| Disclaimer This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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 written advice
Authorisation Number: 1012746002673
Ruling
Subject: Capital gains tax
Question
Will the Commissioner exercise his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) and allow an extension of time to the two year period?
Answer
Yes
This ruling applies for the following period:
Year ending 30 June 2014
The scheme commenced on:
1 July 2013
Relevant facts and circumstances
The deceased acquired the property after 20 September 1985. The property was the deceased's main residence and had not been used to produce assessable income.
The executors of the deceased's estate listed the property for sale.
The local property market is extremely slow and there were only a few inspections of the property over the entire marketing campaign period.
In order to enable the other beneficiaries to receive their distributions from the estate, one of the beneficiaries offered to purchase the property from the estate for market value.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 118-195(1)
Reasons for decision
Subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 allows a trustee of a deceased estate to disregard a capital gain or loss from a dwelling that a deceased person acquired after 20 September 1985 if:
• the property was acquired by the deceased before 20 September 1985, or
• the property was acquired by the deceased on or after 20 September 1985 and the dwelling was the deceased's main residence just before the deceased's death and was not then being used for the purpose of producing assessable income, and
• your ownership interest ends within 2 years of the deceased's death (the Commissioner has discretion to extend this period in certain circumstances).
The following is a non-exhaustive list of situations in which the Commissioner would be expected to exercise the discretion:
• the ownership of a dwelling or a will is challenged,
• the complexity of a deceased estate delays the completion of administration of the estate,
• a trustee or beneficiary is unable to attend to the deceased estate due to unforeseen or serious personal circumstances arising during the two year period (eg the taxpayer or a family member has a severe illness or injury), or
• settlement of a contract of sale over the dwelling is unexpectedly delayed or falls through for reasons outside the beneficiary or trustee's control.
In this case, the depressed housing market hindered the sale of the property. We consider that a reasonable effort was made to dispose of the property within two years of the deceased's death.
Having considered the particular circumstances of this case, the Commissioner will apply his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 and allow an extension to the two year time limit.
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).
