Taxation Determination

TD 2006/63

Income tax: capital gains: is a CGT asset that is leased by a taxpayer to a connected entity for use in the connected entity's business an active asset under section 152-40 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997?

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This publication provides you with the following level of protection:

This publication (excluding appendixes) is a public ruling for the purposes of the Taxation Administration Act 1953. A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion about the way in which a relevant provision applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a class of entities in relation to a particular scheme or a class of schemes. If you rely on this ruling, we must apply the law to you in the way set out in the ruling (or in a way that is more favourable for you if we are satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages you, and we are not prevented from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). You will be protected from having to pay any underpaid tax, penalty or interest in respect of the matters covered by this ruling if it turns out that it does not correctly state how the relevant provision applies to you.

[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.]

Ruling

1. Yes. A CGT asset leased by a taxpayer to a connected entity for use in the connected entity's business is an active asset of the taxpayer under section 152-40 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997), unless the use by the connected entity is excluded by paragraph 152-40(4)(e) of the ITAA 1997. Paragraph 152-40(4)(e) of the ITAA 1997 excludes, among other things, assets whose main use is to derive rent (unless such use was only temporary).

Example: use by a connected entity

2. Joe owns 100% of the shares in Smash Repair Co, which carries on a panel beating business. Joe and the company are therefore connected with each other. Joe also owns the business premises and leases them to the company for the conduct of its business.

3. Although Joe is wholly using the premises to derive rent, Smash Repair Co (a connected entity) is wholly using them in the course of carrying on a business. The premises are therefore not excluded under paragraph 152-40(4)(e) of the ITAA 1997 and are therefore an active asset of Joe's under subparagraph 152-40(1)(a)(ii) of the ITAA 1997.

Date of effect

4. This Determination applies to years commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, the Determination 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 Determination (see paragraphs 75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10).

Note 1

4A. The amendments applied to this consolidated Determination apply to CGT events happening in the 2006-07 income year or later income years.

Commissioner of Taxation
15 November 2006

Appendix 1 - Explanation

This Appendix is provided as information to help you understand how the Commissioner's view has been reached. It does not form part of the binding public ruling.

Explanation

5. For the small business concessions in Division 152 of the ITAA 1997 to apply to reduce or disregard a capital gain, the relevant CGT asset must satisfy the active asset test in section 152-35 of the ITAA 1997. The active asset test requires the relevant CGT asset to be an active asset for half a particular period.

6. A CGT asset is an active asset at a given time if, at that time, you own it and:

it is used (or held ready for use) in the course of carrying on a business by you, a small business CGT affiliate of yours or an entity connected with you; or
it is an intangible asset that is inherently connected with a business you, your small business CGT affiliate, or another entity that is connected with you, carries on (subsection 152-40(1) of the ITAA 1997).

7. Certain assets are, however, excluded from being active assets under subsection 152-40(4) of the ITAA 1997.

Main use to derive rent

8. Paragraph 152-40(4)(e) of the ITAA 1997 excludes, among other things, assets whose main use is to derive rent (unless such use was only temporary). Such assets are excluded even if they are used in the course of carrying on a business. Of course, if the activities carried on do not amount to the carrying on of a business, it is unnecessary to consider whether the main use of the asset is to derive rent.

Use by a connected entity

9. If a CGT asset, such as land, is leased by a taxpayer to a connected entity for use in the connected entity's business, the question arises as to whether the main use of the asset is to derive rent. In this situation, the asset is wholly used by the owner to derive rent. However, paragraph 152-40(4)(e) of the ITAA 1997 refers to 'an asset whose main use in the course of carrying on the business mentioned in subsection (1)'.... . If an asset is used in the business of a connected entity, 'the business mentioned in subsection (1)' is the connected entity's business (subparagraph 152-40(1)(a)(ii) of the ITAA 1997). Accordingly, it is the use of the asset in that business that will determine the active asset status of the asset.

10. An asset that is leased to a connected entity for use in its business is therefore an active asset under subparagraph 152-40(1)(c)(ii) of the ITAA 1997, unless the use by the connected entity itself is excluded by paragraph 152-40(1)(a)(ii) of the ITAA 1997 (for example, if the connected entity subleases the asset to an unrelated third party).

Note 2

11. As noted in the Treasurer's Press Release No. 38 of 2006 (9 May 2006), the Board of Taxation's report on its Post-Implementation Review of the small business CGT concessions contains a number of administrative recommendations. This Taxation Determination is part of the Commissioner's response to Recommendation 7.3 of the Board's report.

Previously issued in draft form as TD 2006/D23

References

ATO references:
NO 2006/8979

ISSN: 1038-8982

Related Rulings/Determinations:

TR 2006/10

Subject References:
active asset
active asset test
basic conditions for relief
capital gains
capital gains tax
CGT assets
CGT small business relief
controlling individual
small business relief

Legislative References:
ITAA 1997 Div 152
ITAA 1997 152-35
ITAA 1997 152-40
ITAA 1997 152-40(1)
ITAA 1997 152-40(1)(c)(ii)
ITAA 1997 152-40(4)
ITAA 1997 152-40(4)(e)
TAA 1953

Other References:
Treasurer's Press Release No. 38 of 2006 (9 May 2006)

TD 2006/63 history
  Date: Version: Change:
  15 November 2006 Original ruling  
You are here 29 October 2008 Consolidated ruling Addendum
  31 October 2008 Consolidated ruling Addendum
  19 December 2012 Consolidated ruling Addendum