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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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: 1012764753993

Ruling

Subject: Compensation

Question 1

Is the compensation payment assessable as ordinary income?

Answer

No.

Question 2

Does the compensation payment relate to the right to seek compensation?

Answer

Yes.

Question 3

If the answer to question 3 is no, does the compensation payment relate to the underlying assets?

Answer

Not required.

Question 4

Can you apply the 50% discount to the capital gain?

Answer

Yes.

This ruling applies for the following period

Year ended 30 June 2015

The scheme commences on

1 July 2014

Relevant facts and circumstances

The arrangement that is the subject of the private ruling is described below. This description is based on the following documents. These documents form part of and are to be read with this description. The relevant documents are:

You and your spouse were clients of a company.

You and your spouse sought financial planning advice and were provided services including the preparation and provision of investment strategies.

You and your spouse financed managed investments in the 2007-08 financial year.

The total initial investment was $X and the current value is approximately $Y.

You and your spouse still hold the investments.

During 2013, you and your spouse complained about the appropriateness of the advice, the representations made by the company and their failure to disclose risks.

In 2013 you and your spouse commenced proceedings in the Court. The dispute will be resolved on the execution of the proposed Deed of Settlement.

The Deed of Settlement will be executed in the 2014-15 financial year.

The company have agreed to pay an amount to you and your spouse in full and final settlement of the dispute and all claims made against them. This amount includes all costs associated with the action.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 6-5

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 102-20

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 104-25(3)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 104-155

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 108-5

Reasons for decision

Question 1

Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that the assessable income of a taxpayer includes income according to ordinary concepts (ordinary income). Ordinary income has generally been held to include 3 categories, namely income from rendering personal services, income from property and income from carrying on a business.

Other characteristics of income that have evolved from case law include receipts that:

The compensation received by the taxpayer was not income from rendering personal services, income from property or income from carrying on a business. The payment is also a one off payment and thus it does not have an element of recurrence or regularity.

A compensation amount generally bears the character of that which it is designed to replace. If the compensation is paid for the loss of a capital asset or amount then it will be regarded as a capital receipt and not ordinary income.

You and your spouse received compensation for the investment advice that resulted in financial loss. Accordingly, as the compensation was paid in relation to a capital asset it is regarded as a capital receipt and not ordinary income. Therefore, the compensation payment is not assessable ordinary income under section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997.

Question 2

CGT is the tax you pay on certain gains you make. Section 102-20 of the ITAA 1997 provides that you make a capital gain or capital loss as a result of a CGT event happening to an asset in which you have an ownership interest. Section 108-5 of the ITAA 1997 provides that a CGT asset is any kind of property; or a legal or equitable right that is not property.

TR 95/35 states that the particular asset for which compensation has been received by the taxpayer may be an underlying asset, a right to seek compensation, or a notional asset in terms of subsection 160M(7) - (section 104-155 of the ITAA 1997).

In determining the most relevant asset, it is often appropriate to adopt a 'look through' approach to the transaction or arrangement which generates the compensation receipt.

In TR 95/35 the term 'underlying asset' is used. The underlying asset is defined in TR 95/35 as:

If there is more than one underlying asset, the relevant underlying asset is the asset which leads directly to the payment of the amount of compensation. For example, if a taxpayer receives an amount of compensation for the destruction of his or her truck, the truck is the underlying asset.

Right to seek compensation

The right to seek compensation is the right of action arising at law or in equity and vesting in the taxpayer on the occurrence of any breach of contract, personal injury or other compensable damage or injury. A right to seek compensation is an asset for the purposes of capital gains tax. The right to seek compensation is acquired at the time of the compensable wrong or injury, and includes all of the rights arising during the process of pursuing the compensation claim. The right to seek compensation is disposed of when it is satisfied, surrendered, released or discharged. This disposal triggers a CGT event C2.

Paragraphs 283 and 284 and 285 of TR 95/35 provide the following example:

285.

Relevant asset:

The right to seek compensation. The property is not the relevant asset as it was neither permanently damaged nor was its value permanently reduced by the actions of Legal Eagles.

Acquired:

July 1991 (when Legal Eagle's negligent action became apparent)

Cost base:

Nil acquisition cost plus legal costs

Disposed of:

January 1992

Consideration:

$95,000

CGT consequences:

Marty will be assessed in the 1992 income tax year on the net capital gain

While it is acknowledged that you and your spouse's particular circumstances differ from those provided in the above example, the principles of identifying the underlying asset remain the same.

Application to your circumstances

In this case, you and your spouse will receive a lump sum compensation payment in relation to the advice provided by a financial planner. As with the example, the relevant asset is not the investments as the value of the funds were not damaged by the actions of the financial advisor. The lump sum payment was made to compensate you and your spouse for the inappropriate advice.

Therefore, we consider that you and your spouse have disposed of your right to seek compensation. When you and your spouse enter into the Deed of Settlement CGT event C2 will happen. You and your spouse will make a capital gain if the proceeds from the ending of your right to seek compensation are more than the cost base of the asset under subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997.

Question 3

Not required.

Question 4

You can use the discount method to calculate your capital gain if:

In this case we accept that you and your spouse have held the relevant asset for at least 12 months. Therefore, you and your spouse are entitled to apply the 50% discount.


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