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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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

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: 1012937012505

Date of advice: 15 January 2016

Ruling

Subject: Capital gains tax - subdivision - income v capital

Relevant facts and circumstances

Documents have been provided with the private ruling application and those documents form part of, and should be read in conjunction with the private ruling decision.

The property (Property A) was owned by your parents until it was transferred into you and your sibling's names before 20 September 1985.

Property A was used for market garden purposes and flower production.

The property is currently vacant and no business activity has been undertaken by you and your siblings on the property for around 12 months.

The property has been zoned as residential for over 20 years.

You and your siblings are distant relatives of the persons (Family A) who own the adjoining property (Property B).

You and your siblings and Family A had submitted a development application in relation to both properties over 25 years after Property A had been transferred into you and your sibling's names, for the development of the two properties into over 70 allotments.

The development application was approved around four years after the submission of the development application.

A developer (the Developer) approached you and your siblings and Family A with a proposal to develop both properties (the land) by subdividing Property A and Property B and selling the vacant blocks of land.

The Developer is in the business of undertaking residential developments.

Property A has not previously been put on the market for sale and this is the first time you and your siblings have taken steps to dispose of the property.

You and your siblings have considered disposing of Property A as an outright sale.

Previous enquiries in relation to Property A have only explored the potential for an outright purchase; however no offer had ever eventuated.

The proposal put forward by the Developer is likely to provide the greatest consideration upon the sale of Property A and the best means of realizing your asset.

You and your siblings have not undertaken any land subdivision or property development of any nature.

A Draft Development Agreement has been drawn up between the Developer, you and your siblings, and Family A under which the following is proposed:

For the purposes of this private ruling, the development of your property will be undertaken in accordance with the Draft Development Agreement.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 6-5

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 15-15

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 102-20

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 104-10

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 104-10(3)

Reasons for decision

Income or capital

As a general principle, profits from property sales will either be assessable as ordinary income under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) or statutory income under the capital gains tax (CGT) provisions of the ITAA 1997.

Where the profit has been made as a result of a taxpayer carrying on a business of property development or as a result of a taxpayer entering into an isolated business transaction, the profit will be assessable as ordinary income. However, where the profit is a mere realisation of a capital asset, the profit will be assessable under the CGT provisions of the ITAA 1997.

There have been several cases in which the courts have addressed the question of whether the proceeds received for the sale of an asset are revenue or capital in nature. The decision in each case depended on its own facts, and very often will be a matter of degree.

The extent of the personal involvement of the taxpayer in much of the planning, organisation and management of the activities has been held to be significant factors in the determination of whether or not a business was being carried out. For example:

From the cases involving the subdivision of land and from Taxation Ruling TR 92/3, it would appear that the following are the most important factors to consider when determining whether profits made as a result of an isolated business transaction are assessable income:

In determining whether an isolated transaction amounts to a business operation or commercial transaction the following factors are relevant:

Application to your circumstances

Based on the information and documentation provided, it is viewed that you and your siblings are not in the business of buying, selling or developing and have never previously been involved in carrying on a business of this nature.

You and your siblings have held the land since before 20 September 1985, and have used the land for various purposes.

The amounts of money involved in the transaction are significant and the magnitude of profit will also be very substantial, however the Developer will provide their own funding.

The development of the land will all be undertaken by the Developer and overall it would appear that you and your siblings will have minimal personal involvement in the process. You and your siblings and Family A are providing the land for sale, however, the Developer will be relied upon to undertake the marketing, sale and other activities associated with the subdivision.

Based on these factors we have concluded that the project is the mere realisation of a capital asset and any profits made will be considered under the CGT provisions.

CGT event on disposal

Section 102-20 of the ITAA 1997 provides that you make a capital gain or capital loss if, and only if, a CGT event happens to a CGT asset that you own.

In accordance with section 104-10 of the ITAA 1997, CGT event A1 happens when you dispose of an asset to someone else.

Subsection 104-10(3) of the ITAA 1997 considers the timing of the event. The time of the event is either when you enter into a contract for the disposal, of if there is no contract, when the change of ownership occurs.

Application to your situation

In your situation, CGT event A1 will occur when the sale contract on each developed lot is entered into.

As you and your siblings acquired your ownership interests in the land before 20 September 1985, your ownership interests are considered to be pre-CGT assets. Therefore, any capital gain made on the disposal of you and your sibling's ownership interests in the land will be disregarded.

$xxx,xxx Loan

In accordance with the Development Agreement, the developer will collectively loan you and your siblings and Family A an interest free loan of $xxx,xxx. This loan will be repaid to the Developer from the proceeds received from the sale of the first subdivided lots, until the loan is repaid.

Based on the information provided, we consider that the $xxx,xxx loan that you and your siblings and Family A will collectively receive from the Developer will merely be an advance of capital proceeds that you collectively would otherwise be entitled to receive under the agreement.


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