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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 private advice

Authorisation Number: 1051913982958

Date of advice: 23 October 2021

Ruling

Subject: Non-commercial business losses - special circumstances

Question

Will the Commissioner exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(a) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) to allow you to include any losses from your business activity in the calculation of your taxable income for the 20XX financial year?

Answer

Yes

Having regard to your full circumstances, it is accepted that your business activity was affected by special circumstances outside your control and that these prevented you meeting one of the four tests. Consequently, the Commissioner will exercise his discretion in the 20XX financial years.

This ruling applies for the following period:

Financial year ending 30 June 20XX

The scheme commences on:

1 July 20XX

Relevant facts and circumstances

You satisfy the less than $250,000 income requirement set out in subsection 35-10(2E) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

You conduct a business of XX which commenced in the 20XX financial year.

In the 20XX financial year special circumstances impacted your business activity.

Your business was impacted in the following ways.

•                    The XX, for which your consultancy services relate to was cancelled due to the COVID-19.

•                    As a result, you did not receive any income for your XX services.

Your business has previously met the assessable income test.

It was expected that if the XX was not cancelled due to the COVID-19, your business would have met the $20,000 assessable income test.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 35-10(1)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 35-10(2)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 35-10(2E)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 paragraph 35-55(1)(a)