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Advice under development – income tax issues

We are developing advice and guidance on the following income tax issues.

Last updated 2 June 2024

[3957] Taxation privileges and immunities of international organisations and persons connected with them [updated]

Title

Final Taxation Ruling

Income tax: income of international organisations and persons connected with them that is exempt from income tax

Purpose

The final Ruling will update the ATO view in Taxation Ruling TR 92/14 Income tax: taxation privileges and immunities of prescribed International Organisations and their staff (now withdrawn) following the High Court decisions in Macoun v Commissioner of Taxation [2015] HCA 44 and Commissioner of Taxation v Jayasinghe [2017] HCA 26.

Expected completion

To be advised

Comments

Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2019/D1 Income tax: income of international organisations and persons connected with them that is exempt from income tax published on 27 March 2019. Comments period closed 28 May 2019.

Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2024/D2 Income tax: exempt income of international organisations and persons connected with them published on 22 May 2024, replacing TR 2019/D1. Comments period closed 21 June 2024.

Contact

Simon Weiss, Office of the Chief Tax Counsel

Phone: (02) 6216 1943

Simon.Weiss@ato.gov.au

[4000] Royalties and software

Title

Final Taxation Ruling

Income tax: royalties – character of receipts in respect of software

Purpose

Advice on the development and marketing of software was previously provided in Taxation Ruling TR 93/12 Income tax: computer software (now withdrawn). There is a need to provide updated guidance on modern forms of software distribution including digital channels and cloud computing. This Ruling will provide the Commissioner’s view on the circumstances in which amounts in respect of the licensing and distribution of software will be royalties as defined in subsection 6(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

Expected completion

To be advised

Comments

Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2021/D4 Income tax: royalties – character of receipts in respect of software published on 25 June 2021. Having regard to comments and submissions received in relation to TR 2021/D4, the Commissioner has prepared a further draft Ruling. Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2024/D1 Income tax: royalties – character of payments in respect of software and intellectual property rights published on 17 January 2024. Comments period closed 1 March 2024 and all submissions are currently being considered.

Contact

IntangiblesArrangements@ato.gov.au

[4055] Financial advice fees

Title

Final Taxation Determination

Income tax: deductions for fees paid for financial advice

Purpose

This Determination will set out the Commissioner's view on the deductibility of financial advice fees under sections 8-1 (deductions) or 25-5 (deductions for tax-related expenses) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 for individuals who are not carrying on a business.

This Determination will broaden and update Taxation Determination TD 95/60 Income tax: are fees paid for obtaining investment advice an allowable deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) for taxpayers who are not carrying on an investment business?, which was withdrawn when Draft Taxation Determination TD 2023/D4 Income tax: deductions for financial advice fees paid by individuals who are not carrying on a business issued.

Expected completion

Mid-2024

Comments

Draft TD 2023/D4 published on 13 December 2023. Comments period closed on 2 February 2024.

Contact

Danijela Jablanovic, Individuals and Intermediaries

Phone: (07) 3213 5864

Danijela.Jablanovic@ato.gov.au

For more information, see Consultation matter [202303].

[4056] Decline in value of a depreciating asset

Title

Decision impact statement on Commissioner of Taxation v Shell Energy Holdings Australia Limited [2022] FCAFC 2

Purpose

The Decision impact statement provides the ATO’s response to the Full Federal Court decision, which concerned whether the amount of the deduction available under section 40-25 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 for the decline in value of a depreciating asset was the cost of that asset by virtue of the operation of section 40-80 of the ITAA 1997.

Comments

The Decision impact statement on Commissioner of Taxation v Shell Energy Holdings Australia Limited [2022] FCAFC 2 published on 31 January 2023. Comments period closed on 3 March 2023.

Contact

Nitin Gulati, Office of the Chief Tax Counsel

Phone: (02) 9285 1661

Nitin.Gulati@ato.gov.au

[4081] Corporate collective investment vehicles [updated]

Title

Final Law Companion Ruling

Corporate collective investment vehicles

Purpose

This Ruling will represent the Commissioner’s view on the operation of the Corporate Collective Investment Vehicle regime and support the introduction of the CCIV regime.

Expected completion

July 2024

Comments

Draft Law Companion Ruling LCR 2023/D1 The corporate collective investment vehicle regime published on 1 November 2023. Comments period closed on 15 December 2023.

Contact

Christopher Magee, Office of the Chief Tax Counsel

Phone: (02) 9374 8373

Chris.Magee@ato.gov.au

For more information, see Consultation matter [202205].

[4110] Trustee risk reserve expenses

Title

Final Taxation Determination

Income tax: trustee risk reserves: deductibility of payments made by a superannuation fund to its trustee

Purpose

This Determination will set out the Commissioner’s view on the deductibility for the superannuation fund, under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, of payments made by the trustee of the fund (in its capacity as trustee) to the trustee in its own capacity to address the trustee’s risk of exposure arising from amendments to section 56 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993. The amendments were effective from 1 January 2022 and expanded the range of penalties that could be incurred by a trustee for which they can no longer use trust assets to pay.

Comments

Draft Taxation Determination TD 2023/D3 Income tax: trustee risk reserves – deductibility of payments made by a superannuation fund to its trustee published on 6 December 2023. The comments period was extended and closed on 29 January 2024.

Expected completion

August 2024

Contact

Ernest Lui, Public Groups

Phone: (02) 9374 2901

PGSuperannuationRiskandStrategy@ato.gov.au

For more information, see Consultation matter [202326].

[4115] Personal services business and Part IVA

Title

Draft Practical Compliance Guideline

Personal services business and Part IVA

Purpose

The proposed Guideline will explain when it is that we are more likely to apply resources to consider the potential application of Part IVA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (the general anti-avoidance provisions of the income tax law) to an alienation arrangement where personal services income of an individual is derived through a personal services entity that is conducting a personal services business.

Expected completion

August 2024

Contact

Madeleine Phillips, Small Business

Phone: (02) 9354 3647

Email: Madeleine.Phillips@ato.gov.au 

QC50315