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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: 1052228434295

Date of advice: 6 March 2024

Ruling

Subject: Assessability of income

Question 1

Does the interest component amount of the compensation payment form part of your assessable income?

Answer 1

No. The interest component amount does not form part of your assessable income. However, as a non-resident taxpayer, you will be liable to withholding tax on Australian-sourced interest income under section 128B of theIncome Tax Assessment Act 1936.

Question 2

Does the refund of service fees amount of the payment form part of your assessable income?

Answer 2

No. As you have never claimed a deduction for the service fees, the refund of the service fees is a reimbursement and does not form part of your assessable income.

This ruling applies for the following period:

Year ending 30 June 20YY

The scheme commenced on:

1 July 20YY

Relevant facts and circumstances

You relocated from Country A to Country B last year and currently reside there.

Bank A sent you a letter in 20XX.

In this letter they advised that they were reviewing records of financial advice customers who paid ongoing service fees authorised by Company A.

This review was conducted for service fees paid over a number of years.

You had a financial plan with Company B who were part of Company A

As you had changed addresses, you did not receive the letter sent by Bank A.

Later the following year, you were paid an amount into your Bank A account (the payment). This amount included a refund of advice fees plus interest for financial advice you may not have received.

You have provided a statement that shows the breakup of payments for the refund of advice fees and interest.

You filed an income tax return in Country B for the income year in which you received the payment. In that return, you included the interest component from your Bank A payment.

You did not claim any deductions for the advice fees in your Country A income tax returns.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment 1936 section 128B

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 6-5