Victoria University Taxation Law and Practice BL02206 Assignment

This assignment solution addresses key aspects of Australian taxation law, specifically focusing on the tax residency of an individual (Robyn) and the determination of assessable income for another (Paul). Part A examines Robyn's tax residency, analyzing the applicability of the domicile test based on her circumstances as a lecturer working in India and referencing relevant sections of the ITAA 1997 and tax ruling TR 98/17. It concludes that Robyn is a foreign tax resident, making only her domestic income taxable in Australia. Part B focuses on Paul's assessable income, differentiating between ordinary income from golf lessons and a gift received. It determines the appropriate method for recording assessable income, concluding that the accrual basis is suitable for the lesson revenue and that the gift is not subject to taxation. The document references relevant sections of the ITAA 1997 and tax rulings (TR 98/1, TR 1999/17, TR 2005/13), providing a comprehensive analysis of the tax implications for both individuals.

TAXATION LAW AND PRACTICE
BL02206
STUDENT ID
[Pick the date]

Table of Contents
PART A...........................................................................................................................................2
Issue.............................................................................................................................................2
Law..............................................................................................................................................2
Application..................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
PART B...........................................................................................................................................8
Issue.............................................................................................................................................8
Law..............................................................................................................................................8
Application..................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................10
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PART A
Issue
The major issue is to determine whether the taxpayer Robyn from Victoria University would be
taxed as per Australian tax law for the tax year 2016/17.
Law
The tax liability on the derived income of taxpayer mainly depends on the tax residency position.
When a taxpayer is termed as Australian tax resident, then the income derived from domestic
(Australian) source and from international sources would be taxed as highlighted in Section 6-
5(2), ITAA 19971. Further, when the taxpayer is foreign tax resident then only the part of income
which is derived from Australian sources would be held for taxation as per the highlights of
Section 6-5(3), ITAA 19972. Therefore, it is critical aspect to find the tax residency position of
underlying taxpayer.
Section (1), ITAA 1936, comprises imperative provisions related to the tax residency status of
individual taxpayer. Further, in order to determine the tax residency position of taxpayer tax
ruling TR 98/173 would be taken into consideration. When the taxpayer is residing in other
country rather than Australia then the tax residency positions would be determined based on
residency tests. There are four main tests (Residency tests) describe in the TR 98/17 which
comprises the requisite conditions that needs to be satisfied by the concerned taxpayer in order to
recognized as Australia tax resident. It is essential that taxpayer must fulfill the conditions of at
least one of residency test4.
1 ATO, INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT ACT 1997, < https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?DocID=PAC/19970038/6-5>
2 Commonwealth Consolidated Acts: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 –SECT 6.5
<http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/itaa1997240/s6.5.html>
3 Australian Taxation Office, TR 98/17-Income tax: residency status of individuals entering Australia [ (25 November 1998), <
http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/rulings/ato/ATOTR/1998/tr1998-017/>
4 Sadiq, Kerrie, et. al., Principles of Taxation Law 2015, (Pymont,Thomson Reuters, 2015), p.37
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Residency tests and their applicability are as given below:
Tests Residency Tests Applicability
1. Resides Test Foreign Residents
2. Superannuation Test Australian Government’s officers
3. Domicile Test Australian Residents
4. 183 day Test Foreign Residents
Determination of tax residency position when the taxpayer is foreign resident5
1. Resides Test
There is no direct law or ruling available in Australian tax law, which describes the actual
meaning and implication of word “Resides.” Hence, the relevant case law and their verdicts are
taken into consideration in order to decide the tax residency through this test. Moreover, the
main factors considered by the tax authorities are as highlighted below6:
 Purpose of visits and abode in Australia
 Frequency of visits
5 Deutsch, Robert, et. al., Australian tax handbook. (Pymont, Thomson Reuters, 2015), p.67-68
6 Ibid.3.
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 Presence of any personal/professional/educational tie with Australia
 Social arrangement of taxpayer with Australia
Also, the nationality of the taxpayer would be taken into account while deciding the tax
residency status for the given tax year.
2. 183-day test
When the taxpayer who is foreign resident and has stayed in Australia, then the following
conditions need to be satiated by the taxpayer in order to pass this test.
 Taxpayer has stayed in Australia for minimum 183 days in the given assessment tax year
 Taxpayer must has strong will to permanently settle in Australia
3. Superannuation test
When the government of Australia has sent their officers to overseas in order to fulfill the
government duties, then this test is used to check the tax residency of officer taxpayer. It is
essential that the taxpayer has systematic and steady contribution in any of the superannuation
scheme of Australian government. These schemes are as given below:
 Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS)
 Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSSS)
4. Domicile test
The taxpayer must satisfied the following two conditions of domicile test in regards to termed as
Australian tax resident irrespective of the fact that taxpayer has resided in foreign land7.
7 Ibid.4.
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 Taxpayer must hold Australian domicile under the provisions of Domicile Act 1982
 Taxpayer’s permanent abode must located in Australia only (the Levene v, I.R.C.8 case is
the testimony of this condition)
When the taxpayer who holds Australian domicile but the permanent abode is located in foreign
land, then he/she would be categorized as foreign resident. Therefore, it is imperative to check
the location of permanent abode of taxpayer. As per the verdict of Applegate per Franki9case, if
the taxpayer holds Australian domicile but resides in foreign land for substantial period of time
(i.e. atleast 2 years) or having intention to extend the abode than it would be assumed that the
permanent place of abode has been shifted from Australia. In such case, the person would not be
termed as Australian tax resident. The main features related to the permanent abode of taxpayer
are described in the tax ruling IT 2650 and are given below10:
 Difference in the actual and expected abode in foreign land
 Taxpayer’s intention to purchase home in foreign country
 Intention of the taxpayer to make another visits to any other country or to go back to
Australia after a definite but substantial time period
 Total duration of stay in foreign land and willingness to extent the stay
 Strength of association (professional/private and so forth) with Australia
 Activity of taxpayer which highlights the intent to make permanent abode in foreign land
8Levene v, I.R.C. (1928) A.C.2017
9 Applegate per Franki J 79 ATC at 4314; 9ATR at p. 907
10 Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Ruling No. IT 2650, (1991) <https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Income-and-
deductions/Income-you-must-declare/ >
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Application
Robyn Rainer is the concerned taxpayer who was working as a lecturer in Victoria University in
Australia. The university also conducted business courses in Calcutta University India. Jason
Holm who was the coordinator in Calcutta University India has resigned from the job. After his
resignation, the university was looking for a lecturer who can go and stay in India and continue
the work. Taxpayer who was looking for a career opportunity as a course coordinator has
expressed her interest and also gets approved for the post. On January 14, she has joined the
Calcutta University India.
It is apparent that the taxpayer is neither an Australian government officer nor a foreign resident
and hence, “superannuation test, 183 day test and resides test” are not applicable. Further, she is
an Australian resident and therefore, the only valid test is domicile test in order to check the tax
residency status of Robyn.
Applicable test – Domicile test
 Robyn has Australia domicile.
 Permanent place of abode needs to be determined as per tax ruling IT 2650. It is apparent
from the case facts that she lives in a company owned flat in India. She has also opened a
bank account in Indian bank where she has receiving half of her salary. She has rented her
flat located in Melbourne for a period of 12 months. She has intention to remain in the
position of coordinator in Calcutta as long as the course is conducted in India. Hence, it
would be fair to conclude that Robyn has arrived India for a substantial time and thus, her
permanent place of abode has shifted from Australian and located in India. Based on the
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facts, it can be concluded that Robyn fails to pass domicile test because her permanent place
of abode is not in Australia. Therefore, her salary would be taxed in Australia for 2016/17.
Conclusion
It is apparent from the above that the only applicable test is domicile test. Further, the permanent
place of abode of taxpayer Robyn is shifted from Australian and hence, during the tax year
2016/17 her permanent place of abode is located in India. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that
taxpayer is not an Australian tax resident. Also, she would be categorized as foreign tax resident
and thus, the domestic income would be liable for taxation. Therefore, under section 6-5(3),
ITAA 1997 her salary from Victoria University would be taxed in Australia for the tax year
2016/17.
PART B
Issue
The central issue is to identify the amounts that would be included as assessable income for Paul
for the taxation year 2016/2017 i.e. year ending on June 30, 2017.
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Law
One of the components of assessable income for a taxpayer in Australia is ordinary income as
defined by s. 6(5), ITAA 1997. The section defines ordinary income as that derived from
ordinary sources. However, the ordinary sources are not defined in the statute and hence the
various case laws and ATO rulings are relied on interpreting the various sources that are covered
under the ambit of ordinary income. One of the key sources of ordinary income is employment
income. Also, the income derived from any business or profession is also included in the fold of
ordinary income as apparent from tax ruling TR 98/1. Besides, income received in kind instead
of cash would also be included in taxable income as per TR 1999/17. It is noteworthy that there
are various general business expenses related deductions that the taxpayer may assess in order to
compute the taxable income in accordance with s. 8(1) ITAA 1997.
Another critical issue while determination of assessable income arising from business is to
determine whether the same should be done on a cash basis (Receipts Basis) or accrual basis
(Earnings Basis). In accordance with TR 98/1, the taxpayer ought to choose the method which
most appropriately captures the income. For instance, if the money received for clients is non-
refundable, then the cash basis is more suitable because irrespective of service provided in the
future or not, the money would not be given back and hence it makes sense to book revenues. On
the other hand, if the cash collected from customer can be broken into smaller payments for
particular milestones and excess payment is refundable, then the earnings method makes more
sense for computation of assessable income11.
11 Ibid.3
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Also, with regards to determination of gift, TR 2005/13 is relevant as division 30; ITAA 1997
has been rather silent in this regard. Based on the various case laws, it highlights the four
conditions which are needed for a payment to be recognized as gift. These are as follows12.
 There needs to be an ownership transfer in the favor of the transferee.
 The transfer should be carried out on a voluntary basis.
 The transferor must not have any reciprocal material expectations from the transferee in
exchange for the gift extended.
 The transfer must arise on account of benefaction.
If a given payment fulfills the above criterion, then it would be recognized as gift and no tax
would be charged on the same and hence no contribution to assessable income would be made13.
Application
It is apparent from the given facts that Paul is in the business of providing golf classes and hence
the income derived from providing these classes would be termed as ordinary income under s.
6(5). Further, with regards to the appropriate means to record assessable income for Paul, the
more appropriate means would be accrual basis as it is apparent that for the 12 lessons even
though all the money is paid upfront but the same is refundable if the client fails to attend some
lessons on a proportionate basis. This implies that for the sum collected for the 12 lessons, there
is likelihood that some portion would be refunded to the client in the event client fails to turn up
for the lessons. Thus, it is prudent that assessable income from the 12 lessons revenues should
only realize the portion for which classes have been provided till June 30, 2017. The revenue for
12
13 Ibid.4.
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the remaining would be recognized in 2017/2018 as and when the lessons are imparted to the
clients.
Also, it is noteworthy that payment of $10,000 from Doreen would be recorded as a gift and
hence it will not contribute to assessable income. This is because Doreen has paid the amount on
a voluntary basis and also because the transfership of ownership has been completed. Further,
Doreen by giving the money had no material reciprocal expectations in return and was primarily
given as a token of appreciation to her teacher Paul. Additionally, the payment of two students
that went into paying for damage to David’s golf buggy would also be part of the assessable
income as per TR 1999/17.
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion, it is apparent that assessable income for Paul would consist of
income from lessons on an accrual basis coupled with payment made by the students for making
up for the damage caused to David’s golf buggy.
References
Websites
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ATO, INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT ACT 1997, <
https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/document?DocID=PAC/19970038/6-5>
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Rulings: TR 98/17-Income tax: residency status of
individuals entering Australia (25 November 1998), <
http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/rulings/ato/ATOTR/1998/tr1998-017/>
Commonwealth Consolidated Acts: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 –SECT 6.5.
<http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/itaa1997240/s6.5.html>
Books
Sadiq, Kerrie, et. al., Principles of Taxation Law 2015, (Pymont, Thomson Reuters, 2015)
Deutsch, Robert, et. al., Australian tax handbook. (Pymont, Thomson Reuters, 2015)
Relevant Statutes
Income Tax Assessment Act, 1936
Income Tax Assessment Act, 1997
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