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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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

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Edited version of your written advice

Authorisation Number: 1012851627435

Date of advice: 30 July 2015

Ruling

Subject: Deduction for personal superannuation contributions

Question

Can your client claim a deduction in respect of personal superannuation contributions made to a complying superannuation fund in the 2014-15 income year under section 290-150 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997?

Answer

No.

This ruling applies for the following period

Year ended 30 June 2015

The scheme commenced on

1 July 2014

Relevant facts and circumstances

Your client is a member of a superannuation fund (the Fund).

Your client made a personal contribution to the Fund in the 2014-15 income year. Your client then transferred a part of that contribution from their superannuation account to another account within the Fund in order to commence a pension.

Your client now intends to claim a deduction for the personal contribution. The deduction to be claimed is an amount which is less than your client's contribution to the Fund minus the amount transferred to commence a pension.

The Fund has advised that as the pension has commenced, your client cannot then claim a tax deduction for those funds transferred.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 290-150

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 290-170

Reasons for decision

Summary

Your client is not entitled to claim a deduction for the personal superannuation contribution made to the Fund in the 2014-15 income year.

Detailed reasoning

Personal deductible superannuation contributions:

A person can claim a deduction for personal contributions made to a superannuation fund for the purpose of providing superannuation benefits for themselves under section 290-150 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). However, the conditions in sections 290-155, 290-160, 290-165 and 290-170 of the ITAA 1997 must also be satisfied for the person to claim the deduction.

Notice of intent to deduct conditions:

Section 290-170 of the ITAA 1997 requires a person to provide a valid notice of their intention to claim the deduction to the trustee of their superannuation fund.

Subsection 290-170(2) of the ITAA 1997 deals with the validity of notices and states:

In regard to the notice of intention to claim a deduction Taxation Ruling TR 2010/1 entitled 'Income tax: superannuation contributions' (TR 2010/1) states at paragraph 69:

TR 2010/1 explains the validity of a notice of intention to claim a deduction where a superannuation income stream has commenced based in whole or part on the contribution. Paragraphs 272 to 274 of TR 2010/1 state:

In this case, during the 2014-15 income year your client made contributions into the Fund. Your client subsequently commenced a pension from the Fund. Your client now intends to claim a deduction in respect of their personal contribution to the Fund.

As shown above, the legislation itself is quite specific and only allows a deduction for personal contributions to a superannuation fund subject to the necessary requirements being met. In order for a person to claim a deduction for personal contributions made to a superannuation fund they must provide a valid notice of their intention to claim the deduction to the trustee of their superannuation fund. In addition, a notice is not valid where the superannuation provider has commenced to pay an income stream based in whole or part on the contribution.

As your client has already commenced a pension with the Fund any notice provided to the Fund will not be a valid notice. Therefore, section 290-170 of the ITAA 1997 has not been satisfied.

Please note that the notice will not be valid even though your client intends to claim a deduction of which is less than their contribution to the Fund minus the amount transferred to commence a pension. This is consistent with Example 11 of TR 2010/1 which states:

5. As all of the conditions under section 290-150 of the ITAA 1997 have not been satisfied your client is not entitled to claim a deduction for the personal superannuation contribution made to the Fund in the 2014-15 income year.


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