Taxation Theory, Practice & Law: Capital Gains and Fringe Benefits

This article discusses the computation of capital gains and fringe benefits tax liability for Rapid Heat Pty Ltd and its employee Jasmine for the tax year 2017/2018. It covers the computation of capital gains on vacant land, antique bed, painting, shares, and violin, and the computation of FBT liability for car, loan, and electric heater fringe benefits.

a ation heory ractice awT x T , P & L
HI6028
Student ameN
[Pick the date]

Question 1
As a tax consultant, the objective here is to offer tax advice to the client keeping in mind the
relevant tax legislations and the taxpayer details with regards to the transactions enacted during
the given year i.e. 2017/2018. Pivotal information has been provided which serves as a starting
point. This relates to the fact that neither of the given transactions relate to business by client
which implies that any proceeds that is generated from the liquidation of various assets would be
capital in nature. Considering that capital proceeds do not attract any tax burden, hence the
relevant aspect would be only to focus on any capital gains or loss which would be derived and
hence may be subject to CGT.
Vacant Land
With regards to definition of capital asset in s. 108-5 ITAA 1997, it is apparent that vacant land
would be a capital asset. In relation to CGT application, a key aspect is the purchase data since it
is the deciding factor to separate the pre-CGT asset and non-pre-CGT assets. Any capital asset
purchased by taxpayer on or before September 19, 1985 will be labelled as pre-CGT assets while
others would not be pre-CGT assets (Wilmot, 2014). This separation is significant since s. 149-
10 ITAA 1997 states that pre-CGT assets capital gains or losses would be exempt from CGT
(Austlii, 2018).
The process of computation of capital gains is initiated with the obtaining of capital proceeds on
any asset which is referred to as a CGT event. The various CGT events are summarised in s. 104-
5. It is imperative to refer to the relevant CGT event which takes place as the underlying
computation of capital gains is driven by the type of CGT event. The relevant event when
disposal of an asset take place is referred to as A1. For computation of capital gains under this
event, a critical input that is required is cost base which has been explained in s. 110-25 ITAA
1997 (Krever, 2017). The key components accordingly that are included in cost base
computation as listed below.
1

In wake of the above five elements, land block cost base has been computed as follows.
Another issue which needs attention with regards to capital asset sale corresponds to those cases
where the sale proceeds are not received in the same tax year when the asset is sold. The result is
that a concern arises for the taxpayer as to whether the tax implications for the transaction would
be charged in the year of contract enactment or when the sale proceeds are received. In order to
guide on this dilemma, a pivotal role in played by tax ruling TR 94/29 which opines that the tax
implications of sale of land needs to be borne by the taxpayer in the year when the contract is
enacted without any regards to the receipt date of the arising cash flows (Wilmot, 2014). This
understanding would be relied on for the client with regards to land block sale where mismatch
does occur between enactment of contract and receipt of sale (ATO, 1994). However, the
relevant CGT consequences would arise in 2017/2018 since the agreement for land sale has
already been enacted (Sadiq, et.al., 2015).
The computation of land sale related capital gains are exhibited below.
2

Additional consideration needs to be given to the capital losses which have come forward and
stand at $ 7,000 (excluding sculpture losses) and the same be used to lower the capital gains
computed above. Post adjustment capital gains = 20000 – 7000 = $ 193,000
Concessions on the above capital gains can be gained in line with s. 115-25 ITAA 1997 which
highlights that as per the discount method, 50% of the capital gains can be reduced provided
these are long term in nature. The capital gains would be long term only if the ownership period
of the asset has exceeded 1 year period (Nethercott, Richardson and Devos, 2016). This is true
for the given asset.
Antique Bed
The act of stealing of the antique bed (which is not a pre-CGT asset) has triggered the CGT event
A1 as mentioned in a. 104-5 ITAA 1997. Thus, there is a need to determine the underlying
capital gains or losses on the antique bed by subtracting the cost base (computed as per s. 110-
25) from the receipts that asset sale produces (Krever, 2017). The relevant computation of cost
base is exhibited below.
It
Even though the sale of bed has not been conducted by the client, but the fact that disposal has
been done mandates the computation of capital gains. Further, the insurance proceeds are used
are as sale proceeds despite the market value exceeding the same.
Additional consideration needs to be given to the capital losses which have come forward and
stand at $ 1,500 sculpture losses and the same be used to lower the capital gains computed
above. Post adjustment capital gains = 6000-1500 = $ 4,500
3

Concessions on the above capital gains can be gained in line with s. 115-25 ITAA 1997 which
highlights that as per the discount method, 50% of the capital gains can be reduced provided
these are long term in nature (Woellner, 2017). The capital gains would be long term only if the
ownership period of the asset has exceeded 1 year period. This is true for the given asset.
Painting
The critical factor with regards to this asset is the purchase date which dates before September
19, 1985, thus implying that the given asset is a pre-CGT asset owing to purchase being made in
the era when CGT was not applicable on capital gains (Nethercott, Richardson and Devos,
2016). As a result, for this asset CGT consequences would not arise as per s. 149-10 ITAA 1997
and hence capital gains /losses derived from asset sale are ignored.
Shares
The sale of shares would trigger a CGT event named as A1 in accordance with s. 104-5 ITAA
1997 (Hodgson,Mortimer and Butler, 2016). The requisition capital gains or losses derived for
the share related transactions are computed as exhibited below.
4

Concessions on the above capital gains can be gained in line with s. 115-25 ITAA 1997 which
highlights that as per the discount method, 50% of the capital gains can be reduced provided
these are long term in nature. The capital gains would be long term only if the ownership period
of the asset has exceeded 1 year period. This is true for the all the given shares besides Build Ltd
where the holding period is lesser than a month.
Violin
With regards to the information provided in this context, the client comes across as a person who
is really fond of violins and can play violin very well. Further, the client maintains a lot of
violins and she tends to use these for her entertainment whereby she plays them (Coleman,
2016). As a result, the given violin instead of being termed as a collectable would be more an
object for the personal use of the client. In case of such items, CGT consequences tend to be
levied only when the underlying asset has been bought by the taxpayer for an amount not lesser
than $ 10,000. This limit is clearly not being met for the violin under consideration which has
been bought for a mere consideration of $ 5,500. As a result, no CGT would apply on the
obtained capital gains from the violin sale.
Cumulative Capital Gains
5

Question 2
(a) Fringe Benefits
There are certain personal benefits (non-cash form) which the employer gives to employees
(and/or associates) and these are referred to fringe benefits). These benefits are unique in the
sense that the tax consequences of these is not borne by the recipient of benefit but by the entity
which provides the benefit. As a result, in accordance with Fringe Benefits Assessment Act 1986
(FBTAA 1986), employer has to bear the complete tax liability arising from consumption of
these benefits by the employer. The various steps involved in the computation of FBT liability
for the various fringe benefits are extended below (Barkoczy, 2017).
Key information that would be used for computation of FBT liability for the employer includes
that the relevant tax year is 2017/2018 with the employee being Jasmine and employer being
Rapid Heat Pty Ltd. Further, the tax implications need to be highlighted in the wake of FBTAA
1986 (Coleman, 2016).
Car - First benefit
If an employer offers car to employer for his/her use, then the nature of use determines the
extension of car fringe benefits. In accordance with s. 7, FBTAA 1986, car fringe benefit would
only extend when the car is permissible for personal use by the employee. The actual use and the
underlying extent in this regards are not pivotal factor especially if s. 9 FBTAA 1986 statutory
formula approach is being used for computation of taxable car fringe benefits
(Hodgson,Mortimer and Butler, 2016). The key inputs required in this regards are discussed as
shown below.
6

 Car Cost Base
The car cost base would be arrived after making deduction for any repairs from the purchase
price of the vehicle (Gilders, et. al., 2015). Based on the given information, it is apparent that the
car has been purchased by Rapid Heat for $ 33,000 with expenses on minor repairs to the extent
of $ 550 which have been borne by the employer.
 Period of car assess ability
Another key factor is the duration in the given tax year for which the employee could use the car
provided by employer for personal use. The information provided clearly highlights that
extension of car by Rapid Heat to Jasmine was done on 1st May, 2017 and till the end of the
financial year FY2018, the car was with Jasmine with permission for personal use. Hence,
deduction of 30 days would be done for the month of April 2017 when the car was not available.
Based on the information provided, car was in the garage for five days with the purpose of
getting minor repairs done. Also, in relation to the car being parked at the airport parking for a
period of 10 days no deduction is permissible as the car was available for use but the employee
was absent from the town and the associates decided not to use the same.
 Gross up factor
In accordance with GST Act 1999, it is apparent that car does attract GST and hence the
appropriate gross up factor for the given year would be 2.0802.
 Fringe benefits tax rate
For FY2018, the relevant FBT rate has been declared as 47%.
7

Loan - Second benefit
In accordance with Division 4, Part III FBTAA, any loan which is given to employee for various
purpose would be considered for computation of loan fringe benefit only when the same is
provided at a concessional interest rate (ATO, 2018). It is imperative to define concessional
interest rate using a suitable reference point. This reference point is the benchmark interest rate
which is reviewed by the RBA on an annual basis. For instances, for the tax year 2017/2018,
this reference rate stands at 5.25% p.a. As a result, employers should not lend below this rate if
they want to avoid the loan related FBT liability (Barkoczy, 2017).
As per the relevant details provided in the given case, it is apparent that Jasmine the employer
has been provided loan by Rapid Heat at an interest rate which is lower by 100 basis points from
the applicable reference rate. The net result is that the loan fringe benefit would be availed by
Jasmine in the given case. Also, deduction on the FBT may be available based on the underlying
usage pattern of loan by the employee. If the employee uses loan for assessable income
generation, then the interest savings on this amount that employee enjoys would be available as
tax deduction to the employer (Gilders, et. al., 2015).
8

The loan amount which has been extended to Jasmine is $ 500,000. This has been divided into
two tranches of $ 450,000 and $ 50,000. The first tranche of $ 450,000 has been used by Jasmine
to buy a holiday home and it is reasonable that the same would be used for income producing as
rent. Hence, employer (Rapid Heat) would be able to claim for deduction on the interest savings
provided to employee on this amount. But, the second tranche comprising of $ 50,000 is used by
Jasmine’s husband for making investments in share. Even though it is likely that assessable
income is generated from shares especially from dividend but still the employer is not benefitted
in the form of tax deduction since as per FBTAA 1986, deduction is limited for the use by
employer only and not by associate (Reuters, 2017).
Electric Heater - Third benefit
Employers may also reduce the personal expenses for employees by meeting some of their
personal expenses. In this regards, a special case arises when the employer tends to pay for an
internally produced product which would culminate in the form of internal expense fringe
benefits (Deutsch, et.al., 2015). As per the information provided, the heater manufactured by the
company (Rapid Heat) tends to sold to any customer at a retail price of $ 1,300. Hence, in the
lack of any fringe benefits, the same amount would have to be spent by Jasmine. But the
employer only takes half of this amount from Jasmine and pays the remaining half on its own.
This benefit in regards to personal expense of Jasmine does give rise to internal expense fringe
benefit.
9

(b) Unlike previous scenario where the $ 50,000 was being used by Jasmine’s husband for
making an investment in Telstra shares, in this case the same is being done by Jasmine and
hence $ 50,000 would be invested by her and hence the shares would be in her name
(Deutsch, et.al., 2015). As a result, now the employer would be able to claim additional tax
deduction on $ 50,000 which is as highlighted below.
Based on the above computation, it can be inferred that additional deduction of $ 500 in fringe
benefit can be realised on account of this utilisation change by Jasmine.
10

References
ATO, (1994) Taxation Ruling –TR 94/29 [Online]. Available at: Income tax: capital gains tax
consequences of a contract for the sale of land falling through.
https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?DocID=TXR/TR9429/NAT/ATO/
00001&PiT=99991231235958 (Accessed: 26 September 2018)
ATO, (2018) Fringe Benefits Tax- A Guide For Employers.
http://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/view.htm?DocID=SAV%2FFBTGEMP%2F00010 (Accessed: 26
September 2018)
Austlii, (2018) Income Tax Assessment Act 1997- SECT 149.10 [Online]. Available at:
http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/itaa1997240/s149.10.html (Accessed: 26
September 2018)
Barkoczy, S. (2017) Core Tax Legislation and Study Guide 2017. 2nd ed. Sydney: Oxford
University Press Australia.
Coleman, C. (2016) Australian Tax Analysis. 4th ed. Sydney: Thomson Reuters (Professional)
Australia.
Deutsch, R., Freizer, M., Fullerton, I., Hanley, P., and Snape, T. (2015) Australian tax handbook.
8th ed. Pymont: Thomson Reuters.
Gilders, F., Taylor, J., Walpole, M., Burton, M. and Ciro, T. (2015) Understanding taxation law
2016. 9th ed. Sydney: LexisNexis/Butterworths.
Hodgson, H., Mortimer, C. and Butler, J. (2016) Tax Questions and Answers 2016. 6th ed.
Sydney: Thomson Reuters.
Krever, R. (2016) Australian Taxation Law Cases 2017. 2nd ed. Brisbane: THOMSON
LAWBOOK Company.
Nethercott, L., Richardson, G., & Devos, K. (2016) Australian Taxation Study Manual 2016. 8th
ed. Sydney: Oxford University Press.
11

Reuters, T. (2017) Australian Tax Legislation (2017). 4th ed. Sydney. THOMSON REUTERS.
Sadiq, K., Coleman, C., Hanegbi, R., Jogarajan, S., Krever, R., Obst, W., and Ting, A.
(2015) Principles of Taxation Law 2015. 7th ed. Pymont: Thomson Reuters.
Wilmot, C. (2014) FBT Compliance guide. 6th ed. North Ryde: CCH Australia Limited.
Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S. and Pinto, D. (2017). Australian Taxation Law Select
Legislation and Commentary Curtin 2017. 2nd ed. Sydney: Oxford University Press Australia.
12