ATO Interpretative Decision
ATO ID 2004/414
Income Tax
Income derived by non-resident insurer: insurance for Australian properties and a global liability eventFOI status: may be released
This ATOID provides you with the following level of protection:
If you reasonably apply this decision in good faith to your own circumstances (which are not materially different from those described in the decision), and the decision is later found to be incorrect you will not be liable to pay any penalty or interest. However, you will be required to pay any underpaid tax (or repay any over-claimed credit, grant or benefit), provided the time limits under the law allow it. If you do intend to apply this decision to your own circumstances, you will need to ensure that the relevant provisions referred to in the decision have not been amended or repealed. You may wish to obtain further advice from the Tax Office or from a professional adviser.
Issue
Is an insurance premium assessable under subsection 142(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) where an insurance contract covers both properties situated in Australia and a global liability event, and there is no allocation of the premium in respect of the insured properties and the global liability event?
Decision
Yes. An insurance premium is assessable under subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936 where an insurance contract covers both properties situated in Australia and a global liability event, and there is no allocation of the premium in respect of the insured properties and the global liability event.
Facts
The following facts apply in respect of the insurance contract entered into by a non-resident insurer.
- (a)
- At the time of entering into the insurance contract, the insurance policy covers both properties situated in Australia and a liability event that may happen within or outside Australia.
- (b)
- The insurance contract does not allocate the premium between the properties situated in Australia and the liability cover.
- (c)
- The insurance contract is entered into outside Australia.
- (d)
- The requirements for the application of subsection 142(2) of the ITAA 1936 do not apply.
- (e)
- The policyholder is a non-resident of Australia.
Reasons for Decision
Subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936 includes an insurance premium in the assessable income of the non-resident if:
- •
- the insured properties are situated in Australia at the time of making the contract; or
- •
- the insured event is one that can only happen in Australia.
The conditions outlined in subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936 are expressed in the alternative by the use of the word 'or'. The application is conditional on only one of the two requirements of subsection 142(1) being met.
The satisfaction of either requirement would bring the premium within subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936.
As Subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936 does not provide for apportionment of a premium under an insurance contract, there is no authority to attribute part of the premium to the liability event.
Accordingly, a premium paid or payable under a policy where the properties are situated in Australia will be included in the assessable income of the non-resident insurer under subsection 142(1) of the ITAA 1936, irrespective of the fact that the policy also covers a liability event that may happen within or outside of Australia.
Date of decision: 13 May 2004Year of income: Year ended 30 June 2003
Legislative References:
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
subsection 142(1)
subsection 142(2)
Keywords
Non resident insurance industry
ISSN: 1445-2782