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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication. It should not be regarded as indicative of the ATO's current views. The law may have changed since original publication, and views in the edited version may also be affected by subsequent precedents and new approaches to the application of the law.

You cannot rely on this record in your tax affairs. It is not binding and provides you with no protection (including from any underpaid tax, penalty or interest). In addition, this record is not an authority for the purposes of establishing a reasonably arguable position for you to apply to your own circumstances. For more information on the status of edited versions of private advice and reasons we publish them, see PS LA 2008/4.

Edited version of your private ruling

Authorisation Number: 1012270796166

Ruling

Subject: Tax offset - dependent spouse

Question 1

Are you entitled to claim the dependent spouse tax offset?

Answer

Yes, if your income is below $150,000 and your spouse's adjusted taxable income (ATI) is less than $9,702.

Question 2

Are you required to include your spouse's allocated pension when calculating their ATI?

Answer

No.

This ruling applies for the following period:

Year ended 30 June 2012

The scheme commences on:

1 July 2011

Relevant facts and circumstances

Your spouse is retired.

Your spouse received some income during the financial year.

During this financial year your spouse also received an allocated pension from a superannuation fund.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 159J

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 subsection 159J(4)

Reasons for decision

Section 159J of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) provides that a taxpayer may be entitled to a tax offset where, during the year of income, they contribute to the maintenance of a dependant who is a resident of Australia.

Where a person is entitled to a dependent spouse tax offset, that tax offset may be reduced in part or in full by the dependant's ATI.

Subsection 159J(4) of the ITAA 1936 provides for the amount of the tax offset otherwise allowable to be reduced by $1 for every $4 by which the ATI derived by the dependant in the year of income exceeds $282.

An individual's ATI for a particular year is the sum of the following amounts:

A taxpayer will be eligible to claim the dependent spouse tax offset if their spouse was born before 01 July 1971, their ATI is below $150,000 and their spouse's ATI is less than $9,702.

In your case, your spouse is in receipt of an allocated pension from a superannuation fund. This type of payment is not included in the list above; as such you are not required to include the allocated pension in your spouse's adjusted taxable income.

Accordingly, if your ATI is below $150,000 and your spouse's ATI is less than $9,702 then you will be entitled to claim the dependent spouse tax offset.


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