Disclaimer This edited version has been archived due to the length of time since original publication.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. You cannot rely on this record in your tax affairs. It is not binding and provides you with no protection (including from any underpaid tax, penalty or interest). In addition, this record is not an authority for the purposes of establishing a reasonably arguable position for you to apply to your own circumstances. For more information on the status of edited versions of private advice and reasons we publish them, see PS LA 2008/4. |
Edited version of your written advice
Authorisation Number: 1051179835038
Date of advice: 12 January 2017
Ruling
Subject: Residency
Question 1
Are you a resident of Australia for taxation purposes?
Answer
No
This ruling applies for the following periods:
Year ended 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 commences on:
1 July 2015
Relevant facts and circumstances
You departed Australia in 20xx and relocated to Country B.
You do not have a spouse or children that remain in Australia.
You have obtained long term accommodation in Country B.
You have fully furnished your residence in Country B.
You have obtained employment in Country B and have worked the whole of the period that you have lived there.
Your employment in Country B is on a continuing basis.
You do not have a job waiting or on hold for you in Australia.
You have returned to Australia twice since leaving, once to visit family and once to finalise taxation and financial matters.
You intend to apply for permanent residency in Country B once you are eligible.
You have notified Medicare that you have left Australia indefinitely.
You have notified the Australian Electoral Commission that you have left Australia indefinitely.
Your Australian based assets consist of one rental property that is being leased on a long term basis.
You have deferred all social memberships on an overseas basis.
You have deferred all sporting memberships on an overseas basis.
You have not been employed by the Commonwealth of Australia at any time.
You are not a member or eligible employee of a Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 Subsection 6(1)
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 995-1(1).
Reasons for decision
Summary
Section 995-1 of the Income tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) defines an Australian resident for tax purposes as a person who is a resident of Australia for the purposes of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).
The terms 'resident' and 'resident of Australia', in regard to an individual, are defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936. The definition provides four tests to ascertain whether a taxpayer is a resident of Australia for income tax purposes. The tests are:
● the resides test,
● the domicile test,
● the 183 day test, and
● the superannuation test.
If any one of these tests is met, an individual will be a resident of Australia for taxation purposes.
Detailed reasoning
The resides test
The ordinary meaning of the word 'reside', according to the Macquarie Dictionary, 2001, rev. 3rd edition, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, NSW, is 'to dwell permanently or for a considerable time; having one's abode for a time', and according to the Compact Edition of the Oxford English
Dictionary (1987), is 'to dwell permanently, or for a considerable time, to have one's settled or usual abode, to live in or at a particular place'.
In your case you have obtained long term accommodation and fully furnished this residence in Country B. Your property in Australia has been leased on a long term basis and is not considered your permanent home.
Based on the facts of your case, the Commissioner accepts that you do not reside in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word; therefore, you are not a resident of Australia for taxation purposes.
The domicile test
Under this test, a person is a resident of Australia for tax purposes if their domicile is in Australia, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that their permanent place of abode is outside of Australia.
Generally speaking, persons leaving Australia would be considered to have maintained their Australian domicile unless it is established that they have acquired a different domicile by choice or by operation of law.
It is clear from the case law that a person's permanent place of abode cannot be ascertained by the application of any hard and fast rules. It is a question of fact to be determined in the light of all the circumstances of each case.
The courts have considered a person's 'place of abode' is where they consider 'home'. In R v Hammond (1982) ER 1477, Lord Campbell CJ stated that “a man's residence, where he lives with his family and sleeps at night, is always his place of abode in the full sense of that expression.”
In your case you intend to stay in Country B indefinitely;
You have obtained employment on a continuing basis in Country B;
You have obtained long term accommodation since arriving and remained there since;
You have a property in Australia that has been leased on a long term basis.
Based on these facts, it is therefore considered that you will establish a permanent place of abode in Country B.
The 183-day test
Under this test, if you are actually present in Australia for more than half the income year, whether continuously or intermittently, you may be said to have a constructive residence in Australia unless it can be established that your usual place of abode is outside Australia and you have no intention to take up residence here.
As you do not intend to return to Australia and be present for more than 183 days continuously or intermittently you do not meet this test.
As a result, you are not a resident under this test.
The superannuation test
You will be a resident if you are eligible to contribute to the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) or you are the spouse or child under the age of 16 years old of such a person.
Generally, Commonwealth Government employees are eligible to contribute to the PSS or CSS.
You have advised that you have not been employed by the Commonwealth of Australia at any time. You have also advised that you are not a contributing member of a Commonwealth Superannuation fund.
Therefore, this test does not apply to you.
Your residency status
Based on the facts you have provided, we can conclude that you will not satisfy any of the tests of residency.
Accordingly you are not a resident of Australia for income tax purposes under section 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 and subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936