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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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: 1012539096107

Ruling

Subject: GST and supply of a going concern

Question

Is the supply, of the property, a GST-free going concern?

Answer

Yes, the supply of the property is a GST-free going concern.

Relevant facts:

You are registered for goods and services tax (GST).

You (as landlord), the developer, the tenant and the guarantor entered into an agreement for lease in relation to a part of the property. The developer is a related entity of yours. The guarantor and tenant are not related entities of yours but are related with each other.

At settlement the following documents were entered into:

Under the contract of sale you agreed to sell and the purchaser agrees to buy the property. The property includes the land, buildings and the plant and equipment.

The income support and leasing deed is in relation to part of the property.

The contract of sale states:

Going concern

When fully developed the property will contain two other buildings.

The purchaser is registered for GST.

Relevant legislative provisions:

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 38-325

Reasons for decision

Subsection 38-325(1) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) provides that a supply of a going concern is GST-free if:

Subsection 28-325(2) of the GST Act provides that a supply is a supply of a going concern if it is made under an arrangement under which:

The supply of the property has been made for consideration. The recipient (purchaser) is registered for GST and clause 2.2 of the contract for sale stipulates that the supply is of a going concern. As such, subsection 38-325(1) of the GST Act is satisfied.

Paragraph 151 of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2002/5 states:

You entered into an agreement for lease with the tenant in relation to part of the property and this agreement for lease was assigned to the purchaser on settlement date. You have not entered into an agreement for lease in relation to a part of the property, nor have that part of the property been previously leased. The activity of leasing commences when at least one tenant enters into an agreement to lease or occupies the building. In relation to part of the property the building was not occupied by a tenant at settlement, however an agreement for lease was entered into and therefore it is considered you were carrying on a leasing enterprise in relation to part of the property.

Whilst it is considered that you were actively marketing part of the property for lease, you had not entered into an agreement for lease or any other lease agreement with a prospective tenant. Part of the property has never been leased previously. As such, it cannot be considered that a leasing enterprise is being carried on in relation to this part of the property.

However, it is considered that the leasing enterprise was being carried on as part of the larger development enterprise. You are carrying on a development enterprise up until the day of supply. On the day of supply a development agreement was entered into whereby the trustee for the purchaser appointed the developer to develop the land carrying out the works and to complete the development. You facilitated this arrangement. As such, it is considered that a development enterprise was being carried on up until the day of supply of the property. Therefore, you satisfy subsection 38-325(2) of the GST Act and the supply is of a going concern.

As previously mentioned, you also satisfy subsection 38-325(1) of the GST Act, as such you are making a GST-free supply of a going concern when you supply the property.


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).