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Edited version of your written advice

Authorisation Number: 1051332533537

Date of advice: 6 February 2018

Ruling

Subject: GST and the sale of a business for an unregistered entity

Question

Is the sale of your business, which includes the business premises, a sale of a GST-free going concern?

Answer

No. The sale of your business and business premises is not a sale of a GST-free going concern as you are not registered or required to be registered for GST.

Relevant facts and circumstances

You are not registered for GST.

You bought a vacant shop (premises) in 2005 and set up an internet café business (business).

You commenced operating the business from the 2006-07 year.

You operated the business as a sole trader and your annual turnover is less than $75,000.

You are planning to sell the premises and the business.

Relevant legislative provisions

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 9-5

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 23-5

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 23-15

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 188-10

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Section 188-25

Reasons for decision

You make a taxable supply under section 9-5 of the GST Act when:

You satisfy sub-sections 9-5(a), (b) and (c) as the supply of your business and premises is for consideration, it is made in the course of the enterprise you conduct and the supply is connected with the indirect tax zone.

You are not registered for GST, therefore it needs to be established that as a result of the sale of the business and the premises, whether you will be required to be registered for GST.

Section 23-5 of the GST Act provides that you are required to be registered for GST if:

You are carrying on an enterprise of running an internet café. You are required to be registered for GST, if your annual turnover from your enterprise meets the registration turnover threshold.

Under subsection 23-15(1) of the GST Act, unless you are a non-profit body, your registration turnover threshold is $75,000.

Subsection 188-10(1) of the GST Act provides that your annual turnover meets a particular turnover threshold if:

Section 188-10(2) of the GST Act provides that your annual turnover does not exceed a particular threshold if:

In this circumstance your current turnover is below the turnover threshold and the Commissioner is not satisfied that your projected GST turnover is above the turnover threshold. This is due to the operation of section 188-25 of the GST Act that disregards as part of the projected GST turnover the supply of a capital asset solely as a consequence of ceasing to carry on an enterprise.

GSTR 2001/7 discusses the meaning of ‘capital asset’ at paragraphs 31 to 36.

Where at the time of the proposed sale of the premises and business, the character of the premises remains essentially the same as it was when used in the enterprise, that is, it is a commercial property and business asset being used to run an internet cafe, its disposal will be the mere realisation of a capital asset by you. The sale proceeds will not be taken into account in determining your projected GST turnover. Therefore you are not required to be registered for GST.

As such, the sale of the business and premises is not a taxable supply and not a sale of GST-free going concern.


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