INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT ACT 1936 (ARCHIVE)

SCHEDULE 2A  

Calculating car expense deductions

TABLE OF DIVISIONS

1	Overview of the main points in this Schedule
2	Choosing which method to use
3	The ``cents per kilometre'' method
4	The ``12% of original value'' method
5	The ``one-third of actual expenses'' method
6	The ``log book'' method
7	Keeping a log book
8	Odometer records for a period
9	Retaining the log book and odometer records
10	Situations where you don't need to use one of the 4 methods
11	Definitions of ``car'', ``car expense'', ``holding a car'' and ``owning a car''

Division 7 - Keeping a log book  

SECTION 7-2   INCOME YEARS FOR WHICH YOU NEED TO KEEP A LOG BOOK  

7-2(1)   [First income year]  

You need to keep a log book for the first income year for which you use this method for the car.

7-2(2)   [When new log book needed]  

Having kept a log book for one income year, you don't need to keep a new one for the next 4 or more income years unless subsection (3) or (4) requires it. If you haven't kept a new log book for 4 income years in a row, you must keep one for the next income year.

Example:

If you keep a log book in 1995-96, you would need to keep the next one in 2000-2001, unless subsection (3) or (4) requires one sooner.

7-2(3)   [Notice]  

You must keep a log book for an income year if the Commissioner sends you a notice before the year directing you to keep a log book for the car for that year.

7-2(4)   [More than one vehicle]  

You must keep a log book for an income year if, during that year, you get one or more additional cars for which you want to use the ``log book'' method for that year.

7-2(5)   [Car replacement]  

When you replace one car with another, you might have a period when you hold both the new car and the old car, or a period when you no longer hold the old car but do not yet hold the new car. In both these cases, you are treated for the purposes of subsection (4) as if you held the one car continuously.

Note: For the definition of ``holding a car'' see section 11-3 .

7-2(6)   [Optional log book]  

You may choose to keep a log book for an income year even if you don't need to; for example, because you want to establish a higher business use percentage.