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This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication. It should not be regarded as indicative of the ATO's current views. The law may have changed since original publication, and views in the edited version may also be affected by subsequent precedents and new approaches to the application of the law.

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Edited version of your private ruling

Authorisation Number: 1012573075124

Ruling

Subject: Discount capital gain

Question

Where the sale of a property results in a capital gain, are you eligible to discount the capital gain?

Answer

Yes.

This ruling applies for the following periods

Year ending 30 June 2014

Year ending 30 June 2015

The scheme commenced on

1 July 2013

Relevant facts and circumstances

You are an individual.

You purchased a property in the 2009-10 financial year.

The property is being leased on a commercial basis.

During the 2012-13 financial year you lodged an application to develop the property.

Once the application is approved you will sell the property.

You have not yet entered into any agreements to sell the property.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 115-5

Reasons for decision

Under section 115-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 you make a discount capital gain if the following requirements are satisfied:

    · you are an individual, a trust or a complying superannuation entity

    · a capital gains tax (CGT) event happens to an asset you own

    · the CGT event happened after 11.45am (by legal time in the ACT) on 21 September 1999

    · you acquired the asset at least 12 months before the CGT event, and

    · you did not choose to use the indexation method.

Under the discount method you reduce your capital gain by the discount percentage. For individuals, the discount percentage is 50%. However, you can reduce the capital gain only after you have applied all the capital losses for the year and any unapplied net capital losses from earlier years.

The discount capital gain is included in your assessable income and taxed at the marginal rate applicable to that income for that year.

In your case, as you are an individual who has owned the property for more than 12 months and the sale of the property (a CGT event) will occur after 21 September 1999, you are able to discount capital gain where the sale of the property results in a capital gain.