ATO Interpretative Decision
ATO ID 2002/193
Income Tax
Legal Expenses incurred in gaining compensation for loss of salary and wage incomeFOI status: may be released
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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you will need to ensure that the relevant provisions referred to in the decision have not been amended or repealed.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
Are the legal expenses incurred in obtaining a Total and Permanent Disability benefit for loss of salary and wage income an allowable deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)?
Decision
Yes. The legal expenses incurred in obtaining a Total and Permanent Disability benefit for loss of salary and wage income are an allowable deduction under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.
Facts
The taxpayer received a lump sum payment in respect of a Total and Permanent Disability benefit.
The benefit was paid as compensation for the loss of salary and wage income, and not for the loss of income earning capacity.
The benefit forms part of the taxpayer's taxable income in the year in which it is received.
The taxpayer incurred legal expenses in obtaining this payment.
Reasons for Decision
Section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 states that you can deduct from your assessable income any loss or outgoing to the extent that it is incurred in gaining or producing assessable income and is not:
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- capital, private or domestic in nature
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- incurred in gaining or producing exempt income or non-assessable non-exempt income; or
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- prohibited by a section of the ITAA 1997 or the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).
In determining whether a deduction for legal expenses is allowed under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997, the nature of the expenditure must be considered (Hallstroms Pty Ltd v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1946) 72 CLR 634); [1946] HCA 34. The nature or character of the legal expenses follows the advantage which is sought to be gained by incurring the expenses. If the advantage to be gained is of a revenue nature, then the costs incurred in gaining the advantage will also be of a revenue nature.
The legal expenses were incurred by the taxpayer in order to obtain compensation for the loss of salary and wage income, and not for the loss of income earning capacity. Thus, the advantage which the taxpayer sought in incurring the legal expenses was an advantage of a revenue rather than capital nature.
Further, the legal expenses were not private or domestic in nature, were not incurred in gaining or producing exempt income or non-assessable non-exempt income, and were not an outgoing prohibited from being deductible by a section of the ITAA 1997 or the ITAA 1936.
Therefore, the legal expenses are deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997.
Amendment History
| Date of amendment | Part | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 13 June 2014 | Issue, Decision, Facts | Updated to include reference to loss of salary and wage income. |
| Reasons for Decision | Updated to include case law precedent from Hallstroms Pty Ltd v FC of T and provide clarity of reasoning. | |
| Case References | Updated to include case reference. | |
| Related Public Rulings | Updated to include reference to TR 2012/8. |
Year of income: Year ended 30 June 2001
Legislative References:
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
The Act
Section 8-1
Case References:
Hallstroms Pty Ltd v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation
(1946) 72 CLR 634
[1946] HCA 34
Related Public Rulings (including Determinations)
TR 2012/8
Keywords
Compensation expenses
Legal expenses
ISSN: 1445-2782
| Date: | Version: | |
| 1 February 2002 | Original statement | |
| You are here | 13 June 2014 | Updated statement |