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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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: 1013030915777

Date of advice: 8 June 2016

Ruling

Subject: Capital gains tax

Question

Will the Commissioner exercise the discretion provided under section 118-195 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to extend the two-year main residence exemption period until the settlement date of the property?

Answer

Yes.

This ruling applies for the following period:

Year ending 30 June 2014

Year ending 30 June 2015

The scheme commences on:

1 July 2013

Relevant facts and circumstances

The deceased owned property which they lived in as their main residence. The property was never used to produce assessable income.

The deceased passed away.

The property was left to you under the deceased's will.

A relative of the deceased threatened legal action over the will.

An offer of settlement was subsequently reached and a deed of release was later signed to resolve this issue.

The property was subsequently placed on the market with settlement occurring outside two years of the deceased's death.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 - Section 118-195

Reasons for decision

Subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 states that if you own a dwelling in your capacity as trustee of a deceased estate (or it passed to you as a beneficiary of an estate), then you are exempt from tax on any capital gain made on the disposal of the property if:

You have an ownership interest in a property if you have a legal interest in the property. This means that if you sell a property, your ownership interest continues until the date of settlement (rather than the date the contract of sale is signed).

In this case, the property was not sold within 2 years of the deceased's passing. Accordingly, you will only be able to disregard the capital gain from the sale of the property if the Commissioner extends the 2 year time period.

The Commissioner can exercise his discretion in situations such as where:

Having considered the circumstances and the factors outlined above, the Commissioner is able to apply his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 and allow an extension of time until the settlement date of the property.


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