Disclaimer
This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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: 1012424107080

Ruling

Subject: Residency

Question and answer:

Are you a resident of Australia for income tax purposes?

No.

This ruling applies for the following periods

Year ending 30 June 2012

Year ending 30 June 2013

Year ending 30 June 2014

Year ending 30 June 2015

Year ending 30 June 2016

The scheme commences on

1 July 2011

Relevant facts and circumstances

You are an Australian citizen.

You have been living and working overseas since 2010.

You are currently employed by an Australian based company working out of country Y.

You are living in country X with your spouse who is a citizen of that country.

You are currently living in accommodation rented from a relative of your spouse and intend to purchase a house in country X.

You own a business in country X.

You intend to live in country X permanently and have applied for citizenship.

You have children from a previous relationship who live in Australia. You visit them from time to time and also pay child support for them.

When you visit Australia you stay in motels or with family.

Your only Australian asset is a motor vehicle kept in storage.

You are not employed by the Australian Commonwealth government.

Reasons for decision

Generally where you are a resident of Australia for taxation purposes, your assessable income includes income gained from all sources, whether in or out of Australia. However, where you are a foreign resident, your assessable income includes only income derived from an Australian source. 

The terms 'resident' and 'resident of Australia', in regard to an individual, are defined within the tax provisions and provides four tests to ascertain the residency status.

Relevant to your situation are the first two tests which are examined in Taxation Ruling IT 2650 Income Tax: Residency - permanent place of abode outside Australia, a copy of which is available from www.ato.gov.au.

Given regard to your circumstances as a whole and a consideration of the relevant residency tests, it is accepted that you are not a resident of Australia for tax purposes.


Copyright notice

© Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia

You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute material on this website as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).