Product Ruling

PR 2005/20

Income tax: Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 - 2006 Growers

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FOI status:

may be released

Preamble

No guarantee of commercial success

The Tax Office does not sanction or guarantee this product. Further, we give no assurance that the product is commercially viable, that charges are reasonable, appropriate or represent industry norms, or that projected returns will be achieved or are reasonably based.

Potential participants must form their own view about the commercial and financial viability of the product. This will involve a consideration of important issues such as whether projected returns are realistic, the 'track record' of the management, the level of fees in comparison to similar products and how the product fits an existing portfolio. We recommend a financial (or other) adviser be consulted for such information.

This Product Ruling provides certainty for potential participants by confirming that the tax benefits set out in the Ruling part of this document are available, provided that the arrangement is carried out in accordance with the information we have been given, and have described below in the Arrangement part of this document.

If the arrangement is not carried out as described, participants lose the protection of this Product Ruling. Potential participants may wish to seek assurances from the promoter that the arrangement will be carried out as described in this Product Ruling.

Potential participants should be aware that the Tax Office will be undertaking review activities to confirm the arrangement has been implemented as described below and to ensure that the participants in the arrangement include in their income tax returns income derived in those future years.

Terms of Use of this Product Ruling

This Product Ruling has been given on the basis that the person(s) who applied for the Ruling, and their associates, will abide by strict terms of use. Any failure to comply with the terms of use may lead to the withdrawal of this Ruling.

What this Product Ruling is about

1. This Ruling sets out the Commissioner's opinion on the way in which the 'tax laws' identified below apply to the defined class of persons who take part in the arrangement to which this Ruling refers. In this Ruling this arrangement is sometimes referred to as 'Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005', 'Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 - 2006 Growers' or simply as 'the Project'.

Tax law(s)

2. The tax laws dealt with in this Ruling are:

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Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997);

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Section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997;

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Section 17-5 of the ITAA 1997;

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Section 25-25 of the ITAA 1997;

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Division 27 of the ITAA 1997;

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Division 35 of the ITAA 1997;

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Division 328 of the ITAA 1997;

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Section 82KL of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936);

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Section 82KZL of the ITAA 1936;

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Section 82KZME of the ITAA 1936;

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Section 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936;

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Section 82KZMG of the ITAA 1936; and

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Part IVA of the ITAA 1936.

Goods and Services Tax

3. In this Ruling, all fees and expenditure referred to include Goods and Services Tax ('GST') where applicable. In order for an entity (referred to in this Ruling as a Grower) to be entitled to claim input tax credits for the GST included in its expenditure, it must be registered or required to be registered for GST and hold a valid tax invoice.

Changes in the Law

4. Although this Ruling deals with the laws enacted at the time it was issued, later amendments may impact on this Ruling. Any such changes will take precedence over the application of this Ruling and, to that extent, this Ruling will be superseded.

5. Taxpayers who are considering participating in the Project are advised to confirm with their taxation adviser that changes in the law have not affected this Product Ruling since it was issued.

Note to promoters and advisers

6. Product Rulings were introduced for the purpose of providing certainty about tax consequences for participants in projects such as this. In keeping with that intention, the Tax Office suggests that promoters and advisers ensure that participants are fully informed of any legislative changes after the Ruling is issued.

Class of persons

7. The class of persons to whom this Ruling applies is the persons who are more specifically identified in the Ruling part of this Product Ruling and who enter into the arrangement specified below on or after the date this Ruling is made. They will have a purpose of staying in the arrangement until it is completed (for example being a party to the relevant agreements until their term expires) and deriving assessable income from this involvement. In this Ruling, these persons are referred to as 'Growers'.

8. The class of persons to whom this Ruling applies does not include persons who intend to terminate their involvement in the arrangement prior to its completion or otherwise do not intend to derive assessable income from it.

Qualifications

9. The Commissioner rules on the precise arrangement identified in the Ruling. If the arrangement described in the Ruling is materially different from the arrangement that is actually carried out, the Ruling has no binding effect on the Commissioner. The Ruling will be withdrawn or modified.

10. A Product Ruling may only be reproduced in its entirety. Extracts may not be reproduced. As each Product Ruling is copyright, apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

Commonwealth Copyright Administration

Intellectual Property Branch

Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

GPO Box 2154

Canberra ACT 2601

or by e-mail: commonwealth.copyright@dcita.gov.au

Date of effect

11. This Ruling applies prospectively from 16 February 2005, the date this Ruling is made. However, the Ruling does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Ruling (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).

12. If a taxpayer has a more favourable private ruling (which is legally binding), the taxpayer can rely on that private ruling if the income year to which it relates has ended or has commenced but not yet ended. However if the arrangement covered by the private ruling has not commenced, and the income year to which it relates has not yet commenced, this Ruling applies to the taxpayer to the extent of the inconsistency only (see Taxation Determination TD 93/34).

Withdrawal

13. This Product Ruling is withdrawn and ceases to have effect after 30 June 2008. The Ruling continues to apply, in respect of the tax law(s) ruled upon, to all persons within the specified class who enter into the arrangement specified below. Thus, the Ruling continues to apply to those persons, even following its withdrawal, who entered into the specified arrangement prior to withdrawal of the Ruling. This is subject to there being no change in the arrangement or in the person's involvement in the arrangement.

Arrangement

14. The arrangement that is the subject of this Ruling is specified below. This arrangement incorporates the following documents:

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Application for Product Ruling for Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005, received 8 November 2004;

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Correspondence, including emails, received 7 December 2004, 16 December 2004, 17 December 2004, 17 January 2005, 18 January 2005, 21 January 2005, 25 January 2005 and 8 February 2005;

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Draft Product Disclosure Statement for Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005, received 8 November 2004 and amended on 25 January 2005;

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Draft Constitution for Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005, received 8 November 2004;

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Draft Licence and Management Agreement between Sylvatech Securities Ltd [the 'Responsible Entity'] and the Grower, received 17 January 2005;

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Memorandum of Lease ['Head Lease'] between Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust [the 'Head Lessor'] and Sylvatech Ltd (formerly Australian Plantation Group), dated 1 January 2000;

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Draft Sub-Lease between Sylvatech Ltd [the 'Sub-Lessor'] and Sylvatech Securities Ltd [the 'Responsible Entity'], 17 January 2005;

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Draft Operations Agreement between Sylvatech Securities Ltd ['The Principal'] and Sylvatech Forestry Pty Ltd [the 'Manager'], received 8 November 2004;

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Draft Forestry Expert Report prepared for Sylvatech Securities Ltd [the 'Responsible Entity'], received 17 December 2004;

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Draft Compliance Plan for Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2004, received 8 November 2004;

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Draft finance package between 'The Australian Bank' and the Grower received 8 February 2005; and

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Draft finance package between Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd and the Grower received 8 February 2005.

Note : certain information received from the applicant has been provided on a commercial-in-confidence basis and will not be disclosed or released under the Freedom of Information legislation.

15. The documents highlighted in bold are those that the Growers enter into. There are no other agreements, whether formal or informal, and whether or not legally enforceable, which a Grower, or an associate of the Grower will be a party to that are part of the arrangement to which this Ruling applies. All terms capitalised throughout the Product Ruling are defined terms in the documentation received for this Project.

16. All Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) requirements are, or will be, complied with for the term of the agreements. The effect of the agreements may be summarised as follows.

Overview

17. This arrangement is called Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 - 2006 Growers.

18. The Project, Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 is registered as a Managed Investment Scheme under the Corporations Act 2001. The Responsible Entity for this Project is Sylvatech Securities Limited. The Project land is situated on Melville Island, one of the Tiwi Islands in the Arafura Sea, 60 km north of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia.

19. Growers accepted under the Product Disclosure Statement will enter into a Licence and Management Agreement with the Responsible Entity. The Landowner has leased the land to Sylvatech Ltd and has consented to the Sub-Lease Agreement to the Responsible Entity. The Responsible Entity will grant a licence to the Grower to enable the Grower to carry on the business of afforestation for the commercial production of Acacia mangium trees. Under the Licence and Management Agreement, Growers licence an area of land called a 'Treefarm' for a term of approximately 8 years. Each Treefarm consists of a minimum of one Treefarm Unit which is 0.5 hectares in size.

20. Under the Licence and Management Agreement, Growers appoint the Responsible Entity to manage their Treefarm. The Responsible Entity will enter into an Operations Agreement with Sylvatech Forestry Pty Ltd (the 'Manager') to perform the services required under the Licence and Management Agreement. Under the Operations Agreement, the Manager will be responsible for the establishment, cultivation, harvesting and sale of the trees.

21. Applications may be accepted by the Responsible Entity between 1 July 2005 and on or before 28 February 2006. Growers accepted prior to 1 July 2005 may be covered by Product Ruling PR 2005/19.

22. Under the Product Disclosure Statement, the Responsible Entity will offer a maximum of 8,000 Treefarm Units, with provision for oversubscription. There is no minimum subscription for the Project. Each participant may subscribe for one or more Treefarm Units at a cost outlined in the table at paragraph 17.

Constitution

23. The Constitution for the Project sets out the terms and conditions under which the Responsible Entity agrees to act for the Growers and to operate the Project. Application monies will be held by the Responsible Entity on trust for the Applicants until an Interest is issued. Money will be transferred from the Application Fund where the following conditions are satisfied:

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The Responsible Entity has issued an Interest to an Applicant;

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The Responsible Entity is ready, willing and able to perform its duties pursuant to the Licence and Management Agreement entered with the Applicant; and

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Any matter required to be attended to which is necessary for the creation of the Growers' Interests whether by reason of this Constitution or otherwise has been attended to.

24. The Responsible Entity will keep a register of Growers (clause 8). The Licence and Management Agreement will be executed on behalf of the Grower following them being accepted into the Project.

Compliance plan

25. The Responsible Entity has prepared a Compliance Plan in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001. Its purpose is to ensure that the Responsible Entity meets its obligations as the Responsible Entity of the Project and that the rights of the Growers are protected.

Interest in land

26. The Licence and Management Agreement commences on the date the Agreement is executed. The Agreement is terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement or on the date of completion of the Project (see paragraph 28). The Responsible Entity grants a licence to the Grower under the terms of the Licence and Management Agreement. Should the Head Lease between the Head Lessor and the Sub-Lessor terminate for any reason, the Sub-Lease will continue as a Lease between the Grower and the Head Lessor (clause 11.2 of the Sub-Lease). Should the Sub-Lease between the Sub-Lessor and the Responsible Entity terminate, then to the greatest extent possible, the Sub-Lessor will honour and assume the obligations, duties and responsibilities of the Sub-Lessee under the Licence and Management Agreement as if it were the licensor under those agreements (clause 13.5 of the Sub-Lease).

27. Growers are granted an interest in land in the form of a licence to use and occupy their Treefarm for the purpose of planting, growing, maintaining, cultivating and harvesting Acacia mangium trees (clause 3.1(a) of the Licence and Management Agreement). Growers have a legal interest in the Trees grown on the their Treefarm from the commencement of their Licence and Management Agreement until the date of first Clearfall (Schedule 1 - Dictionary of the Constitution). Growers must pay a licence fee to the Responsible Entity. This fee is included in the Management fees payable under the Licence and Management Agreement (clause 6).

Licence and Management Agreement

28. Each Grower enters into a Licence and Management Agreement with the Responsible Entity. The term of the Project is from the date of execution of this agreement until the earlier of the date the harvest of the trees is completed, the termination of the Grower's interest under the Agreement or 30 June 2015, or such later date as determined by the Responsible Entity having regard to sound silvicultural practices.

29. Growers contract with the Responsible Entity to establish, maintain and manage the Grower's Treefarm and perform the harvest, processing and sale of the Grower's Produce from the Grower's Treefarm. Growers must pay an Establishment fee on application. Growers may elect on application to pay the Management fees for each year of the Project annually or use the deferred payment option. Under the deferred payment option, the annual management fee is calculated as a percentage of the Gross Harvest Proceeds.

30. The Grower will engage the Responsible Entity to provide the following Establishment Services by 31 March 2006 or within 12 months of the application being accepted, whichever is the earlier:

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supplying and planting seedlings or cuttings of Acacia mangium into pots or nursery beds;

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ploughing, ripping and mounding the Treefarm;

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spraying the Treefarm for the control of weeds which may significantly interfere with the establishment of the trees;

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fertilising the Treefarm in accordance with sound silvicultural practices; and

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planting the Trees on the Treefarm.

31. The Grower will engage the Responsible Entity to perform the following ongoing services:

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maintain, tend and otherwise care for the Trees as and when required;

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in the wet season of planting, replant any significant area(s) of the Treefarm where tree deaths will limit the overall yield of the Treefarm;

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monitor and control weed growth during the first wet season post planting that may limit the growth of the Treefarm;

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monitor the development of the Treefarm and if economically feasible, conduct form pruning operations to reduce the incidence of multi stemmed trees;

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monitor and control, to the extent necessary, any insects or vermin that may be causing significant damage to the trees;

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monitor soil and foliar nutrient status and, to the extent determined necessary, fertilise the trees; and

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maintain in good repair and condition access to the Treefarm.

Planting

32. Under the Licence and Management Agreement, the Responsible Entity is required to prepare the land for planting and supply the necessary seedlings or cuttings of Acacia mangium. The Grower will engage the Responsible Entity to provide these services and to plant the seedlings or cuttings on the Treefarms by 31 March 2006 or within 12 months of the application being accepted, whichever is the earlier. Each Treefarm will be planted with seedlings or cuttings at the rate of 950 to 1,300 per hectare. The Manager will, in the wet season of planting, replant any significant areas where tree deaths will limit the overall yield of the Plantation to the extent agreed by the Manager and the Responsible Entity (Item 4(b), Schedule 2 of the Operations Agreement).

Harvesting

33. The Responsible Entity has been contracted by the Grower to perform all harvesting activities on the Plantation from the Date of First Clearfall (Item 6, Schedule 2 of the Operations Agreement). Growers appoint the Responsible Entity to sell the Grower's Produce. The Responsible Entity will use all reasonable endeavours to arrange for the sale of the Grower's Produce from the clearfalling of the Treefarm (clause 10.1, Licence and Management Agreement).

34. The Responsible Entity will place into the Proceeds Fund Bank Account the Gross Harvest Proceeds from the sale of the Trees. The Responsible Entity is entitled to deduct from the Proceeds Fund prior to a Grower receiving a distribution:

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Costs of Production;

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Any insurance premiums, effected by the Responsible Entity under the Licence and Management Agreement, in respect of those Growers' Treefarms remaining at the relevant time and yet to be harvested;

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Management fees after the Date of First Clearfall, payable in respect of Treefarms remaining at the time and yet to be harvested (such fees calculated in accordance with the Licence and Management Agreement); and

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From each Grower's Distributable Proceeds, any other amounts outstanding, including deferred annual management fees (Clause 10.6(d) of the Licence and Management Agreement).

35. Upon, the winding up of the Project, the Responsible Entity may retain from the proceeds of realisation of Project Property money to meet future payment obligations which the Responsible Entity reasonably believes will fall due after a distribution is made to Growers and to pay its own remuneration and expenses for work to be done following the realisation of Project Property.

36. The net amount available for each Grower, after all deductions are made by the Responsible Entity under the Constitution, must be paid to the Growers within 3 months after 30 June and 31 December of the relevant year. However, if the amount to be distributed to a Grower is less than $30 per Treefarm Unit, then except for the Final Distribution under the Constitution, the Responsible Entity may in its absolute discretion, not make a distribution. In this case, the net amount will be carried forward for subsequent distribution.

Fees

Establishment Fee

37. All Growers must pay an Establishment fee on application for establishment services. The amount of the fee is dependant on whether the Grower elects to pay an annual Management fee or a deferred Management fee. These are set out in the table:

38. The Establishment fee can be paid in three ways.

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Pay cash in full, on application;

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Pay 20% deposit upon application with the balance payable on 30 July 2006; or

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Pay 20% deposit on application with the balance payable in equal monthly instalments until fully paid by 30 July 2006. If the application date is after 30 July 2005, then all of the monthly instalments due at the application date must be paid on application.

Management Fee

39. Management fees can be paid under the annual payment option or the deferred payment option. Under the annual payment option, Growers are required to pay an amount of $176.00 in arrears by 30 June of each year of the Project up to the year ended 30 June 2009. For the years ending 30 June 2010 until the Date of First Clearfall, the amount is $88.00. This fee will be indexed annually commencing in the year ended 30 June 2006. From the date of First Clearfall, the amount of Management fees payable will be calculated by reference to the proportion of Treefarms yet to be harvested. This amount will be deducted by the Responsible Entity out of the Proceeds Fund once the Net Harvest Proceeds have been determined.

40. If the deferred payment option is selected, for the period up until the Date of First Clearfall, Growers must pay an amount of 15.40% of the Gross Harvest Proceeds which will be deducted from each distribution made from the Proceeds Fund. For the period after the date of First Clearfall, the amount of Management fees payable will be calculated by reference to the proportion of Treefarms yet to be harvested. This amount will be deducted by the Responsible Entity out of the Proceeds Fund once the Net Harvest Proceeds have been determined.

Licence Fee

41. A licence fee is payable under the Licence and Management Agreement by all Growers. This fee is included in the annual Management fee and the deferred Management fee (clause 6, Licence and Management Agreement).

Other Fees

42. All Growers must pay a Marketing fee of 2.2% of the Gross Harvest Proceeds, in respect of marketing services provided under the Licence and Management Agreement. This fee is payable at any time after the Gross Harvest Proceeds have been paid into the Proceeds Fund and the Net Harvest Proceeds have been determined.

43. All Growers must also pay a Performance Bonus to the Responsible Entity if the distributions paid and payable to the Grower exceed the Performance Bonus Target of $7,700. The Performance Bonus will be equal to 22% of the distributions paid and payable to the Grower in excess of $7,700 per Treefarm Unit.

Finance

44. Growers may fund their participation in the Project themselves, using a finance package provided by Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or a finance package offered by 'The Australian Bank'. All finance arrangements will be on a full recourse basis and no funds from the Project will be used to provide such loans. There is an Application fee under both packages of $750.00 or 0.5% of the amount financed, whichever is greater. If the loan is terminated prior to the end of the term, then an Early Termination Fee is charged in accordance with the finance packages.

45. The terms of the loan under the Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd package are:

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10% deposit, 36 months interest only, then rate review, followed by 60 months principal and interest;

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10% deposit, 60 months principal and interest, then rate review, followed by 36 months principal and interest, followed by 24 months principal and interest;

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If 40 Treefarms or more are purchased, 20% deposit, 60 months interest only. The balance of 80% is paid at the end of the 5 year period by the grower from their own funds.

The balance of the loan is immediately due and payable:

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when the term of the loan ends;

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If the final harvest occurs prior to the end of the term of the loan, when distribution of the proceeds of sale of harvest occurs; or

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.if a Grower's Treefarm is damaged, distribution by the Responsible Entity of the insurance proceeds.

46. The terms of the loan under 'The Australian Bank' package are:

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10% deposit, 36 months interest only, then rate review, followed by 60 months principal and interest, then rate review, followed by 24 months principal and interest; or

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10% deposit, 60 months principal and interest, then rate review, followed by 36 months principal and interest, then rate review, followed by 24 months principal and interest.

The balance of the loan is immediately due and payable:

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when the term of the loan ends;

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If the final harvest occurs prior to the end of the term of the loan, when distribution of the proceeds of sale of harvest occurs; or

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if a Grower's Treefarm is damaged, distribution by the Responsible Entity of the insurance proceeds.

47. This Ruling does not apply if the finance arrangement entered into by the Grower includes or has any of the following features:

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there are split loan features of a type referred to in Taxation Ruling TR 98/22;

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entities involved with the project (other than Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank') are involved in the provision of finance to the Grower for this project;

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there are indemnity arrangements or other collateral agreements in relation to the loan designed to limit the borrower's risk;

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'additional benefits' are or will be granted to the borrowers for the purpose of section 82KL or the funding arrangements transform the Project into a 'scheme' to which Part IVA may apply;

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the loan or rate of interest is non-arm's length;

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repayments of the principal and payments of interest are linked to the derivation of income from the Project;

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the funds borrowed, or any part of them, will not be available for the conduct of the Project but will be transferred (by any mechanism, directly or indirectly) back to the lender or any associate of the lender;

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lenders do not have the capacity under the loan agreement, or a genuine intention, to take legal action against defaulting borrowers.

Ruling

Application of this Ruling

48. This Ruling applies only to Growers who are accepted to participate in the Project between 1 July 2005 and 28 February 2006 and who have executed a Licence and Management Agreement by this date. A Grower is not eligible to claim any tax deductions until the Grower's application to enter the Project is accepted and the Project has commenced.

The Simplified Tax System ('STS')

Division 328

49. For a Grower participating in the Project, the recognition of income and the timing of tax deductions, including those related to capital allowances, is different depending on whether the Grower is an 'STS taxpayer'. To be an 'STS taxpayer' a Grower:

•

must be eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'; and

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must have elected to be an 'STS taxpayer'.

Qualification

50. This Product Ruling assumes that a Grower who is an 'STS taxpayer' is so for the income year in which their participation in the Project commences. A Grower may become an 'STS taxpayer' at a later point in time. Also, a Grower who is an 'STS taxpayer' may choose to stop being an 'STS taxpayer', or may cease to be eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer', during the term of the Project. These are contingencies relating to the circumstances of individual Growers that cannot be accommodated in this Ruling. Such Growers can ask for a private ruling on how the taxation legislation applies to them.

Tax outcomes for Growers who are not 'STS taxpayers'

Assessable Income

Section 6-5

51. That part of the gross harvest proceeds from the Project attributable to the Grower's produce, less any GST payable on those proceeds (section 17-5), will be assessable income of the Grower under section 6-5.

52. The Grower recognises ordinary income from carrying on the business of afforestation at the time that income is derived.

Deductions for Establishment fee, Management fee, loan application fee and Interest

Section 8-1

53. A Grower who is not an 'STS taxpayer' may claim tax deductions for the following revenue expenses:

Notes:

(i)

If the Grower is registered or required to be registered for GST, amounts of outgoing would need to be adjusted as relevant for GST (for example input tax credits): Division 27. See Example 1 at paragraph 105;

(ii)

The Establishment Fee payable is equal to $2,750 or $3,080 per Treefarm Unit or $2,475 or $2,772 per Treefarm Unit if an Applicant is allotted 40 or more Treefarm Units. The Establishment Fee is expenditure for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' and is deductible in the income year in which it is incurred (see paragraphs 86 to 93 in the Explanations);

(iii)

This amount is only deductible by Growers who elect on application to pay management fees under the annual payment option. Growers who elect to pay management fees under the deferred payment option are not entitled to this deduction;

(iv)

Where a Grower who is not an 'STS taxpayer' incurs the Management fee in the relevant income years shown in the Licence and Management Agreement, those fees are deductible in full in the year they are incurred;

(v)

Interest paid under the Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank' finance package (see paragraphs 44 to 47) will be deductible when incurred. However, Growers should read the discussion of the prepayment rules in paragraph 78 to 85 as those rules may be applicable if the interest is prepaid. Subject to the 'excluded expenditure' exception, the prepayment rules apply whether the amount is required to be prepaid or is prepaid at the Grower's choice.

Tax outcomes for Growers who are 'STS taxpayers'

Assessable Income

Section 6-5

54. That part of the gross harvest proceeds from the Project attributable to the Grower's produce, less any GST payable on those proceeds (section 17-5), will be assessable income of the Grower under section 6-5.

55. The Grower recognises ordinary income from carrying on the business of afforestation at the time the income is received (paragraph 328-105(1)(a)).

Deductions for Establishment fee, Management fee, loan application fee and Interest

Section 8-1 and section 328-105

56. A Grower who is an 'STS taxpayer' may claim tax deductions for the following revenue expenses:

Notes:

(vi)

If the Grower is registered or required to be registered for GST, amounts of outgoing would need to be adjusted as relevant for GST (for example input tax credits): Division 27. See Example 1 at paragraph 105;

(vii)

If a Grower pays the Establishment fee other than in full on application (see paragraph 38), then the Establishment fee will only be deductible to the extent it is paid or has been paid for the Grower, in the year in which it is actually paid;

(viii)

The Establishment Fee payable is equal to $2,750 or $3,080 per Treefarm Unit or $2,475 or $2,772 per Treefarm Unit if an Applicant is allotted 40 or more Treefarm Units. The Establishment Fee is expenditure for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' and is deductible in the income year in which it is paid (see paragraphs 86 to 93 in the Explanations);

(ix)

This amount is only deductible by Growers who elect on application to pay management fees under the annual payment option. Growers who elect to pay management fees under the deferred payment option are not entitled to this deduction;

(x)

Where a Grower who is an 'STS taxpayer', pays the Management fee in the relevant income years shown in the Licence and Management Agreement, those fees are deductible in full in the year that they are paid;

(xi)

Interest paid under the Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank' finance package (see paragraphs 44 to 47) will be deductible when paid. However, Growers should read the discussion of the prepayment rules in paragraph 78 to 85 as those rules may be applicable if the interest is prepaid. Subject to the 'excluded expenditure' exception, the prepayment rules apply whether the amount is required to be prepaid or is prepaid at the Grower's choice.

Tax outcomes that apply to all Growers

Division 35 - Deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities

Section 35-55 - Commissioner's discretion

57. A Grower who is an individual and enters the Project during the year ended 30 June 2006 may have losses arising from their participation in the Project that would be deferred to a later income year under the section 35-10. Subject to the Project being carried out in the manner described above, the Commissioner will exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) for the years ending 30 June 2006 to 30 June 2013. This conditional exercise of the discretion will allow those losses to be offset against the Grower's other assessable income in the income year in which losses arise.

Sections 82KZME to 82KZMF, 82KL and Part IVA

58. For a Grower who participates in the Project and incurs expenditure as required by the Licence and Management Agreement the following provisions of the ITAA 1936 have application as indicated:

•

expenditure by a Grower does not fall within the scope of sections 82KZME to 82KZMF (but see paragraphs 80 to 85);

•

section 82KL does not apply to deny the deductions otherwise allowable; and

•

the relevant provisions in Part IVA will not be applied to cancel a tax benefit obtained under a tax law dealt with in this Ruling.

Section 25-25 and the Loan application fee

59. Participants who use the finance package provided by Sylvatech Securities or 'The Australian Bank' must pay a loan application fee of $750.00 or 0.5% of the amount borrowed, whichever is the greater. The loan application fee is a borrowing expense and is deductible under section 25-25. It is incurred for borrowing moneys that are used or are to be used during that income year solely for income producing purposes. The expense is deductible over the period of the loan specified in the loan agreement, or five years, whichever is the shorter period, beginning with the year in which they were incurred (subsections 25-25(4) and (5)).

Explanation

Is the Grower carrying on a business?

60. For the amounts set out in the Tables above to constitute allowable deductions, the Grower's afforestation activities as a participant in the Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 must amount to the carrying on of a business of primary production.

61. Where there is a business, or a future business, the gross proceeds from the sale of the Acacia Mangium will constitute gross assessable income in their own right. The generation of 'business income' from such a business, or future business, provides the backdrop against which to judge whether the outgoings in question have the requisite connection with the operations that more directly gain or produce this income.

62. For schemes such as that of the Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005, Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out in paragraph 89 the circumstances in which the Grower's activities can constitute the carrying on of a business. As Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out, these circumstances have been established in court decisions such as Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202; 84 ATC 4929; (1984) 16 ATR 55.

63. Generally, a Grower will be carrying on a business of afforestation, and hence primary production, if:

•

the Grower has an identifiable interest (by lease or by licence) in the land on which the Grower's trees are established;

•

the Grower has a right to harvest and sell the wood produce from those trees;

•

the afforestation activities are carried out on the Grower's behalf;

•

the afforestation activities of the Grower are typical of those associated with an afforestation business; and

•

the weight and influence of general indicators point to the carrying on of a business.

64. In this Project, each Grower enters into a Licence and Management Agreement.

65. Under the Licence and Management Agreement each individual Grower will have rights over a specific and identifiable area of 0.5 hectares of land. The Agreement provides the Grower with an ongoing interest in the specific trees on the licensed area for the term of the Project. Under the licence the Grower must use the land in question for the purpose of carrying out afforestation activities, and for no other purpose. The licence allows the Responsible Entity to come onto to the land to carry out its obligations under the Licence and Management Agreement.

66. Under the Licence and Management Agreement the Responsible Entity is engaged by the Grower to establish and maintain a Treefarm on the Grower's identifiable area of land during the term of the Project. The Manager has provided evidence that it holds the appropriate professional skills and credentials to provide the management services to establish and maintain the Treefarm on the Grower's behalf.

67. The Responsible Entity is also engaged to harvest and sell, on the Grower's behalf, the wood produce grown on the Grower's Treefarm.

68. The general indicators of a business, as used by the Courts, are described in Taxation Ruling TR 97/11. Positive findings can be made from the Project's description for all the indicators.

69. The activities that will be regularly carried out during the term of the Project demonstrate a significant commercial purpose. Based on reasonable projections, a Grower in the Project will derive assessable income from the sale of the wood produce that will return a before-tax profit, i.e. a profit in cash terms that does not depend in its calculation on the fees in question being allowed as a deduction.

70. The pooling of wood produce from trees grown on the Grower's Treefarm with the wood produce of other Growers in this Project is consistent with general afforestation practices. Each Grower's proportionate share of the sale proceeds of the pooled wood products will reflect the proportion of the trees contributed from their Treefarm.

71. The Manager's services are also consistent with general silvicultural practices. They are of the type ordinarily found in afforestation ventures that would commonly be said to be businesses. While the size of a Treefarm is relatively small, it is of a size and scale to allow it to be commercially viable.

72. The Grower's degree of control over the Manager as evidenced by the Management Agreement, and supplemented by the Corporations Act 2001, is sufficient. During the term of the Project, the Manager will provide the Grower with regular progress reports on the Grower's Treefarm and the activities carried out on the Grower's behalf. Growers are able to terminate arrangements with the Project Manager in certain instances, such as cases of default or neglect.

73. The afforestation activities, and hence the fees associated with their procurement, are consistent with an intention to commence regular activities that have an 'air of permanence' about them. For the purposes of this Ruling, the Growers' afforestation activities in the Sylvatech Tropical Timbers 2005 will constitute the carrying on of a business.

The Simplified Tax System

Division 328

74. Subdivision 328-F sets out the eligibility requirements that a Grower must satisfy in order to enter the STS and Subdivision 328-G sets out the rules for entering and leaving the STS.

75. The question of whether a Grower is eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' is outside the scope of this Product Ruling. Therefore, any Grower who relies on those parts of this Ruling that refer to the STS will be assumed to have correctly determined whether or not they are eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'.

Deductibility of the Establishment fee and Management fee

Section 8-1

76. Consideration of whether the Establishment fee and the Management fee are deductible under section 8-1 begins with the first limb of the section. This view proceeds on the following basis:

•

the outgoing in question must have a sufficient connection with the operations or activities that directly gain or produce the taxpayer's assessable income;

•

the outgoings are not deductible under the second limb if they are incurred when the business has not commenced; and

•

where all that happens in a year of income is that a taxpayer is contractually committed to a venture that may not turn out to be a business, there can be doubt about whether the relevant business has commenced, and hence, whether the second limb applies. However, that does not preclude the application of the first limb in determining whether the outgoing in question has a sufficient connection with activities to produce assessable income.

77. The Establishment fee and Management fee associated with the afforestation activities will relate to the gaining of income from the Grower's business of afforestation (see above), and hence have a sufficient connection to the operations by which income (from the harvesting and sale of wood produce) is to be gained from this business. They will thus be deductible under the first limb of section 8-1. Further, no 'non-income producing' purpose in incurring the fee is identifiable from the arrangement. The fee appears to be reasonable. There is no capital component of the Establishment fee or the Management fee. The tests of deductibility under the first limb of section 8-1 are met. The exclusions do not apply.

Prepayment provisions

Sections 82KZL to 82KZMG

78. The prepayment provisions contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 affect the timing of deductions for certain prepaid expenditure. These provisions apply to certain expenditure incurred under an agreement in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement (for example, the performance of management services or the leasing of land) that will not be wholly done within the same year of income as the year in which the expenditure is incurred. If expenditure is incurred to cover the provision of services to be provided within the same year, then it is not expenditure to which the prepayment rules apply.

79. For this Project, only section 82KZL (an interpretive provision) and sections 82KZME, 82KZMF and 82KZMG are relevant. Subject to section 82KZMG, if the requirements of sections 82KZME and 82KZMF are met, taxpayers determine deductions for prepaid expenditure under section 82KZMF using the formula in subsection 82KZMF(1). These provisions also apply to 'STS taxpayers' because there is no specific exclusion contained in section 82KZME that excludes them from the operation of section 82KZMF.

Sections 82KZME and 82KZMF

80. Other than expenditure deductible under section 82KZMG, if the requirements of subsections 82KZME(2) and (3) are met, the formula in subsection 82KZMF(1) (see below) will apply to apportion expenditure that is otherwise deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. The requirements of subsection 82KZME(2) will be met if expenditure is incurred by a taxpayer in return for the doing of a thing that is not to be wholly done within the year the expenditure is made. The year in which such expenditure is incurred is called the 'expenditure year' (subsection 82KZME(1)).

81. The requirements of subsection 82KZME(3) will be met where the agreement (or arrangement) has the following characteristics:

•

the taxpayer's allowable deductions under the agreement for the 'expenditure year' exceed any assessable income attributable to the agreement for that year; and

•

the taxpayer does not have effective day to day control over the operation of the agreement. That is, the significant aspects of the arrangement are managed by someone other than the taxpayer; and

•

either:

(a)

there is more than one participant in the agreement in the same capacity as the taxpayer; or

(b)

the person who promotes, arranges or manages the agreement (or an associate of that person) promotes similar agreements for other taxpayers.

82. For the purpose of these provisions, the agreement includes all activities that relate to the agreement (subsection 82KZME(4)). This has particular relevance for a Grower in this Project who, in order to participate in the Project may borrow funds from financiers other than Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank'. Although undertaken with an unrelated party, that financing would be an element of the arrangement. The funds borrowed and the resulting interest deduction are directly related to the activities under the arrangement. If a Grower prepays interest under such financing arrangements, the deductions allowable will be subject to apportionment under section 82KZMF.

83. There are a number of exceptions to these rules, but for Growers participating in this Project, only the 'excluded expenditure' exception in subsection 82KZME(7) is relevant. 'Excluded expenditure' is defined in subsection 82KZL(1). However, for the purposes of Growers in this Project, 'excluded expenditure' is prepaid expenditure incurred under the arrangement that is less than $1,000. Such expenditure is immediately deductible.

84. Where the requirements of section 82KZME are met, section 82KZMF applies to apportion relevant prepaid expenditure. Section 82KZMF uses the formula below, to apportion prepaid expenditure and allow a deduction over the period that the benefits are provided.

Expenditure * (Number of days of eligible service period in the year of income / Total number of days of eligible service period)


85. In the formula 'eligible service period' (defined in subsection 82KZL(1)) means, the period during which the thing under the agreement is to be done. The eligible service period begins on the day on which the thing under the agreement commences to be done or on the day on which the expenditure is incurred, whichever is the later, and ends on the last day on which the thing under the agreement ceases to be done, up to a maximum of 10 years.

Section 82KZMG

86. Under section 82KZMG(1), expenditure is excluded from the prepayment rules that would otherwise apply, to the extent that the prepaid amount satisfies the requirements of subsections 82KZMG(2) to (4).

87. Subsection 82KZMG(2) requires that the expenditure is

•

incurred on or after 2 October 2001 and on or before 30 June 2006; and

•

the eligible service period must be 12 months or shorter and must end on or before the last day of the year of income after the expenditure year; and

•

for the doing of a thing under the agreement that is not to be wholly done within the expenditure year.

88. To satisfy subsection 82KZMG(3) the agreement must satisfy the following requirements:

•

it must be an agreement for planting and tending trees for felling; and

•

be an agreement where the taxpayer does not have day to day control over the operations arising out of the agreement. (a right to be consulted or to give directions does not equate to day to day control for the purposes of this requirement); and

•

either:

(i)

there is more than one participant in the agreement in the same capacity as the taxpayer; or

(ii)

the manager manages, arranges or promotes the agreement, or an associate of the manager, manages, arranges or promotes similar agreements.

89. Under subsection 82KZMG(4) the expenditure incurred by the taxpayer must be paid for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' undertaken by the manager during the 'establishment period' for the relevant planting of trees for felling. The term 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities' is explained in Taxation Determination TD 2003/12.

90. Subsection 82KZMG(5) defines the 'establishment period to commence at the time that the first 'seasonally dependent agronomic activity' is performed in relation to a specific planting of trees and to conclude with the planting of trees. Where it is necessary to apply a fertiliser or herbicide to the trees at the same time as planting then those activities fall within the establishment period. Planting of trees refers to the main planting of the particular plantation and expressly excludes specific planting to replace existing seedlings that have not survived.

Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project

91. Under the Licence and Management Agreement, a Grower incurs an Establishment Fee consisting of expenditure of either:

•

Annual management fee option: $2,750 or $2,475 if an Applicant is allotted 40 or more Treefarm Units; or

•

Deferred annual management fee option: $3,080 or $2,772 if an Applicant is allotted 40 or more Treefarm Units

for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities'.

92. As the requirements of section 82KZMG have been met, a deduction is allowable in the income year ended 30 June 2006 for the expenditure incurred under the Licence and Management Agreement for 'seasonally dependent agronomic activities'.

93. A Grower who is an 'STS taxpayer' can, therefore, claim an immediate deduction for each of the relevant fees in the income year in which the fee is paid if the Grower pays the Establishment fee in full on application (see paragraph 38). If the Establishment fee is not paid in full on application, it will only be deductible to the extent it is paid or has been paid for the Grower, in the year in which it is actually paid;. A Grower who is not an 'STS taxpayer' can claim an immediate deduction for each of the relevant fees in the income year in which the fee is incurred.

Interest deductibility

Growers who use the Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank' finance package

94. Growers will finance their participation in the Project through a finance package provided by Sylvatech Finance Pty Ltd or 'The Australian Bank' (see paragraphs 44 to 46). Under the terms of the finance packages, interest must be paid.

95. Whether the resulting interest costs are deductible under section 8-1 depends on the same reasoning as that applied to the deductibility of the Establishment and Management Fees. The interest incurred for the year ended 30 June 2006 and in subsequent years of income will be in respect of a loan to finance the Project business operations of growing trees and is therefore directly connected with the gaining of 'business income' from the Project. Such interest will, therefore, have a sufficient connection with the gaining of assessable income to be deductible under section 8-1. However, interest will only be deductible up to the date net harvest proceeds are paid to the grower under the terms of the Constitution.

Section 25-25 of the ITAA 1997 - Deductibility of the Loan application fee as a borrowing expense

96. Subsection 25-25(1) of the ITAA 1997 allows a deduction for expenditure incurred by the taxpayer for borrowing money to the extent that the borrowed money is used for the purpose of producing assessable income.

97. The Loan application fee is an expense of borrowing money. Under subsections 25-25(1) and 25-25(3) of the ITAA 1997, it will be deductible to the extent that the Loan proceeds are used to participate in the Project. For instance, if 60% of the Loan is used to purchase Treefarms, then 60% of the Loan application fee will be allowable as a deduction over the relevant period

98. As the Loan application fee exceeds $100.00, it must be apportioned over a period of 5 years or the term of the loan, whichever is the shorter. The amount and timing of the deduction is calculated in accordance with section 25-25(4) of the ITAA 1997, whether the Grower is an 'STS taxpayer' or not an 'STS taxpayer'.

Deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities

Division 35

99. In deciding to exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) on a conditional basis for the income years 30 June 2006 to 30 June 2013, the Commissioner has applied the principles set out in Taxation Ruling TR 2001/14 Income tax: Division 35 - non commercial business losses. Accordingly, based on the evidence supplied, the Commissioner has determined that for the income year ended 30 June 2006 up to and including 30 June 2013:

•

Its because of its nature, the business activity will not satisfy one of the four tests set out in Division 35;

•

there is an objective expectation that within a period that is commercially viable for the afforestation industry, a Grower's activity will satisfy one of the four tests set out in Division 35 or produce a taxation profit; and

•

a Grower who would otherwise be required to defer a loss arising from their participation in the Project under subsection 35-10(2) until a later year is able to offset that loss against their other assessable income.

100. The exercise of the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) is conditional on the Project being carried on in the manner described in this Ruling during the income years specified. If the Project is carried out in a materially different way to that described in the Ruling, a Grower will need to apply for a private ruling on the application of section 35-35 to those changed circumstances.

Section 82KL

101. The operation of section 82KL depends, among other things, on the identification of a certain quantum of 'additional benefit(s)'. Insufficient 'additional benefits' will be provided to trigger the application of section 82KL. It will not apply to deny the deduction otherwise allowable under section 8-1.

Part IVA

102. For Part IVA to apply there must be a 'scheme' (section 177A); a 'tax benefit' (section 177C); and a dominant purpose of entering into the scheme to obtain a tax benefit (section 177D).

103. The Project will be a 'scheme' commencing with the issue of the Product Disclosure Statement. A Grower will obtain a 'tax benefit' from entering into the scheme, in the form of tax deductions for the amounts detailed at paragraphs 51 and 56 that would not have been obtained but for the scheme. However, it is not possible to conclude that the scheme will be entered into or carried out with the dominant purpose of obtaining this tax benefit.

104. Growers to whom this Ruling applies intend to stay in the scheme for its full term and derive assessable income from the harvesting and sale of their wood produce. There are no facts that would suggest that Growers have the opportunity of obtaining a tax advantage other than the tax advantages identified in this Ruling. There are no non-recourse financing or round robin characteristics, and no indication that the parties are not dealing with each other at arm's length, or, if any parties are not at arm's length, that any adverse tax consequences result. Further, having regard to the factors to be considered under paragraph 177D(b) it cannot be concluded, on the information available, that participants will enter into the scheme for the dominant purpose of obtaining a tax benefit.

Example

Example 1 - Entitlement to GST input tax credits

105. Susan, who is a sole trader and registered for GST, contracts with a manager to manage her afforestation business. Her manager is registered for GST and charges her a management fee payable every six months in advance. On 1 December 2003 Susan receives a valid tax invoice from her manager requesting payment of a management fee in advance, and also requesting payment for an improvement in the connection of electricity for her vineyard that she contracted him to carry out. The tax invoice includes the following details:

Susan pays the invoice by the due date and calculates her input tax credit on the management fee (to be claimed through her Business Activity Statement) as:

1/11 * $4,400 = $400.


Hence her outgoing for the management fee is effectively $4,400 less $400, or $4,000.

Similarly, Susan calculates her input tax credit on the connection of electricity as:

1/11 * $2,200 = $200.


Hence her outgoing for the power upgrade is effectively $2,200 less $200, or $2,000.

In preparing her income tax return for the year ended 30 June 2004, Susan is aware that the management fee is deductible in the year incurred. She calculates her management fee deduction as $4,000 (not $4,400).

Susan is aware that the electricity upgrade is deductible 10% per year over a 10 year period. She calculates her deduction for the power upgrade as $200 (one tenth of $2,000 only, not one tenth of $2,200).

Detailed contents list

106. Below is a detailed contents list for this Product Ruling:

Commissioner of Taxation
16 February 2005

Not previously issued as a draft

References

ATO references:
NO 2004/16106

Related Rulings/Determinations:

IT 360
PR 1999/95
PR 2005/19
TD 93/34
TR 92/1
TR 92/20
TR 97/11
TR 97/16
TR 98/22
TR 2000/8
TR 2001/14
TD 2003/12

Subject References:
borrowing expenses
carrying on a business
commencement of business
non-commercial losses
primary production
primary production expenses
management fee expenses
producing assessable income
product rulings
public rulings
schemes and shams
taxation administration
tax avoidance
tax benefits under tax avoidance schemes
tax shelters

Legislative References:
ITAA 1936 Pt 3 Div 3 Subdiv H
ITAA 1936 82KL
ITAA 1936 82KZL
ITAA 1936 82KZL(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZME
ITAA 1936 82KZME(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(2)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(3)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(4)
ITAA 1936 82KZME(7)
ITAA 1936 82KZMF
ITAA 1936 82KZMF(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(1)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(2)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(3)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(4)
ITAA 1936 82KZMG(5)
ITAA 1936 Pt IVA
ITAA 1936 177A
ITAA 1936 177C
ITAA 1936 177D
ITAA 1936 177D(b)
ITAA 1997 6-5
ITAA 1997 8-1
ITAA 1997 17-5
ITAA 1997 25-25
ITAA 1997 25-25(1)
ITAA 1997 25-25(3)
ITAA 1997 25-25(4)
ITAA 1997 Div 27
ITAA 1997 Div 35
ITAA 1997 35-10
ITAA 1997 35-10(2)
ITAA 1997 35-55
ITAA 1997 35-55(1)
ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(a)
ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(b)
ITAA 1997 Div 328
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-F
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-G
ITAA 1997 328-105
ITAA 1997 328-105(1)(a)
Copyright Act 1968
Corporations Act 2001
TAA 1953 Pt IVAAA

Case References:
Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau
(1984) 6 FCR 202
84 ATC 4929
(1984) 16 ATR 55