Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Chapter 4 inserted by No 162 of 2001.

Part 4-5 inserted by No 162 of 2001.

Division 820 inserted by No 162 of 2001.

Subdiv 820-C heading amended by No 23 of 2024, s 3 and Sch 2 item 54, by inserting " financial " , effective 1 July 2024. For application provisions, see note under s 705-60 .

Subdiv 820-C inserted by No 162 of 2001.

S 820-215 repealed by No 23 of 2024, s 3 and Sch 2 item 64, effective 1 July 2024. For application provisions, see note under s 705-60 . S 820-215 formerly read:

SECTION 820-215 Arm ' s length debt amount  
820-215(1)
The arm ' s length debt amount is a notional amount that, having regard to the factual assumptions set out in subsection (2) and the relevant factors mentioned in subsection (3), would satisfy both paragraphs (a) and (b):
(a) the amount represents a notional amount of *debt capital that:

(i) the entity would reasonably be expected to have throughout the income year; and

(ii) would give rise to an amount of *debt deductions of the entity for that or any other income year; and

(iii) would be attributable to the entity ' s Australian business as mentioned in subsection (2);

(b) commercial lending institutions that were not *associates of the entity (the notional lenders ) would reasonably be expected to have entered into *schemes that would:

(i) give rise to *debt interests that constituted that notional amount of debt capital of the entity; and

(ii) provide for terms and conditions for the debt interests that would reasonably be expected to have applied if the entity and the notional lenders had been dealing at *arm ' s length with each other throughout the income year mentioned in subparagraph (1)(a)(i).

Note:

The entity must keep records in accordance with section 820-980 if the entity works out an amount under this section.

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History

S 820-215(1) amended by No 88 of 2013, s 3 and Sch 7 item 236, by substituting " *arm's length " for " arm's length " in para (b)(ii), effective 28 June 2013.

Factual assumptions

820-215(2)
Irrespective of what actually happened during that year, the following assumptions must be made in working out that amount:
(a) the entity ' s commercial activities in connection with Australia (the Australian business ) during that year:

(i) if the entity is an *inward investment vehicle (general) or *inward investment vehicle (financial) for that year - do not include the holding of any *associate entity debt; and

(ii) if the entity is an *inward investor (general) or *inward investor (financial) for that year - consist only of its Australian investments (within the meaning of section 820-205 or 820-210, as appropriate), other than the holding of any associate entity debt that is attributable to its *Australian permanent establishments;

(b) the entity had carried on the Australian business that it actually carried on during that year;
(c) the nature of the entity ' s assets and liabilities (to the extent that they are attributable to the Australian business) had been as they were during that year;
(d) except as stated in paragraph (1)(b) and paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of this subsection, the entity had carried on the Australian business in the same circumstances as what actually existed during that year;
(e) any guarantee, security or other form of credit support provided to the entity in relation to the Australian business during that year:

(i) by its *associates; or

(ii) by the use of assets of the entity that are attributable to the entity ' s overseas permanent establishments;

is taken not to have been received by the entity;
(f) the entity ' s only activities during that year were the Australian business;
(g) the entity ' s only assets and liabilities during that year were those referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection.

However, the assumptions set out in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this subsection are not to be made in taking into account the relevant factors mentioned in subsection (3).

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History

S 820-215(2) amended by No 142 of 2003.

Relevant factors

820-215(3)
On the basis of the factual assumptions set out in subsection (2), the following factors must be taken into account in determining whether or not an amount satisfies paragraphs (1)(a) and (b):
(a) the functions performed, the assets used, and the risks assumed, by the entity in relation to the Australian business throughout that year;
(b) the terms and conditions of the *debt capital that the entity actually had in relation to the Australian business throughout that year;
(c) the nature of, and title to, any assets of the entity attributable to the Australian business that were available to the entity throughout that year as security for its debt capital for that business;
(d) the purposes for which *schemes for debt capital had been actually entered into by the entity in relation to the Australian business throughout that year;
(e) the entity ' s capacity to meet all its liabilities in relation to the Australian business (whether during that year or at any other time);
(f) the profit of the entity (within the meaning of the *accounting standards), and the return on its capital, in relation to the Australian business (whether during that year or at any other time);
(g) the debt to equity ratios of the following throughout that year:

(i) the entity;

(ii) the entity in relation to the Australian business;

(iii) each of the entity ' s *associate entities that engage in commercial activities similar to the Australian business;

(iv) each other entity in which the entity has a direct or indirect interest;

(h) the commercial practices adopted by independent parties dealing with each other at *arm ' s length in the industry in which the entity carries on the Australian business throughout that year (whether in Australia or in comparable markets elsewhere);
(i) the general state of the Australian economy throughout that year;
(j) all of the above factors existing at the time when the entity last entered into a *scheme that gave rise to an actual *debt interest attributable to the Australian business that remains *on issue throughout that year;
(k) any other factors which are specified in the regulations made for the purposes of this section, including factors that are specific to an *inward investment vehicle (general), an *inward investment vehicle (financial), an *inward investor (general) or an *inward investor (financial).

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History

S 820-215(3) amended by No 34 of 2019, s 3 and Sch 2 item 2, by inserting para (g)(iv), effective 1 July 2019 and applicable to income years starting on or after 1 July 2018.

S 820-215(3) amended by No 88 of 2013, s 3 and Sch 7 item 236, by substituting " *arm's length " for " arm's length " in para (h), effective 28 June 2013.

Commissioner ' s power

820-215(4)
If the Commissioner considers an amount worked out by the entity under this section does not appropriately take into account the factual assumptions and the relevant factors, the Commissioner may substitute another amount that the Commissioner considers better reflects those assumptions and factors.

S 820-215 inserted by No 162 of 2001.