1 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW TableofContents Answer to Question 1........................................................................................................2 Issue...............................................................................................................................2 Relevant Legislation.......................................................................................................2 Application of Law..........................................................................................................3 Annual Assessable Income of Emmi..............................................................................4 Answer to Question 2........................................................................................................5 Issue...............................................................................................................................5 Relevant Laws................................................................................................................6 Application......................................................................................................................7 Computation of Tax Liability of Liu.................................................................................8 References...................................................................................................................10
2 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW Answer to Question 1 Issue The issue is related to the computation of the taxable income of Emmi. She is studying accounting at Holmes Institute and also working part-time in Crown Melbourne restaurant. The main aspect to be discussed in this regard is whether the fringe benefits and the income received by her are a part of her annual assessable income for taxation purposes or not. The benefits received by her in the given financial year are as follows: Received $335 from the customers of the restaurant in cash; Her annual income from working in the Crown Melbourne Restaurants is $25000; A gift received by her, a perfume is worth $250 from a regular customer as a part of the Christmas benefits. However, she does not use this perfume and has given the same to her mother; Entertainment allowance received by her from her restaurant owner. The meals consumed by her is worth $380. She considers them to be a part of the rewards received for her hard work; and $15000 has been received by her from father as a Christmas gift. Relevant Legislation The relevant legislations regarding the assessable income of Emmi are as follows: As per the guidelines of ATO, tips received from customers are a part of the assessable income of an individual. This is the case in all situation irrespective of the manner in which they are received by the individual, i.e. either directly from the customer or the employer. As suggested by the case law Wrottesley v Regent Street Florida Restaurant, a system may also be agreed with regards to the tips by the employees and the employers. With regards to cash tips, the rules of ATO suggest that they should be declared in the income tax return of an individual (Ato.gov.au. 2020).The source of payment is irrelevant in this case; According to section 6.5 of 1997, the assessable income of an individual includes all income earned by them as a part of their job (Classic.austlii.edu.au. 2020). The provisions of ATO suggest that the salaries and wages received by an individual form a part of the assessable income if they earn enough money to cross the tax-threshold; According to section 78A of ITAA 1936, there are a few circumstances under which a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) is not an allowable deduction under Division 30 of ITAA 1997. There is no fixed definition of the word ‘gift’ under ITAA 1997. InFederal Commissioner of Taxation v. McPhail(1968) 117 CLR 111 (McPhail), the same was suggested by the court. There are a few conditions that the court has identified as a part of their characteristics. They include the transfer of the beneficial interest in a property and it is made voluntarily. The giver also does not expect anything in return for giving the gift to the other party. The rules of ATO state that the rewards or gifts received on special occasions and gifts received out of love are not taxable in the hands of an employee; The provisions of ATO related to gifts suggest that gifts are included as a part of the assessable income of an employee if they are received as part of a business-
3 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW likeactivityorrelatedtotheincome-earningactivitiesasanemployeeor contractor; ï‚·The final aspect is related to the gift received as a part of the Christmas presents. The rules of ATO state that any gift received as a part of special occasions or birthday presents and gifts received out of love from relatives or out of love are not to be considered as a part of the assessable income of the individual. Application of Law In this case, the taxable income of Emmi is calculated as follows: ï‚·The tips received from customers are a part of the assessable income of Emmi as per the provisions of the ATO. Hence, $335 should be included as a part of the assessable income of her annual income; ï‚·The income earned from working in the Crown Melbourne restaurants is a part of the assessable income under the concept of ordinary income under section 6(5) of ITAA 1997. Hence, the $25000 should be included as an income of Emmi in her annual returns; ï‚·The perfume received by her is a part of the income received by her on a special occasion. It is not useful in any manner to her in the completion of her job activities. Hence, it should not be included as a part of her assessable income for the given year even though she is not using it for her purpose; ï‚·However, the cost of the meals of $380 should be included as a part of the assessable income of Emmi. This is because this income is necessary in her completingherjobrelatedactivitiessuccessfully.Hence,thisshouldbe considered to be a part of the assessable income of Emmi for the given year; and ï‚·The Christmas gift received by her constitutes a part of the gifts received by her on a special occasion by her loved ones. Hence, it should not be considered as a part of her annual assessable income as it does not form a part of the gifts received during the course of her employment. Annual Assessable Income of Emmi ParticularsAmount Tips from Customers$ 335.00 IncomefromCrownMelbourne restaurants $ 25,000.00 Perfume received from employer- Monthly Entertainment event$ 380.00 Gift received from father- Total Assessable Income$ 25,715.00
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4 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW Answer to Question 2 Issue The issue in this case is related to Liu, a 65 year old Australian resident who was born in China. The advice that needs to be provided to her is related to the applicability of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on the transactions entered into her by the given financial year. The transactions are as follows: ï‚·She is planning to sell a house which was purchased in 1981 and was her main residence since she first purchased it. The purchase price of the house was $55000 and its worth is now $630000; ï‚·The next sale is related to a car which was purchased for $37000 in 2011 but is now worth around $8000; ï‚·Herphotographybusinessisworth$125000inthepresentday.The consideration received from the sale includes $53000 for equipment which cost her $63000 and $50000 received for Goodwill; ï‚·The sale of the furniture is worth $4800. None of the items of the furniture cost her more than $2000; ï‚·Thesaleofherpaintingsisworth$28000.Majorityofthepaintingswere purchased second hand and not a single painting cost her more than $500. However, one of the paintings which cost her $1000 has been sold for an amount of $8000. Relevant Laws ï‚·According to section 102.20 of ITAA 1997, capital gains tax is applicable to capital gains or losses when a CGT event occurs. The rules of ATO suggest that the main residence exemption is not allowed for properties acquired after 9 May 2017 for foreign and temporary tax residents (Ato.gov.au. 2020).However, for a permanent resident, the exemption is available on the capital gains under section 118.100. This section states that the exemption is available only if the property was used exclusively for residential purposes and was not used for producing any assessable income. It states that for properties purchased on or before 20th September 1985, the capital gains are to be ignored if there are no capital improvements made to the property; ï‚·The rules of ATO suggest that the capital gains or losses occurring on the sale of a car are exempt provided that it meets the definition of car under section 995-1 of ITAA 1997. According to this section, a car or a motor vehicle is a vehicle designed to carry a load of less than one tonne and fewer than 9 passengers; ï‚·The rules of ATO provide a varied range of exemptions to the small businesses earning capital gains in a particular year. They are the 15 year exemption, 50% active asset reduction, retirement exemption and rollover of the capital gains earned by a business (Ato.gov.au. 2020).The retirement exemption is available to residents who will be retiring from business after the disposal of the assets. The capital gains from the sale of these active assets is exempt up to a lifetime limit of $500000; ï‚·As per Section 108.20 of ITAA 1997, any capital gain or loss on a personal use asset is disregarded if it is purchased for an amount of less than $10000. As per the section, a personal use asset is one which is mainly kept for the personal use
5 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW or enjoyment of the taxpayer. It also includes an option or right to acquire such an asset and a debt arising from a CGT event; and As per section 108.10 of ITAA 1997, a collectible is defined as an artwork, jewellery, an antique, or a medallion that is mainly kept for the enjoyment purposes of the taxpayer. The capital gains arising from the sale of these collectibles are to be ignored if the collectible was initially acquired for an amount of less than $500. Application In case of the house property, the rules applicable to an ordinary Australian resident are also applicable for Liu. According to these rules, any capital gains or losses arising from the sale of the main residence of a taxpayer are to be ignored from the CGT.Hence, theamount earned from thesaleof theresidential property is to be ignored from the Capital Gains Tax. Therefore, the amount of capital gains of $575000 ($630000-$55000) is not chargeable under CGT in the hands of Liu; The car as covered under Section 995-1 of ITAA 1997 is to be ignored from CGT inthehandsofthetaxpayer.However,thecarshouldmeetthecriteria suggested under this section and should only be used for the purpose of the personal use of the taxpayer; The furniture is covered under the definition of personal use asset. Any capital gains arising on the sale of this personal use asset are to be ignored if the initial cost of acquisition of the asset was less than $10000. In this case, as none of the furniture cost more than $2000, which is below the threshold limit of $10000, the capital gains should not be considered to be a part of the assessable income of Liu; The paintings owned by Liu constitute a part of the collectibles defined under section 108.10. If the cost of acquisition of these items was less than $500, then they should not be considered to be a part of the assessable income of the individual for that year. In Liu’s case, most of the paintings owned by her are to be ignored from the amount of capital gains earned by her. However, the painting that was purchased from the artist for $1000 should be taxable under CGT as per the provisions of the ATO. Computation of Tax Liability of Liu ParticularsAmou nt Amoun t Reason Sale of house property63000 0 Less: Cost of acquisition55000 Capital Gains57500 0 Amountchargeableto CGT NILSection 118.100
6 TAXATION THEORY, PRACTICE AND LAW Sale price of car37000 0 Less: Cost of Acquisition8000 Capital GainsNILSection 995-1 and section 108.20 Sale price of business12500 0 Less:Costbaseof Equipment 63000 Capital Gains62000 Amountchargeableto CGT NILSmallbusinessconcessionunder retirement scheme Sale price of furniture4800 Amount charged to CGTNILSection 108.20 of ITAA 1997 Sale price of paintings8000 Less:Costbaseof painting 1000 CGT7000 Amount charged to CGT7000Section 108.10 ITAA 1997
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