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Edited version of your written advice
Authorisation Number: 1012982650133
Date of advice: 9 March 2016
Ruling
Subject: Residency
Question and answer
Are you a resident of Australia for taxation purposes?
No.
This ruling applies for the following periods:
Year ended 30 June 2013
Year ending 30 June 2014
Year ending 30 June 2015
Year ending 30 June 2016
Year ending 30 June 2017
The scheme commenced on:
1 July 2012
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.
Australia is you country of origin and you are an Australian citizen.
You left Australia to work and live in country A on #.
You had a 2 year working visa which was renewed in #.
Your intention has been to live and work in country A past the initial 2 years, apply for permanent residency and obtain government employment there.
You rent accommodation at your own expense in country A.
You lived with your parents in their home prior to your departure.
You do not have a spouse or dependants.
You have stored your household belongings with your parents in Australia.
You have a bank account in Australia.
In country A you have a motor vehicle and bank account.
You have not/will not be in Australia for more than 183 days.
You are not eligible to contribute to the relevant Commonwealth superannuation funds.
Relevant legislative provisions:
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 995-1(1).
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 Subsection 6(1).
Reasons for decision
Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that where you are a resident of Australia for taxation purposes, your assessable income includes income gained from all sources, whether in or out of Australia. However, where you are a foreign resident, your assessable income includes only income derived from an Australian source.
The terms resident and resident of Australia, in regard to an individual, are defined in subsection 6(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.
The definition offers four tests to ascertain whether each individual taxpayer is a resident of Australia for income tax purposes. These tests are the:
• resides test
• domicile and permanent place of abode test
• 183 day test and
• Commonwealth superannuation fund test.
The primary test for deciding the residency status of each individual is whether they reside in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word resides. If the primary test is satisfied the remaining three tests do not need to be considered as residency for Australian tax purposes has been established.
The resides (ordinary concepts) test
The outcomes of several Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) cases have determined that the word 'resides' should be given the widest meaning and there have been a number of factors identified which can assist in determining if a particular taxpayer is a resident of Australia under this test.
Recent case law decisions have considered the following factors in relation to whether the taxpayer was a resident under the 'resides' test:
(i) Physical presence in Australia
(ii) Nationality
(iii) History of residence and movements
(iv) Habits and "mode of life"
(v) Frequency, regularity and duration of visits to Australia
(vi) Purpose of visits to or absences from Australia
(vii) Family and business ties to different countries
(viii) Maintenance of place of abode.
These factors are similar to those which the Commissioner has said are relevant in determining the residency status of individuals in IT 2650 and Taxation Ruling TR 98/17 Income tax: residency status of individuals entering Australia.
It is important to note that not one single factor is decisive and the weight given to each factor depends on individual circumstances.
You went to country A for work purposes in #
You intend on being in country A until at least #.
You have been living in rented accommodation in country A.
Based on the above facts you are not residing in Australia according to ordinary concepts.
The domicile test
If a person's domicile is in Australia they will be an Australian resident unless the Commissioner is satisfied they have a permanent place of abode outside of Australia.
In order to show that a new domicile of choice in a country outside Australia has been adopted, the person must be able prove an intention to make his or her home indefinitely in that country.
The expression 'place of abode' refers to a person's residence, where they live with their family and sleep at night. In essence, a person's place of abode is that person's dwelling place or the physical surroundings in which a person lives.
A permanent place of abode does not have to be 'everlasting' or 'forever'. It does not mean an abode in which a person intends to live for the rest of his or her life. An intention to return to Australia in the foreseeable future to live does not prevent the taxpayer in the meantime setting up a permanent place of abode elsewhere.
Your domicile of origin is Australia and your domicile of choice is country A.
The Commissioner is satisfied that you have a permanent place of abode outside Australia for the following reasons:
• You have gone to country A to work until at least #.
• In # you commenced the process or applying for permanent residency in country A.
• You rent accommodation in country A.
You are not a resident under this test.
The 183-day test
Where a person is present in Australia for 183 days during the year of income the person will be a resident, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the person's usual place of abode is outside Australia and the person does not intend to take up residence in Australia.
You will not be in Australia for more than 183 days in any financial year.
You are not a resident under this test.
The superannuation test
An individual is still considered to be a resident if that person is eligible to contribute to the PSS or the CSS, or that person is the spouse or child under 16 of such a person. To be eligible to contribute to those schemes, you must be or have been a Commonwealth Government employee.
You are not eligible to contribute to the relevant Commonwealth super funds.
You are not a resident under this test.
Your residency status
You are not a resident of Australia for taxation purposes.