Taxation Determination

TD 94/54

Fringe benefits tax: will a car parking benefit arise under section 39A of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 where a car dealer provides a car from the car yard to employees for travel to or from work?

  • Please note that the PDF version is the authorised version of this ruling.

FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: I 1217539

This Determination, to the extent that it is capable of being a 'public ruling' in terms of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , is a public ruling for the purposes of that Part. Taxation Ruling TR 92/1 explains when a Determination is a public ruling and how it is binding on the Commissioner. Unless otherwise stated, this Determination applies to years commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, this Determination does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).

1. No. A car parking benefit will not arise under section 39A where a car dealer allows an employee to use a car for travel to or from work and:

*
the car forms part of the dealer's trading stock, and
*
the car is normally held on display in the showroom or yard.

2. For section 39A to apply there must be a provision of parking facilities. It is considered that an area set aside in a car yard for the display of trading stock does not constitute a 'parking facility'. While it is considered that the term 'parking facility' will include any area which is actually used for parking cars (and is not restricted to formal car parking facilities or an area set aside specifically for parking), it is recognised that a display floor/yard has materially different characteristics which set it apart from what would ordinarily be considered a parking facility.

Example

Bill operates a used car yard which is located within a 1 km radius of a commercial car parking station. Bill allows his car sales staff to take home (overnight or on weekends) cars held for sale in the car yard. No car parking fringe benefit arises.

Commissioner of Taxation
16/6/94

Previously issued as Draft TD 94/D26

References

ATO references:
NO NAT 93/2841-6, FBT Cell 30/69

ISSN 1038 - 8982

Related Rulings/Determinations:

MT 2023

Subject References:
fringe benefits tax;
car parking;
car parking benefit

Legislative References:
FBTAA 39A