.39 The SBT ceiling applies to the income year in which the
debt is written-off (when item 1 in the table in subsection 709-
215(3) applies). It also applies to an income year in which a debt
test period ends (when item 2 in the table in subsection 709-215(3)
applies) - broadly, this is the income year in which an entity
ceased to be owed the debt. If total income of the entity is more
than $100 million in such a year, the entity cannot satisfy the SBT
for its debt test income year. [Schedule 1, item 133, subsection
716-805(3)]
Interaction between consolidation and loss integrity measures
2.40 Subdivisions 715-A and 715-D (in part) deal with the
interaction between Subdivision 165-CC (change of ownership or
control of a company that has an unrealised net loss) and Part 3-90
(consolidation).
2.41 The SBT is applied in the following contexts on formation
of a consolidated group or when an entity joins the group:
. On an entity joining a consolidated group, the step 1
amount of the allocable cost amount may be reduced in
relation to a membership interest in the joining entity
that is a Subdivision 165-CC tagged asset, unless the
member holding the interest satisfies the SBT (section 715-
50).
. On an entity joining a consolidated group, the step 2
amount of the allocable cost amount may be reduced in
relation to an accounting liability that the joining
entity owes to another member of the group if the
accounting liability is a Subdivision 165-CC tagged asset,
unless that other member satisfies the SBT (section 715-
55).
. On formation of a consolidated group, a loss denial pool
may be created if the head company owns a capital gains
tax (CGT) asset that is a Subdivision 165-CC tagged asset
unless the head company satisfies the SBT (section 715-
60).
. On formation of a consolidated group, a loss denial pool
may be created if a chosen transitional entity holds a
Subdivision 165-CC tagged asset unless the entity
satisfies the SBT (section 715-70).
. On formation of a consolidated group, a loss denial pool
may be created if the head company has a Subdivision 170-D
deferred loss that it made on a Subdivision 165-CC tagged
asset and it does not satisfy the SBT (section 715-355).
. On an entity joining a consolidated group, a loss denial
pool may be created if the entity has a Subdivision 170-D
deferred loss that it made on a Subdivision 165-CC tagged
asset and it does not satisfy the SBT (section 715-360).
2.42 In all of these cases, the SBT period is the trial year of
either the head company or the relevant member. The total income
ceiling is tested for the income year that ends during the relevant
trial year. [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(b)]
2.43 For example, section 715-50 requires a member of a
consolidated group to apply the SBT for the period consisting of
the head company's trial year. For the purposes of section 715-50,
the total income ceiling is applied in relation to the income year
that ended during the head company's trial year.
2.44 If there is no income year which ends during the trial
year, then the SBT ceiling is instead applied to the income year in
which the joining time occurs for the entity whose trial year is
used as the SBT period. [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-
805(4)(c)]
2.45 If a company leaves the consolidated group with a
Subdivision 165-CC tagged asset and the head company has a final
residual unrealised net loss greater than nil, then there may be
certain consequences for the head company or the leaving entity
unless the head company satisfies the SBT (section 715-95). The
SBT period is the period starting 12 months before the leaving time
(or more recently if the head company has come into existence in
the last 12 months) and ending just before the leaving time. In
such a case, the total income ceiling is applied to the income year
of the head company that ends within the 12 months before the
leaving time. [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(a)]
2.46 However, if no income year of the head company ends in this
period (eg, if the head company recently came into existence or
ceased to be a member of a consolidated group), the total income
ceiling is applied to the income year in which the leaving time
occurs. [Schedule 1, item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(c)]
Application and transitional provisions
2.47 The amendments relating to the SBT total income ceiling
apply to:
. tax losses incurred in income years commencing on or after
1 July 2005;
. net capital losses made in income years commencing on or
after 1 July 2005; and
. deductions claimed in respect of bad debts incurred in
income years commencing on or after 1 July 2005.
[Schedule 1, subitem 172(1)]
2.48 If a company has a substituted accounting period, the SBT
ceiling will apply to its first income year commencing after
1 July 2005. For example, an early balancing company whose
substituted accounting period is 1 April to 31 March will first be
subject to the SBT for losses incurred in its income year
commencing 1 April 2006.
Effect of deemed dates
2.49 Section 165-115B treats a tax loss or a net capital loss as
having been made in the income year immediately before the
changeover time. Accordingly, the SBT ceiling will not apply to a
loss that is treated by section 165-115B as having been deemed to
be made in an income year commencing before 1 July 2005.
2.50 Section 707-140 treats the head company of a consolidated
group as having made a loss of any sort that is transferred to it
in the income year in which it is transferred. However, the deemed
date for the loss is disregarded in determining whether the SBT
ceiling applies. If the loss was actually incurred by the joining
entity in an income year commencing before 1 July 2005, the SBT
ceiling will not apply. Further, if a loss has previously been
transferred, the SBT ceiling will not apply if the loss was
originally incurred by the entity that first made it in an income
year commencing before 1 July 2005. [Schedule 1,
paragraph 172(2)(a)]
2.51 Subdivision 709-D provides for the deduction of a bad debt
if the debt is owed to a consolidated group for some of the period
it was in existence. Section 709-215 modifies the period in which
continuity of ownership is tested. However, it does not deem the
debt to be incurred on a date different from that it was actually
incurred. Accordingly, section 709-215 does not affect the
application of the SBT ceiling to a bad debt. The SBT ceiling does
not apply to debts incurred before 1 July 2005 that are later
written-off as bad even though the first and second continuity
periods may commence after that date.
Unrealised losses
2.52 There is an exception to the application of the SBT ceiling
in respect of a tax loss or a net capital loss if the company had a
unrealised net loss immediately before the commencement of its
first income year starting on or after 1 July 2005. The exception
operates by comparing the tax loss or net capital loss made in an
income year, with the tax loss or net capital loss that would have
been made in that year, if a changeover time occurred just before
the start of the company's first income year commencing on or after
1 July 2005.
2.53 If there is an unrealised net loss at a changeover time,
future deductions or capital losses may be recharacterised as tax
losses or net capital losses (as appropriate) for the income year
before the changeover time. An outcome of this recharacterisation
is that a tax loss or net capital loss in the current year may be
reduced. The SBT ceiling does not apply to a tax loss or net
capital loss to the extent that the deduction or capital loss
comprising the tax loss or net capital loss relates to an
unrealised net loss immediately before 1 July 2005. [Schedule 1,
paragraph 172(2)(b)]
Foreign losses
2.54 As foreign losses are subject to the SBT in the same way as
tax losses (subsection 160AFD(6)), the SBT ceiling applies to a
foreign loss incurred in an income year commencing on or after
1 July 2005.
Consequential amendments
2.55 The SBT ceiling is an element of whether a company
satisfies the SBT. The concept of a company 'satisfying the same
business test' replaces the existing concept in Divisions 165 and
166 of a company 'carrying on the same business' in the amendments
to incorporate the SBT ceiling into the SBT.
2.56 This Bill amends references to a company 'carrying on the
same business' (or similar) to 'satisfying the same business test'
(or similar) in provisions, guides and notes to provisions as
required. [Schedule 1, items 4 to 9, 13, 18, 22, 27, 31, 41, 53,
59, 63, 66, 80, 89 and 98]
2.57 Notes and changes to guide material and tables alert
readers of this Bill to the SBT ceiling. [Schedule 1, items 12,
14, 19 to 21, 24 to 26, 28, 33, 35, 36, 40, 43 to 45, 52, 55, 62,
65, 67, 74, 75, 81, 90, 107, 108, 110, 113, 115, 119 to 132, 137,
138 and 140]
Chapter 3
Loss recoupment rules for companies: other amendments
Outline of chapter
3.1 Schedule 1 to this Bill reforms the loss recoupment rules
for companies by:
. introducing a new modified continuity of ownership test
(COT) to replace the existing modified COT in Division 166
of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997);
. removing the same business test (SBT) for companies whose
total income is more than $100 million in the year of
recoupment; and
. removing certain anomalies and clarifying some aspects of
the existing law.
3.2 This chapter explains amendments to the company loss
recoupment rules that remove certain anomalies and clarify aspects
of the existing rules.
Summary of new law
3.3 Amendments to the company loss recoupment rules:
. provide that the COT is not failed merely because an
external administrator or provisional liquidator is
appointed to the tested company or to a corporate
shareholder;
. amend the application of the income injection rules to an
insolvent company;
. provide that the consolidation entry history rule is
disregarded for the purposes of the SBT;
. provide that a medical defence organisation does not fail
the SBT merely because of a restructure to satisfy the
requirements of the Medical Indemnity (Prudential
Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003;
. treat shares held by a trustee of a family trust as if
they were owned by a notional entity to ensure that a
change in the trustee or the appointment of more than one
trustee does not affect the COT being satisfied;
. provide that non-profit companies, mutual affiliate
companies and mutual insurance companies only need to
establish continuity of voting power to satisfy the COT;
. treat certain government bodies, statutory bodies, non-
profit companies and charitable bodies as if they were
persons (and not companies) for the purposes of the COT;
. allow companies without shares to apply the COT as if
their membership interests were shares;
. provide that the alternative test applies when one or more
companies become shareholders of the tested company after
the start of the loss year;
. clarify that the COT can be satisfied when the tested
company is in existence for only part of the loss year or
part of the income year;
. repeal a provision that prevents companies taking into
account redeemable shares when applying the COT;
. disregard special voting shares issued by dual listed
companies for the purposes of the voting power condition
of the COT; and
. correct some incorrect references to the COT ownership
test period and the calculation of net capital losses.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|The COT is not failed |The COT may be failed if|
|merely because the |the tested company and a|
|tested company or a |majority shareholder |
|shareholder is, or |become externally |
|becomes, externally |administered. |
|administered (eg, goes | |
|into liquidation) or a | |
|provisional liquidator | |
|is appointed. | |
|The consolidation entry |The interaction between |
|history rule is |the consolidation entry |
|disregarded for the |history rule and the SBT|
|purposes of the SBT. |is uncertain. |
|A company that is in |It is uncertain whether |
|existence for only part |a company can satisfy |
|of the loss year or part|the COT if it is in |
|of the income year can |existence for only part |
|satisfy the COT. |of the loss year or part|
| |of the income year. |
|The alternative test |The alternative test |
|applies if a company has|only applies if a |
|shares or interests in |company has shares or |
|shares in the tested |interests in shares in |
|company at any time in |the tested company at |
|the test period. |the start of the test |
| |period. |
|Shares owned by the |Shares owned by the |
|trustee of a family |trustee of a family |
|trust are taken to be |trust are taken to be |
|beneficially owned by a |owned beneficially. |
|single notional entity. |Relevant rights held by |
|Relevant rights held by |the trustee are taken to|
|the trustee are also |be held for the |
|attributed to the single|trustee's own benefit. |
|notional entity. A | |
|change in trustee is not| |
|regarded as a change in | |
|ownership. | |
|Non-profit companies |Non-profit companies |
|only need to satisfy the|need to satisfy the |
|voting power condition |voting power and |
|to satisfy the COT. |dividend and capital |
| |rights conditions to |
| |satisfy the COT. |
|Certain government |No equivalent. |
|bodies, statutory | |
|bodies, non-profit | |
|companies and charitable| |
|bodies are treated as | |
|persons and not | |
|companies for the | |
|purposes of the COT. | |
|Companies without shares|The application of the |
|apply the COT as if |COT to companies without|
|their membership |shares is uncertain. |
|interests were shares. | |
|Dual listed companies |No equivalent. |
|ignore special voting | |
|shares for the purposes | |
|of the voting power | |
|test. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
Externally administered companies
3.4 This Bill contains amendments to expressly provide that the
appointment of a liquidator, other external administrator or a
provisional liquidator to a company has no impact on:
. whether the company satisfies the COT; or
. whether shares or interests in shares that it holds can be
taken into account in determining whether another company
satisfies the COT.
3.5 Broadly, the amendments provide that:
. the fact that a company becomes an externally administered
body or a provisional liquidator is appointed does not
prevent a shareholder from beneficially owning shares in
the company or having control of voting power, or rights
to dividends or capital in the company [Schedule 1,
items 1 and 2, subsections 80B(8A) and 160ZNRA(1) of the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936); item 73,
subsection 165-208(1) of the ITAA 1997]; and
. the fact that a shareholder company becomes an externally
administered body or a provisional liquidator is appointed
does not prevent it beneficially owning shares,
controlling voting power or having rights to dividends and
capital distributions attaching to those shares [Schedule
1, items 1 and 2, subsections 80B(8B) and 160ZNRA(2) of
the ITAA 1936; item 73, subsection 165-208(2) of the ITAA
1997].
3.6 Accordingly, satisfaction of the COT is unaffected if the
tested company, or a company interposed between the tested company
and an ultimate owner, goes into external administration or a
provisional liquidator is appointed to the company or interposed
company.
3.7 In addition, the appointment of an external administrator
to a company does not affect control of voting power in the company
for the purposes of the test in section 165-15 (or equivalent tests
in sections 165-40, 165-115D, 165-115M, and 165-129). [Schedule 1,
item 78, section 165-250]
3.8 A company is an 'externally-administered body corporate'
under section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 if:
. it is being wound up;
. a receiver, or a receiver and manager, has been appointed
and is acting in respect of its property;
. it is under administration;
. it has executed a deed of company arrangement that has not
yet been terminated; or
. it has entered into a compromise or arrangement with
another person, the administration of which has not yet
been concluded.
3.9 The same rules apply in relation to an entity which has a
similar status under a foreign law or the Companies Code.
[Schedule 1, items 1 and 2, sections 80B and 160ZNRA of the ITAA
1936; items 73 and 78, sections 165-208 and 165-250 of the ITAA
1997]
Income injection and insolvent companies
3.10 Loss trafficking can occur when entities inject income from
other sources into a loss company. The income injection provisions
of the income tax law (Division 175) disallow deductions for tax
losses in specified circumstances. However, the Commissioner of
Taxation (Commissioner) cannot disallow a loss if the continuing
shareholders will benefit from the derivation or accrual of the
injected amount to an extent that the Commissioner thinks is fair
and reasonable, having regard to either their respective rights and
interests or their respective shareholding interests in the
company.
3.11 The intention is that if continuing shareholders do not
receive benefits from the income injected the loss should be
denied. However, it is arguable that where a company is insolvent
and in some form of external administration, the Commissioner
cannot deny the loss on the grounds that it is reasonable that the
benefit of income injected into the company flows to the creditors
of the company rather than to the continuing shareholders.
3.12 The amendment provides that the provisions limiting the
Commissioner's power to disallow a loss or deduction do not apply
during a relevant income year if the company was insolvent at the
time it becomes an externally-administered body corporate under the
Corporations Act 2001 or an entity with similar status under a
similar foreign law. [Schedule 1, item 103, section 175-100]
3.13 The amendments apply to insolvent companies whose external
administration begins on or after the day this Act receives Royal
Assent. [Schedule 1, item 176]
The same business test and the entry history rule
3.14 When a consolidated group or multiple entry consolidated
group (MEC group) applies the SBT, its business is that of the
group as a whole and not just that of the head company. This is
because the single entity rule provides that subsidiary members of
the group are taken to be parts of the head company for the purpose
of working out the head company's liability for income tax (section
701-1).
3.15 The entry history rule provides that for certain purposes
everything that happened to a subsidiary before it became a member
of a consolidated or MEC group is taken to have happened to the
head company (section 701-5).
3.16 If the entry history rule applies for the purposes of the
SBT, the head company may be regarded as carrying on the business
that subsidiary members carried on before they joined the
consolidated group. This could lead to anomalous outcomes. For
example, changes in the business of a subsidiary before it became a
group member could cause the head company to fail the SBT.
3.17 This Bill clarifies that the entry history rule does not
operate to deem the head company of a consolidated or MEC group to
carry on the activities of a subsidiary member of the group during
a period before the subsidiary member joined the group. [Schedule
1, item 76, section 165-212E]
3.18 When an entity joins a consolidated or MEC group, its
activities are treated as activities of the head company from its
joining time for the purposes of the SBT. Activities that the
entity carried on before the joining time are not attributed to the
head company for the purposes of determining whether the head
company has carried on the same business.
3.19 The rule has practical implications only when an entity
joins an existing consolidated group. The entry history rule does
not affect the application of the SBT in relation to entities that
join a consolidated group on its formation, because the SBT does
not compare the business of the head company before and after
consolidation (see section 707-400 of the ITAA 1997).
Example 3.1: Same business test and entry history rule.
Innovative Solutions Ltd is the head company of a
consolidated group that carries on research and development
in the biotechnology industry.
Innovative Solutions Ltd has tax losses from the year ended
30 June 2004 and failed the COT on 1 March 2005. It wishes
to use its tax losses in the income year ended 30 June 2007
and must demonstrate that it carries on the same business in
the income year ended 30 June 2007 that it carried on
immediately before 1 March 2005.
Innovative Solutions Ltd acquired Tests and Things Pty Ltd
on 1 October 2006.
Tests and Things Pty Ltd is a small company that carries on
biotechnology research. The research is similar to that
conducted by Innovative Solutions Ltd and its subsidiaries.
Tests and Things Pty Ltd previously manufactured test tubes,
but it ceased that part of its business in April 2006.
[pic]
If the entry history rule applied in relation to the SBT,
Innovative Solutions Ltd would be deemed to carry on the
test tube manufacturing business up until April 2006.
Accordingly, it would not carry on the same business
immediately before 1 March 2005 as it carries on in the
income year ended 30 June 2007 and would therefore fail the
SBT.
The amendment confirms that, for the purposes of the SBT,
Innovative Solutions Ltd is not taken to have conducted the
activities of Tests and Things Pty Ltd prior to 1 October
2006. Accordingly, Innovative Solutions Ltd is not to be
regarded as carrying on the test tube manufacturing business
at the SBT test time and will therefore satisfy the SBT.
Medical defence organisations
3.20 The Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and
Product Standards) Act 2003 required medical indemnity providers to
make changes to the way in which they provided medical indemnity
services. In particular, it required that a medical indemnity
provider be a general insurer and that medical indemnity be
provided by means of a contract of insurance.
3.21 The amendments confirm that changes made by a medical
defence organisation in order to conform to the requirements of the
Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards)
Act 2003 do not cause a failure of the SBT. Similarly, changes
made by a related general insurance company because of the
restructure by a medical defence organisation do not prevent the
general insurance company from satisfying the SBT. [Schedule 1,
item 76, section 165-212D]
Family trusts
3.22 Existing section 165-207 applies if the trustee of a family
trust either directly or indirectly holds an interest in shares in
the tested company. The application of the existing law is
uncertain when there is a change of trustee or when there is more
than one trustee of the family trust.
3.23 These amendments ensure that a single notional entity that
is a person but not a company or a trustee:
. is taken to own the shares beneficially for the purposes
of the primary test [Schedule 1, item 72, subsection 165-
207(2)]; and
. is taken to control the voting power held by the family
trust and have the right to receive for its own benefit
the percentage of the dividends and capital to which the
trust is entitled [Schedule 1, item 72, subsection 165-
207(3)].
3.24 A change in trustee does not affect the attribution of
beneficial ownership, voting power or rights to dividends or
capital held by the single notional entity. [Schedule 1, item 72,
subsection 165-207(4)]
3.25 The single notional entity referred to in this section is a
different notional entity to the ones referred to in sections 166-
225 and 166-255. [Schedule 1, item 79, subsections 166-225(3) and
166-255(3)]
Non-profit companies
3.26 A company satisfies the COT if it satisfies conditions
relating to voting power, rights to dividends and rights to capital
distributions.
3.27 A company that is prohibited from making any distributions
to its shareholders cannot test the dividend and capital conditions
because it never pays a dividend or makes a distribution of capital
to its shareholders. Accordingly, under the existing rules it is
uncertain how a non-profit company is to apply the COT. A similar
situation exists for mutual insurance companies and mutual
affiliate companies.
3.28 The amendments provide that a company that is a non-profit
company, a mutual affiliate company or a mutual insurance company
throughout the test period is taken to satisfy the dividend and
capital conditions. As a result, these companies satisfy the COT
if they satisfy the voting power condition.
3.29 This amendment applies for:
. tax losses [Schedule 1, item 17, subsection 165-12(7A)];
. current year losses [Schedule 1, item 30, subsection 165-
37(4A)];
. changeover times [Schedule 1, item 47, subsection 165-
115C(4A)];
. alteration times [Schedule 1, item 50, subsection 165-
115L(5)]; and
. bad debts [Schedule 1, item 58, subsection 165-123(7A)].
3.30 A company is a non-profit company (as defined in the
Income Tax Act 1986) if it is not carried on for the profit or gain
of its individual members and is prohibited from making
distributions to its members. A friendly society dispensary is
also a non-profit company. [Schedule 1, item 156, subsection 995-
1(1)]
Certain entities treated as persons other than companies
3.31 The primary tests for the COT require the identification of
persons who hold voting power, rights to dividends and rights to
capital.
3.32 The alternative tests for the COT apply when the tested
company has a corporate shareholder. It requires the
identification of persons other than companies (and, in the case of
voting power, other than trustees) who hold voting power and
dividend and capital rights.
3.33 Subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 defines 'person' to
include a company. However, it does not specify whether bodies
politic (eg, governments) are also regarded as persons. A similar
issue arises in relation to statutory corporations which are often
essentially government bodies.
3.34 These amendments ensure that government bodies and
statutory corporations are to be regarded as persons (and not
companies) for the purposes of a loss recoupment test. It applies
to shares held by:
. the Commonwealth, a state or a territory;
. a municipal corporation;
. a local governing body;
. the government of a foreign country or of part of a
foreign country; and
. a company, established under a law, in which no person has
a membership interest (eg, a statutory corporation).
[Schedule 1, item 71, subsection 165-202(1)]
3.35 A company may not be able to trace its ownership through a
non-profit company or a charitable body. The amendment also
provides that non-profit companies and charitable bodies (including
charitable institutions and charitable funds) are regarded as
persons other than companies. This amendment ensures that
companies do not need to trace their ownership through non-profit
companies and charitable bodies. [Schedule 1, item 71, subsection
165-202(2)]
3.36 These amendments apply for the purposes of both the primary
and alternative tests.
Companies without shares
3.37 The primary tests for the COT focus on rights attaching to
shares and the alternative tests are only applicable if another
company holds shares in the tested company. Accordingly, its
unclear under the existing rules how companies without shares, such
as companies limited by guarantee, can apply the COT.
3.38 These amendments ensure that companies without shares can
apply the COT. Membership interests in a company without shares
are treated as if they were shares for the purpose of applying a
test. This means that if no companies are members of the tested
company, the company applies the primary tests and treats its
membership interests as if they were shares for the purposes of
those tests. If a company holds membership interests in the tested
company, the tested company applies the alternative tests.
[Schedule 1, item 71, section 165-203]
3.39 If a company without shares is a non-profit company, the
amendments relating to non-profit companies mean that the company
applies the voting power test.
Application of alternative ownership tests
3.40 To work out whether it satisfies the COT, a company applies
either the primary test or the alternative test for each of the
conditions. The primary test looks at the immediate beneficial
ownership of shares carrying voting power and dividend and capital
rights. The alternative test applies where a company holds shares
in the tested company and traces the ownership of the voting power
and dividend and capital rights to the non-corporate shareholders.
3.41 Under the existing law, the alternative test only applies
if one or more companies beneficially held shares or interests in
shares in the tested company at the beginning of the ownership test
period. If no companies hold shares in the tested company at the
start of the test period, the primary test applies.
3.42 The effect of this rule is that the interposition of a
company between existing shareholders (none of which are companies)
and the tested company after the start of the test period
automatically causes a company to fail the COT even though ultimate
ownership remains unchanged.
3.43 The COT is amended so that the alternative test applies if
a company beneficially owns shares in the tested company at any
time in the ownership test period. This applies for:
. tax losses (Subdivision 165-A);
. current year loss rules (Subdivision 165-B);
. changeover times (Subdivision 165-CC);
. alteration times (Subdivision 165-CD); and
. bad debts (Subdivision 165-C).
[Schedule 1, items 16, 29, 46, 49 and 57, subsections 165-12(6),
165-37(3), 165-115C(3), 165-115L(4) and 165-123(6)]
3.44 Thus, a company does not fail the COT merely because a
holding company is interposed between individual shareholders and a
tested company during the ownership test period. However, the
question of whether the COT is satisfied in any particular case
would depend on the effect of the same share test (see section 165-
165 and subsections 165-12(7), 165-37(4), 165-115C(4) and 165-
123(7)).
Companies that come into existence or cease to exist during a period
3.45 The COT requires a company to establish continuity of
ownership between the start of the loss year and the end of the
income year. The SBT requires that a company carry on the same
business during the income year as it did immediately before it
failed the COT.
3.46 The application of the loss recoupment rules to companies
that come into existence during the loss year is uncertain. This
uncertainty is removed by an amendment to clarify the operation of
the company loss recoupment rules when a company comes into
existence. If a period would start before the company comes into
existence, it starts on the day the company comes into existence.
That is, if a company incurs a tax loss in the year it is
incorporated, it applies the COT on the basis that the loss year
commenced at the time it was incorporated, rather than from the
start of the income year. [Schedule 1, item 78, subsection 165-
255(1)]
3.47 These amendments also clarify the application of the
company loss rules to a company which ceases to exist. The
amendment provides that if a period would end after the company
ceases to exist, it instead ends on the day the company ceases to
exist. The effect is that a company can satisfy the COT in a year
it is deregistered provided it satisfies the COT up until the day
of deregistration. Similarly, it can satisfy the SBT provided that
it carries on the same business until the day of deregistration.
[Schedule 1, item 78, subsection 165-255(2)]
3.48 These amendments apply for the purposes of Divisions 165
and 166. This includes where those Divisions are applied because
of the operation of a tax provision outside those Divisions. For
example, it would apply for the purposes of testing whether a loss
can be transferred from a joining entity to the head company of a
consolidated group.
Redeemable shares
3.49 Section 165-195 was introduced as a specific anti-avoidance
measure. However, it is no longer necessary given the
Commissioner's discretion in relation to arrangements affecting the
beneficial ownership of shares (section 165-180) and the same share
test (section 165-165). Accordingly, this Bill repeals section 165-
195 and deletes the reference to existing section 165-195 in
subsection 165-200(1). [Schedule 1, items 69 and 70]
3.50 If redeemable shares are issued by a company to enable
it to satisfy the COT, the Commissioner would be entitled
(under section 165-180) to treat the holders of the redeemable
shares as if they did not beneficially own those shares. A note is
added to section 165-180 to alert readers to that section's
potential operation in these circumstances. [Schedule 1, item 68]
Dual listed companies
3.51 A dual listed voting share is disregarded in applying the
voting power test. Accordingly, dual listed companies do not need
to trace ownership of special voting shares to determine continuity
of ownership. [Schedule 1, item 73, section 165-209]
3.52 A dual listed company voting share is a share in a company,
issued as part of a dual listed company arrangement that does not
have any rights to financial entitlements (except the amount paid
up on the share and a dividend paid that is equivalent of a
dividend paid on an ordinary share).
Applying capital losses of earlier years
3.53 Subsections 165-96(1), 175-40(1) and 175-45(1),
paragraphs 165-235(2)(c), 175-50(1)(b) and 180-5(2)(c) and several
notes, incorrectly imply that a company may apply a prior year net
capital loss in calculating its net capital loss for the current
year.
3.54 These provisions are amended to clarify that a prior year
net capital loss cannot be taken into account in calculating the
net capital loss for the current year. [Schedule 1, items 37, 38,
77, 87, 88 and 104, subsections 165-96(1), 165-235(2), 175-40(1)
and 180-5(2)]
Ownership test period
3.55 Item 2 in the table headed Tax losses of corporate tax
entities in section 36-25, describes the COT as requiring a
comparison of owners in the loss year and the income year. The COT
also requires the same owners during any intervening period. Item
2 is therefore amended to confirm that the COT requires the same
owners in the loss year, the income year and any intervening
period. [Schedule 1, item 7, section 36-25]
3.56 The same description of the test periods occurs in note 2
to subsection 165-96(1) and the note to subsection 175-40(2). This
Bill corrects these notes by specifying that the COT applies from
the beginning of the loss year to the end of the income year.
[Schedule 1, items 39 and 90, subsections 165-96(1) and 175-40(2)]
Application provisions
3.57 The amendments to the ITAA 1997 relating to companies in
external administration apply from the commencement of the relevant
provisions in the ITAA 1997. The comparable amendments to the
ITAA 1936 apply in respect of any income year for assessments made
on or after 1 July 1997. [Schedule 1, item 169]
3.58 The amendments relating to the income injection rules and
insolvent companies apply from the date of Royal Assent. [Schedule
1, item 176]
3.59 The amendment to disregard the entry history rule in the
consolidation regime when applying the SBT applies on and after
1 July 2002, the date the consolidation regime came into effect.
[Schedule 1, item 175]
3.60 The amendments relating to the application of the SBT to a
medical defence organisation or general insurance company that
restructures to comply with the Medical Indemnity (Prudential
Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003 apply to:
. all tax losses incurred by the company;
. all net capital losses made by the company; and
. all deductions claimed in respect of bad debts written-off
by the company.
[Schedule 1, item 174]
3.61 The amendment relating to family trusts applies from the
time section 165-207 was first inserted into the ITAA 1997.
[Schedule 1, item 173]
3.62 The amendments relating to:
. non-profit companies;
. shareholders that are government bodies, statutory bodies,
non-profit companies and charitable bodies;
. companies without shares;
. dual listed companies; and
. repeal of the provision regarding redeemable shares,
have the same application date as the modified COT amendments.
[Schedule 1, item 170]
3.63 The amendments relating to the application of the
alternative ownership test apply to deductions claimed for tax
loses and bad debts and net capital losses applied in income years
ending after 21 September 1999. This restores the position to that
time. The amendments apply in relation to changeover times and
alteration times from 11 November 1999, the date those provisions
commenced. [Schedule 1, item 171]
Consequential amendments
3.64 The definition of 'dual listed company voting share' in
subsection 125-60(3) is modified to remove the requirement that the
share is issued in the head entity of a demerger group. This
allows the definition to apply appropriately in respect of the COT
amendments. There is no substantive effect of this change on the
demerger rules. Subsection 125-60(2) is amended so that the
treatment of a dual listed company voting share as not being an
ownership interest only applies if the share is in a company that
is the head entity of a demerger group. [Schedule 1, items 10 and
11, subsection 125-60(2) and subparagraph 125-60(3)(a)(i)]
3.65 Notes are inserted to alert readers to the amendments
concerning companies in external administration, income injection
and insolvent companies, companies that come into existence or
cease to exist in an income year and the entry history rule.
[Schedule 1, items 23, 32, 34, 51, 64, 82 to 86, 92, 94 to 97, 99
to 101 and 105]
Chapter 4
Loss recoupment rules for companies: regulation impact statement
Background
4.1 Under Australia's income tax regime, if a company's
deductions exceed its assessable income and net exempt income in an
income year, the company has a tax loss. This tax loss can be
carried forward and may be deducted against assessable income for a
later income year provided that the company satisfies either the
continuity of ownership test (COT) or the same business test (SBT).
4.2 Currently, the COT is satisfied if the same people hold
more than 50 per cent of voting power and rights to dividends and
capital at all times during the test period. To apply the COT, a
company must trace its ownership through companies, trusts and
other entities to identify the people who ultimately hold (directly
or indirectly) voting power and rights to dividends and capital
distributions.
4.3 A company that fails the COT can still deduct tax losses if
it satisfies the SBT. A company will satisfy the SBT if, broadly,
it carries on the same business in the year it wishes to deduct the
loss as it did immediately before it failed the COT.
4.4 During 2002 Treasury undertook consultation with
representatives of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and a
selected group of industry representatives and tax practitioners
with a view to identifying options to improve the company loss
recoupment rules. The focus was on ensuring those rules would
apply appropriately when losses are transferred to a head company
of a consolidated group from a subsidiary member that joins the
group.
4.5 The consultation process identified that companies were
placing considerable reliance on the SBT to deduct tax losses
because of the uncertainty and high compliance costs associated
with tracing ownership to satisfy the COT. It also identified that
the SBT was a difficult and uncertain test for large and diverse
businesses to apply. Tax consolidation would exacerbate these
problems with the SBT because it would require the test to be
applied on a group-wide basis.
4.6 A conclusion reached from the consultation process was that
the tax loss recoupment rules could be improved by remedying the
difficulties identified with tracing ownership to satisfy the COT.
A consequence of such an approach would be decreased reliance on
the SBT.
Policy objective
4.7 The objective is to:
. reduce the uncertainty and compliance costs associated
with applying the company loss recoupment rules to widely
held companies and companies owned by widely held
companies; and
. broadly maintain the current rate of loss recoupment.
Implementation options
Modifications to the continuity of ownership test
4.8 It is appropriate to modify the COT to make it easier for
widely held companies and companies owned by widely held companies
to apply. Two key implementation issues arose:
. the time that the COT test must be applied; and
. the approach for relaxing the COT tracing rules.
4.9 In addition, a range of technical modifications would
clarify the operation of the COT and to make it easier to apply.
Time that the continuity of ownership test must be applied
4.10 The existing law allows listed public companies and their
100 per cent subsidiaries to test for substantial continuity of
ownership at the time of 'abnormal trading' and at the end of each
income year if they apply the modified COT. Companies were
uncertain as to the circumstances that would be regarded as being a
time of 'abnormal trading' and, in some cases, this deterred them
from using the modified COT.
Option 1: apply a known change of ownership test
4.11 Under this option companies would have to test for
continuity of ownership when they had a known change of ownership.
A company would have a known change of ownership if:
. it was reasonable for the company to conclude that it
would have failed the ordinary COT rules at a particular
time; and
. this failure would not have occurred by reason only of the
sale of shares in a company in the ordinary course of
trading for that company, or the sale of interests in an
interposed entity in the ordinary course of trading for
that entity.
Option 2: identify specific testing times
4.12 Under this option companies would have to apply the tracing
rules to test for continuity of ownership at the end of each income
year and when an event that is likely to cause a change in majority
ownership of a company occurs. Events that are likely to cause a
change in majority ownership of a company are a takeover bid (or
similar arrangement), a scheme of arrangement or a significant
capital raising (more than 20 per cent of shares or capital) in
either the tested company or another company that controls the
tested company.
Relaxation of the continuity of ownership test tracing rules
4.13 The existing tracing rules allow direct interests of less
than one per cent in the tested company to be attributed to a
notional entity. The only option considered was to reduce the
circumstances in which the tracing rules must be applied by
increasing the proportion of ownership that must be held in the
tested company before a requirement to trace ownership is
triggered.
4.14 Under this option this threshold would be increased. After
some consideration, a 10 per cent threshold was chosen as this
would align ownership tracing with other provisions in the tax law
that distinguish between portfolio and non-portfolio shareholdings.
4.15 In determining an appropriate threshold of ownership for
the notional entity, analysis was undertaken of the likely effect
on companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Analysis
showed that a 10 per cent threshold would reduce the requirement to
trace to 2 or fewer owners for about 90 per cent of the sample
examined. On the other hand, a 5 per cent threshold, for example,
would often require more significant ownership tracing.
Modifications to the same business test
4.16 Consultation revealed that the application of the SBT was
highly uncertain for large and diverse businesses. However, the
test was generally capable of reasonable application for companies
that operated on a small scale and engaged in a very limited field
of business.
4.17 The only practical means identified for excluding the SBT
in cases where its application would be difficult and uncertain was
on the basis of the size of the company or group.
Option 1: introduce an income ceiling for the same business test
4.18 Under this option companies whose total income was more
than $100 million in the income year it was seeking to deduct the
loss would be denied access to the SBT.
Option 2: exclude all companies that benefit from the continuity
of ownership test changes from the same business test
4.19 Under this option widely held companies and companies owned
by widely held companies that would benefit from relaxation of the
COT would be denied access to the SBT.
Option 3: exclude all consolidated groups from the same business
test
4.20 Under this option companies that are members of
consolidated groups would be denied access to the SBT.
Impact group identification
4.21 The changes to the COT will impact on widely held companies
and companies owned by widely held companies.
4.22 The changes to the SBT will impact on large companies.
4.23 These changes will potentially affect about 1,000 to
1,400 companies and corporate groups (although the numbers vary
from year to year).
4.24 The companies that are affected by the removal of the SBT
are those most likely to benefit from the simplified COT. In this
sense, it is not expected that loss recoupment rates will alter
over the longer term.
Analysis of costs / benefits
Modifications to the continuity of ownership test
Time that the continuity of ownership test must be applied
Option 1: apply a known change of ownership test
Benefits
4.25 Changes of ownership during an income year that are not due
to takeovers, schemes of arrangement or substantial capital
raisings would be identified. Thus companies would not be able to
offset a loss incurred in one part of an income year when it was
owned by one set of shareholders against income derived in another
part of the year when it was owned by different shareholders.
Therefore, there could be a small gain to revenue.
Costs
4.26 Companies would have to apply the ordinary COT rules if
there was a known change of ownership. This would place a heavy
compliance burden on companies with large share registers and would
be inconsistent with the rationale for providing special rules.
Compliance costs would be increased.
4.27 Widely held companies would continue to be uncertain as to
when they would have to apply the tracing rules to test for
continuity of ownership.
4.28 Practical problems that arise under option 1 are the level
of information that would be required to decide whether a known
change of ownership had occurred and whether off-market
transactions, such as dividend investment schemes, had to be taken
into account.
4.29 The practical problems arise from the wide range of
potential sources that information would need to be drawn from to
determine whether a known change of ownership had occurred. The
possible sources of information that could indicate a change of
majority ownership include notices of substantial shareholdings,
media reporting of dealings in a company's shares and market or
industry knowledge of substantial transactions.
Option 2: identify specific testing times
Benefits
4.30 Under option 2 the circumstances in which widely held
companies and companies owned by widely held companies would have
to apply the tracing rules to test for continuity of ownership
would be certain.
4.31 It would clearly achieve the policy objective of making the
company loss recoupment rules more certain and reducing compliance
costs for widely held companies and companies owned by widely held
companies. Specifying the times for testing continuity of
ownership would reduce compliance costs. Estimates of compliance
cost savings cannot be quantified due to the lack of data.
Costs
4.32 Under option 2 widely held companies and companies owned by
widely held companies could have a change of ownership during an
income year but will not have to apply the tracing rules to test
for continuity of ownership until the end of the income year. In
limited circumstances this could allow companies to offset a loss
incurred in one part of an income year when it was owned by one set
of shareholders against income derived in another part of the year
when it was owned by different shareholders. These circumstances
would occur if the change in majority ownership arose from
transactions that are not a takeover, scheme of arrangement or
significant capital raising. Therefore, there is a slight risk to
revenue under option 2.
Relaxation of the continuity of ownership test tracing rules
Benefits
4.33 A 10 per cent threshold would align ownership tracing with
other provisions in the tax law that distinguish between portfolio
and non-portfolio shareholdings. A higher threshold would lower
the compliance costs for companies because less tracing of
ownership would be required. Compliance costs cannot be quantified
due to the lack of empirical data in this area.
4.34 A 10 per cent threshold is beneficial because it would
substantially reduce compliance costs for widely held companies and
companies owned by widely held companies.
Costs
4.35 The higher the threshold the more significant the risk that
significant ownership changes in the tested company would be
effectively ignored in applying the COT. Therefore, moving to a
higher threshold of 10 per cent could allow companies to access
prior year losses inappropriately. This could occur if a company
was wholly-owned by shareholders holding less than 10 per cent and
all the shareholders sold their shares to other shareholders each
of whom then held less than 10 per cent. Therefore, there is a
slight risk to revenue under this approach.
Modifications to the same business test
Option 1: introduce an income ceiling for the same business test
Benefits
4.36 Size of the company or group is the most practical means
for excluding cases from the SBT where its application would be
difficult and uncertain.
4.37 Particular difficulties arise for a consolidated group
because determining the business of the head entity would require a
detailed analysis of all the activities being undertaken by the
group at the test time (ie, when it fails the COT) and through the
SBT period. The uncertainty arises in determining whether the
introduction of new activities or cessation of previous activities
is a change in the business a company or group is conducting.
4.38 The benefit of an income ceiling is that it draws on income
as already reported in company tax returns. An income ceiling of
$100 million was chosen having regard to the following factors.
. The high correlation between companies with total income
exceeding $100 million and companies that benefit from the
proposed reforms to the COT.
. An income ceiling of $100 million does not exclude the SBT
for small and medium sized companies - the SBT generally
operates in a manner consistent with the policy intent for
these companies.
. An income ceiling of $100 million is consistent with the
ATO's definition of the large business segment.
Consequently, there is detailed information and monitoring
concerning this segment.
Costs
4.39 A test based on an income ceiling causes difficulty for
companies whose total income fluctuates over and under the ceiling
from year to year. In addition, although the level at which the
ceiling is set is soundly based, it is somewhat arbitrary.
Option 2: exclude all companies that benefit from the continuity
of ownership test changes from the same business test
Benefits
4.40 This option is consistent with the New Zealand approach (on
which the COT modifications are largely based). This approach has
the advantage that the two offsetting measures would affect exactly
the same group.
Costs
4.41 The option would exclude a number of small to medium size
companies from the SBT and leave existing issues with large closely
held companies and groups unresolved. If closely held groups could
continue to rely on the SBT they would not be concerned about
failing the COT on technical grounds.
4.42 The option would also discourage large companies from using
the modified COT if they could access the SBT by using the ordinary
COT.
Option 3: exclude all consolidated groups from the same business
test
Benefits
4.43 The problems with the SBT were exacerbated by tax
consolidation. Therefore, this option would target the source of
concerns that had been raised about the SBT.
Costs
4.44 This option would introduce non-neutrality in the taxation
of consolidated groups and single companies. It would discriminate
against consolidated groups and discourage consolidation. The
consolidation regime was introduced to promote business efficiency
as well as tax system integrity. Denying consolidated groups
access to the SBT would continue the inconsistent treatment of
wholly-owned groups with losses. As large single companies would
continue to have access to the SBT, there would be no incentive to
resolve technical problems with the COT.
Revenue impact
4.45 The changes to the COT will reduce revenue, but the changes
to the SBT will increase revenue. The net revenue effect of the
changes is unquantifiable.
Administration costs
4.46 It is expected that the new COT tracing rules and the SBT
total income ceiling will reduce administration costs for the ATO
by reducing requests by taxpayers for rulings and by simplifying
company audits.
Economic benefits
4.47 The changes are expected to provide greater certainty in
the tax treatment of company losses. This is expected to address
inefficiencies arising from compliance difficulties, uncertainties
and anomalies relating the current company loss recoupment rules.
These inefficiencies arise from the need to divert company
resources to non-productive areas. Therefore, the changes would
improve resource allocation and benefit the economy.
Consultation
4.48 Commencing in 2002, extensive consultation was carried out
to identify means of improving the company loss recoupment rules.
4.49 Meetings were held in April, August and November 2002.
Attendees included representatives of the Treasury and the ATO,
partners of several accounting firms and representatives of the Law
Council of Australia, the Taxation Institute of Australia, the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the Corporate
Tax Association.
4.50 Participants in the consultation process were forwarded a
draft discussion paper in November 2002 and a further draft reform
proposal in March 2003.
4.51 Their comments were taken into account in developing a
discussion paper outlining proposed reforms to the company loss
recoupment rules. This paper was released publicly on 7 April 2004
at the same time the Government announced the measure.
4.52 Confidential targeted consultation with stakeholders
occurred in July 2004 and meetings were held with stakeholders to
discuss the issues raised in submissions.
4.53 On 11 February 2005, an exposure draft of the legislation
was publicly released. Those who made submissions in response to
the exposure draft were invited to further consultation meetings
that were held in May and August 2005.
4.54 Participants in the consultation process strongly supported
the objective of making the company loss recoupment rules more
certain and reducing compliance costs for widely held companies and
companies owned by widely held companies. The key change suggested
by participants was to adopt specific testing times (rather than a
known change of ownership approach) for determining the time when
widely held companies and companies owned by widely held companies
have to apply the tracing rules to test for continuity of
ownership.
4.55 Other suggested changes to the legislation were relatively
minor and related mainly to clarifying the application of the
legislation in particular circumstances and making various
technical refinements. Most of these changes have been
incorporated into the current legislation.
Conclusion and recommended option
Modifications to the continuity of ownership test
Time that the continuity of ownership test must be applied
4.56 The option to identify specific testing times (option 2) is
the preferred approach. This option better achieves the policy
objective of making the company loss recoupment rules more certain
and reducing compliance costs for widely held companies and
companies owned by widely held companies and is strongly supported
by participants in the consultation process. It is not expected to
alter significantly the rate at which losses are recouped.
Relaxation of the continuity of ownership test tracing rules
4.57 The only option considered was to reduce the circumstances
in which the tracing rules must be applied by increasing the
proportion of ownership that must be held in the tested company
before a requirement to trace ownership is triggered and by
removing the tracing requirement in certain circumstances. A
10 per cent threshold for the notional entity rule was preferable
because it better achieves the policy objective of reducing
compliance costs.
4.58 The modifications to the COT apply from the income year
commencing on or after 1 July 2002. These changes will benefit
affected taxpayers and remove the difficulties that arise under the
current law in applying the COT to widely held companies and
companies owned by widely held companies.
Modifications to the same business test
4.59 The option to deny access to the SBT to companies with
total income exceeding $100 million (option 1) is the preferred
approach. This approach is the only practical option for excluding
the SBT in cases where its application is difficult and uncertain.
This approach also ensures that small to medium size companies
retain access to the SBT.
4.60 Although companies will need to calculate their total
income to determine whether they are eligible for the SBT, the
total income ceiling is not expected to impose a significant
compliance burden because it is based on information that companies
already collect for taxation purposes.
4.61 The option to exclude all companies that benefit from the
COT changes from the SBT (option 2) is not preferred because it
would inappropriately increase compliance costs for small to medium
size companies that would be denied access to the SBT.
4.62 The option to exclude all consolidated groups from the SBT
(option 3) is not preferred because it would introduce an
unjustifiable non-neutrality in the taxation of consolidated groups
and single companies.
4.63 The removal of the SBT for companies whose total income
exceeds $100 million applies from the income year commencing on or
after 1 July 2005.
4.64 The Treasury and the ATO will monitor this taxation measure
as part of the whole taxation system on an ongoing basis.
Chapter 5
Conduit foreign income
Outline of chapter
5.1 Schedule 2 to this Bill inserts Division 802 into the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). This Schedule also
makes changes to various provisions in the Income Tax Assessment
Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). The changes provide tax relief for conduit
foreign income, which generally is foreign income received by a
foreign resident through an Australian corporate tax entity.
Generally, the measure only applies to foreign income that is
ordinarily sheltered from Australian tax when it is received by the
Australian corporate tax entity.
5.2 This chapter:
. explains the conduit foreign income measure which will
provide tax relief for conduit foreign income;
. describes how a corporate tax entity will calculate an
amount of conduit foreign income; and
. explains how conduit foreign income can pass through a
series of Australian corporate tax entities to ultimate
foreign owners free of Australian tax.
5.3 All legislative references are to the ITAA 1997 unless
otherwise stated.
Context of amendments
5.4 This measure implements the Government's decision to
establish foreign income account rules. This decision was in
response to Recommendation 3.11(1) of the Board of Taxation's
report to the Treasurer on international taxation. The decision
was announced in the Treasurer's Press Release No. 32 of 13 May
2003.
5.5 Foreign residents who structure their foreign investments
through Australian entities will often be subject to Australian tax
on the income from those investments either when the income is
derived or when it is distributed to the foreign residents.
However, if the foreign residents derived that income directly, or
through an interposed foreign entity, the income would not be
subject to Australian tax because foreign residents are taxed only
on their Australian source income. Similar differences may arise
in connection with offshore banking activities in Australia and
operations conducted in the Joint Petroleum Development Area under
the treaty with East Timor. By reducing those tax differences, the
measure will improve Australia as an investment choice for foreign
investors.
5.6 However, this measure does not, nor is it intended to,
remove any Australian tax paid by the interposed Australian entity
on the income from the foreign investments. Nor does it refund any
of that entity-level tax when the income is distributed to foreign
investors. To do either of these things would mean giving foreign-
owned Australian companies an unfair competitive advantage over
Australian-owned companies when it comes to investing offshore (and
could involve quite complex law). Nevertheless, it is important to
note that there is no Australian entity-level tax on the profits
from carrying on or disposing of offshore active businesses.
Notwithstanding these limitations, what is done by these amendments
will improve the attractiveness of Australia as a location for
regional holding companies and particular businesses of foreign
groups. The measure will also enhance the ability of Australian
entities with foreign investments to compete for foreign capital
and therefore encourage them to remain Australian residents if
their foreign shareholding becomes significant.
5.7 The conduit foreign income measure replaces the foreign
dividend account provisions contained in Division 11A of Part III
of the ITAA 1936. Those provisions provide rules for foreign non-
portfolio dividends to flow through an Australian company to
foreign shareholders free from dividend withholding tax. The
conduit foreign income measure provides relief from Australian tax
on distributions to foreign shareholders of a broader range of
foreign income and gains than the foreign dividend account rules.
5.8 This measure also ensures conduit foreign income can flow
through more than one Australian corporate tax entity by removing
Australian company tax on this income when it is distributed. This
removes a limitation in the foreign dividend account rules. That
limitation meant that foreign residents did not get tax relief for
conduit foreign income where they invested indirectly, through
Australian entities, in other Australian entities that earned
foreign income. Removal of that limitation should provide greater
flexibility in structuring holding company arrangements in
Australia, including via joint ventures between Australian and
foreign investors.
Summary of new law
5.9 The conduit foreign income measure makes two significant
changes to the income tax law. First, it broadens the categories
of foreign income earned by an Australian corporate tax entity
which can be distributed to foreign owners free of Australian tax.
Secondly, the measure provides a mechanism to ensure that
Australian tax is not payable where conduit foreign income is
distributed through one or more further Australian corporate tax
entities.
5.10 A dividend withholding tax exemption will be provided for
conduit foreign income that is paid to foreign residents. Where
the conduit foreign income is distributed to the foreign
shareholder via an Australian permanent establishment the income
will not be assessable. Australian corporate tax entities that
receive an unfranked distribution declared to be conduit foreign
income will not pay Australian tax on that income if the conduit
foreign income is on-paid to shareholders. The Australian
corporate tax entity must pay an equivalent amount of conduit
foreign income (net of related expenses) within a certain time
period. Where these conditions are met, the Australian corporate
tax entity will treat the amount of the conduit foreign income in
the unfranked distribution it received as non-assessable non-exempt
income.
5.11 Broadly, amounts considered to be conduit foreign income
are amounts of foreign income and gains that are earned by or
through an Australian corporate tax entity and not taxed in
Australia at the entity level. Some examples of conduit foreign
income are:
. foreign non-portfolio dividends received by an Australian
company;
. foreign income and certain capital gains derived directly
or indirectly by an Australian company from carrying on
business in a foreign country through a permanent
establishment;
. capital gains on the disposal of shares in a foreign
company with an underlying active business; and
. foreign income (eg, royalties) and net capital gains
included in the assessable income of a corporate tax
entity where the Australian tax liability on that income
is reduced by foreign tax credits.
5.12 An Australian corporate tax entity can only declare an
amount of an unfranked distribution to be conduit foreign income if
it has records that demonstrate that it has at least that much
conduit foreign income to distribute.
5.13 Conduit foreign income can be calculated from the start of
an income year starting on or after 1 July 2005. However, a
distribution can only be declared to be conduit foreign income on
or after Royal Assent. Entities with income years starting before
1 July 2006 but after Royal Assent will only be able to make such
declarations from the start of that year.
5.14 Transitional rules ensure that the existing foreign
dividend account provisions generally operate until the time an
entity can make a distribution that is declared to be conduit
foreign income.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|Conduit foreign income |Foreign non-portfolio |
|received by or from an |dividends received by an |
|Australian corporate tax |Australian company can be |
|entity will be able to be |distributed to foreign |
|distributed to foreign |shareholders without |
|shareholders without incurring|incurring dividend |
|dividend withholding tax. |withholding tax. |
|Subject to specified time |No equivalent. |
|limits, an Australian | |
|corporate tax entity will not | |
|pay Australian tax on an | |
|unfranked distribution it | |
|receives that is declared to | |
|be conduit foreign income, to | |
|the extent that it on-pays the| |
|distribution to its | |
|shareholders. | |
|Conduit foreign income will be|The foreign dividend account|
|reduced by most expenses that |is debited by the amount of |
|reasonably relate to that |expenses that relate to the |
|income. |dividend and that would have|
| |been deductible if the |
| |section 23AJ dividends were |
| |treated as assessable |
| |income. |
|A capital gain that is reduced|No equivalent. |
|because of the operation of | |
|section 768-505 or disregarded| |
|because of the operation of | |
|section 23AH of the ITAA 1936 | |
|will increase the amount of | |
|conduit foreign income. A | |
|capital loss that is reduced | |
|or disregarded under those | |
|provisions will decrease | |
|conduit foreign income. | |
|Foreign tax credits are |No equivalent. |
|grossed up and included in | |
|conduit foreign income. The | |
|amount reflects an amount of | |
|assessable foreign income that| |
|cannot be distributed as a | |
|fully franked distribution. | |
|Distributions that are |Section 23AI or section 23AK|
|non-assessable non-exempt |of the ITAA 1936 amounts, or|
|income under section 23AI or |amounts not assessed because|
|section 23AK of the ITAA 1936 |of paragraph 99B(2)(e) of |
|or amounts not assessed |the ITAA 1936, do not give |
|because of paragraph 99B(2)(e)|rise to a foreign dividend |
|of the ITAA 1936, will not be |account credit which means |
|included in conduit foreign |those amounts cannot be |
|income. |distributed free of |
| |withholding tax under the |
| |foreign dividend account |
| |rules. |
|Conduit foreign income is |Similar anti-streaming rules|
|adjusted if an Australian |are currently contained in |
|corporate tax entity streams a|the foreign dividend account|
|frankable distribution with an|provisions and in the |
|amount declared to be conduit |imputation rules. |
|foreign income to some | |
|shareholders and not others or| |
|different amounts of conduit | |
|foreign income are declared | |
|for different shareholders. | |
|Penalties will apply where an |A penalty applies where the |
|Australian corporate tax |foreign dividend account |
|entity declares an amount to |percentage resulted in an |
|be conduit foreign income |amount of a foreign dividend|
|where that amount is greater |account declaration |
|than the amount of conduit |exceeding the foreign |
|foreign income the entity has |dividend account surplus. |
|available to distribute. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
Broad outline
5.15 As a result of these amendments, an Australian corporate
tax entity is able to make an unfranked distribution to its foreign
owners free of dividend withholding tax to the extent that the
distribution is declared to be conduit foreign income [Schedule 2,
item 1, paragraph 802-15(1)(b)]. This declaration must be made on
or before the day on which the distribution is made [Schedule 2,
item 1, subsection 802-15(2)]. Similarly, where the distribution
is attributable to an Australian permanent establishment of the
foreign shareholder, it will not be assessable income of the
foreign shareholder to the extent it is declared to be conduit
foreign income [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-15(1)(a)]. That
amount will be non-assessable non-exempt income of a foreign
resident recipient. This means that the amount of conduit foreign
income will not reduce any Australian tax loss of the foreign
resident, particularly where the distribution is received through a
permanent establishment in Australia. Where the distribution is
made to a partnership with foreign partners or a trust with foreign
beneficiaries, the conduit foreign income amount will be exempt
from withholding tax, or will be non-assessable non-exempt income,
to the extent that tax would otherwise have been payable. In
certain circumstances an unfranked distribution declared to be
conduit foreign income that is paid to an Australian corporate tax
entity will not be included in the entity's assessable income
[Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-20].
5.16 Under section 202-75 a corporate tax entity is required to
provide a distribution statement to its owners when it makes a
frankable distribution. The distribution statement must be in a
form approved by the Commissioner of Taxation and include certain
information. It is anticipated that the approved form of a
distribution statement will require the portion of the distribution
declared to be conduit foreign income to be shown. The entity
receiving the distribution can rely on the amount of the conduit
foreign income declared in the distribution statement. A resident
shareholder that is not a corporate tax entity can ignore this
information because amounts declared to be conduit foreign income
do not change the resident's taxable income or tax payable. It is
expected that partnerships or trustees in receipt of this
information will deal with it in the same way in which they handle
franking credits on distribution statements.
5.17 This measure revolves around amounts treated as conduit
foreign income. Unlike the foreign dividend account provisions,
the measure does not prescribe a detailed mechanism of credits and
debits for an entity to use to determine the amount of its conduit
foreign income. An entity is also not required to know the amount
of its conduit foreign income at all times by keeping a rolling
balance of its conduit foreign income. However, the law does say
what is included in or excluded from conduit foreign income at a
particular time by reference to transactions or events happening up
to that time. [Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-25]
5.18 An entity that carries on business must keep records to
record and explain all transactions that are relevant for income
tax purposes under section 262A of the ITAA 1936. This means that
an entity would need to keep records to explain the amount of
conduit foreign income it has at the time it makes a distribution
declared to be conduit foreign income. If an entity makes a
declaration before making the distribution it would need to have a
record to explain the amount of its conduit foreign income at the
time of the declaration.
5.19 This measure will apply to Australian corporate tax
entities. An entity that is an Australian resident company or
corporate limited partnership at a particular time is an Australian
corporate tax entity at that time. If the entity is a corporate
unit trust or public trading trust, it is an Australian corporate
tax entity if it is a resident unit trust for the income year in
which the time occurs. [Schedule 2, item 17, subsection 995-1(1)]
5.20 The following paragraphs describe how the legislation
operates for Australian companies. However, as the legislation
generally applies to other types of corporate tax entities, the
explanations also apply, with the appropriate modifications, to
those other entities and to head companies of consolidated groups.
The legislation does not apply in calculating the attributable
income of controlled foreign companies as those entities cannot
have conduit foreign income. Therefore, they would not be able to
declare a distribution to be conduit foreign income and so cannot
treat any dividend income they receive as non-assessable non-exempt
income under the new legislation.
Calculation of conduit foreign income
5.21 This measure is designed to allow conduit foreign income to
flow through Australian companies to foreign shareholders without
being taxed further in Australia.
The basic conduit foreign income amount
5.22 Broadly, conduit foreign income is a foreign amount derived
by an Australian company which the company has available to
distribute as a profit to its shareholders. Much of that income or
gain is exempt from Australian tax when derived by the company and
so would be subject to withholding tax when distributed to the
company's foreign owners. This is the income that these provisions
are primarily targeting. Foreign amounts that are normally
included in an Australian company's assessable income are excluded
from conduit foreign income in the first instance because they
generate franking credits that allow the net profit amount to be
distributed to foreign shareholders free of further Australian tax
[Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-30(2)]. If foreign tax credits
reduce the Australian tax liability in relation to the assessable
foreign income then an amount is included in conduit foreign
income. This is explained in paragraphs 5.63 to 5.67.
5.23 Initially, an amount is included in conduit foreign income
if it satisfies the following three conditions:
. The amount must be ordinary or statutory income derived by
the company.
. The income would not be assessable income if the company
were treated as a foreign resident.
. The income is included in an income statement or similar
statement.
[Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-30(1)]
5.24 In respect of the third condition above, it does not matter
whether the amount has been included in an income statement before
it is derived for tax purposes or will be included in one after
derivation. However, conduit foreign income can still only include
amounts derived in income years that start after 30 June 2005.
This condition is based on accounting concepts and is used as a
mechanism to restrict conduit foreign income to amounts of
distributable profits. It is appropriate to use accounting
concepts because these determine the actual amounts a company may
distribute.
5.25 In order to give more certainty to which of these amounts
is to be included in conduit foreign income, the basic tax concepts
of ordinary and statutory income derived by the company are used.
One intended effect of this is to exclude unrealised profits or
gains and foreign exchange gains (except to the extent that the tax
law explicitly deals with them). Using these tax concepts
minimises compliance costs as an Australian company would be
required to use this information to prepare its income tax returns.
The meanings of ordinary and statutory income underpin Division 6.
5.26 The final requirement for determining conduit foreign
income is to know whether the income amount is foreign. Instead of
using the definition of 'foreign income' in section 6AB of the ITAA
1936 a more general approach has been adopted, again using Division
6. That Division does not deal explicitly with the foreign source
income of an Australian resident, as residents are initially
required to include income from all sources in assessable income.
Foreign residents, on the other hand, only include in assessable
income Australian source income or other specified amounts. The
remainder of their income is effectively foreign source income.
5.27 Hence, the Australian company is treated as though it were
a foreign company for the purpose of this initial determination, to
capture all types of foreign income. The company is not treated as
a resident of any particular foreign country which means that none
of Australia's tax treaties impacts on the calculation, with the
exception of the Taxation Code for the Timor Sea Treaty because it
governs activity in the Joint Petroleum Development Area and it
applies to persons regardless of their residence. Targeting the
amounts derived by the company that would not be assessable under
Division 6 if the company were a foreign resident more generally
identifies the income that is considered to be foreign income of an
Australian company. The effect of this approach is that generally
no Australian source income is included in the calculation of
conduit foreign income. However, some exceptions to that outcome
are discussed in paragraphs 5.34 to 5.38.
5.28 Generally, the reference to an income statement will be to
the income statement of the company which derived the amount but it
may be recorded in another entity's income statement. A similar
statement is any sort of financial statement that is prepared to
determine the amount an Australian company can distribute to its
members. Financial statements (as defined by the Australian
Accounting Standards) are to be prepared by certain entities
governed by the Corporations Act 2001. The types of entities
include public companies, registered schemes and large proprietary
companies.
5.29 The reference to the income statement is to the income
statements of the individual entities that form part of a
consolidated or multiple entry consolidated (MEC) group. The
reference is not only to the income statement of the head company.
Groups that prepare consolidated accounts where individual members
of the group do not prepare an income statement can rely on similar
statements that may be prepared by those subsidiaries or on the
consolidated income statement of the group.
5.30 Amounts that are applied for the benefit of a company are
also considered to be derived by the company [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-30(7)]. For example, withholding tax deducted by a
foreign entity from a payment to the Australian company will be
treated as an amount derived by the Australian company. Those
amounts are likely to be included in an income statement because
the gross amount of the distribution would contribute to profit and
the foreign tax would be an expense.
5.31 Foreign income amounts that are assessable (eg, interest
and royalties) can generally be distributed as a franked
distribution to the extent Australian tax is paid on those amounts.
Since no withholding tax is payable on those distributions,
foreign income amounts that are included in the company's
assessable income under existing provisions are excluded from
conduit foreign income, to avoid a double benefit arising. The
possibility that unfranked distributions which include conduit
foreign income might be non-assessable non-exempt income is ignored
at this stage of the calculation [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-30(2)]. The assumption that the company is a
foreign resident does not apply when determining those amounts.
Foreign tax credits that reduce an Australian tax liability on the
foreign income give rise to conduit foreign income in the next
income year (see paragraphs 5.63 to 5.67 for more details).
5.32 The amount that is left is essentially the foreign income
on which no Australian company tax is payable (eg, foreign branch
income or non-portfolio dividends exempt under section 23AH or
section 23AJ of the ITAA 1936, respectively). This amount may be
called the basic conduit foreign income amount.
Example 5.1: Primary elements of basic conduit foreign income
Dividend
Ownership
Ausco is wholly-owned by Forco B and has a controlled
foreign company, Forco A. It owns 60 per cent of Forco A.
No income is attributed to Ausco in the 2005-06 or 2006-07
income years.
On 2 January 2007 Forco A distributes a $600 dividend to
Ausco from which 5 per cent withholding tax is deducted
($30). Interest expenses that relate to deriving the
dividend income from Forco A amount to $50.
Ausco received various amounts of assessable foreign income
from small investments totalling $150 (on which $21 foreign
tax is paid) during the income year ended 30 June 2007.
Ausco incurred $50 of expenses that related to that foreign
income.
Ausco purchases all the shares in a foreign company HK Co on
1 June 2006 for $10,000. The foreign company assets are all
active assets. Ausco sold HK Co for a capital gain of $500
on 15 June 2007.
Ausco does not derive any other income in the year ended
30 June 2007.
Ausco wants to declare and make an unfranked distribution to
its parent company on 31 August 2007. How much of that
distribution can it declare to be conduit foreign income?
The $600 dividend from Forco A qualifies to be included in
Ausco's basic conduit foreign income - it is ordinary income
included in its income statement that would not be
assessable income if Ausco were a foreign resident.
Moreover, it remains included because it is not actually
assessable income for Ausco. The $150 of assessable foreign
income qualifies in the first instance but is then excluded
because it is actually assessable income. None of the
capital gain on the disposal of the shares in HK Co is
included because it would not be statutory income for a
foreign resident. (The calculation for determining the
amount of capital gain (or loss) included in conduit foreign
income is described in Example 5.3.)
Under the general record keeping rules, Ausco would need to
record all amounts (income, gains and expenses) relevant to
the calculation of its conduit foreign income.
5.33 A public trading trust or a corporate unit trust may not
have any amounts that form basic conduit foreign income (except
where either is the head company of a consolidated group). The
calculation of the net income of these trusts generally means that
all their ordinary and statutory income will be assessable. These
entities are not entitled to most foreign income exemptions that an
Australian company is entitled to. But section 23AH of the ITAA
1936 does allow the exemption from tax for foreign branch profits
of trusts to flow through to Australian company beneficiaries.
Further, to the extent that those trusts may be entitled to foreign
tax credits on foreign income or if they receive a dividend
declared to be conduit foreign income those amounts may be conduit
foreign income. This will enable these entities to pay unfranked
distributions declared to be conduit foreign income.
The treatment of some particular amounts
5.34 At first, an unfranked distribution from an Australian
company would be included in the conduit foreign income of the
Australian company that received the distribution. This amount is
ordinary income that would be included in an income statement and
is not assessable income if the recipient Australian company is
treated as a foreign resident. Section 128D of the ITAA 1936
specifically excludes amounts from assessable income where those
amounts are subject to withholding tax. A distribution paid to a
foreign shareholder is subject to withholding tax. Similarly, if a
distribution includes an amount of conduit foreign income, that
amount is excluded from assessable income [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-15(1)]. This means that some Australian source
income is included in conduit foreign income in the first instance.
However, as the distribution is in fact included in the company's
assessable income, the amount is appropriately excluded from
conduit foreign income by the second step. The same process
rightly excludes interest or royalty income paid by an Australian
resident to the company.
5.35 Net capital gains in relation to assets with the necessary
connection with Australia are included in assessable income of a
foreign resident and therefore are statutory income. However, the
search here is for amounts that are not included in assessable
income. No capital gains will meet the conditions of being
statutory income and not being included in assessable income of a
foreign resident. Further, disregarded capital gains or losses are
not ordinary or statutory income and so are not included in basic
conduit foreign income. This means no capital gain amounts will be
included in basic conduit foreign income. However, some capital
gains (and losses) are specifically included in conduit foreign
income under other provisions (see paragraphs 5.54 to 5.62).
5.36 Capital gains and losses on CGT assets acquired before
20 September 1985 are usually disregarded which means they are not
included in calculating net capital gains. Because a disregarded
gain or net gain is not statutory or ordinary income, those amounts
will not be included in basic conduit foreign income. Nor will a
disregarded loss or net loss reduce basic conduit foreign income.
These amounts are not included under the specific provisions
dealing with capital gains and losses even where they relate to
foreign assets because the proposed measure is primarily about
future investments. It is not the intention of the new measure to
impact on past investment decisions and it would add considerable
complexity to identify which pre-CGT gains and losses should be
given conduit foreign income treatment. On the other hand, gains
or losses on assets acquired on or after 20 September 1985 but
before this Bill receives Royal Assent are dealt with because it
was relatively easier to decide which of them is foreign.
5.37 The amount of income from offshore banking activities of an
offshore banking unit in Australia that is not included in
assessable income because of section 121EG of the ITAA 1936 will
normally be included through the above steps in the company's basic
conduit foreign income. While this income may not always be
foreign income, even leaving aside section 121EJ of the ITAA 1936,
it is intended that it be conduit foreign income. In this way, the
income will receive the same tax treatment in Australia as if it
had been derived directly by a foreign resident operating as an
offshore banking unit in Australia.
5.38 Similarly, some of the business profits derived by an
Australian company from activities conducted in the Joint Petroleum
Development Area that are governed by the Timor Sea Treaty and the
associated Taxation Code will be conduit foreign income. The
relevant portion is the 90 per cent of business profits that are
not taxed in Australia (but are taxed in East Timor). The reason
for this is similar to that for the untaxed portion of offshore
banking income. That portion of business profits still has to
satisfy the other requirements for conduit foreign income. That
is, it must consist of ordinary or statutory income that is
included in an income statement.
Adjustments to the basic conduit foreign income amount
Unfranked distributions of conduit foreign income
5.39 The basic conduit foreign income amount is increased by the
amount of an unfranked distribution paid to the company that is
declared to be conduit foreign income [Schedule 2, item 1,
paragraph 802-30(3)(a)]. The amount of conduit foreign income is
shown on a distribution statement. An Australian company will
receive a distribution statement that shows the amount that the
company can include in its conduit foreign income. This simple
mechanism allows for the transfer of an amount of conduit foreign
income from one Australian company to another. The impact on the
paying company's conduit foreign income is discussed in
paragraphs 5.68 to 5.70. The amount that is included in the
recipient company's conduit foreign income may be reduced when some
of the unfranked distribution remains assessable (see paragraphs
5.71 to 5.75).
5.40 A company that receives a trust or partnership distribution
that includes a share of a frankable distribution that was declared
to include conduit foreign income includes that share of the
declared conduit foreign income amount in its own conduit foreign
income. The company would include its share of the declared
conduit foreign income amount where it is presently entitled to the
income of the trust. [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-30(3)(b)]
Foreign non-portfolio dividends
5.41 Section 23AJ of the ITAA 1936 treats foreign non-portfolio
dividends as being non-assessable non-exempt income. The section
only applies to Australian companies and not to other types of
corporate tax entities. The amount of those dividends is included
in basic conduit foreign income to the extent that the amount is
included in an income statement. Non-portfolio dividends
considered to be a return of capital under accounting principles
are not included in an income statement or in basic conduit foreign
income. An adjustment is required to increase the basic conduit
foreign income amount by the amount of a non-portfolio dividend
that is not already included in that amount, to preserve the
current treatment of non-portfolio dividends. [Schedule 2, item 1,
paragraph 802-30(3)(c)]
5.42 Foreign portfolio dividends are included in assessable
income which means they will not be included in basic conduit
foreign income [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-30(2)]. An
adjustment is not required to include any of those amounts in
conduit foreign income in the same way as for non-portfolio
dividends because they are not given conduit treatment under
existing law. However, to the extent that a foreign tax credit is
allowed for these dividends, the conduit foreign income amount will
be increased (see paragraphs 5.63 to 5.67).
Income representing amounts previously taxed under the accruals tax
regimes
5.43 The basic conduit foreign income amount is reduced by any
amount:
. that is excluded from the company's assessable income
under section 23AI or 23AK both of which are in the
ITAA 1936 [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-30(4)(a)]; or
. that is not included in assessable income because of
paragraph 99B(2)(e) of the ITAA 1936 [Schedule 2, item 1,
paragraph 802-30(4)(b)].
5.44 Amounts are excluded from assessable income by
sections 23AI and 23AK and paragraph 99B(2)(e) because those
amounts represent amounts that were previously taxed in Australia
through the accruals tax rules. The provisions prevent amounts
being taxed twice in Australia: once under the accruals rules and
again when amounts are paid to Australian recipients.
5.45 A franking credit arises for a company where Australian tax
is paid on amounts included in assessable income under the accruals
rules. An amount that is excluded from assessable income under
section 23AI, 23AK or paragraph 99B(2)(e) can still be distributed
by an Australian company as a franked distribution. The franking
credits that could be used relate to the Australian tax that would
have been paid under the accruals tax rules. Fully franked
distributions generally do not incur any further Australian tax in
the hands of foreign or company recipients. This means there is no
need to treat this income as conduit foreign income because it will
pass through Australia without further taxation. Where a foreign
tax credit arises in respect of section 23AI or 23AK amounts, an
amount would be added to conduit foreign income in the following
year (see paragraphs 5.63 to 5.67).
Non-assessable foreign income with franking credits attached
5.46 Foreign dividend income does not usually have franking
credits attached to that income. However, where a foreign company
can choose to apply the Australian imputation system the foreign
company keeps a franking account and is able to pay frankable
distributions to its shareholders. The frankable distributions may
have franking credits attached to them. Only Australian
shareholders of the foreign company benefit from receiving the
attached franking credits. An Australian company that receives
those dividends can credit its own franking account with those
credits if the dividends are assessable. The Australian company is
then able to use those franking credits to frank its own
distributions.
5.47 If an Australian company received foreign income with
franking credits attached, it could distribute that income as a
fully franked distribution to the extent of the franking credits it
received. Conduit foreign income is already reduced by assessable
foreign income which would give rise to franking credits which
means it is only franking credits for non-assessable foreign income
which must be considered.
5.48 As discussed previously, distributions that are fully
franked can pass through Australia without further taxation. This
means the income should not be treated as conduit foreign income to
the extent it can be distributed fully franked. The basic conduit
foreign income amount is reduced by an amount using the following
formula:
[pic]
The available franking credit is the amount credited to the
Australian company's franking account at the time the company
received the dividend. The available franking credit is restricted
to the amount that relates to the amount of the foreign dividend
that still remains in the basic conduit foreign income amount.
[Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-30(4)(c)]
Expenses related to amounts included in conduit foreign income
5.49 Expenses that relate to the total amount included in
conduit foreign income, as discussed so far, reduce conduit foreign
income. There does not have to be actual matching of the
individual expenses to individual amounts of the conduit foreign
income. These would normally be expected to be expenses taken into
account in preparing the company's income statement and would not
necessarily be limited to expenses incurred solely in earning the
conduit foreign income. Expenses should reduce the amount of
conduit foreign income because the profit available for
distribution that is sourced from foreign income is reduced.
Correctly reducing the amount of conduit foreign income prevents
other types of income being distributed as an unfranked
distribution declared to be conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2,
item 1, subsection 802-30(5)]
5.50 The expenses that are reasonably related to the conduit
foreign income are those expenses that would ordinarily be
considered to relate to deriving the income. The term 'expense'
has its ordinary meaning in the context of the application of the
provisions. That is, as these provisions would generally apply to
a company that carries on business, the term 'expense' would take
its meaning from the application of that term to companies carrying
on business. An example of such an expense would be any foreign tax
paid on the foreign income. How related an expense is to the
conduit foreign income is a question of fact based on the test of
what a reasonable person would say.
5.51 There are some expenses that relate to foreign income that
will not reduce the amount of conduit foreign income. These are
expenses that are deductible from a company's assessable income
whether or not the foreign income they relate to is included in
assessable income. An example of an expense that is deductible
even though the foreign income is not assessable is an interest
expense that is an allowable deduction under section 25-90.
Expenses that are deductible do not reduce conduit foreign income
because they reduce the amount of franking credits that would be
available to pay fully franked distributions. If the conduit
foreign income was also reduced there would be foreign income that
could not be distributed free of withholding tax. This would
effectively mean double counting the expenses.
5.52 Frankable distributions declared to be conduit foreign
income may be included in assessable income or may be non-
assessable non-exempt income (see explanation in paragraphs 5.76 to
5.86). When calculating expenses that might otherwise be
deductible for the purpose of reducing the conduit foreign income
amount, the whole amount of such dividends is treated as non-
assessable non-exempt income. [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-
30(5)]. An adjustment is made at a later time when it is known to
what extent such dividends remain assessable (see paragraphs 5.72
to 5.75).
Example 5.2: Subtracting related expenses
Assume the same facts as in Example 5.1. How much of the
Ausco's expenses are subtracted from the $600 of basic
conduit foreign income?
First, the $50 of interest expenses are not subtracted
because they are deductible under section 25-90. The
withholding tax of $30 taken from the dividend paid by Forco
A is subtracted as it is a non-deductible expense. Neither
the $21 foreign tax expense nor the $50 of other expenses
incurred in earning the assessable foreign income is
deducted because that income is not included in basic
conduit foreign income. Therefore, the basic conduit
foreign income amount is reduced by $30.
Other things that affect conduit foreign income
5.53 The basic conduit foreign income amount adjusted by any
amounts described in paragraphs 5.39 to 5.52 results in an amount
to be included in the company's conduit foreign income [Schedule 2,
item 1, subsection 802-30(6)]. Other events may also affect the
amount of conduit foreign income an Australian company has
available to distribute. Those effects and their timing are
described in paragraphs 5.54 to 5.75.
How do capital gains affect conduit foreign income?
5.54 Conduit foreign income may be increased by certain capital
gains of an Australian company that are not included in the
calculation of its net capital gain. An Australian company only
includes its net capital gains in statutory income. Individual
capital gains and losses that make up the net amount are neither
statutory nor ordinary income. This means that the individual
capital gains (and the capital losses discussed in paragraphs 5.59
to 5.61) must be explicitly included in (or excluded from) conduit
foreign income.
5.55 A capital gain (or part of it) may be excluded from the
calculation of a net capital gain by section 768-505. This section
operates when certain CGT events happen in relation to non-
portfolio interests in foreign companies. The non-portfolio
interest must be shares and the company must hold at least a 10 per
cent voting interest in the foreign company. The capital gains
would generally relate to amounts received as a result of the sale
of shares in foreign companies with an underlying active business.
5.56 Where a capital gain for an Australian company is reduced
under section 768-505 the amount of the reduction is added to
conduit foreign income [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-
35(1)(a)]. Those amounts are included in conduit foreign income
because they are gains that would not be taxable in Australia if
the shares in the foreign company had been held directly by a non-
resident. Distributions of those amounts would be unfranked as no
Australian tax is payable which means there are no franking credits
available. To ensure Australian tax is not paid on those amounts
when distributed to foreign residents those distributions can be
declared to be conduit foreign income.
5.57 Certain capital gains are ignored in the calculation of a
net capital gain because of the operation of section 23AH of the
ITAA 1936. Broadly, section 23AH applies to capital gains made
directly or indirectly by an Australian company in disposing of non-
tainted assets used in deriving foreign branch income. The amount
of the capital gain disregarded under section 23AH is included in
conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-
35(1)(b)]
5.58 The amount of any capital gain that is not taxable in
Australia under the Alienation of Property Article of the Taxation
Code for the Timor Sea Treaty is also included in conduit foreign
income. That article primarily covers gains and losses of a
capital nature from the alienation of property situated in the
Joint Petroleum Development Area. Ninety per cent of any such gain
is not taxable in Australia (but may be taxable in East Timor) and
that amount is included in conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2,
item 1, paragraph 802-35(1)(c)]
How do capital losses affect conduit foreign income?
5.59 Conduit foreign income is reduced by certain capital losses
of an Australian company that are not included in the calculation
of a net capital gain. A capital loss (or part of it) may be
ignored in the calculation of net capital gains by section 768-505.
Where a capital loss for an Australian company is reduced by the
operation of section 768-505 the amount of the reduction reduces
conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-
35(2)(a)]
5.60 Capital losses made directly or indirectly by an Australian
company may be ignored because of the operation of section 23AH of
the ITAA 1936. The amount of the capital loss disregarded under
section 23AH reduces conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, item 1,
paragraph 802-35(2)(b)]
5.61 The amount of any capital loss that is disregarded in
Australia under the Alienation of Property Article of the Taxation
Code for the Timor Sea Treaty reduces an entity's conduit foreign
income. Ninety per cent of any loss covered by the Article is
disregarded for Australian tax purposes and that amount is
subtracted from conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, item 1,
paragraph 802-35(2)(c)]
When do capital gains and losses affect conduit foreign income?
5.62 Capital gains and losses that result from a CGT event in an
income year and which are relevant to the calculation of conduit
foreign income are likely to be calculated at the end of that
income year. To avoid errors that might arise from a requirement
for an immediate adjustment of conduit foreign income because of
these events, some delay in making the adjustments is prescribed in
the legislation. The amount of a capital gain or loss not included
in the calculation of a net capital gain under section 768-505
changes conduit foreign income at the end of the income year in
which the relevant CGT event occurred. Similarly, capital gains
and losses disregarded under section 23AH of the ITAA 1936 and the
Alienation of Property Article of the Taxation Code for the Timor
Sea Treaty affect the amount of conduit foreign income at the end
of the income year in which the relevant CGT event occurred. The
net disregarded gain or loss will be taken into account at the end
of the income year. [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-35(3)]
Example 5.3: Capital gains
Again assume the same facts as in Example 5.1. How much, if
any, of the capital gain from the sale of the shares in HK
Co would be included in Ausco's conduit foreign income at
the end of the income year?
Since all the assets of HK Co are assumed to be active
assets, all of the capital gain from the disposal of Ausco's
interest in it would be disregarded. Therefore all the gain
would be included in Ausco's conduit foreign income.
Is assessable foreign income included in conduit foreign income?
5.63 The calculation of conduit foreign income, to this point,
has captured foreign income and gains that are not included in
assessable income. Allowing a credit for foreign tax paid on
foreign income and gains included in assessable income (eg, rents
and royalties) effectively means that no Australian tax is payable
on some of that foreign income/gain. This means there are less
franking credits available to enable the distribution of the
foreign income or gain to be franked.
5.64 To address this deficiency, an amount is added to conduit
foreign income where an Australian company has claimed foreign tax
credits. This enables it to distribute all its assessable foreign
income (net of expenses) without further Australian tax to its
foreign shareholders. The amount is based on the amount of foreign
tax credit calculated under section 160AF of the ITAA 1936 for the
income year immediately before the one in which the adjustment to
the conduit foreign income is made. The amount added to the
conduit foreign income is calculated using the following formula:
[pic]
[Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-40]
5.65 The credit is grossed up to determine the amount of net
foreign income that, as a result of the foreign tax paid, is
effectively free of any further Australian tax and therefore
qualifies as conduit foreign income.
5.66 This amount is included in a company's conduit foreign
income in the income year immediately following the one for which
the credit arose. This is because the foreign tax credits
available under section 160AF generally cannot be properly
ascertained until after the end of the relevant income year. The
amount is included in conduit foreign income in the next year at an
appropriate time. [Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-40]
5.67 Because this inclusion is based on the amount of foreign
tax credit allowed for a year, if there is excess foreign tax for a
particular class of foreign income in a year, that additional
foreign tax would lead to an increase in conduit foreign income
only when it was used in a later year to shelter further foreign
income from Australian tax. If there is an overall loss for a
class of foreign income, no foreign tax credit is allowed for that
income and no adjustment is made to conduit foreign income.
Effectively an adjustment will be made in a later year when some or
all of the loss is recouped and the foreign tax credit that is then
allowed is reduced. Therefore, no specific adjustment needs to be
made to the amount of foreign tax credit when calculating conduit
foreign income because excess foreign tax or a foreign loss is
carried forward.
Example 5.4: The inclusion of assessable foreign income
Assume the same facts as in Example 5.1. How much of the
net assessable foreign income from minor investments would
be included in Ausco's conduit foreign income?
Ausco would be allowed a foreign tax credit for the $21 of
foreign tax in its assessment for the 2007 income year and
would have to pay $9 of Australian tax on this assessable
foreign income. Applying the above formula, Ausco's conduit
foreign income would be increased by $49 (=$21 × 7/3) in
the 2008 year when that credit had been calculated.
(Together with the ability to pay a franked dividend of $21
out of the franking credit of $9 arising from the payment of
Australian tax on this income, Ausco would be able to
distribute all the net amount of that income ($70) to its
parent company free of withholding tax.)
How do previous declarations affect conduit foreign income?
5.68 A company's conduit foreign income will be reduced where it
makes an unfranked distribution that includes an amount declared to
be conduit foreign income. The amount of the reduction is equal to
the amount of the distribution that the company has declared to be
conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-45]
5.69 The amount of the reduction also includes amounts that are
taken to have been declared to be conduit foreign income under the
anti-streaming rule (see paragraphs 5.89 to 5.94). These are
amounts that should have been declared to be conduit foreign income
to ensure all membership interests received the same amount of
conduit foreign income.
5.70 After the company has declared an amount to be conduit
foreign income, the remaining balance can be included as part of
any later declarations that the company may make. [Schedule 2,
item 1, note to section 802-45]
How do distributions received from other Australian corporate tax
entities affect conduit foreign income?
5.71 If a company receives an unfranked distribution from
another Australian company it is able to include those amounts
declared to be conduit foreign income in its own conduit foreign
income [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-30(3)(a)]. The receiving
company treats the distribution received in one of two ways for the
purposes of determining its own taxable income. Either:
. the distribution (or part of it) is non-assessable non-
exempt income if an amount of conduit foreign income is on-
distributed (see paragraphs 5.76 to 5.86); or
. the distribution continues to be included in the
assessable income of the company.
5.72 The conduit foreign income of a company is reduced where an
amount of conduit foreign income it receives from another
Australian company remains assessable income. This is done because
including some or all of the distributed conduit foreign income in
assessable income means that subsequent distributions paid out of
that amount can be franked. [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-
50(1)]
5.73 The amount of the reduction is the amount of the
distribution that has been included in assessable income less any
expenses that reasonably relate to that amount [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-50(2)]. This may include some expenses that are not
deductible for income tax purposes. All relevant expenses are
subtracted from the assessable amount of the distribution because
they previously reduced the conduit foreign income amount (see
paragraphs 5.49 to 5.52).
5.74 The due date for lodgement of the company's tax return
would be an appropriate time at which to reduce the company's
conduit foreign income. If a company is granted an extension of
time to lodge its tax return the new due date becomes the
appropriate time for reducing the conduit foreign income.
5.75 By the time the company lodges its tax return for an income
year, there should be no amount left in its conduit foreign income
that relates to a distribution of conduit foreign income the
company received in that income year. The distribution declared to
be conduit foreign income that a company receives will have either
been distributed as conduit foreign income or included in
assessable income.
Example 5.5: Impact of a received CFI amount on a company's
conduit foreign income
Aust Co 2 received from Aust Co 1 a $100 distribution. All
of the distribution was declared to be conduit foreign
income. Aust Co 2 had $20 of expenses that relate to the
distribution.
Assume that Aust Co 2 distributed an unfranked distribution,
$60 of which is declared to be conduit foreign income. This
means that $75 of the $100 was treated as non-assessable non-
exempt income (see Example 5.6). The balance of $25 remains
part of Aust Co 2's assessable income for that income year.
Aust Co 2's conduit foreign income would be reduced by $20
($25 - $5) because Aust Co 2 had expenses of $5 ([pic]of
$20) in relation to the assessable amount of $25.
In summary, the transactions affect Aust Co 2's conduit
foreign income in the following way if Aust Co 2 were to
keep a rolling balance:
. the $100 distribution is included in its conduit foreign
income when Aust Co 2 receives the distribution;
. the $20 of expenses that relate to the distribution
reduces the amount of conduit foreign income when those
expenses are incurred;
. the $60 Aust Co 2 paid out as conduit foreign income
reduces the conduit foreign income at the time of the
declaration (or the making of the distribution); and
. the $20 that is the net amount of the dividend included
in assessable income reduces the amount of conduit
foreign income when Aust Co 2 lodges its tax return.
Distributions between Australian corporate tax entities
5.76 Generally, an Australian company would include the amount
of an unfranked distribution in its assessable income and would pay
Australian tax on that amount. However, under this measure an
unfranked distribution declared to be conduit foreign income may
end up being non-assessable non-exempt income. The reason for
treating an unfranked distribution in this way is to allow conduit
foreign income to flow through additional Australian companies to
foreign shareholders without incurring any Australian tax. A
distribution is treated as not assessable and not exempt where
three conditions are met.
5.77 The first condition is that an Australian company receives
from another Australian company an unfranked distribution which has
an amount declared to be conduit foreign income. The distribution
statement will show the amount of the unfranked distribution that
is conduit foreign income. The conduit foreign income amount shown
on the distribution statement is called 'a received CFI amount'.
[Schedule 2, item 1, paragraphs 802-20(1)(a) and (b)]
5.78 The second condition is that the company that receives the
distribution must make an unfranked distribution it declares
wholly, or in part, to be conduit foreign income. This is to
ensure that the conduit foreign income is passed on to shareholders
and not accumulated in interposed Australian companies. The amount
the company declares to be conduit foreign income is called 'a
declared CFI amount'. [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-20(1)(c)]
5.79 The third condition is that the unfranked distribution that
the recipient company has declared to be conduit foreign income
must be distributed within the required time. The time is before
the due date for lodgement of the income tax return of the
recipient company for the income year in which the distribution was
received [Schedule 2, item 1, paragraph 802-20(1)(c)]. The due
date for lodgement includes any extension obtained by the company
from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
5.80 The third condition ensures that Australian tax relief is
given to an Australian company only where it distributes conduit
foreign income in a timely manner. Without this time restriction
compliance and administration costs in keeping track of conduit
foreign income over long periods of time would increase. In
addition, there could be undue deferral of Australian tax on
unfranked foreign income accruing to the benefit of Australian
shareholders.
How is the amount of non-assessable non-exempt income calculated?
5.81 The company calculates the amount of unfranked dividends
that will not be assessable and will not be exempt by using the
formula set out in paragraph 5.84 [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-20(2)]. First, the company adds all the received
CFI amounts (amounts of unfranked distributions that are declared
to be conduit foreign income) that it received in the income year
for which the calculation is being made. The company then adds all
the declared CFI amounts (amounts of unfranked distributions that
it declared to be conduit foreign income) it has declared for the
period from the beginning of the income year until the time it
lodges its tax return for that income year.
5.82 The company cannot count a declared CFI amount more than
once [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-20(4)]. This means that
where an amount is declared to be conduit foreign income before the
lodgement of the tax return for the previous year but after the
beginning of the current year the amount can only be used once in
the calculation of the total declared CFI amount. The amount can
either be used in calculating the amount of non-assessable non-
exempt income for the preceding year or in the calculation for the
current year if there had been no received CFI amount in the
preceding income year.
5.83 A distribution that is non-assessable non-exempt income
will not reduce the loss of an Australian company. The loss
company must meet all the conditions that allow an unfranked
distribution that it receives and has been declared to be conduit
foreign income to be non-assessable non-exempt income. This
includes the condition that the company that received the
distribution must also make an unfranked distribution of conduit
foreign income before lodging its tax return. If the company is
unable to make a distribution because of insufficient profits the
unfranked distribution it received will remain assessable income
and will reduce its tax loss.
5.84 The amount of a received unfranked distribution that is non-
assessable non-exempt income cannot exceed the amount of the
distribution that was declared to be conduit foreign income. The
amount that is non-assessable non-exempt income is the lesser of
the total received CFI amounts or the amount calculated using the
following formula:
[pic]
The idea of the denominator in this formula is to determine how
much of the total received CFI amount remains as profit available
for distribution. [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-20(2)]
5.85 Where there is nothing left of the total received CFI
amount because of expenses that relate to that amount (as distinct
from using that amount for other purposes), then the whole of the
received CFI amount will be non-assessable non-exempt income. This
will ensure that that conduit foreign income is not taxed in
Australia. Where the received CFI amount is wholly non-assessable
non-exempt income all expenses that relate to that amount will not
be deductible. [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-20(3)]
5.86 Where an amount of conduit foreign income is distributed
through one or more partnerships or trusts to another Australian
company, the outcome in terms of how much if any of that amount is
not assessable income of the company should be the same as if the
amount had been distributed directly to the company. This is
achieved by applying the rules in Subdivision 207-B to frankable
distributions as they apply to franked distributions and to conduit
foreign income amounts as they apply to franking credits. Where
there is a chain of trusts and/or partnerships the rules are
applied iteratively to each partnership or trust. In the case of a
distribution of conduit foreign income received by a trust, this
rule will apply when the company is presently entitled to a share
of the income of the trust. If the trustee is taxable on some or
all of the distribution under section 99 or section 99A of the ITAA
1936, none of that amount will be non-assessable. In that case,
the trustee will be treated like an individual and not like a
company for the purposes of this provision. [Schedule 2, item 1,
subsection 802-20(5)]
Example 5.6: Calculating non-assessable non-exempt income
Aust Co 1 and Aust Co 2 are both Australian resident
companies.
Aust Co 1 pays an unfranked distribution of $100 to Aust Co
2. All of the $100 received by Aust Co 2 is declared to be
conduit foreign income (the total received CFI amounts is
$100).
Aust Co 2 has $20 of deductible expenses relating to the
$100 dividend.
Aust Co 2 makes an unfranked distribution of $90. Aust Co 2
declares $60 of the $90 to be conduit foreign income (the
total declared CFI amounts is $60).
The amount that is not assessable income and is not exempt
income for Aust Co 2 is:
[pic]
Note 1: The remaining $25 is included in Aust Co 2's
assessable income and it can deduct $5 of the expenses (the
part that is related to the $25).
Note 2: If Aust Co 2 had instead made a distribution that
declared $80 to be conduit foreign income the whole of the
$100 distribution it received would be non-assessable non-
exempt income.
Example 5.7: Calculating non-assessable non-exempt income when the
recipient has other conduit foreign income
The same facts as in Example 5.6 apply in relation to the
amount of conduit foreign income Aust Co 2 receives from
Aust Co 1.
However, as a result of other foreign amounts it has
received Aust Co 2 makes an unfranked distribution of $200.
It can declare the entire amount to be conduit foreign
income.
In this case, the amount that is not assessable income and
is not exempt income for Aust Co 2 is $100.
This is the lesser of:
the total received CFI amounts being $100; and
the amount calculated using the formula
[pic]
Example 5.8: Calculating non-assessable non-exempt income when the
recipient has non-deductible expenses
The same facts as in Example 5.6 apply in relation to the
amount of conduit foreign income Aust Co 2 receives from
Aust Co 1. However, as well as the deductible expenses Aust
Co 2 has non-deductible expenses of $5 that relate to the
dividend it received.
Aust Co 2 makes an unfranked distribution of $90. Aust Co 2
declares $60 of the $90 to be conduit foreign income (the
total declared CFI amounts is $60).
The amount that is not assessable income and is not exempt
income for Aust Co 2 is:
[pic]
Note: The remaining $20 is included in Aust Co 2's
assessable income and it can deduct $4 (the part of the $20
deductible expenses that is related to the assessable $20
amount).
What is the interaction between a deduction under section 46FA of the ITAA
1936 and an amount that is conduit foreign income?
5.87 An Australian company wholly-owned by a foreign company may
get a deduction under section 46FA of the ITAA 1936. A deduction
is allowed for unfranked non-portfolio dividends received by an
Australian company that are on-paid to the foreign parent. The
deduction is available in the income year in which the flow-on
dividend is paid. However, by these amendments, an unfranked non-
portfolio dividend received by a resident company declared to be
conduit foreign income may be treated as being non-assessable non-
exempt income if the requisite amount of conduit foreign income is
paid to the foreign parent within the prescribed time (see
paragraphs 5.76 to 5.86).
5.88 Without an explicit rule a company would receive a double
tax benefit from the same non-portfolio dividend it receives once
it on-distributed it to the foreign parent company. The amount
would be a deduction for the company under section 46FA and would
be excluded from assessable income if the distribution is treated
as non-assessable non-exempt income. The company may choose whether
to treat the dividend as non-assessable non-exempt income or claim
a deduction when on-distributed. However, the company will be
prevented from choosing both options where the dividend has been on-
distributed to the foreign parent company. [Schedule 2, item 1,
section 802-55]
What happens if a company streams distributions declared to be conduit
foreign income to particular shareholders?
5.89 The policy behind this measure is that all members of a
company receive conduit foreign income in proportion to their
interest in the company. That is, unfranked distributions declared
to be conduit foreign income are not to be streamed to foreign
shareholders in preference to resident shareholders. In this way
conduit foreign income amounts distributed to resident individuals
are intentionally wasted. This is little different to the wastage
that occurs where foreign shareholders receive franked
distributions where resident shareholders would otherwise have a
greater use for the attached imputation credits.
5.90 Given the policy not to stream income to particular
shareholders that would most benefit from the receipt of that
income, a company should distribute its conduit foreign income to
all its shareholders in the same proportion as their membership
interests. Membership interests that do not include a right to
receive distributions are ignored for this purpose [Schedule 2,
item 1, subsection 802-60(3)]. All distributions made during a
franking period (generally, a period of 6 months in the case of
public companies and an income year in the case of private
companies) must have the same proportion declared to be conduit
foreign income for all shareholders [Schedule 2, item 1, subsection
802-60(2)]. At least one of the distributions must include some
conduit foreign income for this rule to apply. [Schedule 2,
item 1, subsection 802-60(1)]
5.91 An adjustment will be made to the company's conduit foreign
income where a company does not declare an equal proportion of
conduit foreign income on the distributions it makes during a
franking period. Even if there is a breach of the franking
benchmark rule and a fully franked dividend is paid in a period
when an unfranked distribution which includes conduit foreign
income is paid, an adjustment will be required. The amount of the
adjustment is the amount required to reduce the conduit foreign
income to the amount it would have been if the same proportion of
conduit foreign income had been declared equally on all the
distributions made during the period. The adjustment is based on
the distribution with the greatest proportion of declared conduit
foreign income. The adjustment is in addition to the amount
initially declared by the company to be conduit foreign income.
[Schedule 2, item 1, subsections 802-60(1) and (2)]
5.92 An administrative penalty is imposed on the company only if
an adjustment to its conduit foreign income results in a negative
amount of conduit foreign income at the relevant time. The
relevant time is the time when a dividend is declared, or where
there is no declaration when a distribution is made. See
paragraphs 5.95 to 5.100 for a discussion of the new penalty
arrangements.
5.93 There is no immediate penalty if the adjustment to the
company's conduit foreign income results in the conduit foreign
income remaining positive. Instead the reduction to conduit
foreign income will affect the amount that the company can
distribute as conduit foreign income in the future. [Schedule 2,
item 1, note to subsection 802-60(2)]
Example 5.9: Streaming of conduit foreign income
The membership interests in an Australian company are split
equally between Australian shareholders and foreign
shareholders. Assume the company has $100 of conduit
foreign income. It has $200 available for distribution.
The company makes a declaration to distribute unfranked
dividends totalling $160 to all its shareholders ($80 to the
resident shareholders and $80 to the foreign shareholders).
It declares that the $80 to its foreign shareholders is
conduit foreign income. It does not make the same
declaration to its resident shareholders.
In this instance, the company would be deemed to have
declared the $80 unfranked dividend paid to the residents to
be conduit foreign income. The company's conduit foreign
income is reduced by a further $80 at the time the dividend
declaration is made.
The additional $80 adjustment will mean that the amount of
the company's conduit foreign income is minus $60. The
company is therefore liable to a penalty on the $60 (see
Example 5.10). This is the amount of conduit foreign income
taken to have been declared in excess of the amount
available.
5.94 The consequences that result from streaming distributions
only affect the company making the distributions. This means
shareholders can continue to rely on the amount that was declared
to be conduit foreign income in the statements they receive.
[Schedule 2, item 1, subsection 802-60(4)]
What happens if a company over declares an amount of conduit foreign
income?
5.95 A company will be liable to a penalty if it declares a
distribution to include more conduit foreign income than it has
available. At a particular time, a company overstates its conduit
foreign income if it declares or makes a frankable distribution and
the amount of the unfranked part declared to be conduit foreign
income exceeds the amount of the company's conduit foreign income.
It should be remembered that the penalty imposed for over declaring
conduit foreign income is a penalty on the company making the
distribution and not on the shareholders. It is not intended that
the amount distributed to shareholders nor the declared conduit
foreign income amount would be changed. [Schedule 2, item 25,
subsection 288-80(1) of the Taxation Administration Act 1953]
5.96 The relevant time for a company to determine the amount of
conduit foreign income it is able to distribute will depend on
whether it declares a dividend or simply makes a distribution
without a prior declaration. If a company makes a dividend
declaration, the relevant time will be at the time of the
declaration. Where no declaration is made, the relevant time will
be the time the company actually makes the distribution. [Schedule
2, item 25, paragraph 288-80(1)(c) of the Taxation Administration
Act 1953]
5.97 The penalty is a composite amount that depends on the
extent to which the distribution was paid to resident or foreign
shareholders or a mixture of both. The over declared amount is
apportioned between foreign and Australian membership interests and
each allocation is then multiplied by an appropriate penalty rate.
[Schedule 2, item 25, subsection 288-80(2) of the Taxation
Administration Act 1953]
5.98 How much is paid to foreign or resident shareholders is
determined by whether amounts are required to be withheld from the
distribution under section 12-210 of the Taxation Administration
Act 1953. Membership interests in respect of which withholding is
required, or would be required if section 12-300 of the same Act
were disregarded, are counted as foreign membership interests
[Schedule 2, item 25, definition of 'foreign membership interests'
in subsection 288-80(4) of the Taxation Administration Act 1953].
The remaining membership interests are called Australian membership
interests [Schedule 2, item 25, definition of 'Australian
membership interests' in subsection 288-80(3) of the
Taxation Administration Act 1953].
5.99 Where distributions on Australian membership interests are
over declared to be conduit foreign income, the penalty rate is the
company tax rate. This is called the general company tax rate.
The resident shareholders that would benefit the most from an over
declaration of conduit foreign income would be Australian
companies. The penalty rate equates to the level of company income
tax that may not be paid by those companies because of the over
declaration. The over declaration means there is an opportunity
for too much of the distribution to be treated as non-assessable
non-exempt income. [Schedule 2, item 25, subsection 288-80(3) of
the Taxation Administration Act 1953]
5.100 Where distributions on foreign membership interests are
over declared to be conduit foreign income, the penalty rate is 50
per cent of the tax rate specified in subparagraph 7(a)(ii) of the
Income Tax (Dividends, Interest and Royalties Withholding Tax) Act
1974. The current rate in that subparagraph is 30 per cent which
means the penalty rate will be 15 per cent. The 15 per cent
penalty is comparable to the withholding tax rate in many tax
treaties. However, in recently negotiated tax treaties, this rate
has been reduced to zero, 5 or 10 per cent for non-portfolio
distributions. The 15 per cent rate represents a balanced outcome
between those rates and the 30 per cent rate applicable to
distributions to residents of non-tax-treaty countries. This rate
is called the applicable withholding tax rate. [Schedule 2,
item 25, subsection 288-80(4) of the Taxation Administration Act
1953]
Example 5.10: Over-declaration penalty
Using the same assumptions as in Example 5.9 and assuming
that total membership interests number 200, the total amount
of the penalty is $13.50:
[pic]
[pic]
Consolidated and MEC groups
5.101 Consolidated and MEC groups are particular groups of
entities for income tax purposes. A consolidated group is made up
of a head company (an Australian resident) and subsidiary members
(all Australian residents). A MEC group has a provisional head
company during an income year and subsidiary members, similarly
restricted to Australian residents. A MEC group has a head company
only at the end of an income year. The rules for consolidated and
MEC groups are contained in Part 3-90. Generally, rules that
relate to consolidated groups apply equally to MEC groups.
5.102 Head companies and provisional head companies are
Australian corporate tax entities. Corporate tax entities
calculate their conduit foreign income at a particular time
[Schedule 2, item 1, section 802-25]. This means a head company is
also able to calculate its conduit foreign income at a particular
time. Subsidiary members are treated as part of the head company
which means amounts of conduit foreign income they receive are
treated as being received by the head company [Schedule 2, item 15,
section 715-875]. Subsidiary members of a consolidated group do
not calculate their own amounts of conduit foreign income.
5.103 Ordinary and statutory income of a subsidiary member is
deemed to be derived by the head company [Schedule 2, item 15,
section 715-875]. It is the head company that is treated as a
foreign resident to work out if an amount is included in the first
step when calculating its basic conduit foreign income amount.
However, the condition that an amount is included in an income
statement does not mean the amount must be included in an income
statement of the head company. Instead, the amount may be included
in the income statement of the subsidiary member that received the
amount.
5.104 It should be noted that any new provision which deals with
distributions between Australian corporate tax entities will have
no application where distributions are made between members of the
same consolidated or MEC group. Those distributions are ignored
for taxation purposes under the consolidation rules.
5.105 Where a company joins a consolidated group, the extended
application of the entry history rule will ensure amounts of
conduit foreign income received by the company before it joins the
group will be amounts the head company can treat as conduit foreign
income [Schedule 2, item 15, subsection 715-875(1)]. Subsequent
amounts that the company receives will become the amounts received
by the head company as previously discussed. If the company later
leaves the consolidated group it will be unable to take an amount
of conduit foreign income with it [Schedule 2, item 15, section 715-
880]. Amounts that were received by the company either before it
joined the group or while it was a member of a consolidated group
will remain with the head company of the group.
Application and transitional provisions
5.106 These amendments allow a company to calculate the amount of
its conduit foreign income from the beginning of its first income
year that starts on or after 1 July 2005. All relevant
transactions that occur after that time should be taken into
account whenever in the future a company wants to declare a
dividend to include conduit foreign income. In accordance with the
general rules for the keeping of records, the company must have
appropriate records to substantiate its calculation of conduit
foreign income at any such time in the future. The amendments
repealing or amending existing provisions dealing with the foreign
dividend account regime apply from the date of Royal Assent,
subject to the transitional rule discussed in paragraph 5.114. So
too does the new penalty provision but it can only be relevant from
the time that a company can declare a dividend to comprise conduit
foreign income which may be after that date. [Schedule 2, item 26]
5.107 Transitional rules affect the first year of this
calculation for those companies with an income year that starts on
or after 1 July 2005 and before 1 July 2006. The application of
those rules will also depend on whether that income year starts
before or after Royal Assent.
What modifications apply to companies with an income year that starts on or
after 1 July 2005 but before Royal Assent?
5.108 There are four transitional rules that apply to a company
whose income year starts on or after 1 July 2005 but before Royal
Assent. [Schedule 2, subitem 27(1)]
5.109 The first rule ensures that a company can only declare an
amount to be conduit foreign income where that declaration is made
on or after the date of Royal Assent [Schedule 2, subitem 27(2)].
However, a company can continue to make declarations from a foreign
dividend account until the time of Royal Assent. The current
foreign dividend account rules will continue to operate until that
time. This allows those amounts to be distributed free of any
dividend withholding tax.
5.110 The second rule ensures a foreign dividend account surplus
that exists at the end of the day before Royal Assent can be
converted to conduit foreign income at that time. The amount
included in a company's conduit foreign income will be equal to the
amount of the surplus at that time [Schedule 2, subitem 27(3)].
This allows the company to declare distributions of those amounts
to be conduit foreign income on or after Royal Assent, which in
turn means those amounts can be distributed free of any dividend
withholding tax. Expenses incurred by the company after Royal
Assent that relate to dividends that gave rise to credits in the
foreign dividend account do not reduce conduit foreign income.
Conduit foreign income will not be reduced even though those
expenses may have given rise to a debit under paragraph 128TB(1)(b)
of the ITAA 1936.
5.111 The third rule ensures that non-portfolio dividends that
are a credit to a foreign dividend account for the period up until
Royal Assent cannot also be included in a company's conduit foreign
income. [Schedule 2, subitem 27(4)]
5.112 The final rule prevents these companies from including in
the calculation of conduit foreign income for the first year
amounts that relate to foreign tax credits. This is because those
amounts relate to credits received for foreign income derived in a
period prior to the commencement of this measure. [Schedule 2,
subitem 27(5)]
Example 5.11: The first year starts before Royal Assent
Assume that Royal Assent for this Bill is 16 December 2005.
Aust Co 1 has a 1 July to 30 June income year and maintains
a foreign dividend account (FDA). It has an FDA surplus of
$100 at 1 July 2005.
Aust Co 1 receives the following amounts in the 2006 income
year
. section 23AJ exempt dividends from:
- ForCo 1: $500 on 1 August 2005;
- ForCo 2: $750 on 1 February 2006.
Withholding tax was/will be paid on the non-portfolio
dividends as follows:
. ForCo 1: $50 (10%)
. ForCo 2: $75 (10%)
Aust Co 1 also derives $5,000 of active foreign branch
income from the provision of services on 31 August 2005 and
incurred expenses of $1,000 in earning that income. This
income will be excluded from assessable income under
section 23AH for the 2006 income year.
Aust Co 1 declares an unfranked dividend of $500 on
15 September 2005. Aust Co 1 wants to declare another
unfranked dividend of $3,000 on 15 March 2006.
For the period up until the end of the day immediately
before the date of Royal Assent, Aust Co 1 would continue to
maintain its foreign dividend account. On 1 September 2005
Aust Co 1 has an FDA surplus of $550. The FDA has the
following credits (there are no debits):
$100 - FDA surplus as at 1 July 2005;
$450 - net dividend received from ForCo 1 on
1 August 2005
Aust Co 1 can make a foreign dividend account declaration
percentage of 100 per cent in relation to the unfranked
dividend declared on 15 September 2005. The FDA surplus
after the payment of the dividend is $50.
On the day of Royal Assent, Aust Co 1's FDA surplus of $50
can be treated as being conduit foreign income. When Aust
Co 1 declares its dividend on 15 March 2006, the amount of
conduit foreign income that it has available to distribute
would be $4,725 calculated as:
$50 - the FDA surplus transferred to conduit foreign
income;
$5,000 - foreign branch income derived on 31 August
2005;
($1,000) - expenses incurred in earning foreign branch
income;
$750 - dividend received 1 February 2006;
($75) - foreign tax expense payable on the $750
dividend.
Aust Co 1 will therefore be able to declare the entire
$3,000 unfranked dividend to be conduit foreign income as
the amount of its conduit foreign income at that time is
greater than the unfranked dividend which it intends to
declare. This would reduce the conduit foreign income
amount to $1,725. This amount can then be used to declare
future unfranked distributions as conduit foreign income.
What modifications apply to companies with an income year that starts on or
after Royal Assent but before 1 July 2006?
5.113 There are three transitional rules that apply to a company
whose income year starts on or after Royal Assent but before 1 July
2006. [Schedule 2, subitem 28(1)]
5.114 The first rule ensures the provisions relating to the
repeal of the foreign dividend account rules will not take effect
until the start of the first income year that commences on or after
Royal Assent. This will allow those companies to make declarations
from their foreign dividend account up until that time. Those
dividends can then be distributed free of withholding tax because
the repeal of the existing withholding tax exemption will also not
apply until the start of that first income year. [Schedule 2,
subitem 28(2)]
5.115 The second rule ensures the foreign dividend account
surplus that exists at the start of the first income year after
Royal Assent is converted to conduit foreign income at that time
[Schedule 2, subitem 28(3)]. The amount included in a company's
conduit foreign income will be equal to the amount of the surplus
at that time. The conversion of the foreign dividend account
surplus means that a company can continue to pay those unfranked
dividends to foreign shareholders without incurring any dividend
withholding tax.
5.116 The final rule prevents these companies from including in
the calculation of conduit foreign income for the first year,
amounts that relate to foreign tax credits. That is, these
entities are unable to include in their first income year's amount
of conduit foreign income, amounts that relate to foreign tax
credits. [Schedule 2, subitem 28(4)]
Consequential amendments
5.117 Several items repeal or amend provisions that relate to the
foreign dividend account rules. These rules are repealed as a
result of the introduction of the conduit foreign income measure.
[Schedule 2, items 7, 8, 9, 16 and 19 to 24, paragraph
128B(3)(gaa), section 128D and Subdivision B of Division 11A of
Part III of the ITAA 1936, Subdivisions 717-J and 717-X and
subsection 995-1(1)]
5.118 There are also several consequential amendments resulting
from making a distribution of conduit foreign income non-assessable
non-exempt income of a foreign resident. [Schedule 2, items 4, 5,
10 and 14, subsections 102AAW(1) and 121G(12) and subparagraph
159GZZZQ(4)(b)(i) of the ITAA 1936 and subparagraph 118-
12(2)(a)(vi)]
5.119 Other provisions have been replaced with provisions that
reflect the change from the foreign dividend account rules to the
new conduit foreign income measure. [Schedule 2, item 13,
paragraphs 703-75(3)(c) and (d)]
5.120 Notes have been added to subsections 44(1) (concerning
assessable dividends) and 128B(1) (concerning withholding tax on
dividends paid to non-residents) of the ITAA 1936 to alert
taxpayers to the fact that they do not apply to dividends that are
declared to be conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2, items 2, 3 and
6, subsections 44(1) and 128B(1) of the ITAA 1936]
5.121 An item includes a reference to new provisions in the list
of circumstances when a non-resident is taken to have quoted a tax
file number. [Schedule 2, item 11, paragraph 202EE(1)(d) of the
ITAA 1936]
5.122 An item updates the checklist in section 11-55 to include a
reference to distributions of conduit foreign income. [Schedule 2,
item 12, section 11-55]
5.123 A definition of 'conduit foreign income' has been inserted
in the Dictionary. [Schedule 2, item 18, subsection 995-1(1)]
REGULATION IMPACT STATEMENT
Policy objective
5.124 The conduit foreign income measure is a further instalment
of reforms following the Review of International Taxation
Arrangements. The overall purpose of the reforms is to build on
Australia's position as an attractive place for business and
investment.
5.125 This measure is designed to provide tax relief for conduit
foreign income, which generally is foreign income received by a
foreign resident through an Australian co-rporate tax entity.
Generally, this measure only applies to foreign income that is
ordinarily sheltered from Australian tax when it is received by the
Australian corporate tax entity.
The objectives of this measure
5.126 The conduit foreign income measure aims to reduce tax
impediments for foreign investors who structure their foreign
investments through Australian entities. This is intended to
provide those investors with a more neutral Australian tax outcome
on those investments when compared to the foreign investors who
have direct holdings in their foreign investments.
5.127 Reducing tax barriers will enhance Australia as an
investment choice for foreign investors. This will improve the
attractiveness of Australia as a location for regional holding
companies of foreign groups. This measure will also enhance the
ability of Australian entities with foreign investments to compete
for foreign capital and therefore encourage them to remain
Australian residents if their foreign shareholding becomes
significant.
Implementation options
5.128 The conduit foreign income measure (originally known as the
foreign income account measure) arises from the recommendations
made by the Board of Taxation as part of the Review of
International Taxation Arrangements. The Board's recommendation
was to proceed with the foreign income account rules as recommended
by the report on the Review of Business Taxation: A Tax System
Redesigned.
5.129 The basis for the implementation of this measure can be
found in the Board of Taxation's report, International Taxation: A
Report to the Treasurer (the Board's Report), the Treasury's
consultation paper, Review of International Taxation Arrangements
(Consultation Paper) and John Ralph's report, Review of Business
Taxation: A Tax System Redesigned (the Ralph Report).
5.130 This measure, and principles underlying it, were discussed
in the Board's Report in Recommendation 3.11(1), pages 104 to 106,
the Consultation Paper under Option 3.11, pages 50 to 52 and the
Ralph Report in Recommendations 21.1 to 21.5, pages 647 to 650.
5.131 This measure will ensure no withholding tax is imposed on
an unfranked distribution paid to non-resident owners to the extent
that the distributing entity declared the distribution to be
conduit foreign income.
5.132 This measure will also allow conduit foreign income to flow
through a chain of Australian entities to the ultimate non-resident
owners without there being any Australian tax imposed. This allows
foreign owners of Australian entities involved in Australian joint
ventures to access the benefits of this measure. Addressing this
issue was seen as removing a limitation that exists in the current
foreign dividend account rules that are being replaced by this
measure.
5.133 The Treasury and ATO will monitor this taxation measure, as
part of the whole taxation system, on an ongoing basis.
Assessment of impacts
Impact group identification
5.134 The conduit foreign income measure in this Bill
specifically impacts on Australian corporate tax entities making
distributions to non-resident owners out of foreign profits.
Corporate tax entities that distribute amounts declared to be
conduit foreign income to other Australian entities are also
affected.
5.135 In general, an Australian corporate tax entity is an entity
that is an Australian resident company or corporate limited
partnership. A corporate unit trust or public trading trust is
also an Australian corporate tax entity if it is a resident unit
trust for the relevant income year.
Analysis of costs / benefits
5.136 It has not been possible to provide a fully detailed
analysis of the impacts on compliance costs because of the lack of
available information on affected taxpayers. However, some general
observations are outlined below.
Compliance costs
5.137 There may be increased compliance costs for taxpayers who
want to take advantage of this measure. Corporate tax entities
will have a minor increase in their compliance costs as a result of
the need to change their distribution statements to include
information that appropriately identifies the components of the
distribution including amounts declared to be conduit foreign
income.
5.138 Increased compliance costs may also arise for corporate tax
entities in determining the amount of their conduit foreign income.
However, this Bill seeks to minimise these costs by not
prescribing detailed accounting requirements that have to be
satisfied.
5.139 Unlike the foreign dividend account provisions, the measure
does not prescribe a mechanism for entities to use to determine the
amount of their conduit foreign income. An entity is not required
to know the amount of its conduit foreign income at all times.
However, it is required to keep sufficient records to explain the
amount of conduit foreign income it has at the time it makes a
distribution declared to be conduit foreign income. Where an
entity makes a declaration before making the distribution it would
need records to explain the amount of its conduit foreign income at
the time of the declaration.
5.140 For corporate tax entities already in receipt of foreign
income, the increased compliance costs should be minimal as they
would generally have systems in place which identify this type of
income. However, systems may need to be set up for those entities
whose only conduit foreign income amounts are distributions
declared, in whole or in part, to be conduit foreign income that
are received from other Australian entities. These entities will
need to identify that income so that it remains free of Australian
tax if on-distributed within specified time constraints.
5.141 Taxpayers may also incur some additional compliance costs
if they require advice from the ATO and tax professionals in
respect of this measure.
Administration costs
5.142 As a result of this measure, the ATO may incur some initial
costs in making changes to its material and educating its staff
about the measure. It may also incur costs in providing advice to
taxpayers, including by public and private rulings.
5.143 The ATO may also incur additional costs in its compliance
activity to ensure that taxpayers are complying with the
requirements of this measure.
Government revenue
5.144 The financial impact of the conduit foreign income measure
is outlined in Table 5.1
Table 5.1: Financial impact of the conduit foreign income measure
| |2005-06 |2006-07 |2007-08 |2008-09 |
|Introduce a |-$5 |-$20 |-$20 |-$25 |
|conduit foreign |million |million |million |million |
|income measure | | | | |
|(as announced in| | | | |
|November 1999) | | | | |
|applying to all | | | | |
|foreign income. | | | | |
Economic benefits
5.145 This measure provides relief from Australian taxation for
distributions made by Australian corporate tax entities to their
foreign owners, to the extent that the distributions relate to
amounts of conduit foreign income.
5.146 But for special rules, there is disparity in the Australian
tax treatment of foreign residents deriving most sorts of foreign
income through direct foreign investment and those foreign
residents deriving the same foreign income through an Australian
entity. This discourages foreign entities from using Australia for
their regional holding companies. It could also mean that
Australian entities are less likely to attract foreign capital if
they want to expand offshore.
5.147 The conduit foreign income measure will provide a more
comprehensive conduit treatment than the current foreign dividend
account rules. The measure will apply to a wider range of foreign
income ensuring such income can be distributed to foreign resident
owners without incurring withholding tax. This measure will also
extend the scope of conduit treatment for foreign income by
allowing foreign income to effectively flow through a chain of
Australian entities without any additional Australian tax being
payable. This further enhances the benefits for foreign investors
in Australian companies.
5.148 This measure will encourage the establishment in Australia
of regional holding companies for foreign groups and will improve
Australia's attractiveness as a continuing base for our
multinational companies by improving their ability to compete for
foreign capital.
Consultation
5.149 Business, legal and accounting representatives and the ATO
have been consulted extensively and have actively assisted in
developing this measure. This involved the establishment of an
advisory group constituted by members of industry and professional
peak bodies to help in the design of legislation. The more
technical issues and the details of the measure were referred to a
particular sub-group, known as the Conduit Working Group.
5.150 Groups consulted as part of the process outlined above
include the:
. Business Council of Australia.
. Australian Bankers' Association.
. Taxation Institute of Australia.
. Corporate Tax Association.
. Law Council of Australia.
. Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
. Certified Practising Accountants Australia.
5.151 Suggestions on the legislative details of the measure made
by working group members were adopted where they were consistent
with the intended policy objectives and the integrity of the
measure. Account was also taken of submissions received from
interested parties as a result of the legislation having initially
been released for comment as an exposure draft.
5.152 The consultative groups have been supportive of the
consultation process and of the final form of the measure.
Conclusion
5.153 This measure is a further instalment of reforms to
implement the Government's response to the Review of International
Tax Arrangements. The measure is consistent with the Government's
policy objectives of increasing the attractiveness of Australia as
a location for business and investment.
5.154 The conduit foreign income measure encourages the
establishment of regional holding companies for foreign groups and
improves the ability of Australian companies to compete for foreign
capital. This is achieved through the provision of additional
taxation relief for conduit foreign income. While access to the
benefits of this measure will necessarily involve some increase in
compliance costs for taxpayers, these costs have been minimised to
the greatest extent possible having regard to integrity concerns.
5.155 The Treasury and ATO will monitor this taxation measure, as
part of the whole taxation system, on an ongoing basis.
Chapter 6
Denial of deductions for illegal activities
Outline of chapter
6.1 Schedule 3 to this Bill inserts section 26-54 into the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. The provision will deny deductions
for losses and outgoings where they are incurred in the furtherance
of, or directly in relation to, activities in respect of which the
taxpayer has been convicted of an indictable offence.
6.2 Complementary amendments to the capital gains tax
provisions will ensure such losses and outgoings are not included
in cost base calculations.
Context of amendments
6.3 The income tax law allows deductions against a taxpayer's
assessable income for any loss or outgoing incurred in gaining or
producing assessable income, or necessarily incurred in carrying on
a business for the purpose of gaining or producing assessable
income. Generally, deductions will be allowed under these
provisions if there is sufficient nexus or link between the loss or
outgoing and the business or production of assessable income, and
the amount is not of a private or capital nature.
6.4 On 5 June 2003, the Full Federal Court in Commissioner of
Taxation v La Rosa confirmed earlier decisions to allow a tax
deduction for $220,000 for money stolen from the taxpayer, as it
was considered there was a sufficient link between the theft and
the taxpayer earning his assessable income through illegal drug
dealing.
6.5 The Full Federal Court found that the taxpayer being
engaged in an illegal activity when the loss was sustained did not
mean that the deduction should be denied.
6.6 On 27 October 2004 the High Court refused the
Commissioner of Taxation's (Commissioner) special leave application
to appeal the Full Federal Court's decision.
Summary of new law
6.7 These amendments will deny deductions for losses and
outgoings whether they are of a revenue nature or capital nature to
the extent that they are incurred in the furtherance of, or
directly in relation to, activities in respect of which the
taxpayer has been convicted of an indictable offence. Indictable
offences are offences that are punishable by imprisonment for at
least one year.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|Where a taxpayer has |Income from illegal |
|been convicted of an |means is income |
|indictable offence, |according to the |
|deductions under the |ordinary concept of |
|general deduction and |income. Deductions |
|capital gains tax |against ordinary income |
|provisions will be |are allowable under the |
|denied. |general deduction |
| |provisions (section 8-1)|
| |or taken into account |
| |for the purposes of |
| |capital gains tax |
| |provisions. |
Detailed explanation of new law
Expenditure in relation to illegal activities
6.8 Subsection 26-54(1) will operate to deny deductions for
losses and outgoings to the extent they are incurred in the
furtherance of, or directly in relation to, activities in respect
of which the taxpayer has been convicted of an offence which is
punishable by imprisonment for at least 12 months. [Schedule
3, item 2, subsection 26-54(1)]
6.9 Relevant activities in relation to the offence are those
that comprise the physical element of the offence, that is the
conduct, result of conduct or circumstances in which conduct
results or occurs. 'Physical element' has the same meaning as it
appears in the Criminal Code Act 1995.
6.10 Deductions will be denied for all expenditure where the
activities are wholly illegal such as drug dealing or people
smuggling. For example, dealing in illegal drugs (buying and
selling and associated activities) is an offence in its own right,
not just acquiring illegal drugs, though that in itself is an
offence.
6.11 On the other hand, there will be cases where a taxpayer is
conducting a lawful business but is convicted of an illegal
activity while carrying on that business. In these cases only the
expenditure that is incurred directly or in the furtherance of the
illegal activity will be denied. Expenditure that is incurred in
undertaking the underlying lawful activity and that would have been
incurred regardless of the illegal activity will continue to be
deductible. This is because the expenditure cannot be said to
further or be directly related to the illegal activity. The
expenditure is too remote to the illegal activity.
Expenditure in relation to capital gains
6.12 Similarly, the capital gains tax provisions will be amended
so that losses and outgoings incurred in relation to illegal
activities in respect of which the taxpayer was convicted of an
indictable offence do not form part of the cost base or reduced
cost base for capital gains purposes. This will ensure that no
capital loss or reduced capital gain can arise from such
expenditure. [Schedule 3, items 3 and 4]
Amendment period
6.13 The Commissioner will have up to 4 years after the taxpayer
is convicted of an indictable offence to issue an amended
assessment. This will provide an appropriate amendment period
where a taxpayer makes a claim for a deduction in an income tax
return and is subsequently convicted of an indictable offence.
[Schedule 3, item 2, subsection 26-54(2)]
Application and transitional provisions
6.14 These amendments will apply to losses and outgoings
incurred after 29 April 2005. This is the date of announcement by
the Treasurer. It is appropriate that amendments to deny
inappropriate tax outcomes where criminal behaviour is involved
apply from the date of announcement.
Chapter 7
Copyright in film to be included in effective life depreciation
Outline of chapter
7.1 Schedule 4 to this Bill amends Division 40 of the Income
Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) to include copyright in a film
in the general effective life depreciation of the uniform capital
allowances provisions. Also included in this Schedule are
amendments to Division 10B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
(ITAA 1936) which ensure appropriate interaction between Division
10B of the ITAA 1936 and Division 40 of the ITAA 1997.
Context of amendments
7.2 The capital allowances provisions contained in Division 40
allow taxpayers a deduction equal to the decline in value of a
depreciating asset they hold during an income year. That decline
in value is worked out by reference to the effective life of the
asset. The effective life of an asset is the length of time over
which any entity can use the particular asset for taxable purposes
(broadly, producing assessable income) or for the purpose of
producing exempt income.
7.3 Under Division 40 the Commissioner of Taxation
(Commissioner) makes 'safe harbour' effective life determinations
for a wide range of assets. Taxpayers may use determined safe
harbour effective lives for their assets where there is one in
force, or choose to self assess the effective life of their asset
having regard to the wear and tear reasonably expected from their
circumstances of use and assuming the asset will be maintained in
reasonably good order or condition. If a determination is not in
force for a particular asset, the taxpayer must self assess the
effective life of that asset. Taxpayers have the choice of using
either the diminishing value method or the prime cost method to
work out the decline in value of the assets.
7.4 In the case of intangible assets, the capital allowances
provisions prescribe statutory effective lives. These assets
include rights that an entity holds under the Copyright Act 1968 as
the owner or a licensee of a copyright. As the law applies a
specific statutory rate, taxpayers cannot choose an effective life
as determined by the Commissioner or choose to self assess an
effective life for these assets.
7.5 The current law provides the following capital allowance
treatment for expenditure on films:
. A deduction over 2 years for capital expenditure to
acquire rights in or under copyright relating to an
'Australian film' under Division 10B of Part III of the
ITAA 1936.
. An immediate deduction under Division 10BA of the
ITAA 1936 for investors for capital expenditure to produce
a 'qualifying Australian film' that gives those investors
an interest in the initial copyright of the film.
7.6 Capital expenditure on a copyright in a film which does not
qualify for deduction under these provisions may be deductible
under Division 40 if the expenditure forms part of the cost of a
depreciation asset you hold and use for a taxable purpose. The
current law provides a statutory effective life for such assets of
25 years or the period remaining in the copyright, or the licence
relating to a copyright, whichever is the lesser.
Summary of new law
7.7 The new law includes a copyright in a film in effective
life depreciation provisions of the uniform capital allowances
rather than using the existing 25-year statutory life.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|A copyright in a film is|The general category of |
|excluded from the |'copyright' at item 5 in|
|general category of |subsection 40-95(7) |
|'copyright' at item 5 in|includes copyright in a |
|subsection 40-95(7). |film. |
|A licence to a copyright|The meaning of 'a |
|in a film is excluded |licence relating to a |
|from 'a licence relating|copyright' at item 7 in |
|to a copyright' at item |the above subsection |
|7 in the above |includes a licence to a |
|subsection. |copyright in a film |
| |which is itself a |
| |depreciating asset. |
|These exclusions mean |No equivalent. |
|that copyright, or | |
|licenses relating to a | |
|copyright, in a film | |
|will automatically come | |
|under effective life | |
|depreciation. | |
|Copyright in a film is |Intellectual property, |
|carved out of the |including copyright in a|
|exception category of |film can only be |
|intellectual property in|written-off using the |
|subsection 40-70(2). |prime cost method (ie, |
|The amendment ensures |straight line write-off)|
|that both prime cost and|by the operation of |
|diminishing value |subsection 40-70(2). |
|methods will be | |
|available to the | |
|write-off of | |
|depreciating assets | |
|which are either | |
|copyright, or licenses | |
|relating to a copyright,| |
|in a film. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
7.8 Copyright in a film is excluded from the general category
of copyright at item 5 in subsection 40-95(7) and a licence
relating to a copyright subsisting in a film is excluded from a
licence relating to a copyright at item 7 in this subsection.
[Schedule 4, items 5 and 6, subsection 40-95(7)]
7.9 Copyright in a film is carved out of the exception category
of intellectual property in subsection 40-70(2). This ensures that
both prime cost and diminishing value methods may apply to
copyright in a film write-off under Division 40. [Schedule 4, item
4, paragraph 40-70(2)(b)]
7.10 Subsection 40-100(4) is amended to clarify that
paragraphs 40-100(4)(a) to (c) apply only if relevant to a
particular asset, as specific factors that the Commissioner must
take into account in determining the asset's effective life. These
specific factors are not the only factors the Commissioner can take
into account. [Schedule 4, item 7, subsection 40-100(4)]
7.11 Subsection 40-105(1) is amended to clarify that
paragraphs 40-105(1)(a) and (b) apply only if relevant to a
particular asset, as specific factors that a taxpayer must take
into account in self assessing the asset's effective life. Other
relevant factors that may be taken into account are those the
Commissioner takes into account. [Schedule 4, item 8, subsection
40-105(1)]
7.12 Subsection 40-105(4) has been amended to ensure that this
subsection does not operate to exclude copyright in a film from the
effective life self assessment provision. [Schedule 4, item 9,
subsection 40-105(4)]
7.13 Subsection 40-110(5) has been amended to ensure that this
subsection does not operate to exclude copyright in a film from the
effective life recalculation provision. [Schedule 4, item 11,
subsection 40-110(5)]
Application and transitional provisions
7.14 This measure will apply to film copyright acquired on or
after 1 July 2004.
Consequential amendments
7.15 Currently a taxpayer can elect that the 2-year write-off
provided in subsection 124UA(1) does not apply in which case a 25-
year write-off applies under that Division. As amended, a taxpayer
will make to an election such that the Division does not apply.
[Schedule 4, item 3, subsection 124UA(2)]
7.16 Section 124U of the ITAA 1936 is repealed as the section is
no longer required to provide a 25-year write-off for copyright in
a film as an alternative to the 2-year write-off. [Schedule 4,
item 2]
7.17 Paragraph 124PA(4)(b) is amended to reflect the repeal of
section 124U. [Schedule 4, item 1, paragraph 124PA(4)(b)]
7.18 These consequential amendments will effectively align the
Division 10B election with the current Division 10BA election. The
effect of either the amended election in Division 10B or the
current Division 10BA election is that taxpayers would no longer be
considered as being able to deduct an amount under the relevant
Division. This ensures that taxpayers are able to write-off
copyright in a film under Division 40 of the ITAA 1997 where no
deduction has been claimed under Division 10B or Division 10BA.
7.19 The examples in subsection 40-110(1), describing the
circumstances where a taxpayer may choose to recalculate their
asset's effective life, have been repealed. The same examples and
an example to include a changed circumstance when a taxpayer would
choose to recalculate the effective life of their copyright in a
film have been inserted. [Schedule 4, item 10, subsection 40-
110(1)]
REGULATION IMPACT STATEMENT
Policy objective
7.20 Write-offs for copyright in films which do not qualify as
Australian films should be based on the copyright's economic life
rather than the current 25-year statutory life or the period until
the copyright ends, whichever is the less. The Treasurer announced
the new tax treatment for copyright in films as part of the 2005-06
Budget on 10 May 2005.
Implementation options
7.21 There are two options to implement the policy objective
under the capital allowances provision of the income tax law:
. introduce a shorter statutory write-off period for
copyright in a film; or
. include copyright in a film in effective life
depreciation.
Assessment of impacts
7.22 Both options above would replace the current 25-year write-
off period with a period that more closely reflects the economic
life of the film copyright. Both options would advantageously
affect the same relatively small number of taxpayers and
effectively reduce compliance costs due to the shorter write-off
period.
Impact group identification
7.23 This measure impacts on film producers and investors, of
films that do not qualify as Australian films. These taxpayers
will be allowed to write-off the capital cost of their copyright in
their film based on either the Commissioner's safe harbour
effective life determination or their self assessment of their
film's effective life. Should taxpayers choose to self assess,
they will need to have regard to, and keep a record of, their
particular circumstances in determining their film's effective
life.
7.24 The measure has a small impact on the Australian Taxation
Office (ATO) as the Commissioner is required to issue a safe
harbour effective life determination for film copyright as soon as
possible after the enactment of this measure.
Analysis of costs / benefits
7.25 Under both options, the impact on film producers and
investors would be similar as both options replace a statutory
write-off period with another period. Under Option 1, there would
have been no impact on the ATO as one statutory period would have
merely been replaced with another. However, the Option 1 would not
have offered taxpayers the choice of self assessment and may not
reflect the economic life for some films. This would have resulted
in an implementation shortfall of the policy objective.
7.26 Option 2 will require the Commissioner to issue a safe
harbour effective life determination. The Commissioner has a
dedicated team that considers effective lives of numerous assets
across numerous specific industries. Including film copyright in
effective life depreciation will have a negligible effect on
resources. For the cost of this minimal impact on the ATO, Option
2 will effectively satisfy the policy objective by offering
taxpayers the choice of effective lives, that is, the
Commissioner's determined safe harbour effective life or a self
assessed effective life reflecting the taxpayer's particular
circumstances.
Consultation
7.27 Consultation was undertaken with both the Department of
Communication, Information Technology and the Arts and the ATO to
achieve a broad consensus for this proposal.
Conclusion and recommended option
7.28 Both options address the Government's policy objective,
both options have similar impact on film producers and investors.
Although Option 2 will have a small impact on the Commissioner,
this concern would be largely cancelled by the increased benefit
this option provides. Option 2 is the more effective option in
implementing the Government's policy objective. Accordingly the
second option is the preferred option. The Treasury and ATO will
monitor this taxation measure, as part of the whole taxation
system, on an ongoing basis.
Chapter 8
Relief for employee share scheme participants in the event of a corporate
restructure
Outline of chapter
8.1 Schedule 5 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment
Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) to allow employee share scheme (ESS)
participants - who acquire shares in a scheme for the acquisition
of shares by employees who are assessed under section 26AAC of the
ITAA 1936 - to treat the new shares or rights they are issued
because of a corporate restructure as a continuation of their old
shares or rights.
8.2 These amendments also allow ESS participants - who have
made an election under Division 13A of the ITAA 1936 to be taxed
upfront - to treat the new shares or rights they are issued because
of a corporate restructure as a continuation of their old shares or
rights.
8.3 Amendments are also made to the Taxation Laws Amendment
Act (No. 3) 2003, the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)
and the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to ensure the
capital gains tax (CGT) provisions in those Acts reflect the
amendments to section 26AAC and Division 13A.
Context of amendments
8.4 An ESS participant acquires shares or rights under an ESS
if the shares or rights were acquired in connection with
employment, and if the consideration paid for them was less than
their market value at that time. Any discount that an ESS
participant receives from acquiring shares or rights for less than
their market value is assessable as income.
8.5 If an ESS participant acquires shares or rights in respect
of employment on or before 6.00 pm by legal time in the Australian
Capital Territory on 28 March 1995 the section 26AAC provisions
will apply. If an ESS participant acquires shares or rights after
that time the Division 13A provisions will apply. Under both sets
of provisions an ESS participant can, subject to certain
conditions, access concessions in relation to the discount.
8.6 In the event of a corporate restructure, an ESS participant
may be issued with new shares or rights to replace the old shares
or rights they previously held. However, the new shares or rights
may not qualify for the same concessions on the discount that
applied to the old shares or rights.
8.7 These amendments ensure that the new shares or rights
issued to ESS participants in the event of a corporate restructure
are treated as a continuation of the old shares or rights they
previously held, subject to certain conditions. The amendments
also ensure that concessions in relation to the discount are not
lost where shares or rights are disposed of in the event of a
corporate restructure.
Summary of new law
8.8 Under section 26AAC an ESS participant can, subject to
certain conditions, access one of two alternative tax concessions
on the discount they receive: the tax-excluded concession and the
tax-deferred concession.
8.9 These amendments ensure that ESS participants with tax-
excluded shares or rights under section 26AAC can treat the new
shares or rights they are issued in a corporate restructure as a
continuation of their old shares or rights. This will ensure that
the capital gain or loss a trustee makes when new shares or rights
exit an employee share trust is disregarded.
8.10 The amendments also ensure that ESS participants with tax-
deferred shares or rights under section 26AAC can treat the new
shares or rights they are issued in a corporate restructure as a
continuation of their old shares or rights. This will ensure the
continuation of the deferral period that applies to tax-deferred
shares or rights.
8.11 Under Division 13A an ESS participant can, subject to
certain conditions, access one of two tax concessions in relation
to the discount they receive: the tax-upfront concession and the
tax-deferred concession.
8.12 These amendments ensure that ESS participants with
tax upfront shares or rights under Division 13A can treat the new
shares or rights they are issued in a corporate restructure as a
continuation of their old shares or rights. In addition, certain
conditions of the ESS do not need to be satisfied in relation to
the new shares or rights. This ensures that:
. the capital gain or loss a trustee makes when new shares
or rights exit a trust is disregarded;
. ESS participants with new shares or rights retain the same
CGT cost base treatment as their old shares or rights;
. ESS participants who acquire new shares or rights no
longer have to satisfy the condition relating to not
disposing of the shares or rights within 3 years of
acquiring them; and
. the new rights an ESS participant is issued are treated as
a continuation of their old rights.
8.13 The amendments also clarify the point in time at which an
ESS participant must be employed to have new rights to acquire
shares under Division 13A treated as a continuation of old rights
to acquire shares.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|ESS participants with |ESS participants with |
|new tax-excluded shares |new tax-excluded shares |
|or rights which fall |or rights which fall |
|under the scope of |under the scope of |
|section 26AAC will have |section 26AAC may not |
|their new shares or |receive relief when |
|rights treated as a |their shares or rights |
|continuation of their |exit an employee share |
|old shares or rights. |trust. |
|ESS participants with |ESS participants with |
|new tax-deferred shares |new tax-deferred shares |
|or rights which fall |or rights which fall |
|under the scope of |under the scope of |
|section 26AAC will have |section 26AAC may have |
|their new shares or |to pay tax on the |
|rights treated as a |discount when their old |
|continuation of their |shares or rights are |
|old shares or rights. |disposed of. |
|ESS participants with |ESS participants with |
|new tax-upfront shares |new tax-upfront shares |
|or rights under Division|or rights under Division|
|13A will have their new |13A may not receive the |
|shares or rights treated|same concessional |
|as a continuation of |treatment that applied |
|their old shares or |to the old shares or |
|rights and will not be |rights they previously |
|subject to the same |held. |
|restrictions. | |
Detailed explanation of new law
Relief for section 26AAC shares or rights
Background
8.14 If an ESS participant acquires shares or rights under a
scheme for the acquisition of shares by employees prior to 6.00 pm
by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory on 28 March 1995,
then the provisions in section 26AAC will apply. Under these
provisions an ESS participant can, subject to certain conditions,
access one of two tax concessions on the discount they receive:
the tax-excluded concession, or the tax-deferred concession.
8.15 Under the tax-excluded concession, an ESS participant may
be entitled to reduce the amount of the discount they are taxed on
by up to $200 per year, with the remainder of the discount treated
as assessable income in that same year. Any capital gain or loss
an ESS participant makes from the shares or rights after they have
paid tax on the discount is subject to CGT on disposal. The first
element of the CGT cost base for the shares or rights is their
market value at the time of absolute entitlement.
8.16 A corporate restructure may trigger a CGT taxing point for
tax-excluded shares or rights as the shares or rights may no longer
be owned by the ESS participant. The ESS participant may be issued
with new shares or rights to replace the old shares or rights,
however, these new shares or rights will not be recognised as a
continuation of the old shares or rights. As a result, the
taxation treatment attached to the old shares or rights will not
apply.
8.17 The new tax-excluded shares or rights may be subject to
double taxation if they have been held in a trust. Under existing
law, any capital gain or loss a trustee makes is disregarded when
shares or rights exit the trust. This ensures that the shares or
rights are not taxed twice: once in the hands of the trustee and
once in the hands of the ESS participant. However, this treatment
only applies to old shares or rights, and any capital gain or loss
made by a trustee on new shares or rights issued to replace old
shares or rights will not be disregarded.
Example 8.1
In 1993 Luke acquired 500 tax-excluded ordinary shares in
his employer Grape Company under a scheme for the
acquisition of shares by employees. The shares are held in
an employee share trust. In 2001 Grape Company is bought
out by Orange Company and Luke is issued with 1,000 new
ordinary shares in Orange Company with a total value equal
to his 500 Grape Company shares at that time. These shares
are also held in an employee share trust. In 2003 the
shares are released from the employee share trust and Luke
becomes absolutely entitled to his Orange Company shares.
The trustee pays CGT on the shares when they exit the trust.
8.18 Under the tax-deferred concession, an ESS participant can
elect to defer paying tax on the discount received until
restrictions on disposal of the shares or rights cease, or the
shares or rights are disposed of.
. The discount on shares is the difference between their
market value at the time restrictions cease, and any
amount paid or payable for the shares.
. The discount on rights (or shares which are disposed of
prior to restrictions lifting) is the difference between
the amount received for the rights and any amount paid or
payable for the rights.
8.19 Any capital gain or loss an ESS participant makes from the
shares or rights after they have paid tax on the discount is
subject to CGT at a later time, for example, on disposal. The
first element of the CGT cost base for the shares or rights is
their market value at the time the tax on the discount is paid.
8.20 A corporate restructure may trigger a taxing point for tax-
deferred shares or rights if the shares or rights are considered to
be disposed of by the ESS participant. The ESS participant may be
issued with new shares or rights to replace the old shares or
rights, however, these new shares or rights will not be regarded as
a continuation of the old shares or rights, and the treatment
attached to the old shares or rights will not apply.
8.21 As a result, the deferral time which applied to the old tax-
deferred shares or rights will end, and the ESS participant will be
liable to pay tax on the discount received at the time of the
corporate restructure. The deferral period cannot be carried over
and applied to the new shares or rights.
Example 8.2
In 1989 Jodie acquired 2,000 tax-deferred ordinary shares in
her employer Sunlight Company under a scheme for the
acquisition of shares by employees. The shares are held in
an employee share trust. In 2002 Sunlight Company
restructures and splits into Moonlight Company and Starlight
Company. Jodie is issued with 1,000 new shares in her new
employer, Moonlight Company, however these shares are not
considered to be a continuation of her old shares
in Sunlight Company. Consequently, Jodie is required to pay
tax on the discount received on her Sunlight Company shares.
8.22 These amendments resolve these issues by ensuring that in
the event of a corporate restructure new shares or rights are
treated as a continuation of old shares or rights, provided that:
. the new shares or rights in the new company can be
reasonably regarded as matching the old shares or rights
acquired under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees in the old company [Schedule 5, item 3,
paragraph 26AAD(1)(a)];
. the new shares or rights in the new company are issued in
connection with a corporate restructure or 100 per cent
takeover of the old company [Schedule 5, item 3,
paragraph 26AAD(1)(b)]; and
. the shares or rights in the old company ceased to be held
by the ESS participant as a result of the corporate
restructure or 100 per cent takeover of the old company
[Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(c)].
Conditions for matching shares or rights
8.23 Relief is limited to matching shares or rights that can be
reasonably regarded as matching or mirroring the conditions of the
old shares or rights that the ESS participant held in the old
company. Matching shares or rights are the replacement shares or
rights provided to ensure that the financial position of an ESS
participant immediately before a corporate restructure is
maintained afterwards. [Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(a)]
8.24 Matching shares or rights should reasonably match the value
of the old shares or rights that the ESS participant held
immediately before the restructure so there is no additional
benefit from the restructure. There is no need for a one-to-one
ratio between the old shares and rights and the new shares or
rights for them to be matching, provided the value of the new
shares or rights relative to the old shares or rights remains
unchanged. [Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(a)]
Example 8.3
In 1992 Tim acquired 900 tax-deferred ordinary shares in his
employer Progress Company under a scheme for the acquisition
of shares by employees. In 2006 Advantage Company buys out
all shares in Progress Company. At the time of the buy out
each share in Progress Company was valued at $2. Tim is
issued with 300 shares in Advantage Company valued at $6
each. The 300 new shares that Tim receives in Advantage
Company are considered matching as they have the same value
as his original shares in Progress Company. Tim can
continue to defer payment of tax, provided certain other
conditions are met.
8.25 The replacement of old shares or rights with a combination
of equivalent shares or rights and cash is also considered to be
matching. However, to the extent that the old shares or rights are
replaced with cash or some other thing of value, shares or rights
to the value of that cash or some other thing will not be
considered a continuation of the old shares or rights and will
cease to exist, as relief only applies to matching shares or
rights. [Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(2)]
Example 8.4
In 1991 Naomi is issued 5,000 tax-deferred shares in Nappy
Company under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees. In 2007 Rattle Company acquires Nappy Company in
a 100 per cent takeover. Immediately prior to the takeover,
Naomi's shares in Nappy Company were valued at $1 each.
Rattle Company issues Naomi with 2,000 shares valued at $2
each and pays her $1,000 cash. The value of her new shares
in Rattle Company is less than the value of her old shares
in Nappy Company. Relief only applies to the proportion of
Nappy Company shares that match the value of the Rattle
Company shares. The old shares in Nappy Company that Naomi
holds that are not matched by new shares in Rattle Company
will have a cessation time, and Naomi will have to pay tax
on the discount on those shares.
8.26 To be regarded as reasonably matching, the attributes of
the new shares or rights need to be the same, or substantially the
same, as those old shares or rights that existed immediately before
the restructure. Attributes include whether it was a share or
right. For example, the replacement of shares with rights after a
corporate restructure would not be considered matching, as the
interests of the ESS participant after the restructure would have
substantially changed. [Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(2)]
8.27 Relief will only apply to matching new shares or rights
acquired in connection with a 100 per cent takeover or restructure.
Relief will not apply to shares or rights that an ESS participant
ceases to hold for reasons other than a corporate restructure, such
as a voluntary disposal of shares or rights. [Schedule 5, item 3,
paragraph 26AAD(1)(b)]
8.28 Relief is achieved by ensuring that the replacement of old
shares or rights in the old company, does not give rise to a
disposal for taxation purposes of the old shares or rights in that
company. That is, the new shares or rights are taken to be a
continuation of the old shares or rights, subject to certain
conditions. [Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(c)]
8.29 Where an ESS participant has acquired shares or rights in
the old company at different times, the matching shares or rights
are also held to be acquired at those different times. Any
restrictions on disposal will continue to apply from the date it
first applied to the old shares or rights. This also means that
the new shares or rights are treated as having the same acquisition
date as the old shares or rights. [Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph
26AAD(1)(c)]
8.30 The treatment of non-matching shares or rights immediately
after a corporate restructure will be determined on the basis of
the application of the existing law. Relief will not apply.
Other conditions for relief
8.31 In order for a share or right to be treated as a
continuation of an old share or right, the first condition is that
the ESS participant must have held shares or rights in the old
company in a scheme for the acquisition of shares by employees,
immediately before the corporate restructure. It does not matter
whether the ESS participant was employed by the old company at that
time or not. [Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(3)]
8.32 The second condition is that the new shares or rights must
be ordinary shares, or rights to acquire ordinary shares. This
ensures that relief is only provided to ESS participants that have
the voting and other rights associated with ordinary shares.
Relief is not available to those ESS participants who do not have
ordinary shares, or rights to acquire ordinary shares. [Schedule
5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(4)]
Example 8.5
In 1992 Zoe acquired tax-excluded rights to buy 100 shares
under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by employees in
her employer, Bass Company. In 2007 the company
restructured and a new holding entity called Treble Company
was formed. Zoe was employed by Treble Company, and
received new rights to buy ordinary shares in Treble Company
equal in value to the rights she held in Bass Company
immediately before the restructure. Relief will apply to
Zoe's replacement rights as they were rights to acquire
ordinary shares.
8.33 Another condition is that the matching shares or rights are
subject to the same conditions and restrictions, or conditions and
restrictions that have the same effect as, those that the old
shares or rights were subject to (if any) prior to the corporate
restructure. [Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(5)]
8.34 For example, an employer may loan an ESS participant funds
to buy shares under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees on the condition that the loan be fully repaid when the
ESS participant ceases employment. In the event of a corporate
restructure it would be appropriate for a condition with the same
effect to apply to the new shares or rights. [Schedule 5, item 3,
subsection 26AAD(5)]
Example 8.6
In 1988 Jeff acquired 10,000 tax-excluded shares under a
scheme for the acquisition of shares by employees in his
employer, Abacus Company. Abacus Company lent Jeff money to
purchase the shares and imposed the condition that the loan
must be fully repaid when Jeff leaves the employment of
Abacus Company. In 2006 Abacus Company was bought out by
Calculator Company. Jeff received new shares in Calculator
Company equal in value to the shares he held in
Abacus Company immediately before the restructure.
Calculator Company continued the loan to Jeff and imposed
the condition that the loan must be fully repaid when Jeff
leaves the employment of Calculator Company. Relief will
apply as the conditions that apply to Jeff's new shares have
the same effect as the conditions that applied to his old
shares.
Types of corporate restructures that can give rise to relief
8.35 Relief is provided where a corporate restructure has
occurred. A corporate restructure may include a change in
ownership, or a change in the structure of the ownership of the
company, which results in some or all of the shares or rights in
the company under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees being replaced, or reasonably regarded as being replaced.
[Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(8)]
8.36 Relief is also provided where a 100 per cent takeover
occurs. A 100 per cent takeover of a company by another company is
an arrangement that is intended to result in the company becoming a
100 per cent subsidiary of the other company, or of a holding
company. [Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(8)]
8.37 In a takeover scenario an ESS participant of the old
company becomes an ESS participant of the new or restructured
company when their shares or rights are replaced by matching shares
or rights in the new or restructured company. Relief will only
apply where 100 per cent of the old company's shares and rights are
acquired by the new company. In the case of a partial takeover, an
ESS participant may choose whether or not to dispose of their old
shares or rights, but relief will not apply. [Schedule 5, item 3,
subsection 26AAD(8)]
Example 8.7
In 1994 Hannah acquired 1,500 tax-deferred shares under a
scheme for the acquisition of shares by employees in her
employer Buggy Company. In 2008 Car Company makes a
takeover offer for Buggy Company. Hannah decides to sell
500 of her shares but remains employed by Buggy Company.
Car Company ultimately acquires a 65 per cent interest in
Buggy Company. A cessation time arises for the 500 shares
and relief does not apply because there is not a 100 per
cent takeover. No relief is necessary for the remaining
shares as Hannah still owns them and is still employed by
Buggy Company.
8.38 Relief can also apply to demergers in limited
circumstances. It will only apply, however, to the extent that an
ESS participant's interest in the old company ceases. ESS
participants must no longer hold shares or rights in the old
company for the new shares or rights to be treated
as a continuation of the old shares or rights. [Schedule 5, item
3, subsection 26AAD(8)]
Apportionment of consideration paid for the old shares and rights
8.39 Any consideration an ESS participant paid for the old
shares or rights should be spread evenly among the matching new
shares or rights in proportion to their market values immediately
after the restructure. This ensures that an ESS participant is not
advantaged or disadvantaged because of a corporate restructure.
[Schedule 5, item 3, subsection 26AAD(6)]
8.40 When calculating the value of the apportionable assets for
the original shares or rights consideration should be given to:
. the value of the new matching shares or rights held by an
ESS participant because of the relief provisions [Schedule
5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(7)(a)];
. the value of anything else that an ESS participant may
have acquired in connection with the corporate restructure
that can reasonably be regarded as matching shares or
rights [Schedule 5, item 3, paragraph 26AAD(7)(b)]; and
. the value of the old shares or rights an ESS participant
may have held in the old company immediately before and
after the corporate restructure, that can reasonably be
regarded as matching shares or rights [Schedule 5, item 3,
paragraph 26AAD(7)(c)].
Example 8.8
In 1990, Julie acquires 1,000 shares worth $3 each in her
employer, Chocolate Company, for $2 each. In 2005,
Chocolate Company is bought out by Nut Company. Chocolate
Company shares are worth $10 each at this time. Julie's
1,000 shares in Chocolate Company are replaced with 2,000 $5
shares in Nut Company. The $2,000 that Julie paid to
acquire the 1,000 Chocolate Company shares is apportioned
between the 2,000 Nut Company shares. That is, Julie is
treated as having paid $1 for each Nut Company share.
Interaction between section 26AAD and the CGT provisions
8.41 Subdivision 130-DA of the Income Tax (Transitional
Provisions) Act 1997 treats an ESS participant as having acquired a
share or right at the time it was acquired by an employee share
trust, if, at the time it was acquired by the trust, it was
possible to determine that the share or right would later be
provided to the ESS participant.
8.42 These amendments ensure that this treatment also applies to
matching new shares or rights which are treated as a continuation
of old shares or rights acquired by an employee share trust.
[Schedule 5, item 15, subsection 130-80(3)]
8.43 Subdivision 130-D of the Income Tax (Transitional
Provisions) Act 1997 establishes the interaction between section
26AAC and CGT. However, the Subdivision only applies to old shares
or rights acquired under a scheme for the acquisition of shares by
employees.
8.44 These amendments ensure that this Subdivision also applies
to matching new shares or rights acquired as a result of a
corporate restructure, and that new matching shares or rights are
treated as a continuation of old shares or rights held under
section 26AAC for CGT purposes. [Schedule 5, items 17 and 18,
subsections 130-95(3) and 130-110(5)]
Example 8.9
In 1993, Michael acquired 5,000 tax-excluded ordinary shares
in his employer Donut Company. The shares are held in an
employee share trust. In 2007 Donut Company is bought out
by Biscuit Company, and Michael receives matching shares in
Biscuit Company equal in value to the shares he held in
Donut Company immediately before the restructure. Relief
will apply so that the new shares in Biscuit Company are not
taxed when they exit the employee share trust, and so that
Michael retains the same cost base treatment that applied to
his shares in Donut Company, for his new Biscuit Company
shares.
Relief for Division 13A shares or rights
Background
8.45 If an ESS participant acquires shares or rights in respect
of employment after 6.00 pm by legal time in the Australian Capital
Territory on 28 March 1995 then the provisions in Division 13A will
apply. Under these provisions an ESS participant can, subject to
certain conditions, access one of two alternative tax concessions
in relation to the discount: the tax-deferred concession and the
tax-upfront concession.
8.46 Under the tax-deferred concession, an ESS participant can
defer paying tax in relation to the discount until a cessation time
occurs, up to a maximum of 10 years. The discount in relation to
the share is either the consideration received on disposal of the
share less what was paid to acquire the share, or the market value
of the share at the cessation time less what was paid to acquire
the share. In relation to rights which are exercised, the amount
paid for the share will include the value of any consideration
given to exercise that right.
8.47 A corporate restructure will, in most instances, have no
impact on an ESS participant with tax-deferred shares or rights as
relief is provided for such shares or rights under section 139DQ of
the ITAA 1936. ESS participants with tax-deferred shares or rights
can treat the new shares or rights they are issued as a
continuation of their old shares or rights.
8.48 Under the tax-upfront concession, ESS participants can
elect that the first $1,000 of the discount on the shares or rights
is not taxable, but they are taxed on the remaining discount in the
year the shares or rights are received. Any capital gain or loss
an ESS participant makes from the shares or rights after they have
paid tax on the discount is subject to CGT.
Issues for tax-upfront shares and rights in a corporate restructure
Continuation
8.49 Without relief a corporate restructure may trigger a CGT
taxing point for tax-upfront shares or rights as the shares or
rights may no longer be owned by the ESS participant. The ESS
participant may be issued with new shares or rights to replace the
old shares or rights, however, these new shares or rights will not
be considered a continuation of the old shares or rights. As a
result, the taxation treatment attached to the old shares or rights
will not apply.
Employee share trusts
8.50 Without relief the replacement tax-upfront shares or rights
may also be subject to taxation if they cease to be held by an
employee share trust. Under existing law, any capital gain or loss
a trustee makes is disregarded when shares or rights exit the
trust. This is to ensure the shares or rights are not taxed twice:
once in the hands of the trustee and once in the hands of the ESS
participant. This treatment only applies to old shares or rights;
any capital gain or loss made by a trustee on new shares or rights
issued to replace old shares or rights will not be disregarded.
Example 8.10
In 2002, Simon acquired a beneficial interest in a share
worth $20 in his employer Reef Company. The share was held
under an employee share trust and Simon elected to pay tax
upfront. Reef Company is taken over by Sand Company, and
the share within the trust (now worth $25) is replaced with
a new share. When the new share is released from the trust
(now worth $30), the trustee and the employee pay capital
gains tax on any increase in value in the new share. If
there had been no takeover, Simon would not have paid
capital gains tax when the old share was released from the
trust.
Cost base
8.51 Without relief the replacement shares or rights may also
have a different CGT cost base to the old shares or rights.
. For a tax-upfront share or right acquired on or after 5.00
pm by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory on
27 February 2001, the first element of the cost base is
the market value of the share or right at the time it was
beneficially acquired.
. For a tax-upfront share or right acquired before this
time, ESS participants have a choice whether the first
element of the cost base is the market value of the share
or right at the time it was absolutely acquired, or the
market value of the share or right at the time it was
beneficially acquired.
Example 8.11
In 2000, Nicola acquired a beneficial interest in 200 shares
worth $10 each in her employer North Company, held under an
employee share trust and elected to pay tax upfront. In
2001, North Company is taken over by South Company, and
Nicola is issued with matching new shares which are held in
the trust. In 2002 the shares (now worth $11 each) are
released from the trust. In 2004 Nicola sells the shares
for $9 each. Nicola has no choice as to the cost base, and
must use $10 (the market value at the date of beneficial
entitlement) as the cost base.
3-year holding requirement
8.52 Without relief the new tax-upfront shares or rights may
also fail to satisfy the 3-year holding condition. To receive the
$1,000 discount, an ESS must be operated so that no ESS participant
is permitted to dispose of the shares or rights acquired under the
ESS before the earlier of 3 years or cessation of employment from
the time the shares or rights were acquired. A corporate
restructure may result in the new company deciding not to operate
the replacement ESS plan to satisfy this 3-year holding condition.
Where this happens an ESS participant would be liable to repay the
tax payable on the $1,000 discount.
Example 8.12
In 2004, Melanie acquired shares under an ESS in her
employer Bottle Company. She paid tax upfront and accessed
the $1,000 concession. In 2006, Bottle Company is acquired
by Can Company, and Melanie's Bottle Company shares are
replaced with matching Can Company shares. Melanie has
disposed of her ESS shares in Bottle Company within 3 years
of acquiring them, and without relief would be required to
repay the tax on the $1,000 concession.
Refund of taxation on rights
8.53 An ESS participant with a tax-upfront right is treated as
never having acquired the right to acquire shares if the right is
lost without the ESS participant having exercised it. If a right
is lost and an ESS participant has elected to pay tax upfront on
that right, any tax paid on the right is refundable to the ESS
participant. However, without relief, if an ESS participant
receives new matching rights as a result of a corporate restructure
and those rights are subsequently lost, the ESS participant will
not be entitled to a refund of tax paid.
Example 8.13
Maddi received rights to acquire shares in her employer
Solar Company under an ESS, and paid tax upfront, but could
only exercise the rights if the company met a certain
performance target. Solar Company was taken over by Energy
Company, and Maddi's rights to acquire shares in Solar
Company were replaced with rights to acquire shares in
Energy Company with the same restrictions attached. As
this is not considered to be a loss of the right to acquire
shares in Solar Company, Maddi could not access a refund of
tax paid at this time.
Maddi continues to be employed by Solar Company. A few
months later Solar Company failed to meet a certain
performance target, and Maddi lost her rights to acquire
shares in Energy Company without exercising her rights.
Without relief Maddi would not be entitled to a refund of
tax paid because the new rights are not treated as a
continuation of the old rights.
8.54 These amendments resolve these issues by ensuring that, in
the event of corporate restructure, new shares or rights are
treated as a continuation of old shares or rights.
Relief for tax-upfront shares and rights
Continuation
8.55 Relief is available to ESS participants with tax-upfront
shares or rights acquired under an ESS who acquire new shares or
rights as a result of a corporate restructure. Relief is provided
in the same way that continuation is provided to tax-deferred ESS
participants who access continuation treatment under section 139DQ
of the ITAA 1936. [Schedule 5, item 10]
8.56 The mechanism for providing relief for tax-upfront shares
or rights is the removal of subsection 139DR(4) of the ITAA 1936,
which limits relief to ESS shares and rights that have a cessation
time. While a cessation time may arise for tax-deferred shares or
rights in the event of a corporate restructure, there is no
cessation time for tax-upfront shares or rights. Hence they cannot
access the relief provisions in section 139DQ which are conditional
on subsection 139DR(4) being met. Removing this subsection enables
ESS participants with tax-upfront shares or rights to access
relief. [Schedule 5, item 10]
8.57 There is no requirement for employment to continue after a
100 per cent takeover or corporate restructure in order for tax-
upfront ESS participants to receive relief. In effect, relief is
not conditional on a continuing employment relationship for tax-
upfront shares or rights. [Schedule 5, item 9,
subsection 139DR(2)]
Example 8.14
In 1998 Ben acquired shares under an ESS in his employer
Bell Company and elected to pay tax upfront. Ben changed
employers in 2004, but continued to hold shares in Bell
Company in an employee share trust. In 2006 Bell Company is
acquired by Whistle Company, and Ben is issued new shares in
Whistle Company. Relief will be provided when Ben's new
shares exit the employee share trust.
Refund of taxation on rights
8.58 When a new right to acquire a share, which is a
continuation of an old right, is lost without having been
exercised, and the company was, at the time the right was acquired,
the employer of the ESS participant, the ESS participant is treated
as never having acquired the right.
8.59 Subsection 139DD(2A) clarifies that a right is not lost if
a new right is treated as a continuation of an old right. However,
a right is lost when a new right is lost without having been
exercised. [Schedule 5, item 6, subsection 139DD(2A)]
8.60 To access the refund of tax paid, the ESS participant must
be employed by the company at the time that the right is issued.
This has the same effect as the current law but the wording is
changed to make the timing clearer. [Schedule 5, item 7,
subsection 139DD(3)]
Example 8.15
From Example 8.13, Maddi acquired rights to acquire shares
in her employer Solar Company under an ESS, and paid tax
upfront, but could only exercise the rights if Solar Company
met a certain performance target.
Solar Company was subsequently taken over by Energy Company,
and Maddi's rights to acquire shares in Solar Company were
replaced with rights to acquire shares in Energy Company,
with the same restrictions attached. Solar Company did not
meet the performance target, and Maddi lost the rights to
acquire shares in Energy Company without exercising them.
Maddi is entitled to a refund of tax paid.
8.61 There is no requirement for employment to continue after a
100 per cent takeover or corporate restructure in order for an ESS
participant with tax-deferred rights to receive relief. An ESS
participant with tax-deferred rights who has ceased employment and
subsequently loses the rights may be unfairly disadvantaged if
relief is limited to only ESS participants with continuing
employment. [Schedule 5, item 8, subsection 139DD(3B)]
Example 8.16
From Example 8.13, Maddi's co-worker Catherine acquired
rights to acquire shares under the same ESS, but deferred
the payment of tax. The same restrictions applied, namely
that she could only exercise the rights if Solar Company met
a certain performance target. Catherine later ceased
employment with Solar Company and paid tax on her rights but
was not required to exercise them at that time.
Solar Company was subsequently taken over by Energy Company,
and Catherine's rights to acquire shares in Solar Company
were replaced with rights to acquire shares in Energy
Company, with the same restrictions attached. Solar Company
did not meet its performance target, and Catherine lost her
rights in Energy Company without exercising them.
Catherine, like Maddi, is also entitled to a refund of tax
paid, even though she is not employed by Energy Company.
3-year holding requirement
8.62 The 3-year holding condition does not need to be satisfied
in the event of a 100 per cent takeover or corporate restructure
provided that the new shares or rights are treated as a
continuation of the old shares or rights. [Schedule 5, items 4 and
5, subsections 139CE(1) and (3A)]
Example 8.17
From Example 8.14, if the new shares are treated as a
continuation of the old shares, Melanie does not have to
comply with the 3-year requirement to receive relief.
Interaction between Division 13A and the CGT provisions
Employee share trusts
8.63 When a new share or right, which is a continuation of an
old share or right, is released from an employee share trust, any
capital gain or loss made by a trustee or beneficiary is
disregarded, provided certain conditions are met.
Example 8.18
From Example 8.10, because the new share is treated as a
continuation of the old share, Simon and the trustee do not
have to pay CGT when the new share exits the trust.
Cost base
8.64 When an ESS participant is provided with new shares or
rights that are treated as a continuation of old shares or rights,
they are treated as a continuation for the purposes of the cost
base choice described in paragraph 8.51. [Schedule 5, item 19]
8.65 For a tax-upfront share or right acquired before 5.00 pm by
legal time in the Australian Capital Territory on 27 February 2001,
ESS participants have a choice whether the first element of the
cost base of the new share or right is the market value of the old
share or right at the time it was absolutely acquired, or the
market value of the old share or right at the time it was
beneficially acquired. [Schedule 5, item 19]
Example 8.19
From Example 8.11, because her new shares are treated as a
continuation, Nicola can elect whether to use the market
value at the date of beneficial entitlement or the market
value at the date of absolute entitlement as the first
element of cost base for her shares.
Other CGT outcomes
8.66 For the purposes of the CGT 50 per cent discount (which
requires that an asset be held for 12 months for the concession to
be accessed), an ESS participant is treated as having acquired an
ESS share at the time that they first acquired a beneficial
interest in the share. A new share or right which is treated as a
continuation of an old share or right is treated as having been
acquired at the time the ESS participant first acquired a
beneficial interest in the old share or right. [Schedule 5,
item 13, subsection 115-30(1A)]
8.67 Section 130-80 of the ITAA 1997 establishes the cost base
treatment for tax-upfront shares and rights. The insertion of a
new note into section 130-80 will clarify that new tax-upfront
shares or rights issued to replace old tax-upfront shares or rights
can be treated as a continuation. [Schedule 5, item 14, subsection
130-80(1)]
8.68 As previously noted in paragraph 8.41, Subdivision 130-DA
of the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 treats an ESS
participant as having acquired a share or right at the time it was
acquired by an employee share trust, if, at the time it was
acquired by the trust, it was possible to determine that the share
or right would later be provided to the ESS participant. This
treatment will also apply to shares or rights which are treated as
continuations of original shares or rights acquired by an employee
share trust. [Schedule 5, item 16, subsection 130-80(4)]
Application and transitional provisions
8.69 These amendments will apply to corporate restructures which
occur on or after Royal Assent. [Schedule 5, item 20]
Chapter 9
Allow the offsetting of a late payment of contributions against an
employer's superannuation guarantee charge
Outline of chapter
9.1 Schedule 6 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 to allow the offsetting of a late payment
of contributions against an employer's superannuation guarantee
charge.
Context of amendments
9.2 Where an employer fails to meet its superannuation
guarantee obligations by the due date, and subsequently pays the
relevant contributions to a complying superannuation fund or
retirement savings account, a double payment problem may occur. A
superannuation guarantee charge liability still arises, which
includes the full amount of any shortfall, even though
contributions relating to the relevant period had subsequently been
paid into an employee's superannuation fund or retirement savings
account by the employer.
9.3 Where the relevant employee's employment is ongoing, the
late contribution can be used as an advance payment in respect of
that employee for a future contribution period. Where the
employment is non-ongoing, the employer will effectively make
contributions twice for that employee.
Summary of new law
9.4 The amendments introduce an offsetting rule so employers
that make a late contribution to a complying superannuation fund or
retirement savings account after the due date (the due date being
28 days from the end of the relevant quarter), can offset the late
payment against the components of the superannuation guarantee
charge liability that relate to the relevant employee's
entitlements. The late contribution must, however, be made before
the end of the 28th day of the second month after the end of the
quarter. Employee-related components of the superannuation
guarantee charge are the individual superannuation guarantee
shortfall and nominal interest components.
9.5 In order to access the offsetting rule, an employer must
elect to do so by providing the Commissioner of Taxation
(Commissioner) a completed 'approved form', within 4 years of the
superannuation guarantee charge for the relevant quarter becoming
payable. The employer must indicate to which quarter the payment
relates. The election is irrevocable.
9.6 Amounts paid late into a complying superannuation fund or
retirement savings account, and used to offset a resulting
superannuation guarantee charge, will not be tax deductible. This
is to ensure that employers who incur and correctly pay the
superannuation guarantee charge to the Australian Taxation Office
(ATO) by the superannuation guarantee statement due date, are not
disadvantaged compared to those employers who make late
contributions before the end of the 28th day of the second month
after the end of the quarter and utilise the offset rule.
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|A contribution paid late|A contribution paid late|
|to a complying |to a superannuation fund|
|superannuation fund or |or retirement savings |
|retirement savings |account after the due |
|account before the end |date (28 days after the |
|of the 28th day of the |end of the quarter), |
|second month after the |cannot be used to offset|
|end of the quarter can |the employee related |
|be used to offset the |components of the |
|employee related |corresponding |
|components of the |superannuation guarantee|
|corresponding |charge. The employer |
|superannuation guarantee|will be liable for the |
|charge. |entire superannuation |
|The offsetting |guarantee charge, even |
|contributions are not |though the late |
|tax deductible. |contribution has been |
| |paid. |
Detailed explanation of new law
9.7 Schedule 6 to this Bill inserts section 23A which allows
amounts paid to a superannuation fund or retirement savings account
after the due date (the due date being 28 days from the end of the
relevant quarter), but before the end of the 28th day of the second
month after the end of the quarter, to offset the corresponding
superannuation guarantee charge. Employers must elect that this
contribution be offset, in the approved form, within 4 years of the
superannuation guarantee charge becoming payable. This election is
irrevocable. [Schedule 6, item 5, subsections 23A(1) and (2)]
9.8 Only amounts relating to the employee's individual
superannuation guarantee shortfall and the employee's nominal
interest component can be offset. The late contribution will be
offset against the nominal interest component before any remainder
is offset against the employer's individual superannuation
guarantee shortfall for the employee for the quarter. Any amount
used as an offset cannot be taken into account for any other
quarter, or be used to reduce the charge percentage under sections
22 and 23 of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act
1992. [Schedule 6, item 5, subsections 23A(3) to (5)]
Example 9.1
PLR Pty Ltd pays a superannuation contribution of $1,200 for
its employee, Jennifer, after the due date, but before the
end of the 28th day of the second month after the end of the
quarter (payment made on 30 April for the March quarter).
This late payment can offset PLR Pty Ltd's superannuation
guarantee charge for the quarter for which the payment was
late (March quarter). The superannuation guarantee charge
(say $1,300) still arises, but the portion of the
superannuation guarantee charge that relates to Jennifer's
entitlements (shortfall of $1,200 and nominal interest of
$80) can be offset to the extent of the amount of the late
payment. Therefore, PLR Pty Ltd can offset the
superannuation guarantee charge by $1,200 ($80 for the
nominal interest first, then the remaining $1,120 can be
used to offset the individual superannuation guarantee
shortfall for Jennifer). PLR Pty Ltd would still be
required to pay the remainder of the superannuation
guarantee charge (remaining individual superannuation
guarantee shortfall of $80, and administration of $20) to
the ATO. The ATO will deposit the individual superannuation
guarantee shortfall ($80) in Jennifer's superannuation fund
or retirement savings account, and retain the administration
component ($20).
9.9 Any amount of a late contribution made before the end of
the 28th day of the second month after the end of the quarter, that
is in excess of the employee's individual superannuation guarantee
shortfall and nominal interest component for the relevant quarter,
cannot be offset. Instead, this excess amount can be applied to
the current quarter, or to a future quarter under subsection 23(7)
of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.
Example 9.2
In Example 9.1, if the amount of the late contribution had
been $1,400, $1,280 of this could be used to offset PLR Pty
Ltd's superannuation guarantee charge for the March quarter.
The remaining $120 of the late contribution could be used
as a contribution for the June quarter, or for any
subsequent quarter beginning within 12 months of the date
the contribution was made. PLR Pty Ltd would still be
required to pay the $20 administration charge to the ATO.
9.10 The amendments will insert the definition of 'approved
form' in subsection 6(1) of the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992, giving it the same meaning as in
section 388-50 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953. [Schedule
6, item 4, subsection 6(1)]
9.11 Penalties under Part 7 of the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 will apply to the full amount of the
initial superannuation guarantee charge, before the effect of any
offset under section 23A is taken into account. [Schedule 6, item
9, section 62A]
Example 9.3
In Example 9.1, any penalties under Part 7 will be applied
to the full $1,300 superannuation guarantee charge, and not
the amount remaining after the offset has been applied
($100).
9.12 Any amount offset under section 23A will not be deductible.
[Schedule 6, items 1 and 2, sections 12-5 and 26-85]
9.13 The due date for the lodgement of the superannuation
guarantee statement will be extended, to align with the end of the
additional offset period. This will reduce the likelihood of an
employer lodging a superannuation guarantee statement, then
subsequently making a contribution to an employee's fund that can
be offset against the superannuation guarantee charge in that
superannuation guarantee statement. This will simplify the
administration of the offset rule for the ATO. It will also reduce
complexity in the legislation, and will make the system easier for
employers to understand. [Schedule 6, items 3, 6, 7 and 8,
subsections 5(3) and 33(1), paragraph 35(1)(d) and subsection
46(2)]
9.14 As a result, the nominal interest charge in respect of the
lodgement of the superannuation guarantee statement will be
calculated up until the extended date. That is, nominal interest
will be calculated until the 28th of the second month after the end
of the quarter, instead of until the 14th as previously applied.
Nominal interest is charged until the superannuation guarantee
statement due date, even if the employer lodges the statement and
makes the payment before the due date for the lodgement of the
superannuation guarantee statement.
Application and transitional provisions
9.15 The amendments made by items 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9 apply to late
payments of contributions made on or after 1 January 2006. The
amendments made by items 3, 6, 7 and 8 of this Schedule apply to
superannuation guarantee obligations relating to the quarter ending
on 31 December 2005 and later quarters. [Schedule 6, item 10]
Chapter 10
Applying superannuation guarantee to back payments of wages
Outline of chapter
10.1 Schedule 7 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 to clarify that mandatory employer
contributions under the superannuation guarantee arrangements are
payable on wages or salary paid in a quarter following the
termination of an employment relationship.
Context of amendments
10.2 When calculating an individual shortfall under section 19
of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, there
must be salary or wages paid by an employer to an employee.
Therefore, in order for there to be a shortfall, and a liability to
the superannuation guarantee charge, there must be an
employer/employee relationship.
10.3 It is unclear under section 19 of the Superannuation
Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 whether 'employee' includes
former employee. If a former employee is not treated as an
employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992, there cannot be a superannuation
guarantee shortfall, and therefore, no superannuation guarantee
charge liability. The result being that even though a payment
would have formed part of the former employee's notional earnings
base had it been paid in the quarter in which it was derived, if
the payment is not made until a subsequent quarter, when the
employment relationship had ceased, no superannuation guarantee
obligation arises.
10.4 The Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) view of the law is
that there is a superannuation guarantee obligation for employers
that make payments of salary or wages to former employees.
However, amendments are required to put the issue beyond doubt.
Summary of new law
10.5 The amendments to the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992 clarify that salary or wages paid to
former employees give rise to a superannuation guarantee
obligation. This ensures employees do not lose superannuation
entitlements as a result of being underpaid during their
employment.
10.6 Former employees and former employers are deemed to be
employees and employers (respectively), in those sections that deal
with; the calculation of superannuation guarantee shortfalls, the
reduction of the superannuation guarantee charge percentage by
employers, and the distribution of any superannuation guarantee
charge by the ATO.
10.7 The deduction provisions for superannuation contributions
have been amended to ensure that employers are entitled to a
deduction for compulsory superannuation contributions made for
former employees under the Superannuation Guarantee
(Administration) Act 1992, and for contributions made for
'superannuation guarantee employees' (as defined in section 12 of
the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992).
Comparison of key features of new law and current law
|New law |Current law |
|Employers have a |It is unclear whether |
|superannuation guarantee|employers have a |
|obligation in respect of|superannuation guarantee|
|salary or wages paid to |obligation in respect of|
|a former employee in a |salary or wages paid to |
|quarter following the |a former employee in a |
|termination of the |quarter following the |
|employment relationship.|termination of the |
| |employment relationship.|
Detailed explanation of new law
10.8 These amendments insert section 15B of the Superannuation
Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, which ensures that Part 3 of
that Act applies to former employees and former employers.
[Schedule 7, item 17, section 15B]
10.9 Part 3 raises the individual superannuation guarantee
shortfall, which in turn raises the superannuation guarantee
charge. Part 3 also allows employers to reduce their
superannuation guarantee charge percentage, and therefore avoid the
superannuation guarantee charge, by contributing to an employee's
superannuation fund or retirement savings account by the
superannuation guarantee due date.
10.10 These amendments insert subsection 63A(1A) of the
Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, which ensures
that Part 8 of that Act applies to former employees and former
employers. Part 8 explains how the ATO is to distribute
superannuation guarantee charge amounts (received from employers)
amongst benefiting employees. [Schedule 7, item 18, subsection
63A(1A)]
10.11 Amendments to subsection 82AAC(1) of the Income Tax
Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) clarify that a deduction is allowed
for contributions made for all superannuation guarantee employees.
These amendments also ensure employers are entitled to a deduction
for compulsory superannuation contributions made for former
employees under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act
1992, to the extent that the contribution reduces the employer's
superannuation guarantee charge percentage. [Schedule 7, item 1,
subsection 82AAC(1)]
10.12 Subsection 82AAF(1) of the ITAA 1936 has been amended to
clarify that a deduction is allowed for deposits made for all
superannuation guarantee employees under the Small Superannuation
Accounts Act 1995. These amendments also ensure employers are
entitled to a deduction for deposits made for former employees
under the Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995. The deduction
for deposits for former employees is only allowable to the extent
that the deposit reduces the employer's superannuation guarantee
charge percentage. [Schedule 7, item 8, subsection 82AAF(1)]
10.13 Subsections 82AAR(1), (2) and (4) of the ITAA 1936 have
been amended to deny a deduction for contributions made to former
employees or superannuation guarantee employees, except as stated
in Subdivision AA of the ITAA 1936. [Schedule 7, items 12 and 13,
subsections 82AAR(1), (2) and (4)]
10.14 Other references to 'employee' in Subdivision AA of the
ITAA 1936 have been changed to 'person', to ensure the related
provisions apply to former employees and superannuation guarantee
employees. [Schedule 7, items 2 to 7 and 9 to 11, subsections
82AAC(2) and (2A), paragraphs 82AAC(2A)(a) and (b), paragraph
82AAD(1)(a), section 82AADA, subsections 82AAF(2) and 82AAQ(1),
paragraph 82AAQ(2)(a)]
10.15 Similarly, references to 'employee' in section 26-80 of the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 have been changed to 'person', to
ensure the related provisions apply to former employees and
superannuation guarantee employees. [Schedule 7, items 14 to 16,
paragraphs 26-80(2)(b), 26-80(4)(b), 26-80(5)(b) and 26-80(5)(c)]
Application and transitional provisions
10.16 These amendments apply to payments made on or after the
first day of the first full quarter after Royal Assent. [Schedule
7, item 20]
10.17 These amendments are not to be taken to affect by
implication the interpretation of a provision amended by this
Schedule at a time before the commencement of this Schedule.
[Schedule 7, item 19]
Index
Schedule 1: Loss recoupment rules for companies etc.
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Items 1 and 2, sections 80B and 160ZNRA of |3.9 |
|the ITAA 1936; items 73 and 78, sections | |
|165-208 and 165-250 of the ITAA 1997 | |
|Items 1 and 2, subsections 80B(8A) |3.5 |
|and 160ZNRA(1) of the ITAA 1936; item 73, | |
|subsection 165-208(1) of the ITAA 1997 | |
|Items 1 and 2, subsections 80B(8B) |3.5 |
|and 160ZNRA(2) of the ITAA 1936; item 73, | |
|subsection 165-208(2) of the ITAA 1997 | |
|Items 4 to 9, 13, 18, 22, 27, 31, 41, 53, |2.56 |
|59, 63, 66, 80, 89 and 98 | |
|Item 7, section 36-25 |3.55 |
|Items 10 and 11, subsection 125-60(2) and |3.64 |
|subparagraph 125-60(3)(a)(i) | |
|Items 12, 14, 19 to 21, 24 to 26, 28, 33, |2.57 |
|35, 36, 40, 43 to 45, 52, 55, 62, 65, 67, | |
|74, 75, 81, 90, 107, 108, 110, 113, 115, | |
|119 to 132, 137, 138 and 140 | |
|Items 14, 28, 42, 54 and 113 |1.165 |
|Items 16, 29, 46, 49 and 57, subsections |3.43 |
|165-12(6), 165-37(3), 165-115C(3), | |
|165-115L(4) and 165-123(6) | |
|Item 17, subsection 165-12(7A) |3.29 |
|Items 23, 32, 34, 51, 64, 82 to 86, 92, 94 |3.65 |
|to 97, 99 to 101 and 105 | |
|Item 30, subsection 165-37(4A) |3.29 |
|Items 37, 38, 77, 87, 88 and 104, |3.54 |
|subsections 165-96(1), 165-235(2), | |
|175-40(1) and 180-5(2) | |
|Items 39 and 90, subsections 165-96(1) and |3.56 |
|175-40(2) | |
|Item 47, subsection 165-115C(4A) |3.29 |
|Item 50, subsection 165-115L(5) |3.29 |
|Item 58, subsection 165-123(7A) |3.29 |
|Item 68 |3.50 |
|Items 69 and 70 |3.49 |
|Item 71, subsection 165-202(1) |3.34 |
|Item 71, subsection 165-202(2) |3.35 |
|Item 71, section 165-203 |3.38 |
|Item 72, subsection 165-207(2) |3.23 |
|Item 72, subsection 165-207(3) |3.23 |
|Item 72, subsection 165-207(4) |3.24 |
|Item 73, section 165-209 |3.51 |
|Item 76, section 165-212A |1.28, 1.34 |
|Item 76, subsection 165-212B(1) |2.18, 2.21 |
|Item 76, paragraph 165-212B(2)(a) |2.22 |
|Item 76, paragraph 165-212B(2)(b) |2.23 |
|Item 76, section 165-212C |2.16 |
|Item 76, subsection 165-212C(1) |2.25 |
|Item 76, subsection 165-212C(2) |2.26 |
|Item 76, subsection 165-212C(3) |2.28 |
|Item 76, section 165-212D |3.21 |
|Item 76, section 165-212E |3.17 |
|Items 76 and 172, section 165-212A |2.10 |
|Item 78, section 165-250 |3.7 |
|Item 78, subsection 165-255(1) |3.46 |
|Item 78, subsection 165-255(2) |3.47 |
|Item 79, section 166-3 |1.7 |
|Item 79, section 166-5 |1.20, 1.23 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-5(1), 166-20(1), |1.12 |
|166-40(1) and 166-80(1) and section 166-220| |
|Item 79, subsections 166-5(2) to (4) |1.24 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-5(3), 166-20(2), |1.21, 1.61 |
|166-40(3) and 166-80(2) | |
|Item 79, subsection 166-5(5) |1.26 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-5(6) |1.27 |
|Item 79, sections 166-15, 166-35, 166-50 |1.22 |
|and 166-90 | |
|Item 79, section 166-20 |1.20 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-20(2) and (3) |1.40 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-20(4) and (5) |1.43 |
|Item 79, section 166-25 |1.44 |
|Item 79, section 166-40 |1.20 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-40(1) |1.45 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-40(2) |1.47, 1.48 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-40(3) |1.46, 1.47, |
| |1.48 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-40(4) and (5) |1.49 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-40(6) |1.50 |
|Item 79, section 166-80 |1.20 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-80(1) |1.51 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-80(2) and (3) |1.52 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-80(4) to (6) |1.54 |
|Item 79, section 166-135 |1.20 |
|Item 79, section 166-145 |1.55 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-145(2) |1.56 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-145(3) |1.56 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-145(4) |1.56 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-145(5) |1.25 |
|Item 79, section 166-165 |1.58 |
|Item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(a) and |1.62 |
|(2)(a) | |
|Item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(b) and |1.62 |
|(2)(b) | |
|Item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(c) and |1.62 |
|(2)(b) | |
|Item 79, paragraphs 166-175(1)(d) and |1.62 |
|(2)(c) | |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-175(1)(e) and |1.63 |
|subsection 166-175(2) | |
|Item 79, section 166-225 |1.65, 1.65 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-225(2)(c) and |1.68 |
|section 166-265 | |
|Item 79, subsections 166-225(3) and |3.25 |
|166-255(3) | |
|Item 79, section 166-230 |1.65 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-230(1) |1.72 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-230(2) |1.73 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-230(2)(d) |1.76 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-230(3) |1.80 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-230(4) |1.81 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-235(7) |1.70, 1.75 |
|Item 79, section 166-240 |1.65, 1.82 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-240(4) |1.87, 1.94 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-240(5) |1.88 |
|Item 79, section 166-245 |1.65 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-245(1) |1.90 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-245(1)(b) |1.97 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-245(2) |1.91 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-245(2)(e) |1.92 |
|Item 79, paragraphs 166-245(2)(e) and |1.104 |
|(3)(e) | |
|Item 79, subsection 166-245(3) |1.18 |
|Item 79, subparagraph 166-245(3)(a)(i) |1.98 |
|Item 79, subparagraph 166-245(3)(a)(ii) |1.99 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-245(3)(b) |1.100 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-245(3)(c) |1.101 |
|Item 79, paragraph 166-245(5)(b) |1.95 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-245(6) |1.93 |
|Item 79, section 166-255 |1.65 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-255(2) |1.108, 1.109 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-255(3) |1.110 |
|Item 79, section 166-260 |1.65 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-260(2) |1.114 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-260(4) |1.115 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-260(5) |1.111 |
|Item 79, section 166-265 |1.77, 1.85, |
| |1.96 |
|Item 79, section 166-270 |1.130 |
|Item 79, section 166-272 |1.117 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-272(2) |1.118 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-272(3) to (6) |1.120 |
|Item 79, subsections 166-272(8) and (11) |1.121 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-272(9) |1.127 |
|Item 79, section 166-275 |1.134, 1.136 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-280(1) |1.139 |
|Item 79, subsection 166-280(2) |1.142 |
|Items 79 and 151, paragraph 166-245(3)(d) |1.103 |
|and subsection 995-1(1) | |
|Items 79 and 159, subsections 166-255(1) |1.107 |
|and 995-1(1) | |
|Items 79 and 159, subsections 166-260(1) |1.113 |
|and 995-1(1) | |
|Item 103, section 175-100 |3.12 |
|Item 133, paragraph 716-805(1)(a) |2.31 |
|Item 133, paragraph 716-805(1)(b) |2.32 |
|Item 133, subsection 716-805(2) |2.33 |
|Item 133, subsection 716-805(3) |2.39 |
|Item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(a) |2.45 |
|Item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(b) |2.42 |
|Item 133, paragraph 716-805(4)(c) |2.44, 2.46 |
|Items 142, 146, 150, 153, 154, 155, 157, |1.166 |
|158 and 166 | |
|Item 148, section 995-1 |1.17 |
|Item, 156, subsection 995-1(1) |3.30 |
|Items 162 and 163 |1.167 |
|Item 168, section 995-1 |1.14, 1.16 |
|Item 169 |3.57 |
|Item 170 |3.62 |
|Subitem 170(1) |1.150 |
|Subitem 170(2) |1.163 |
|Subitem 170(3) |1.164 |
|Subitem 170(4) |1.151 |
|Subparagraph 170(4)(a)(ii) |1.152 |
|Subparagraph 170(4)(b)(ii) |1.153 |
|Item 171 |3.63 |
|Subitem 172(1) |2.47 |
|Paragraph 172(2)(a) |2.50 |
|Paragraph 172(2)(b) |2.53 |
|Item 173 |3.61 |
|Item 174 |3.60 |
|Item 175 |3.59 |
|Item 176 |3.13, 3.58 |
Schedule 2: Foreign residents' income with an underlying foreign source
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Item 1, subsection 802-15(1) |5.34 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-15(1)(a) |5.15 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-15(1)(b) |5.15 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-15(2) |5.15 |
|Item 1, section 802-20 |5.15 |
|Item 1, paragraphs 802-20(1)(a) and (b) |5.77 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-20(1)(c) |5.78, 5.79 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-20(2) |5.81, 5.84 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-20(3) |5.85 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-20(4) |5.82 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-20(5) |5.86 |
|Item 1, section 802-25 |5.17, 5.102 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-30(1) |5.23 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-30(2) |5.22, 5.31, |
| |5.42 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(3)(a) |5.39, 5.71 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(3)(b) |5.40 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(3)(c) |5.41 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(4)(a) |5.43 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(4)(b) |5.43 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-30(4)(c) |5.48 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-30(5) |5.49, 5.52 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-30(6) |5.53 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-30(7) |5.30 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(1)(a) |5.56 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(1)(b) |5.57 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(1)(c) |5.58 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(2)(a) |5.59 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(2)(b) |5.60 |
|Item 1, paragraph 802-35(2)(c) |5.61 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-35(3) |5.62 |
|Item 1, section 802-40 |5.64, 5.66 |
|Item 1, section 802-45 |5.68 |
|Item 1, note to section 802-45 |5.70 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-50(1) |5.72 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-50(2) |5.73 |
|Item 1, section 802-55 |5.88 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-60(1) |5.90 |
|Item 1, subsections 802-60(1) and (2) |5.91 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-60(2) |5.90 |
|Item 1, note to subsection 802-60(2) |5.93 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-60(3) |5.90 |
|Item 1, subsection 802-60(4) |5.94 |
|Items 2, 3 and 6, subsections 44(1) and |5.120 |
|128B(1) of the ITAA 1936 | |
|Items 4, 5, 10 and 14, subsections |5.118 |
|102AAW(1) and 121G(12) and subparagraph | |
|159GZZZQ(4)(b)(i) of the ITAA 1936 and | |
|subparagraph 118-12(2)(a)(vi) | |
|Items 7, 8, 9, 16 and 19 to 24, paragraph |5.117 |
|128B(3)(gaa), section 128D and Subdivision | |
|B of Division 11A of Part III of the ITAA | |
|1936, Subdivisions 717-J and 717-X and | |
|subsection 995-1(1) | |
|Item 11, paragraph 202EE(1)(d) of the ITAA |5.121 |
|1936 | |
|Item 12, section 11-55 |5.122 |
|Item 13, paragraphs 703-75(3)(c) and (d) |5.119 |
|Item 15, section 715-875 |5.103 |
|Item 15, subsection 715-875(1) |5.105 |
|Item 15, section 715-880 |5.105 |
|Item 17, subsection 995-1(1) |5.19 |
|Item 18, subsection 995-1(1) |5.123 |
|Item 25, subsection 288-80(1) of the |5.95 |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, paragraph 288-80(1)(c) of the |5.96 |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, subsection 288-80(2) of the |5.97 |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, subsection 288-80(3) of the |5.99 |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, definition of 'Australian |5.98 |
|membership interests' in | |
|subsection 288-80(3) of the Taxation | |
|Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, subsection 288-80(4) of the |5.100 |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 25, definition of 'foreign membership |5.98 |
|interests' in subsection 288-80(4) of the | |
|Taxation Administration Act 1953 | |
|Item 26 |5.106 |
|Subitem 27(1) |5.108 |
|Subitem 27(2) |5.109 |
|Subitem 27(3) |5.110 |
|Subitem 27(4) |5.111 |
|Subitem 27(5) |5.112 |
|Subitem 28(1) |5.113 |
|Subitem 28(2) |5.114 |
|Subitem 28(3) |5.115 |
|Subitem 28(4) |5.116 |
Schedule 3: Denying deductions for illegal activity
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Item 2, subsection 26-54(1) |6.8 |
|Item 2, subsection 26-54(2) |6.13 |
|Items 3 and 4 |6.12 |
Schedule 4: Film copyright
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Item 1, paragraph 124PA(4)(b) |7.17 |
|Item 2 |7.16 |
|Item 3, subsection 124UA(2) |7.15 |
|Item 4, paragraph 40-70(2)(b) |7.9 |
|Items 5 and 6, subsection 40-95(7) |7.8 |
|Item 7, subsection 40-100(4) |7.10 |
|Item 8, subsection 40-105(1) |7.11 |
|Item 9, subsection 40-105(4) |7.12 |
|Item 11, subsection 40-110(5) |7.13 |
|Item 10, subsection 40-110(1) |7.19 |
Schedule 5: Employee share schemes
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(a) |8.22 |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(b) |8.22, 8.27 |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(1)(c) |8.22, 8.28, |
| |8.29 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(2) |8.25, 8.26 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(3) |8.31 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(4) |8.32 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(5) |8.33, 8.34 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(6) |8.39 |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(7)(a) |8.40 |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(7)(b) |8.40 |
|Item 3, paragraph 26AAD(7)(c) |8.40 |
|Item 3, subsection 26AAD(8) |8.35, 8.36, |
| |8.37, 8.38 |
|Items 4 and 5, subsections 139CE(1) and |8.62 |
|(3A) | |
|Item 6, subsection 139DD(2A) |8.59 |
|Item 7, subsection 139DD(3) |8.60 |
|Item 8, subsection 139DD(3B) |8.61 |
|Item 9, subsection 139DR(2) |8.57 |
|Item 10 |8.55, 8.56 |
|Item 13, subsection 115-30(1A) |8.66 |
|Item 14, subsection 130-80(1) |8.67 |
|Item 15, subsection 130-80(3) |8.42 |
|Item 16, subsection 130-80(4) |8.68 |
|Items 17 and 18, subsections 130-95(3) and |8.44 |
|130-110(5) | |
|Item 19 |8.64, 8.65 |
|Item 20 |8.69 |
Schedule 6: Superannuation guarantee charge
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Items 1 and 2, sections 12-5 and 26-85 |9.12 |
|Items 3, 6, 7 and 8, subsections 5(3) and |9.13 |
|33(1), paragraph 35(1)(d) and subsection | |
|46(2) | |
|Item 4, subsection 6(1) |9.10 |
|Item 5, subsections 23A(1) and (2) |9.7 |
|Item 5, subsections 23A(3) to (5) |9.8 |
|Item 9, section 62A |9.11 |
|Item 10 |9.15 |
Schedule 7: Superannuation on back payments
|Bill reference |Paragraph |
| |number |
|Item 1, subsection 82AAC(1) |10.11 |
|Items 2 to 7 and 9 to 11, subsections |10.14 |
|82AAC(2) and (2A), paragraphs 82AAC(2A)(a) | |
|and (b), paragraph 82AAD(1)(a), section | |
|82AADA, subsections 82AAF(2) and 82AAQ(1), | |
|paragraph 82AAQ(2)(a) | |
|Item 8, subsection 82AAF(1) |10.12 |
|Items 12 and 13, subsections 82AAR(1), (2) |10.13 |
|and (4) | |
|Items 14 to 16, paragraphs 26-80(2)(b), |10.15 |
|26-80(4)(b), 26-80(5)(b) and 26-80(5)(c) | |
|Item 17, section 15B |10.8 |
|Item 18, subsection 63A(1A) |10.10 |
|Item 19 |10.17 |
|Item 20 |10.16 |
-----------------------
100
Forco B
Forco A
Ausco
60
Australia
Overseas
%
%