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Edited version of your written advice
Authorisation Number: 1012853347769
Date of advice: 3 August 2015
Ruling
Subject: Foreign pension
Question and answer
Is the particular pension received by you from the overseas Government assessable income in Australia?
No.
This ruling applies for the following periods:
Year ended 30 June 2015
Year ending 30 June 2016
Year ending 30 June 2017
Year ending 30 June 2018
Year ending 30 June 2019
Year ending 30 June 2020
The scheme commenced on:
1 July 2014
Relevant facts and circumstances
This ruling is based on the facts stated in the description of the scheme that is set out below. If your circumstances are materially different from these facts, this ruling has no effect and you cannot rely on it. The fact sheet has more information about relying on your private ruling.
You are a resident of Australia for taxation purposes.
You receive a particular pension from overseas Government.
You do not pay tax on this pension in the overseas country.
Relevant legislative provisions:
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 6-5(2)
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 52-10(1A)
International Tax Agreements Act 1953 Section 4
International Tax Agreements Act 1953 Schedule 1 Article 18
Reasons for decision
Subsection 6-5(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that the assessable income of a resident taxpayer includes ordinary income derived directly or indirectly from all sources, whether in or out of Australia, during the income year.
Pension income is ordinary income assessable under subsection 6-5(2) of the ITAA 1997.
However, subsection 6-15(2) of the ITAA 1997 provides that if an amount is exempt income then it is not assessable income.
Section 6-20 of the ITAA 1997 provides that an amount of ordinary income is exempt income if it is made exempt from income tax by a provision of the ITAA 1997 or another Commonwealth law.
In determining your liability to pay tax in Australia it is necessary to consider not only the domestic income tax laws but also any applicable double tax agreements.
Section 4 of the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 (Agreements Act) incorporates that Act with the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) and the ITAA 1997 so that all three Acts are read as one. The Agreements Act overrides both the ITAA 1936 and ITAA 1997 where there are inconsistent provisions (except in some limited situations).
Section 5 of the Agreements Act states that, subject to the provisions of the Agreements Act, any provision in an Agreement listed in section 5 has the force of law. The Country Y agreement) is listed in section 5 of the Agreements Act.
The agreement between Australia and country Y operates to avoid the double taxation of income received by residents of Australia and country Y.
Article XX of the country Y agreement considers the tax treatment of pensions and makes particular pension exempt from tax in Australia.
Your country Y particular pension is not assessable in Australia.