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Ruling
Subject: Lump sum compensation payment
Question
Is any part of your lump sum payment assessable as ordinary income or as a capital gain?
Answer
No.
This ruling applies for the following period
Year ending 30 June 2013
The scheme commences on
1 July 2012
Relevant facts and circumstances
As a result of an industrial explosion you have been diagnosed with a disease.
You have been awarded a lump sum compensation payment.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 6-5
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 6-10
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Paragraph 118-37(1)(b)
Reasons for decision
Section 6-5 and section 6-10 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that the assessable income of an Australian resident includes ordinary and statutory income derived directly and indirectly from all sources during the income year.
Ordinary income has generally been held to include three categories, namely income from rendering personal services, income from property and income from carrying on a business.
Other characteristics of income that have evolved from case law include receipts that:
· are earned
· are expected
· are relied upon
· have an element of periodicity, recurrence or regularity.
The lump sum payment you have been paid is not income from rendering personal services, income from property or income from carrying on a business.
The payment is also not earned, expected, relied upon and is a one off payment and thus it does not have an element of recurrence or regularity.
The lump sum payment is not considered to be ordinary income.
Capital gains tax
Receipt of a lump sum payment may give rise to a capital gain (statutory income). However paragraph 118-37(1)(b) of the ITAA 1997 disregards payment or receipts for capital gains purposes where the amount relates to compensation or damages a person receives for any personal wrong, injury or illness. The lump sum you received is considered to be exempt from CGT under paragraph 118-37(1)(b).
Conclusion
As the amount is not ordinary or statutory income it is not assessable income. Therefore no part of the settlement amount is required to be included in your income tax return.