Taxation Determination

TD 93/156

Income tax: is a refund notice an 'assessment' for the purposes of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 when a taxpayer has a taxable income above the tax-free threshold but is entitled to franking rebates in excess of the amount of tax otherwise payable and a refund notice issues to refund existing PAYE credits to the taxpayer?

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FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: I 1215852

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).

1. No. The imposition of a tax liability is an essential feature of an assessment. A nil assessment is an impossibility (DFC of T v Sheehan 86 ATC 4718 at 4724; (1987) 18 ATR 194 at 201).

2. No tax is payable under the refund notice because the taxpayer's rebate entitlements (under section 160AQU) exceed the tax which would otherwise be payable by the taxpayer on the taxable income. Such a refund notice does not impose any tax liability (Case W69 89 ATC 618 at 626; AAT Case 5237 (1988-89) 20 ATR 3806 at 3814). It is not an assessment for the purposes of the Act.

3. The taxpayer would not, for example, have any right under section 175A to object against the refund notice.

4. If, at a later date, the Commissioner issues an assessment to increase the taxpayer's taxable income, that assessment would be an original assessment and not an amended assessment. It would not be subject to the time limitations contained in section 170.

Example

A taxpayer's return of income for the year ended 30 June 1992 discloses the following:
Salary & wages $6,000
(PAYE deductions of $150.00)
Dividends: franked amount $610
imputation credit $390
$1,000
Taxable Income $7,000
The taxpayer's franking rebate entitlements of $390.00 completely offset the tax of $320.00 which would otherwise be payable by the taxpayer on the taxable income of $7,000. A refund notice issues on 10 April 1993 to refund the PAYE credits of $150.00 to the taxpayer.
This refund notice is not an assessment for the purposes of the Act. The taxpayer cannot object against the refund notice under section 175A.
In January 1998 (more than four years later), the Commissioner forms the opinion that interest income of $4,000 was omitted from the taxpayer's 1992 year return and issues an assessment to increase the taxpayer's taxable income to $11,000 ($7,000 + $4,000). This assessment is an original assessment. It is not, for example, subject to the four year time limitation contained in subparagraph 170(2)(b)(ii). Normal objection rights would, of course, attach to this original assessment.

Commissioner of Taxation
12/8/93

Previously issued as Draft TD93/D150

References

ATO references:
NO BXH 0025

ISSN 1038 - 8982

Subject References:
Assessment

Legislative References:
ITAA 6(1);
160AQU;
166;
169;
170;
175A

Case References:
Batagol v FC of T
(1963) 109 CLR 243


DFC of T v Sheehan
86 ATC 4718
(1987) 18 ATR 194

Case W69
89 ATC 618

AAT Case 5237
(1988-89) 20 ATR 3806

TD 93/156 history
  Date: Version: Change:
  12 August 1993 Original ruling  
You are here 29 November 2006 Original ruling + note Repeal provision note
  26 September 2012 Withdrawn  

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