Product Ruling
PR 2005/42
Income tax: Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds
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Please note that the PDF version is the authorised consolidated version of this ruling and amending notices.This document incorporates revisions made since original publication. View its history and amending notices, if applicable.
FOI status:
may be releasedWhat this Product Ruling is about | |
Date of effect | |
Withdrawal | |
Arrangement | |
Ruling | |
Explanation | |
Example | |
Detailed contents list |
Preamble
The number, subject heading,
What this Product Ruling is about
(including
Tax law(s), Class of persons
and
Qualifications
sections),
Date of effect, Withdrawal, Arrangement
and
Ruling
parts of this document are a 'public ruling' in terms of Part IVAAA of the
Taxation Administration Act 1953.
Product Ruling PR 1999/95 explains Product Rulings and Taxation Rulings TR 92/1 and TR 97/16 together explain when a Ruling is a 'public ruling' and how it is binding on the Commissioner.
[Note: This is a consolidated version of this document. Refer to the Tax Office Legal Database (http://law.ato.gov.au) to check its currency and to view the details of all changes.] |
No guarantee of commercial success
The Tax Office does not sanction or guarantee this product. Further, we give no assurance that the product is commercially viable, that charges are reasonable, appropriate or represent industry norms, or that projected returns will be achieved or are reasonably based.
Potential participants must form their own view about the commercial and financial viability of the product. This will involve a consideration of important issues such as whether projected returns are realistic, the 'track record' of the management, the level of fees in comparison to similar products and how the product fits an existing portfolio. We recommend a financial (or other) adviser be consulted for such information.
This Product Ruling provides certainty for potential participants by confirming that the tax benefits set out in the Ruling part of this document are available, provided that the arrangement is carried out in accordance with the information we have been given, and have described below in the Arrangement part of this document.
If the arrangement is not carried out as described, participants lose the protection of this Product Ruling. Potential participants may wish to seek assurances from the promoter that the arrangement will be carried out as described in this Product Ruling.
Potential participants should be aware that the Tax Office will be undertaking review activities to confirm the arrangement has been implemented as described below and to ensure that the participants in the arrangement include in their income tax returns income derived in those future years.
Terms of Use of this Product Ruling
This Product Ruling has been given on the basis that the person(s) who applied for the Ruling, and their associates, will abide by strict terms of use. Any failure to comply with the terms of use may lead to the withdrawal of this Ruling.
What this Product Ruling is about
1. This Ruling sets out the Commissioner's opinion on the way in which the 'tax law(s)' identified below apply to the defined class of persons, who take part in the arrangement to which this Ruling relates.
Tax law(s)
2. The tax laws dealt with in this Ruling are:
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- section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997);
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- section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997;
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- section 17-5 of the ITAA 1997;
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- Division 27 of the ITAA 1997;
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- Division 35 of the ITAA 1997;
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- Division 328 of the ITAA 1997;
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- section 44 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936);
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- section 82KL of the ITAA 1936;
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- section 82KZL of the ITAA 1936;
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- sections 82KZME to 82KZMG of the ITAA 1936;
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- Division 6C of Part III of the ITAA 1936; and
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- Part IVA of the ITAA 1936.
Goods and Services Tax
3. All fees and expenditure referred to in this Ruling include the Goods and Services Tax (GST) where applicable. In order for an entity (referred to in this Ruling as a 'CFU Holder') to be entitled to claim input tax credits for the GST included in its expenditure, it must be registered or required to be registered for GST and hold a valid tax invoice.
Changes in the Law
4. Although this Ruling deals with the laws enacted at the time it was issued, later amendments may impact on this Ruling. Any such changes will take precedence over the application of this Ruling and, to that extent, this Ruling will be superseded.
5. Taxpayers who are considering participating in the Project are advised to confirm with their taxation adviser that changes in the law have not affected this Product Ruling since it was issued.
Note to promoters and advisers
6. Product Rulings were introduced for the purpose of providing certainty about tax consequences for participants in projects such as this. In keeping with that intention the Tax Office suggests that promoters and advisers ensure that participants are fully informed of any legislative changes after the Ruling is issued.
Class of persons
7. The class of persons to whom this Ruling applies is the persons more specifically identified in the Ruling part of this Product Ruling and who enter into the arrangement specified below on or after the date this Ruling is made. They will have a purpose of staying in the arrangement until it is completed (that is, being a party to the relevant agreements until their term expires), and deriving assessable income from this involvement as set out in the description of the arrangement. In this Ruling, these persons are referred to as Capital Forestry Unit Holders (CFU Holders).
8. The class of persons to whom this Ruling applies does not include persons who intend to terminate their involvement in the arrangement prior to its completion, or who otherwise do not intend to derive assessable income from it. Bond Holders who do not acquire a minimum of two Allotments in the Capital Forestry Units and two Units in the Trust (see paragraph 18) or who elect to market their own timber are also excluded from the class of persons to whom this Ruling applies.
Qualifications
9. The Commissioner rules on the precise arrangement identified in the Ruling. If the arrangement described in the Ruling is materially different from the arrangement that is actually carried out, the Ruling has no binding effect on the Commissioner. The Ruling will be withdrawn or modified.
10. A Product Ruling may only be reproduced in its entirety. Extracts may not be reproduced. As each Product Ruling is copyright, apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:
- Commonwealth Copyright Administration
- Intellectual Property Branch
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
- GPO Box 2154
- Canberra ACT 2601
- or by email: commonwealth.copyright@dcita.gov.au
Date of effect
11. This Ruling applies prospectively from 6 April 2005, the date this Ruling is made. However, the Ruling does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Ruling (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).
12. If a taxpayer has a more favourable private ruling (which is legally binding), the taxpayer can rely on the private ruling if the income year to which the private ruling relates has ended, or has commenced but not yet ended. However, if the arrangement covered by the private ruling has not commenced and the income year to which it relates has not yet commenced, this Ruling applies to the taxpayer to the extent of the inconsistency only (see Taxation Determination TD 93/34).
Withdrawal
13. This Product Ruling is withdrawn and ceases to have effect after 30 June 2007. The Ruling continues to apply, in respect of the tax law(s) ruled upon, to all persons within the specified class who enter into the arrangement specified below. Thus, the Ruling continues to apply to those persons, even following its withdrawal, who entered into the specified arrangement prior to withdrawal of the Ruling. This is subject to there being no change in the arrangement or in the persons' involvement in the arrangement.
Arrangement
14. The arrangement that is the subject of this Ruling is specified below. This arrangement incorporates the following documents:
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- Application for a Product Ruling dated 24 January 2005 as constituted by documents provided on 14 December 2004, 11 January 2005, 20 January 2005, 24 January 2005, 25 February 2005 and 18 March 2005 plus additional correspondence dated 19 December 2003, 23 August 2004, 13, 16, 22, 23 and 24 September 2004, 18, 21 and 24 January 2005, 25 February 2005, and 14 and 18 March 2005;
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- Draft Product Disclosure Statement received in the Tax Office on 18 March 2005;
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- Copy of the Constitution for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Supplementary Constitution for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Second Supplementary Constitution for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Draft Third Supplementary Constitution for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Compliance Plan for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Constitution for the Queensland Forestry Trust received in the Tax Office on 14 December 2004;
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- Draft Supplementary Constitution for the Queensland Forestry Trust received in the Tax Office on 14 December 2004;
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- Copy of the Plantation Management Agreement between Queensland Paulownia Forest Limited (QPFL), as Responsible Entity, and Queensland Paulownia Forests Limited, as Plantation Manager received in the Tax Office on 20 January 2005;
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- Draft Farming Agreement between QPFL, as Responsible Entity, and each Unit Holder received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Draft Plantation and Maintenance Agreement between QPFL, as Responsible Entity, and each Unit Holder received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Application For Term Finance Principal and Interest Loan offered by QPFL Finance Pty Ltd to each Unit Holder received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005;
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- Copy of the Loan Agreement - Schedule between QPFL Finance Pty Ltd , as Lender, and each Unit Holder, as Borrower received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005; and
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- Copy of the Lease between QPFL, as lessee, and Quality Land Holdings Pty Ltd, the land owner, received in the Tax Office on 11 January 2005.
Note: certain information has been provided on a commercial-in-confidence basis and will not be disclosed or released under Freedom of Information legislation.
15. The documents highlighted are those that Bond Holders may enter into. For the purposes of describing the arrangement to which this Ruling applies, there are no other agreements, whether formal or informal, and whether or not legally enforceable, which a Bond Holder, or any associate of a Bond Holder, will be a party to, which are a part of the arrangement. The effect of these agreements is summarised as follows.
16. All Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) requirements are, or will be, complied with for the term of the agreements. The effect of these agreements is summarised as follows.
Overview
17. The salient features of the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds are as follows:
Location | Forbes, NSW. |
Type of business to be carried on by each participant | Commercial growing and cultivation of Paulownia fortunei trees for the purpose of harvesting and selling timber. |
Nature of interest offered | Stapled interest - Capital Forestry Units in the Project plus Units in the Queensland Forestry Trust ('Trust'). |
Number of hectares offered for cultivation | 864 hectares (666 hectares for the Project and 198 hectares for the Trust). |
Size of each Allotment | 0.037 hectares |
Minimum allocation | 2 Allotments in the Project and 2 Units in the Trust. |
Targeted Mean Annual Increment per hectare | 20-25m³ over a rotation of 11 years. |
Term of the Project | 11 years or until Harvest and Milling of all Trees has been completed. |
Initial cost | $1,100 per Allotment in the Project and $1,100 per Unit in the Trust. |
Initial cost per hectare in the Project | $29,730 |
Ongoing costs | Maintenance, licence, milling and marketing fees deferred until the time of harvest. |
Incentive fees | The Responsible Entity will be entitled to 1/2 of the amount paid to the Unit Holder over and above the 'Threshold Amounts for the Incentive Fee for Timber Income' set out in the Product Disclosure Statement. |
18. Under the Product Disclosure Statement, applicants are invited to participate in Income Forestry Bonds. Income Forestry Bonds are an investment in which Bond Holders acquire two separate managed investment products - Capital Forestry Units in the Project and Units in the Trust. The Project and the Trust are existing registered managed investment schemes established under the Corporations Act 2001. Bond Holders must acquire a minimum of two Allotments in the Capital Forestry Units (CFU) and two Units in the Trust.
19. CFU Holders entering into the Project will enter into the Farming Agreement that gives them a licence over an area of land called an 'Allotment'. The Land Owner (Quality Land Holdings Pty Ltd) leases the land, at Forbes, NSW, to Queensland Paulownia Forests Limited (QPFL), the Responsible Entity, who grants a licence to the CFU Holders. The licence allows the Plantation Manager, QPFL, to come onto the land to carry out its obligations under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreements, also entered with each CFU Holder in the Project.
20. Under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement QPFL will plant paulownia trees (Paulownia fortunei) on the Allotment for the purpose of eventual felling and sale commencing when the Responsible Entity, in conjunction with the Project Forester, determines the Trees are suitable for Harvesting (clause 5.1(a)). QPFL conducts its role as Responsible Entity and advisor under its Australian Financial Services Licence number 222305. QPFL provides agricultural services to the Project under its role as Plantation Manager.
21. Units in the Trust cannot be subscribed to separately, but may be held by an associate of the Unit Holder in the Project. The Trust will carry on its own forestry activities of planting, managing, harvesting and selling paulownia trees. These activities will be carried out on land adjacent to the Project site.
22. There are 18,000 Capital Forestry Units in the Project on offer of 0.037 hectares each at a cost of $1,100 per Unit. The total land area for the Project will be 666 hectares. 26 trees per Allotment (700 per hectare) will be planted within the first 12 months following execution of the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement.
23. There are also 18,000 Units in the Trust on offer each at a cost of $1,100 per Unit. The Trust's forestry activities will be carried out on up to 198 hectares of land. 700 trees per hectare in the Trust will be planted.
24. The Responsible Entity of the Trust will pay each Trust Unit Holder a fixed amount of $154 per Unit for the first seven years of the Unit Holder's investment. To support this payment, the Responsible Entity will purchase annuities from financial institutions.
Constitution
25. The Constitution is between QPFL (in its capacity as the Responsible Entity) and the CFU Holders in the Project. The Constitution sets out the terms and conditions under which QPFL agrees to act for the CFU Holders and under which QPFL agrees to manage the Project. QPFL keeps a CFU Holder register. CFU Holders are only entitled to assign the CFU Holder's Interest in certain circumstances (clause 18). CFU Holders are bound by the Constitution by virtue of their participation in the Project.
Compliance Plan
26. The Compliance Plan for the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 describes how the Responsible Entity will ensure it complies with the Corporations Act 2001 and the Project's Constitution.
27. The Responsible Entity will act as Custodian and hold all Project Property. Project Property excludes the separate and distinct primary production business owned and operated by the CFU Holder and the Trees whilst they remain on the CFU Holder's Allotment. As a prudential compliance measure the Responsible Entity has therefore appointed a custodial committee to carry out certain supervisory and other duties.
Interest in Land - Farming Agreement
28. Under the Farming Agreement, CFU Holders in the Project are granted a licence by QPFL to use their Allotment for the purpose of conducting their afforestation business (clause 2.1). The CFU Holders must pay QPFL an initial licence fee of $22 per Unit for the first twelve months (clause 6(a)(i)).
29. The term of the Agreement is either until harvesting and milling of all trees has been completed or termination of the CFU Holder's Unit, whichever is the latest (clause 3.1(a)). The CFU Holder must pay 2.42% of the 'Gross Sale Proceeds of Timber' for re-imbursement of ongoing licence fees.
Plantation and Maintenance Agreement
30. The Plantation and Maintenance Agreement for each Capital Forestry Unit in the Project is entered into by the CFU Holder and QPFL. The term of the Agreement will continue until the Harvest and Milling of all Trees has been completed (cl 3(a)).
31. The services to be provided by QPFL for an annual fee over the term of the Project are outlined in clause 4. In re-imbursement of the annual fee, the CFU Holder pays 3.63% of the 'Gross Sale Proceeds from Timber' at the time of harvest. QPFL will be responsible for planting Paulownia fortunei on the Allotment and will then maintain the trees in accordance with good silvicultural practice until maturity.
32. The services to be provided by QPFL in clause 4.1 include duties to:
- a)
- acquire Trees for the CFU Holder in the form of clonal tissue and seedlings for propagation, which Trees will be the property of the CFU Holder for the duration of this Agreement;
- b)
- prepare the Land with adequate drainage for the Trees;
- c)
- establish, tend and maintain the Trees and Allotment in a proper and skilful manner and as and when appropriate prepare, cultivate, spray herbicides and insecticides, and plant and fertilise Tree seedlings;
- d)
- comply with the laws and regulations relating to the use and occupancy of the Allotment;
- e)
- embark on such operations as may be required to prevent or combat land degradation which may affect the yield of the Trees;
- f)
- keep accurate records of payments;
- g)
- carry out any obligations imposed on the CFU Holder under the provisions of the Farming Agreement (except for the payment of fees by the CFU Holder); and
- h)
- carry out any obligations of the Responsible Entity under the Constitution and Compliance Plan.
These services include both 'Seasonally Dependent Agronomic Activities' ('SDAA') and non-SDAA (see paragraphs 90 to 94). The Responsible Entity will complete all non-SDAA on or before 30 June 2005.
33. The Responsible Entity, QPFL, must perform the services under clause 4 as soon as practicable (clause 4.2), and must perform the services in clause 4.3 from the commencement of the 13th month of this Agreement onward and on an annual basis until this Agreement is at an end (clause 4.3). Initially seedlings propagated at Palm Range, Queensland may be used and a 'pole' nursery will be established at Forbes to provide stock for any replanting required. The seedlings will be 'acclimatised' or 'hardened off' prior to dispatch and before planting.
34. Prior to 30 June 2012, CFU Holders may elect to collect the timber attributable to their Allotments (Electing CFU Holders) (clause 9.1), with at least three months written notice to the Responsible Entity, instead of having it milled and marketed on their behalf by QPFL. This Ruling will not apply to Electing CFU Holders . If no such election is made, QPFL will sell the timber attributable to the Allotments on the (Non-Electing) CFU Holder's behalf, for the best possible commercial price (clause 6.2). QPFL will then be entitled to a marketing fee of 4.95% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the timber. Harvesting and milling of trees will take place when the Responsible Entity, in conjunction with the Project Forester, determines the Trees are suitable for Harvesting (clause 5(a)).
35. CFU Holders who do not elect to collect their own timber will have the gross proceeds of sale of the timber attributable to their Allotments paid to the Responsible Entity in its capacity as Custodian of the Project. The Responsible Entity will retain from the payment the CFU Holder's proportional interest of the harvesting and milling costs, other costs of sale, licence and maintenance fees owing by the CFU Holder and the Marketing and Incentive fee (clause 5 and clause 10.1). After payment of these expenses, the Responsible Entity will account to the CFU Holder and pay the CFU Holder his/her share of the net proceeds of sale. Each CFU Holder's proportionate share of the sale proceeds of the pooled wood products will reflect the proportion of the trees contributed from their Allotment (clause 7).
Fees
36. The fees payable under clause 10 of the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement are:
- i)
- $1,078 per Woodlot for the establishment services provided after the acceptance of the Application for a Woodlot made under the Product Disclosure Statement. The services to be provided are those in paragraph 32 as listed in 4.1(a) to (h) of the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement. These services include both 'Seasonally Dependent Agronomic Activities' ('SDAA') ($914) and non-SDAA ($164). The Responsible Entity will complete all non-SDAA on or before 30 June 2005;
- ii)
- 3.63% of the 'Gross Sale Proceeds from Timber' for re-imbursement of ongoing maintenance fees is payable at the time of harvest or $18.48 per year for each year the Project has been in operation in the absence of any harvest due to the destruction of the CFU Holder's Allotment;
- iii)
- an incentive fee calculated to be 55% of the amount paid to the CFU Holder over and above the 'Gross Sale Proceeds from Timber' set out in the Product Disclosure Statement for the Project;
- iv)
- a marketing fee of not more than 4.95% of the gross proceeds generated from the sale of timber attributable to the CFU Holder's Allotment where QPFL sells on the CFU Holders behalf; and
- v)
- all harvesting and milling costs.
37. The fee payable under clause 6 of the Farming Agreement is an initial licence fee of $22 per Allotment paid on application under the Product Disclosure Statement. 2.42% of the 'Gross Sale Proceeds from Timber' is payable at the time of harvest for re-imbursement of ongoing licence fees or $12.32 per year for each year the Project has been in operation in the absence of any harvest due to the destruction of the CFU Holder's Allotment.
38. The Responsible Entity will hold the application moneys in an application account to be released when certain specified criteria in the Constitution have been met (clause 15).
Trust Constitution
39. The Trust Constitution established the Trust to carry on paulownia forestry activities. The Responsible Entity agrees to manage the Trust subject to the terms contained in the Constitution which operates as a deed binding on all Unit Holders in the Trust and the Responsible Entity.
40. The Responsible Entity may appoint an agent to hold Trust Property separate from any other property.
Trust Fees
41. Participants subscribing for Units in the Trust pay $1,100 per Unit. CFU Holders do not pay ongoing fees to the Responsible Entity. The Responsible Entity will hold the subscription money in an application account to be released when certain specified criteria in the Constitution have been met (clause 11.1).
42. The amounts totalling $1,100 per Unit payable upon subscription constitute an outgoing of capital and are not allowable deductions.
Finance
43. CFU Holders can fund their investment in the Project themselves, by borrowing from an associate of the Responsible Entity - QPFL Finance Pty Ltd or by borrowing from another independent lender.
44. Finance will be provided to CFU Holders by QPFL Finance Pty Ltd under the following finance arrangements:
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- Facility 1 - Interest free finance of twelve equal monthly principal instalments;
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- Facility 2 - Payment of 10% deposit followed by monthly repayments of principal and interest over 5 years;
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- Facility 3 - Payment of 10% deposit followed by monthly payments of interest only for first 2 years, then monthly repayments of principal and interest for 5 years; or
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- Facility 4 - Payment of 10% deposit followed by monthly payments of interest only for first 3 years, then monthly repayments of principal and interest for 7 years.
45. Facility type 1 is only available to finance the acquisition of the Capital Forestry Unit portion of the investment, whilst facility types 2 to 4 are available to finance the acquisition of both the Capital Forestry Units and the Units in the Trust. Facility types 2 to 4 are subject to 11.25 % per annum interest rates based on current interest rates. The maximum amount of finance that can be received by any CFU Holder is $300,000. All payments will be monthly by direct debit on QPFL's Direct Debit System. Interest will accrue on the unpaid balance of the loan on the date each scheduled payment is due and is charged monthly in arrears.
46. This Ruling will not apply to CFU Holders if the Responsible Entity accepts their Application subject to finance approval by QPFL Finance Pty Ltd or any other lending institution and the full amount payable at the time of Application is not paid to the Responsible Entity by 30 June in the year of Application. Where an application is accepted subject to finance approval by any lending institution, CFU Holders cannot rely on this Ruling if written evidence of that approval has not been given to the Responsible Entity by 30 June.
47. The Application Price must be paid before or contemporaneously with the acceptance of the Application in accordance with the terms of clause 13 of the Constitution and such funds are to be paid into the Application Fund Account in accordance with the terms of clause 12 of the Constitution.
48. CFU Holders cannot rely on this Ruling if a different finance arrangement is entered into with QPFL Finance Pty Ltd.
49. This Ruling does not apply if the finance arrangement entered into by the CFU Holders includes or has any of the following features:
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- there are split loan features of a type referred to in Taxation Ruling TR 98/22;
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- there are indemnity arrangements or other collateral agreements in relation to the loan designed to limit the borrower's risk;
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- 'additional benefits' are or will be granted to the borrowers for the purpose of section 82KL or the funding arrangements transform the Project into a 'scheme' to which Part IVA may apply;
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- the loan or rate of interest is non-arm's length;
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- repayments of the principal and payments of interest are linked to the derivation of income from the Project;
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- the funds borrowed, or any part of them, will not be available for the conduct of the Project but will be transferred (by any mechanism, directly or indirectly) back to the lender or any associate of the lender;
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- lenders do not have the capacity under the loan agreement, or a genuine intention, to take legal action against defaulting borrowers; or
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- entities associated with the Project, other than QPFL Finance Pty Ltd, are involved or become involved in the provision of finance to CFU Holders for the Project.
Ruling
Application of this Ruling
50. This Ruling applies only to CFU Holders who are accepted to participate in the Project on or before 30 June 2005 and who have executed a Plantation and Maintenance Agreement and a Farming Agreement in respect of a minimum of two Allotments on or before that date. The CFU Holder's participation in the Project must constitute the carrying on of a business of primary production. A CFU Holder is not eligible to claim any tax deductions until the CFU Holder's application to enter the Project is accepted and the Project has commenced.
The Simplified Tax System ('STS')
Division 328
51. For a CFU Holder participating in the Project, the recognition of income and the timing of tax deductions is different depending on whether the CFU Holder is an 'STS taxpayer'. To be an 'STS taxpayer' a CFU Holder:
Qualification
52. This Product Ruling assumes that a CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' is so for the income year in which their participation in the Project commences. A CFU Holder may become an 'STS taxpayer' at a later point in time. Also, a CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' may choose to stop being an 'STS taxpayer', or may cease to be eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer', during the term of the Project. These are contingencies relating to the circumstances of individual CFU Holders that cannot be accommodated in this Ruling. Such CFU Holders can ask for a private ruling on how the taxation legislation applies to them.
Assessable income
Section 6-5 and section 328-105
53. That part of the gross sales proceeds from the Project attributable to the CFU Holder's produce, less any GST payable on those proceeds (section 17-5), will be assessable income of the CFU Holder under section 6-5.
54. A CFU Holder will recognise ordinary income from carrying on the business of afforestation at the time that income is derived when they are:
- •
- not an 'STS taxpayer'; or
- •
- an 'STS taxpayer' using the accruals accounting method for the 2005-06 and later income years.
55. A CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method will be assessable on ordinary income from carrying on their business of afforestation in the income year in which that income is received.
Units in Trust
Section 44
56. Distributions out of the profits of the Trust are regarded as dividends and are to be included in the assessable income of a Unit Holder under section 44 of the ITAA 1936.
Prepaid initial licence fees
Sections 82KZME and 82KZMF
57. The initial licence fees incurred by CFU Holders who are accepted into this Project are subject to the prepayment rules in sections 82KZME and 82KZMF. In this context, a prepayment refers to advance expenditure incurred by a CFU Holder in return for the doing of a thing that will not be wholly done in the year in which the expenditure is incurred. Where a CFU Holder prepays expenditure that would otherwise be a general deduction under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 in the expenditure year, the CFU Holder must apportion the prepayment over the period the prepayment covers unless it is 'excluded expenditure' (see Note (iii) below).
58. Subsection 82KZMF(1) provides the formula for determining how much of the prepaid expenditure a CFU Holder can deduct for each income year. In that formula, which is shown below, the 'eligible service period' means the period during which the thing under the agreement is to be done. The eligible service period begins on the day on which the thing under the agreement commences to be done or on the day on which the expenditure is incurred, whichever is the later, and ends on the last day on which the thing under the agreement ceases to be done, up to a maximum of 10 years.
Expenditure * (Number of days of eligible service period in the year of income / Total number of days of eligible service period)
In this Project, the tax deductions allowable for the initial licence fees must be calculated by applying the above formula to the amount incurred by the CFU Holder.
Deductions for establishment service fees, licence fees and interest
Section 8-1 and section 328-105
59. A CFU Holder may claim tax deductions under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997, for the revenue expenses in the Table below. Amounts totalling $1,100 per Unit in the Trust payable upon subscription constitute an outgoing of capital and are not allowable deductions under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.
60. However, if for any reason, an amount shown or referred to in the Table below is not fully paid in the year in which it is incurred by a CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method then the amount is only deductible to the extent to which it has been paid, or has been paid for the CFU Holder. Any amount or part of an amount shown in the Table below which is not paid by the CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' using the accruals accounting method in the year in which it is incurred will be deductible in the year in which it is actually paid. The years shown in the Table below relate to a CFU Holder who is accepted into the Project on or before 30 June 2005.
Fee Type | Year ended 30 June 2005 | Year ended 30 June 2006 | Year ended 30 June 2007 |
---|---|---|---|
Establishment services fee for Seasonally Dependent Agronomic Activities | $914 See Notes (i) & (ii) |
||
Establishment services fee for non-Seasonally Dependent Agronomic Activities | $164 See Notes (i) & (ii) |
||
Licence fees | See Notes (i) & (iii) | ||
Interest incurred or paid to QPFL Finance Pty Ltd | As incurred (Non-STS taxpayers) or as paid (STS taxpayers) See Note (iv) |
As incurred (Non-STS taxpayers and STS taxpayers using accruals accounting) or as paid (STS taxpayers) See Note (iv) |
As incurred (Non-STS taxpayers and STS taxpayers using accruals accounting) or as paid (STS taxpayers) See Note (iv) |
Notes:
- (i)
- If the CFU Holder is registered or required to be registered for GST, amounts of outgoing would need to be adjusted as relevant for GST (for example, input tax credits): Division 27. See Example 1 at paragraph 120.
- (ii)
- The Establishment services fee includes both 'Seasonally Dependent Agronomic Activities' ('SDAA' - see paragraphs 90 to 94) and non-SDAA. The Responsible Entity will complete all non-SDAA on or before 30 June 2005. The establishment services fee is deductible in the income year in which it is incurred (where the CFU Holder is not an 'STS taxpayer' or is not an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method) or in the year in which it is paid (where the CFU Holder is an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method).
- (iii)
- Although the Farming Agreement requires the licence fee to be prepaid, for a CFU Holder who acquires the minimum allocation, the amount of the prepaid licence fee is less than $1,000. For the purposes of this Project, an amount of less than $1,000 is 'excluded expenditure'. 'Excluded expenditure' is an 'exception' to the prepayment rules and is deductible in full in the year in which it is incurred (where the CFU Holder is not an 'STS taxpayer' or is not an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method) or in the year in which it is paid (where the CFU Holder is an 'STS taxpayer' using the cash accounting method). However, where a CFU Holder acquires more than the minimum allocation in the Project, the amount of the CFU Holder's prepaid licence fee may be $1,000 or more. Such CFU Holders MUST determine the deduction for the prepaid licence fee using the formula shown in paragraph 58.
- (iv)
- Interest is deductible under a loan agreement with QPFL Finance Pty Ltd as described at paragraphs 44 and 45. The deductibility or otherwise of interest arising from loan agreements entered into with financiers other than QPFL Finance Pty Ltd, the internal financier, is outside the scope of this Ruling. However all CFU Holders who finance their participation in the Project should read the discussion of the prepayment rules in paragraphs 82 to 89 as those rules may be applicable if interest is prepaid. Subject to the 'excluded expenditure' exception, the prepayment rules apply whether the prepayment is required under the relevant loan agreement or is at the CFU Holder's choice.
Trust Fees
61. The amounts totalling $1,100 per Unit payable upon subscription constitute an outgoing of capital and are not allowable deductions.
Division 35 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities
Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion
62. A CFU Holder who is an individual accepted into the Project by 30 June 2005 may have losses arising from their participation in the Project that would be deferred to a later income year under section 35-10. Subject to the Project being carried out in the manner described above, the Commissioner will exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) for these CFU Holders for the income years ending 30 June 2005 to 30 June 2014 . This conditional exercise of the discretion will allow those losses to be offset against the CFU Holder's other assessable income in the income year in which the losses arise.
Section 82KL and Part IVA
63. For a CFU Holder who participates in the Project and incurs expenditure as required by the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement and the Farming Agreement the following provisions of the ITAA 1936 have application as indicated:
- •
- section 82KL does not apply to deny the deductions otherwise allowable; and
- •
- the relevant provisions in Part IVA will not be applied to cancel a tax benefit obtained under a tax law dealt with in this Ruling.
Explanation
Is the CFU Holder carrying on a business?
64. For the amounts set out in the Table above to constitute allowable deductions the CFU Holder's afforestation activities as a participant in the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds must amount to the carrying on of a business of primary production.
65. Where there is a business, or a future business, the gross proceeds from the sale of the timber will constitute gross assessable income in their own right. The generation of 'business income' from such a business, or future business, provides the backdrop against which to judge whether the outgoings in question have the requisite connection with the operations that more directly gain or produce this income.
66. For schemes such as that of the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds, Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out in paragraph 89 the circumstances in which the CFU Holder's activities can constitute the carrying on of a business. As Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out, these circumstances have been established in court decisions such as Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202; 84 ATC 4929; (1984) 16 ATR 55.
67. Generally, a CFU Holder will be carrying on a business of afforestation, and hence primary production, if:
- •
- the CFU Holder has an identifiable interest (by lease or by licence) in the land on which the CFU Holder's trees are established;
- •
- the CFU Holder has a right to harvest and sell the timber from those trees;
- •
- the afforestation activities are carried out on the CFU Holder's behalf;
- •
- the afforestation activities of the CFU Holder are typical of those associated with a afforestation business; and
- •
- the weight and influence of general indicators point to the carrying on of a business.
68. In this Project, each CFU Holder enters into a Plantation and Maintenance Agreement and a Farming Agreement.
69. Under the Farming Agreement each individual CFU Holder will have rights over a specific and identifiable area of at least 0.074 hectares of land. The Farming Agreement provides the CFU Holder with an ongoing interest in the specific trees on the licensed area for the term of the Project. Under the licence the CFU Holder must use the land in question for the purpose of carrying out afforestation activities, and for no other purpose. The licence allows the Plantation Manager to come onto to the land to carry out its obligations under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement.
70. Under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement the Plantation Manager is engaged by the CFU Holder to establish and maintain an Allotment on the CFU Holder's identifiable area of land during the term of the Project. The Project Manager has provided evidence that it holds the appropriate professional skills and credentials to provide the management services to establish and maintain the Allotment on the CFU Holder's behalf.
71. The Plantation Manager is also engaged to harvest and sell, on the CFU Holder's behalf, the timber grown on the CFU Holder's Allotment.
72. The general indicators of a business, as used by the Courts, are described in Taxation Ruling TR 97/11. Positive findings can be made from the Project's description for all the indicators.
73. The activities that will be regularly carried out during the term of the Project demonstrate a significant commercial purpose. Based on reasonable projections, a CFU Holder in the Project will derive assessable income from the sale of the timber that will return a before-tax profit, that is, a profit in cash terms that does not depend in its calculation on the fees in question being allowed as a deduction.
74. The pooling of timber from the trees grown on the CFU Holder's Allotment with the timber of other CFU Holders is consistent with general afforestation practices. Each CFU Holder's proportionate share of the sale proceeds of the pooled timber will reflect the proportion of the trees contributed from their Allotment.
75. The Project Manager's services are also consistent with general silvicultural practices. They are of the type ordinarily found in afforestation ventures that would commonly be said to be businesses. While the size of an Allotment is relatively small, it is of a size and scale to allow it to be commercially viable.
76. The CFU Holder's degree of control over the Project Manager as evidenced by the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement and supplemented by the Corporations Act 2001, is sufficient. During the term of the Project, the Manager will provide the CFU Holder with regular progress reports on the CFU Holder's Allotment and the activities carried out on the CFU Holder's behalf. CFU Holders are able to terminate arrangements with the Project Manager in certain instances, such as cases of default or neglect.
77. The afforestation activities, and hence the fees associated with their procurement, are consistent with an intention to commence regular activities that have an 'air of permanence' about them. For the purposes of this Ruling, the CFU Holders' afforestation activities in the Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds will constitute the carrying on of a business.
The Simplified Tax System
Division 328
78. Subdivision 328-F sets out the eligibility requirements that a CFU Holder must satisfy in order to enter the STS and Subdivision 328-G sets out the rules for entering and leaving the STS.
79. The question of whether a CFU Holder is eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' is outside the scope of this Product Ruling. Therefore, any CFU Holder who relies on those parts of this Ruling that refer to the STS will be assumed to have correctly determined whether or not they are eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'.
Deductibility of establishment services fee, maintenance fees and licence fees
Section 8-1
80. Consideration of whether the establishment services fee, maintenance fees and licence fees are deductible under section 8-1 begins with the first limb of the section. This view proceeds on the following basis:
- •
- the outgoing in question must have a sufficient connection with the operations or activities that directly gain or produce the taxpayer's assessable income;
- •
- the outgoings are not deductible under the second limb if they are incurred when the business has not commenced; and
- •
- where all that happens in a year of income is that a taxpayer is contractually committed to a venture that may not turn out to be a business, there can be doubt about whether the relevant business has commenced, and hence, whether the second limb applies. However, that does not preclude the application of the first limb in determining whether the outgoing in question has a sufficient connection with activities to produce assessable income.
81. The establishment services fee, maintenance fees and licence fees associated with the afforestation activities will relate to the gaining of income from the CFU Holder's business of afforestation (see above), and hence have a sufficient connection to the operations by which income (from the harvesting and sale of timber is to be gained from this business. They will thus be deductible under the first limb of section 8-1. Further, no 'non-income producing' purpose in incurring the fee is identifiable from the arrangement. The fee appears to be reasonable. There is no capital component of the establishment services fee and maintenance fees. The tests of deductibility under the first limb of section 8-1 are met. The exclusions do not apply.
Prepayment provisions
Sections 82KZL to 82KZMG
82. The prepayment provisions contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 affect the timing of deductions for certain prepaid expenditure. These provisions apply to certain expenditure incurred under an agreement in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement (for example the performance of management services or the licensing of land) that will not be wholly done within the same year of income as the year in which the expenditure is incurred. If expenditure is incurred to cover the provision of services to be provided within the same year, then it is not expenditure to which the prepayment rules apply.
83. For this Project, only section 82KZL (an interpretive provision) and sections 82KZME, 82KZMF and 82KZMG are relevant. Subject to section 82KZMG, if the requirements of sections 82KZME and 82KZMF are met, taxpayers determine deductions for prepaid expenditure under section 82KZMF using the formula in subsection 82KZMF(1). These provisions also apply to 'STS taxpayers' because there is no specific exclusion contained in section 82KZME that excludes them from the operation of section 82KZMF.
Sections 82KZME and 82KZMF
84. Other than expenditure deductible under section 82KZMG, if the requirements of subsections 82KZME(2) and (3) are met, the formula in subsection 82KZMF(1) (see below) will apply to apportion expenditure that is otherwise deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. The requirements of subsection 82KZME(2) will be met if expenditure is incurred by a taxpayer in return for the doing of a thing that is not to be wholly done within the year the expenditure is made. The year in which such expenditure is incurred is called the 'expenditure year' (subsection 82KZME(1)).
85. The requirements of subsection 82KZME(3) will be met where the agreement (or arrangement) has the following characteristics:
- •
- the taxpayer's allowable deductions under the agreement for the 'expenditure year' exceed any assessable income attributable to the agreement for that year;
- •
- the taxpayer does not have effective day to day control over the operation of the agreement. That is, the significant aspects of the arrangement are managed by someone other than the taxpayer; and
- •
- either:
- a)
- there is more than one participant in the agreement in the same capacity as the taxpayer; or
- b)
- the person who promotes, arranges or manages the agreement (or an associate of that person) promotes similar agreements for other taxpayers.
86. For the purpose of these provisions, the agreement includes all activities that relate to the agreement (subsection 82KZME(4)). This has particular relevance for a CFU Holder in this Project who, in order to participate in the Project may borrow funds from a financier other than QPFL Finance Pty Ltd. Although undertaken with an unrelated party, that financing would be an element of the arrangement. The funds borrowed and the resulting interest deduction, are directly related to the activities under the arrangement. If a CFU Holder prepays interest under such financing arrangements, the deductions allowable will be subject to apportionment under section 82KZMF.
87. There are a number of exceptions to these rules, but for CFU Holders participating in this Project, only the 'excluded expenditure' exception in subsection 82KZME(7) is relevant. 'Excluded expenditure' is defined in subsection 82KZL(1). However, for the purposes of CFU Holders in this Project, 'excluded expenditure' is prepaid expenditure incurred under the arrangement that is less than $1,000. Such expenditure is immediately deductible.
88. Where the requirements of section 82KZME are met, section 82KZMF applies to apportion relevant prepaid expenditure. Section 82KZMF uses the formula below, to apportion prepaid expenditure and allow a deduction over the period that the benefits are provided.
Expenditure * (Number of days of eligible service period in the year of income / Total number of days of eligible service period)
89. In the formula 'eligible service period' (defined in subsection 82KZL(1)) means, the period during which the thing under the agreement is to be done. The eligible service period begins on the day on which the thing under the agreement commences to be done or on the day on which the expenditure is incurred, whichever is the later, and ends on the last day on which the thing under the agreement ceases to be done, up to a maximum of 10 years.
Section 82KZMG
90. Under subsection 82KZMG(1), expenditure is excluded from the prepayment rules that would otherwise apply, to the extent that the prepaid amount satisfies the requirements of subsections 82KZMG(2) to (4).
91. Subsection 82KZMG(2) requires that the expenditure is:
- •
- incurred on or after 2 October 2001 and on or before 30 June 2006;
- •
- the eligible service period must be 12 months or shorter and must end on or before the last day of the year of income after the expenditure year; and
- •
- for the doing of a thing under the agreement that is not to be wholly done within the expenditure year.
92. To satisfy subsection 82KZMG(3) the agreement must satisfy the following requirements:
- •
- it must be an agreement for planting and tending trees for felling;
- •
- be an agreement where the taxpayer does not have day to day control over the operations arising out of the agreement. (a right to be consulted or to give directions does not equate to day to day control for the purposes of this requirement); and
- •
- either:
- (i)
- there is more than one participant in the agreement in the same capacity as the taxpayer; or
- (ii)
- the manager manages, arranges or promotes the agreement, or an associate of the manager, manages, arranges or promotes similar agreements.
93. Under subsection 82KZMG(4) the expenditure incurred by the taxpayer must be paid for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' undertaken by the manager during the 'establishment period' for the relevant planting of trees for felling. The term 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' is explained in Taxation Determination TD 2003/12.
94. Subsection 82KZMG(5) defines the 'establishment period to commence at the time that the first 'seasonally dependent agronomic activity' is performed in relation to a specific planting of trees and to conclude with the planting of trees. Where it is necessary to apply a fertiliser or herbicide to the trees at the same time as planting then those activities fall within the establishment period. Planting of trees refers to the main planting of the particular plantation and expressly excludes specific planting to replace existing seedlings that have not survived.
Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project
95. Under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement, a CFU Holder incurs a Year 1 establishment services fee consisting of expenditure of $914 for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities'.
96. As the requirements of section 82KZMG have been met, a deduction is allowable in the income year ended 30 June 2005 for the expenditure incurred under the Management Agreement for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities'.
97. The Plantation and Maintenance Agreement also requires that a CFU Holder incurs a Maintenance Fee of 3.63% of the Gross Sales Proceeds of the timber or $18.48 per year in the absence of any harvest for the performance of maintenance services during the term of the Project.
98. The Maintenance Fee incurred under the Plantation and Maintenance Agreement in Years 2 to 11 is not prepaid. This fee is charged for providing maintenance in each of the years from Years 2 to 11 during which the fees are incurred.
99. On this basis, the basic precondition in subsection 82KZME(2) is not satisfied and, in these circumstances, section 82KZMF will have no application to the maintenance fees in Years 2 to 11.
100. A CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' can, therefore, claim an immediate deduction for each of the relevant fees in the income year in which the fee is paid. A CFU Holder who is not an 'STS taxpayer' can claim an immediate deduction for each of the relevant fees in the income year in which the fee is incurred.
101. Under the Farming Agreement, a CFU Holder is required to pay an initial licence fee of $22 for the first 12 month period. The Farming Agreement also requires that a CFU Holder incurs a licence fee of 2.42% of Gross Sales Proceeds or $12.32 per year for each year of the term of the Project in the absence of any harvest.
102. The expenditure incurred by a CFU Holder in the Project for the initial licence fee meets the requirements of subsections 82KZME(1) and (2) and is incurred under an 'agreement' as described in subsection 82KZME(3). Therefore, unless one of the exceptions to section 82KZME applies, the amount and timing of tax deductions for those fees are determined under section 82KZMF.
103. The prepaid initial licence fee, being an amount of less than $1,000 in the expenditure year, constitutes an 'excluded expenditure' as defined in subsection 82KZL(1). Under Exception 3 (subsection 82KZME(7)) 'excluded expenditure' is specifically excluded from the operation of section 82KZMF. A CFU Holder who is an 'STS taxpayer' can, therefore, claim an immediate deduction for the initial licence fee in the income year in which it is paid. A CFU Holder who is not an 'STS taxpayer' can claim an immediate deduction for the initial licence fee in the income year in which it is incurred.
104. However, where a CFU Holder acquires more than the minimum allocation of two interests in the Project and the quantum of the prepaid initial licence fees is $1,000 or more, the deduction allowable for those amounts will also be subject to apportionment according to the formula in subsection 82KZMF(1).
Interest deductibility
Section 8-1
(i) CFU Holders who use QPFL Finance Pty Ltd as the finance provider
105. Some CFU Holders may finance their participation in the Project through a loan facility with QPFL Finance Pty Ltd. Whether the resulting interest costs are deductible under section 8-1 depends on the same reasoning as that applied to the deductibility of licence and Establishment services fees.
106. The interest incurred for the year ended 30 June 2005 and in subsequent years of income will be in respect of a loan to finance the CFU Holder's business operations - the cultivation and growing trees and the licence of the land on which the trees will have been planted - that will continue to be directly connected with the gaining of 'business income' from the Project. Such interest will, therefore, have a sufficient connection with the gaining of assessable income to be deductible under section 8-1.
107. As with the maintenance fees, in the absence of any application of the prepayment provisions (see paragraphs 82 to 89), the timing of deductions for interest will again depend upon whether a CFU Holder is an 'STS taxpayer' or is not an 'STS taxpayer'.
108. If the CFU Holder is not an 'STS taxpayer', interest is deductible in the year in which it is incurred.
109. If the CFU Holder is an 'STS taxpayer' interest is not deductible until it has been both incurred and paid, or is paid for the CFU Holder. If interest that is properly incurred in an income year remains unpaid at the end of that income year, the unpaid amount is deductible in the income year in which it is actually paid, or is paid for the CFU Holder.
(ii) CFU Holders who DO NOT use QPFL Finance Pty Ltd as the finance provider
110. The deductibility of interest incurred by CFU Holders who finance their participation in the Project through a loan facility with a bank or financier other than QPFL Finance Pty Ltd is outside the scope of this Ruling. Product Rulings only deal with arrangements where all details and documentation have been provided to, and examined by the Tax Office.
111. While the terms of any finance agreement entered into between relevant CFU Holders and such financiers are subject to commercial negotiation, those agreements may require interest to be prepaid. Alternatively, a CFU Holder may choose to prepay such interest. Unless such prepaid interest is 'excluded expenditure' any tax deduction that is allowable will be subject to the prepayment provisions of the ITAA 1936 (see paragraphs 82 to 89).
Units in Trust
112. Distributions out of the profits of the Trust are included in the assessable income of a Unit Holder under section 44 of the ITAA 1936 as they will be regarded as dividends rather than trust distributions because the Trust will be treated as a company under the provisions of Division 6C of Part III of the ITAA 1936.
113. The amounts totalling $1,100 per Unit payable upon subscription constitute an outgoing of capital and are not allowable deductions.
Division 35 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities
Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion
114. In deciding to exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) on a conditional basis for the income years 30 June 2005 to 30 June 2014 the Commissioner has applied the principles set out in Taxation Ruling TR 2001/14 Income tax: Division 35 - non-commercial business losses. Accordingly, based on the evidence supplied, the Commissioner has determined that for those income years ended 30 June 2005 up to and including 30 June 2014:
- •
- it is because of its nature the business activity of a CFU Holder will not satisfy one of the four tests in Division 35;
- •
- there is an objective expectation that within a period that is commercially viable for the afforestation industry, a CFU Holder's business activity will satisfy one of the four tests set out in Division 35 or produce a taxation profit; and
- •
- a CFU Holder who would otherwise be required to defer a loss arising from their participation in the Project under subsection 35-10(2) until a later income year is able to offset that loss against their other assessable income.
115. The exercise of the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) is conditional on the Project being carried on in the manner described in this Ruling during the income years specified. If the Project is carried out in a materially different way to that described in the Ruling a CFU Holder will need to apply for a private ruling on the application of section 35-55 to those changed circumstances.
Section 82KL - recouped expenditure
116. The operation of section 82KL depends, among other things, on the identification of a certain quantum of 'additional benefits(s)'. Insufficient 'additional benefits' will be provided to trigger the application of section 82KL. It will not apply to deny the deduction otherwise allowable under section 8-1.
Part IVA - general tax avoidance provisions
117. For Part IVA to apply there must be a 'scheme' (section 177A), a 'tax benefit' (section 177C) and a dominant purpose of entering into the scheme to obtain a tax benefit (section 177D).
118. The Queensland Paulownia Forests Project No. 8 - Income Forestry Bonds will be a 'scheme'. A CFU Holder will obtain a 'tax benefit' from entering into the scheme, in the form of tax deductions for the amounts detailed at paragraph 60 that would not have been obtained but for the scheme. However, it is not possible to conclude the scheme will be entered into or carried out with the dominant purpose of obtaining this tax benefit.
119. CFU Holders to whom this Ruling applies intend to stay in the scheme for its full term and derive assessable income from the harvesting and sale of the timber. There are no facts that would suggest that CFU Holders have the opportunity of obtaining a tax advantage other than the tax advantages identified in this Ruling. There is no non-recourse financing or round robin characteristics, and no indication that the parties are not dealing at arm's length or, if any parties are not dealing at arm's length, that any adverse tax consequences result. Further, having regard to the factors to be considered under paragraph 177D(b) it cannot be concluded, on the information available, that participants will enter into the scheme for the dominant purpose of obtaining a tax benefit.
Example
Entitlement to GST input tax credits
120. Susan, who is a sole trader and registered for GST, contracts with a manager to manage her viticulture business. Her manager is registered for GST and charges her a management fee payable every six months in advance. On 1 December 2004, Susan receives a valid tax invoice from her manager requesting payment of a management fee in advance, and also requesting payment for an improvement in the connection of electricity for her vineyard that she contracted him to carry out. The tax invoice includes the following details:
Management fee for period 1/1/2005 to 30/6/2005 | $4,400* |
Carrying out of upgrade of power for your vineyard as quoted | $2,200 * |
Total due and payable by 1 January 2005 (includes GST of $600) | $6,600 |
*Taxable supply |
Susan pays the invoice by the due date and calculates her input tax credit on the management fee (to be claimed through her Business Activity Statement) as:
1/11 * $4,400 = $400.
Hence her outgoing for the management fee is effectively $4,400 less $400, or $4,000.
Similarly, Susan calculates her input tax credit on the connection of electricity as:
1/11 * $2,200 = $200.
Hence her outgoing for the power upgrade is effectively $2,200 less $200, or $2,000.
In preparing her income tax return for the year ended 30 June 2005, Susan is aware that the management fee is deductible in the year incurred. She calculates her management fee deduction as $4,000 (not $4,400).
Susan is aware that the electricity upgrade is deductible 10% per year over a 10 year period. She calculates her deduction for the power upgrade as $200 (one tenth of $2,000 only, not one tenth of $2,200).
Detailed contents list
121. Below is a detailed contents list for this Product Ruling:
Paragraph | |
---|---|
What this Product Ruling is about | 1 |
Tax law(s) | 2 |
Goods and Services Tax | 3 |
Changes in the Law | 4 |
Note to promoters and advisers | 6 |
Class of persons | 7 |
Qualifications | 9 |
Date of effect | 11 |
Withdrawal | 13 |
Arrangement | 14 |
Overview | 17 |
Constitution | 25 |
Compliance Plan | 26 |
Interest in Land - Farming Agreement | 28 |
Plantation and Maintenance Agreement | 30 |
Fees | 36 |
Trust Constitution | 39 |
Trust Fees | 41 |
Finance | 43 |
Ruling | 50 |
Application of this Ruling | 50 |
The Simplified Tax System ('STS') | 51 |
Division 328 | 51 |
Qualification | 52 |
Assessable income | 53 |
Section 6-5 and section 328-105 | 53 |
Units in Trust | 56 |
Section 44 | 56 |
Prepaid initial licence fees | 57 |
Sections 82KZME and 82KZMF | 57 |
Deductions for establishment services fees, licence fees and interest | 59 |
Section 8-1 and section 328-105 | 59 |
Trust Fees | 61 |
Division 35 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities | 62 |
Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion | 62 |
Section 82KL and Part IVA | 63 |
Explanation | 64 |
Is the CFU Holder carrying on a business? | 64 |
The Simplified Tax System | 78 |
Division 328 | 78 |
Deductibility of establishment services fee, maintenance fees and licence fees | 80 |
Section 8-1 | 80 |
Prepayment provisions | 82 |
Sections 82KZL to 82KZMG | 82 |
Sections 82KZME and 82KZMF | 84 |
Section 82KZMG | 90 |
Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project | 95 |
Interest deductibility | 105 |
Section 8-1 | 105 |
(i) CFU Holders who use QPFL Finance Pty Ltd as the finance provider | 105 |
(ii) CFU Holders who DO NOT use QPFL Finance Pty Ltd as the finance provider | 110 |
Units in Trust | 112 |
Division 35 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities | 114 |
Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion | 114 |
Section 82KL recouped expenditure | 116 |
Part IVA - general tax avoidance provisions | 117 |
Example | 120 |
Entitlement to GST input tax credits | 120 |
Detailed contents list | 121 |
Commissioner of Taxation
6 April 2005
Not previously issued in draft form.
References
ATO references:
NO 2005/597
Related Rulings/Determinations:
PR 2005/42a
PR 1999/95
TR 92/1
TR 92/20
TR 97/11
TR 97/16
TR 98/22
TR 2000/8
TR 2001/14
TD 93/34
TD 2003/12
Subject References:
advance deductions and expenses for certain forestry expenditure
carrying on a business
commencement of business
fee expenses
forestry agreement
interest expenses
management fees
non-commercial losses
producing assessable income
product rulings
public rulings
seasonally dependent agronomic activity
tax avoidance
tax benefits under tax avoidance schemes
tax shelters
tax shelters project
taxation administration
Legislative References:
ITAA 1936 44
ITAA 1936 82KL
ITAA 1936 Pt III Div 3 Subdiv H
ITAA 1936 82KZL
ITAA 1936 82KZL(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZM
ITAA 1936 82KZMA
ITAA 1936 82KZMB
ITAA 1936 82KZMC
ITAA 1936 82KZMD
ITAA 1936 82KZME
ITAA 1936 82KZME(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(2)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(3)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(4)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(7)
ITAA 1936 82KZMF
ITAA 1936 82KZMF(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(2)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(3)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(4)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(5)
ITAA 1936 Pt III Div 6C
ITAA 1936 Pt IVA
ITAA 1936 177A
ITAA 1936 177C
ITAA 1936 177D
ITAA 1936 177D(b)
ITAA 1997 6-5
ITAA 1997 8-1
ITAA 1997 17-5
ITAA 1997 Div 27
ITAA 1997 Div 35
ITAA 1997 35-10
ITAA 1997 35-10(2)
ITAA 1997 35-55
ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(b)
ITAA 1997 Div 328
ITAA 1997 328-105
ITAA 1997 328-105(1)(a)
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-F
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-G
TAA 1953 Pt IVAAA
Copyright Act 1968
Corporations Act 2001
Case References:
Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau
(1984) 6 FCR 202
84 ATC 4929
(1984) 16 ATR 55
Date: | Version: | Change: | |
6 April 2005 | Original ruling | ||
You are here | 25 January 2006 | Consolidated ruling | Addendum |
21 May 2007 | Withdrawn |