New Investment Engagement Service

The New Investment Engagement Service (NIES) provides businesses planning new investments with timely tax guidance.

Last updated 13 October 2021

Starting 1 July 2021, we introduced a New Investment Engagement Service (NIES) for businesses planning significant new investments in Australia.

The NIES is an investor-initiated service. It connects our specialists with businesses planning significant new investments in Australia.

Benefits of using NIES

Before undertaking significant commercial transactions and investments, investors can engage with the NIES to:

get objective information
understand potential tax risks arising from their proposed investment structures.

The NIES:

streamlines processes to deliver outcomes that meet transaction timeframes.
will provide requested guidance to investors on significant transactions in a tailored report. This includes highlighting concerns about the transaction and steps to take to mitigate those concerns.

The NIES support also includes:

providing tailored information about existing ATO services and programs
helping investors to navigate the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) process
coordinating any request for ATO administratively binding advice or tax outcomes

The NIES is part of the 2021 Budget initiatives to encourage global businesses to invest in and relocate to Australia.

Who can use the NIES

The NIES will be made available to:

all foreign businesses that come through the Global Business and Talent Attraction TaskforceExternal Link
other Australian and foreign businesses making new investments into Australia in the vicinity of $250 million or more.

How it works

The NIES is an investor-initiated engagement for proposed transactions and investments under consideration.

The service allows investors to engage with us to seek objective information, obtain confidence and understand potential tax risks arising from their proposed investment structures prior to the execution. Investors can then make objective, informed and confident decisions about the tax implications of their investment.

Investors can contact a dedicated team to discuss their proposed transactions and what assistance they require from us. The process starts with an initial engagement discussion, where investors can present:

the proposed transaction
key tax issues requiring our guidance (if any)
whether a FIRB application will be lodged
time and commercial sensitivities.

Before progressing further, both parties agree on what guidance and assistance will be provided based on the commercial timeframes of the investment.

If we identify other material risks, we will also communicate these to the investor in the report. If concerns are identified, we will also identify the steps that the investor can take to mitigate these concerns.

In instances where time does not permit a complete engagement or where expectations regarding confidence cannot be agreed the NIES team will assist and direct the investor to alternate services/programs.

Once the investor has completed the initial engagement stage and if your investment meets the eligibility threshold, the NIES team will endeavour to streamline the investor's interaction with our other areas, to facilitate the successful implementation of the investment. The NIES will work alongside the Tax Consult group of the FIRB approval process (if applicable), to streamline aspects of the FIRB process (for example, eliminating duplicate information requests).

The NIES does not replace existing ATO products such as Private Rulings and Advance Pricing Arrangements. If the investor is seeking something of this nature, the NIES team will coordinate requests for ATO administratively binding advice or tax outcomes.

Information investors need to provide to NIES

The information required by the NIES team will depend on the guidance the investor requires.

We will discuss with you the information they require at the initial engagement meeting.

We will provide guidance on the information provided by the investor. It is a condition of entry into the NIES that you provide full and true disclosure of all material facts. The investor will need to notify us if the facts change, as this may impact the guidance we have provided to the investor. We will not verify the facts at the time of providing guidance but may review these as part of our compliance programs.

Generally, we will need information such as:

the name, address and country of tax residence of the ultimate controlling entity(s)
the Foreign Investment Application Number (if any)
the nature and size of the proposed investment
the commercial rationale for the proposed investment
the proposed transaction structure, including
- the identity and tax residency of relevant entities involved
- the transaction steps proposed to be implemented and associated timeframes
- the source and nature of funding for the proposed investment
the existing group structure, including tax residency of entities and details of any transactions/restructures that are relevant to the proposed investment that have been implemented or are planned in the near future
the key tax implications of the proposed investment, including any specific analysis of tax issues anticipated – If the investor already has tax and or legal advice in relation to the proposed transaction, providing a copy of this to us as this may assist with a faster response.

The NIES team recognises that the NIES will be occurring in conjunction with the finalisation of the transaction and accept that components of the transaction may be subject to change. The NIES team requests that investors notify the NIES team where there are any changes that will impact the tax implications.

We will endeavour to tailor the timeframes of the NIES to meet transaction timeframes.

Although we aim to meet the investor's needs, we need sufficient time to properly consider your proposed arrangements. Therefore, we encourage interested parties to contact us early to maximise the benefits of our guidance.

NIES report

Where we provide guidance about your transaction, we will provide you with a report setting out our views.

The report will include the following details:

the proposed transaction, as described, including the commercial rationale, the nature and size of the transaction, structure and funding of the proposed transaction and taxes involved
our agreed expectations with you as to what guidance and assistance were to be provided and timeframes for delivery and information relied upon by the NIES team
overview and chronology of engagement with the NIES team
the matters addressed and resulting guidance, any further information required, steps that can be taken to mitigate any concerns identified and how businesses should prepare for post implementation review (if subject to existing compliance programs). If we identify other material tax risks, we will also communicate these to you in the report and steps you may wish to take to mitigate these concerns and
limitations of the guidance provided by us

Example structure of an NIES report

New Investment Engagement Service Report
1.Your proposed transaction This section of the report details the proposed transaction, as described by the investor, and includes details about: the nature and size of the transaction commercial considerations the proposed structure and funding of the transaction, including identity of relevant entities involved.
2. Agreed expectations and timeframes This section of the report documents the agreed expectations between the NIES team and the investor. The NIES team will agree on: what guidance is to be provided the timeframe for delivery of the report to the investor.
3. Chronology of engagement This section of the report provides an overview and chronology of engagement between the investor and the NIES team. This section also outlines the information relied upon by the NIES team: 5 July 2021 – request for engagement email from investor 6 July 2021 – confirmation of eligibility for the NIES 9 July 2021 – initial engagement discussion and investor presentation (Factual assertions and information received) 16 July 2021 – engagement (Further factual assertions and information received)
4. Guidance This section of the report focuses on: the matters addressed and the resulting guidance steps to assist further engagement with the ATO on the matters addressed steps that can be taken to mitigate any concerns identified how businesses should prepare for post implementation review (if subject to existing compliance programs). If the NIES team identifies other material tax risks, they will communicate these to the investor in the report along with the steps the investor may wish to take to mitigate these concerns.
5. Limitations Any guidance provided by us during the NIES engagement will not be administratively binding on the ATO and will be subject to the following limitations: the guidance will be based solely on information and materials provided by the investor during the NIES engagement rely upon the investor making a full and true disclosure of all known material facts and circumstances any guidance provided by the ATO may be subject to certain assumptions which will be stated in the final report the investor will need to let the ATO know if they become aware of any material fact or circumstance that may impact upon the guidance provided in the final report.

New Investment Engagement Service Report

1.Your proposed transaction

This section of the report details the proposed transaction, as described by the investor, and includes details about:

the nature and size of the transaction
commercial considerations
the proposed structure and funding of the transaction, including identity of relevant entities involved.

2. Agreed expectations and timeframes

This section of the report documents the agreed expectations between the NIES team and the investor.

The NIES team will agree on:

what guidance is to be provided
the timeframe for delivery of the report to the investor.

3. Chronology of engagement

This section of the report provides an overview and chronology of engagement between the investor and the NIES team.

This section also outlines the information relied upon by the NIES team:

5 July 2021 – request for engagement email from investor
6 July 2021 – confirmation of eligibility for the NIES
9 July 2021 – initial engagement discussion and investor presentation

(Factual assertions and information received)

16 July 2021 – engagement

(Further factual assertions and information received)

4. Guidance

This section of the report focuses on:

the matters addressed and the resulting guidance
steps to assist further engagement with the ATO on the matters addressed
steps that can be taken to mitigate any concerns identified
how businesses should prepare for post implementation review (if subject to existing compliance programs).

If the NIES team identifies other material tax risks, they will communicate these to the investor in the report along with the steps the investor may wish to take to mitigate these concerns.

5. Limitations

Any guidance provided by us during the NIES engagement will not be administratively binding on the ATO and will be subject to the following limitations:

the guidance will
- be based solely on information and materials provided by the investor during the NIES engagement
- rely upon the investor making a full and true disclosure of all known material facts and circumstances
any guidance provided by the ATO may be subject to certain assumptions which will be stated in the final report
the investor will need to let the ATO know if they become aware of any material fact or circumstance that may impact upon the guidance provided in the final report.

Contact the NIES

If you are interested in using the NIES, contact us at NIES@ato.gov.au.

We will then contact you within two business days to discuss your circumstances and, if you are eligible for the service, we will organise an initial engagement discussion.

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