Taxation Determination

TD 93/141

Income tax: if a lessee incurs legal expenses defending a lessor's attempts to terminate the lease, are these legal expenses an allowable deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 ?

Please note that the PDF version is the authorised consolidated version of this ruling and amending notices.

This document incorporates revisions made since original publication. View its history and amending notices, if applicable.

FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: I 1215642

This Determination, to the extent that it is capable of being a 'public ruling' in terms of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , is a public ruling for the purposes of that Part. Taxation Ruling TR 92/1 explains when a Determination is a public ruling and how it is binding on the Commissioner. Unless otherwise stated, this Determination applies to years commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, this Determination does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).

[Note: This is a consolidated version of this document. Refer to the Tax Office Legal Database (http://law.ato.gov.au) to check its currency and to view the details of all changes.]

1. No. The legal expenses are of a capital nature and are not deductible under section 8-1 (formerly subsection 51(1)).

2. Although these expenses are incurred by the lessee in the course of gaining or producing assessable income or carrying on a business for that purpose, the purpose of the expenditure is to secure the lessee's right to possession of the asset that is being leased and accordingly is of a capital nature.

Example:

Z leases business premises from ABC P/L. ABC P/L serves notice to terminate the lease.

Z incurs legal costs of $1250 engaging a solicitor to defend the action. The $1250 is not allowable under section 8-1 as these expenses are of a capital nature.

Commissioner of Taxation
22 July 1993

Previously issued as Draft TD 93/D120

References

ATO references:
NO NEWTD35

ISSN 1038 - 8982

Subject References:
leases;
legal expenses;
termination of lease

Legislative References:
ITAA 51(1);
ITAA 1997 8-1

TD 93/141 history

	Date:	Version:	Change:
	22 July 1993	Original ruling
You are here	25 June 1997	Consolidated ruling	Addendum

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