Taxation Law of Australia

This document provides an overview of the taxation law in Australia. It covers topics such as Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge, deductibility of gifts, capital gains tax, tax-free threshold, and more. The document also discusses the concepts of 'usual place of abode' and 'permanent place of abode' in relation to residency status. It further explores the eligibility for income tax deductions for various expenses related to self-education. The document is relevant for students studying taxation law in Australia.

Running head: TAXATION LAW OF AUSTRALIA
Taxation Law of Australia
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1Taxation Law of Australia
Table of Contents
Answer to Question: 1................................................................................................................3
Answer (a)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (b)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (c)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (d)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (e)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (f)..............................................................................................................................3
Answer (g)..............................................................................................................................4
Answer (h)..............................................................................................................................4
Answer (i)...............................................................................................................................5
Medicare Levy...........................................................................................................................5
Medicare Levy Surcharge..........................................................................................................5
Answer to Question: 2................................................................................................................5
Answer to Question: 3................................................................................................................7
Answer to Question: 4..............................................................................................................10
Answer (a)............................................................................................................................10
Answer (b)............................................................................................................................11
Answer (c)............................................................................................................................11
Answer (d)............................................................................................................................12
Answer to Question: 5..............................................................................................................12
Answer (a)............................................................................................................................12

2Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (b)............................................................................................................................13
Answer (c)............................................................................................................................13
Answer (d)............................................................................................................................14
Answer (e)............................................................................................................................14
References................................................................................................................................15

3Taxation Law of Australia
Answer to Question: 1
Answer (a)
The “taxation ruling of TR 2019/1” covers the commissioner view considering an
organization when it perform its business operation under “sec-23, ITRA 1986”- the
definition mentioned in respect of small business entity. It has applicable from the income
year 2015-16 and 2016-17 “sec-328-110, ITAA 1997”1.
Answer (b)
“Division 30 of the ITAA 1997” of the Income Tax Assessment Act, 1997 outlines
the legislation regarding deductibility of gifts or contributions for the taxpayers2.
Answer (c)
The tax rate of 45% is applicable to a resident taxpayer in the current tax year.
Answer (d)
The taxpayers use a car or motorcycle for their personal purpose. Therefore, it
consider as an asset for personal use and comes under “sec-108-20, ITAA 1997”. Hence, not
exempted from capital gains tax.
Answer (e)
“Subsection 104-20 (1), ITAA 1997” includes the CGT event C1, that takes place
when an individual has somehow lost or destroyed the CGT Asset. It commences on the time
when that individual reimbursed for the destruction or that loss or if he/she do not receive any
reimbursement or compensation for the discovered loss.
Answer (f)
The current tax-free threshold for a resident individual of Australia is $18,200.
1 Hopkins, Bruce R. The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations. 11th ed., 2016.
2 Bankman, Joseph, et al. Federal Income Taxation. Aspen Publishers, 2018.

4Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (g)
The High Court decision in the case, Hayes v FCT (1956) 96 CLR 47 states that the
employer who has consider as well founder of the company has given a considerable amount
of gift by allotting shares in a public company3. On the casual basis, the accountant has
provided unpaid services to the employer and some other small-unpaid services has rendered.
The federal court made a judgment by announcing that the gift do not comes under income,
as it is not generating any revenue and the parties has shown its existence of friendship
amongst their families so, it has consider as the occasion of gift. The case is noteworthy as
the intention of the donor is barely decisive.
Answer (h)
Ordinary Income Statutory Income
 As the Act does not mentioned any
definition, through the case law it
has found that the Ordinary income
occurs from the decision that is
dependent on the required principles.
 Ordinary income is treated as
assessable income for the taxpayer
that comes under “section 6-5,
ITAA 1997”.
 Statutory income is reflected as a
computable income as required
activities of certain regulations has
mentioned under the act
 Statutory income is reflected prior to
ordinary income’s application. The
amount assessed under the provision
of “section 6-25 (2)”.
3 Leighton-Daly, Mathew. "Wickenby-related tax crime prosecutions." Taxation in Australia 52.7 (2018): 380.

5Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (i)
Medicare Levy Medicare Levy Surcharge
 It is considered as the simple method
that helps in contributing for the cost
for Medicare through the working
people of the Australia
 This is compulsory for an individual
who has more than $27,069 of the
taxable income, at the rate of 2% of
taxable income4.
 It is a tax charged by the federal
government that contributes towards
the public by paying for their health
system. The main motive is to
decrease the public paid health care
services by opting private health
cover.
 This surcharge has to pay by the
individual who has taxable income
of more than $90,000 or combined
taxable income of families of $1,
80,000 per year.
Answer to Question: 2
The word “usual place of abode” and “permanent place of abode” both do not carry
the same meaning of it. ‘Usual’ and ‘abode’ are the two different words that interpreted in
respect to the required situation for their expression. The answer for the ‘usual place of code’
based on the fact. Moreover, the above-mentioned expression is of normal residence or can
be use when an individual in the country shows his/her physical existence. Such a person
must have a fixed place as residence. Nevertheless, he/she has a requirement to show their
appearance in such residence rather than to show as a sometimes-periodic visitor or overnight
4 LexisNexis issuing body. LexisNexis Practical Guidance : AU Tax. 2018.

6Taxation Law of Australia
stay or weekly visitor to their accommodation. This states a fixed accommodation in a fixed
place of staying rather than a taxpayer who has been a tenant or the person in Australia,
having their “usual place of abode”.
The place that would considered as short-lived or as temporary in nature- if a person
comes under the sight that he/she has ‘usual place of abode’ and demonstrate that the person
does not have any fixed place or usual place of abode outside the country. However, that
person is moving on a regular basis from one place to another or place themselves from one
state to different state in or within the country and shows any special context of relation to the
place in foreign nation. An individual with his/her own choice considered as accepted some
other place as residence or “permanent place of abode” outside of Australia5.
In the interim, the word “permanent place of abode” indicates that the taxpayer has its
residence in Australia. The meaning of term resident mentioned under “subparagraph (a)
(i)” reflects that the commissioner believes in the ‘permanent place of abode’ of a person is
not outside Australia. The ‘place of abode’ means that the person is staying with their family
in the night. According to the “Levene v IRC (1928)” - “place of abode” refers to the
residence or the surrounding where a person physically exists6.
According to “FCT v Applegate (1979)”- the law court, it has explained that if a
person has gone to New Hebrides in Villa so that he can settle down his office for his
company then also that taxpayer has residence of Australia. In the judgment made by full
Federal court noticed that the taxpayer has ‘permanent place of abode’ out of Australia. The
taxpayer has to consider as a non-resident for that particular income year7.
5 Schurgott, Ken. “Practical Issues with Trusts: Important Updates.” Tax Specialist, vol. 20, no. 1, 2016, pp. 2–
9.
6 Kamdar, Mahomed. "South Africans working abroad: the current dilemma and the tax implications." Tax
Professional2019.34 (2019): 9-11.
7 Idris, Nuhu Musa. "Some comparisons between the Nigerian and South African fiscal regimes regarding an
individual’s tax residence." Obiter 39.1 (2018): 76-84.

7Taxation Law of Australia
One of the prominent case of “FCT v Jenkins (1982)” refers- if a taxpayer is
working as an employee as a bank officer and shifted to New Hebrides for three years and in
the due course get returned following stay of 18 months and reflected a poor condition of
health. The Supreme Court of Queensland declare a decision that the taxpayer through the
time span of residing outside of Australia, though in that time span the taxpayer has not
create any material purpose of residing overseas for an unknown period.
“Section 6 (1), ITAA 1936”- to determine an individual’s residency status
Commonwealth public service superannuation funds test is made. According to this, the
member of the commonwealth public service together with their family treated as the tax
resident of Australia. Commonwealth public service superannuation funds test is objective
based test8.
As an evidence from the case laws as well as legislation discussed above, an
individual not to state their ‘usual place of abode’ is outside of Australia. In the time being,
first legislative test that is required to a person to satisfy their ‘permanent place of abode’
outside Australia.
Answer to Question: 3
(a) HECS-HELP- $850:
The question reflects the need of the expenses made for self-education where an
employee working is contributed as a taxpayer to receive an education from a particular
school or college or any other source of study. It is necessary to understand that the course
must be for improving the skills and knowledge supporting to the current work activities. So
in that case get a self-deduction expense. Further, the ATO declared that taxpayer individual
8 Siebert, Horst. Reforming capital income taxation. Routledge, 2019.

8Taxation Law of Australia
is not permitted to claim the deduction. Because, the contribution is made to the Australian
Government in respect to HECS-HELP.
In the given situation in the question, it has found that the accountant has made an
expense of $850 in the contribution that made to help HECS-HELP. Thus, the trainee
accountant is not permitted to claim the deduction for this contribution to the Australian
Government HECS- HELP.
(b) Travel-work to University- $110:
The ATO has made clear that an individual or a tax payer who is availing self-education
from some other place then he/she is eligible to income tax deduction for the cost incurred
while travelling from the place of study to the taxpayer’s home. It has stated under
legislation “section 8-1, ITAA 1997” a deduction can be claim by an individual who is
travelling to study place to home. In this view, the trainee accountant is eligible for the
deduction as it is related to the expense made in the respect of current work and travelling is
through the University to home.
(c) Books- $200:
Under “Section 8-1, ITAA 1997” it has stated that if an employee during their job made
any self-education expense in terms of increasing their knowledge or enhancing their skills
for the current work doing by them , in that case the person is eligible to get general
deduction. Judgment of the court in “FCT v Highfield (1982)” ATC 4463- The taxpayer got
deduction for the paid fees, travel cost and accommodation for pursuing Master of Science on
Periodontics. The reason is the expenses made in pursuing a course for the degree would
enhance the knowledge and increase the efficiency of the practice of the taxpayer.

9Taxation Law of Australia
In this view, the deduction would be allowed under “section 8-1, ITAA 1997” for the
expenses made of $200 for books while undertaking a degree that would enhance the
knowledge and the skills of the person.
(d) Childcare during her evening classes- $250:
Any domestic loss and the private type expense made is not eligible for deduction as it
has not met any positive limb and hence this is not deductible under negative limb of “S8-1
(2) (b), ITAA 1997”. In “Lodge v FCT (1972)”. The deductions were not allowed to the
clerk for the child mind during attending her work. The expenses seems not relevant to the
group of taxpayer earning that is taxable9.
The childcare expense of $80 has made to attend an evening class refer to an expense
related to domestic or private type. The “Lodge v FCT (1972)” stated that the sum of $80 is
non-deductible under “S8-1 (2) (b), ITAA 1997” second negative limb, as it is not meeting
positive limbs.
(e) Repair to her fridge at home- $250:
According to “sec25-10, ITAA 1997” the taxpayer is liable to claim deduction for the
expenses made on the premise repairing or to depreciating asset that is for generating income
assessable to it. As the taxpayer has made expenses of $250 on repairing fridge for home. The
amount of $250 will be consider as non-deductible under “sec25-10, ITAA 1997” as it is for
private purpose.
(f) Black trousers and shirt required to be worn at the office- $145:
9 Datt, Kalmen H., and Mark Keating. "The Commissioner’s obligation to make compensating adjustments for
income tax and GST in Australia and New Zealand." Australian Tax Forum. Vol. 33. No. 3. 2018.

10Taxation Law of Australia
According to “section 8-1, ITAA 1997”, the expenses that has made on the clothing will
not be consider for deduction. In case, “Mansfield v FCT (1996)” expenses made on the
ordinary article related to apparel has not allowed for tax deduction.
The expenses made for shirts and black trousers of $145 is for work at office that is an
ordinary article for apparel. Referring the above case the amount of $145 is non-deductible.
(g) Legal expenses incurred in writing up a new employment contract with a new
employer- $300:
According to “section 8-1, ITAA 1997” the expenses made on the basis to start a
business activity or any work producing to income, that activity will not be considered for
deduction. The court of “Maddalena v FCT (1971)” found that expenses that has made in
travelling to second club and the payment for the activity of negotiating was non-deductible.
The expenses incurred of $300 for a new employment under a new employer refer to a
pre commencement to income generating activities. Referring to the above case the amount
of $300 is basis to begin income producing and hence, not allowed for the tax deduction
under section 8-1, ITAA 1997”.
Answer to Question: 4
Answer (a)
A CGT event takes place when a person allows a lease to someone, they can extend
the period or renew the lease in accordance to the earlier person granted to that lease. On
making the capital gains under CGT event F1, the discount is not applicable.
In the given question, John has owned some land and he has granted the lease to
David for an amount of $7,000. It has resulted in the capital gain from CGT event F1.
Therefore, not any CGT discount on CGT event F1 is applicable.

11Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (b)
Answer (c)
The ATO states that when a taxpayer is using completely the residence as their
residing purpose then in this case tax liability of capital gain will not be imposed. On the
other hand, when the taxpayer utilizes the tax residence or any portion in the sense of
generating income from it then there is availability to gain partial exemption to the main
residence10.
In the given case in the question expressed that Li has used 20% of the residence floor
to start a physiotherapy business. Therefore, the taxable amount to the capital gain from the
portion computed below:
Capital gain x Percentage of floor area = Assessable portion
= $700,000 – $400,000 = $300,000 (net capital gain)
= 300,000 x 20% = $60,000
The evidence collected states that Li has the house ownership for more than 12
months. This results that she is eligible to gain the access of CGT discount for the
10 Minas, John, Youngdeok Lim, and Chris Evans. "The impact of tax rate changes on capital gains realisations:
evidence from Australia." Australian Tax Forum. Vol. 33. No. 4. 2018.

12Taxation Law of Australia
computation of capital gains. Further, Li has fulfilled the need to the law of “home first used
to produce income” the business started from the date of the purchase of the Li’s residence.
Answer (d)
Cost Base Reduced Cost Base
 The cost that occurs while sale is the
cost base of an asset that is compare
to know the capital gain/loss made,
if any.
 Cost Base CGT asset includes
following five elements: amount
paid for the property, incidental cost
for purchasing an asset, owning
CGT Asset cost, cost to capital for
increasing the value of an asset and
preserving cost.
 This is use to ascertain any capital
loss to the taxpayer when CGT event
incurred and the taxpayer have not
any capital gain.
 Reduced Cost Base not includes any
such cost that can be claim as tax
deduction. Further, this cannot be
used to lower other income11.
Answer to Question: 5
Answer (a)
As per “section 6-5, ITAA 1997” when an item reaches to taxpayer’s home for their
use then that item is considered as nature of income. The presence of dishonesty, illegality or
other factor does not exclude the item’s derivation. In the given question, it is assumed that
the taxpayer has derived the income and the income from illegal source will be consider as
assessable income.
11 Krever, Richard, and Kerrie Sadiq. "Non-residents and capital gains tax in Australia." Canadian Tax
Journal/Revue fiscale canadienne 67.1 (2019).

13Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (b)
In the given question, the taxpayer has earned bank interest of $500. This can come
under “section 6-5, ITAA 1997”, consider as a periodic receipt income and assessable
income based on ordinary sense. The amount received from the rental property is consider as
income and includes as a taxable income in the ordinary sense under “section 6-5, ITAA
1997”. As per the ATO windfall gain will not be consider as income. As the taxpayer has
won prize of $10,000 at Crown Casino therefore it is not assessable12.
Answer (c)
According to “Section 6 of the ITAA 1936” states that income earned through
personal application incurred as salary, wages, bonus and allowances by an employee’s
working. The personal effort income consider as ordinary income as per “section 6-5, ITAA
1997”. Therefore, in the ordinary meaning under “section 6-.5, ITAA 1997”, the income of
$500 by an employee consider as taxable income.
12 Heath, Stephen. "Tax files: Deemed dividends and private companies." Bulletin (Law Society of South
Australia) 41.1 (2019): 33.

14Taxation Law of Australia
Answer (d)
Answer (e)

15Taxation Law of Australia
References
Bankman, Joseph, et al. Federal Income Taxation. Aspen Publishers, 2018.
Datt, Kalmen H., and Mark Keating. "The Commissioner’s obligation to make compensating
adjustments for income tax and GST in Australia and New Zealand." Australian Tax Forum.
Vol. 33. No. 3. 2018.
Heath, Stephen. "Tax files: Deemed dividends and private companies." Bulletin (Law Society
of South Australia) 41.1 (2019): 33.
Hopkins, Bruce R. The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations. 11th ed., 2016.
Idris, Nuhu Musa. "Some comparisons between the Nigerian and South African fiscal
regimes regarding an individual’s tax residence." Obiter 39.1 (2018): 76-84.
Kamdar, Mahomed. "South Africans working abroad: the current dilemma and the tax
implications." Tax Professional2019.34 (2019): 9-11.
Krever, Richard, and Kerrie Sadiq. "Non-residents and capital gains tax in
Australia." Canadian Tax Journal/Revue fiscale canadienne 67.1 (2019).
Leighton-Daly, Mathew. "Wickenby-related tax crime prosecutions." Taxation in
Australia 52.7 (2018): 380.
LexisNexis issuing body. LexisNexis Practical Guidance : AU Tax. 2018.
Minas, John, Youngdeok Lim, and Chris Evans. "The impact of tax rate changes on capital
gains realisations: evidence from Australia." Australian Tax Forum. Vol. 33. No. 4. 2018.
Schurgott, Ken. “Practical Issues with Trusts: Important Updates.” Tax Specialist, vol. 20,
no. 1, 2016, pp. 2–9.
Siebert, Horst. Reforming capital income taxation. Routledge, 2019.