ATO Interpretative Decision
ATO ID 2003/1185
Goods and Services Tax
GST and assessment of prior learning for changing membership status within a professional associationFOI status: may be released
Status of this decision: Decision Current
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you will need to ensure that the relevant provisions referred to in the decision have not been amended or repealed.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 the entity, a professional association, making a GST-free supply under section 38-110 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act), when it assesses the qualifications of one of its members for the purpose of that member changing their membership status from an associate to a fellow?
Decision
Yes, the entity is making a GST-free supply under section 38-110 of the GST Act when it assesses the qualifications of one of its members for the purpose of that member changing their membership status from an associate to a fellow.
Facts
The entity is a professional association. The entity supplies a service of assessing the qualifications held by a member for the purpose of that member changing their membership status from an associate to a fellow.
The entity is registered for goods and services tax (GST).
Reasons for Decision
A supply is GST-free under subsection 38-110(1) of the GST Act when the supply is the assessment or issue of qualifications for the purpose of:
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- of access to education
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- membership of a professional or trade association
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- registration or licensing for a particular occupation, or
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- employment.
The entity supplies a service of assessing the qualifications held by a member. The entity's assessment is for the purpose of that member changing their membership from an associate to a fellow. For the purposes of subsection 38-110(1) of the GST Act, membership of a professional or trade association relates not only to the initial entry into the ranks of that body but to any upgrade or rise in status of the class of membership. As such, the purpose of the entity's supply is for membership of a professional association and the supply satisfies the requirements in subsection 38-110(1) of the GST Act.
However, subsection 38-110(2) of the GST Act provides that a supply is not GST-free under subsection 38-110(1) of the GST Act unless the supply is carried out by:
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- a professional or trade association
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- an education institution
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- an entity that is registered by a training recognition authority of a State or Territory in accordance with the Australian Recognition Framework to provide skill recognition (assessment only) services
- •
- an authority of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or
- •
- a local government body.
The entity is a professional association. Therefore, the entity's supply is not excluded from being GST-free.
Accordingly, the entity is making a GST-free supply under section 38-110 of the GST Act when it assesses the qualifications of one of its members for the purpose of that member changing their membership status from an associate to a fellow.
Date of decision: 11 November 2003
Legislative References:
A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999
section 38-110
subsection 38-110(1)
subsection 38-110(2)
Keywords
Goods and services tax
GST free
GST education
Recognition of prior learning
ISSN: 1445-2782
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