House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By the Authority of the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP

Glossary

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used throughout this explanatory memorandum.

General outline and financial impact

Deductible gift recipients

Schedule 1 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to update the list of deductible gift recipients (DGRs) to make two entities DGRs, and change the name of another entity.

Date of effect : For the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students, and the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation the amendments apply to gifts made after 2 August 2010. The name change to Girl Guides Australia applies from 1 January 2011.

Proposal announced : The listing of Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students, and the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation as DGRs was announced in the 2010-11 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Financial impact : This measure will have the following revenue implications:

Self managed superannuation fund investment in collectables and personal use assets

Schedule 2 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) to permit the regulations to impose rules on self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) trustees that make, hold or realise investments involving collectables or personal use assets. These amendments apply in relation to investments made by an SMSF before, on or after 1 July 2011. The regulations may specify that the amendments apply to only some of these investments. The regulations may prescribe penalties for non-compliance with the rules set out in the regulations, not exceeding 10 penalty units.

This Schedule also amends the SIS Act to remove a reference to a provision that was repealed on 24 September 2007.

Date of effect : 1 July 2011.

Proposal announced : This proposal was announced as a Government election commitment and titled 'New Standards for Storing Collectables and Personal Use Assets Held by Self Managed Superannuation Funds' on 30 July 2010.

Financial impact : Nil.

Compliance cost impact : Nil.

Superannuation - tax file number amendments

Schedule 3 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 and the Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997 to allow superannuation fund trustees and retirement savings account providers to use tax file numbers (TFNs):

•

as a method of locating member accounts; and

•

to facilitate the consolidation of multiple member accounts.

Date of effect : 1 July 2011 for the amendments to use TFNs to locate accounts, and 1 January 2012 or a date to be proclaimed for the consolidation amendments.

Proposal announced : This measure was announced in the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation's Media Release No. 024 of 16 December 2010.

Financial impact : Nil.

Compliance cost impact : Low.

Exempting Australian taxes, fees and charges from the goods and services tax

Schedule 4 to this Bill amends:

•

the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) to replace the current mechanism for ensuring Australian taxes, and certain Australian fees and charges are not subject to the goods and services tax with specific legislative exemptions;

•

the GST Act to allow for the making of regulations to treat an Australian tax, or an Australian fee or charge in a particular way; and

•

the A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax) Act 1999 to account for changes being made to the GST Act.

Date of effect : These amendments apply from 1 July 2011.

Proposal announced : This measure was announced in the 2010-11 Budget.

Financial impact : Nil.

Compliance cost impact : These amendments are expected to result in a low overall compliance cost impact, comprised of a low implementation impact and a low decrease in ongoing compliance.

Miscellaneous amendments

Schedule 5 to this Bill makes technical corrections and other minor and miscellaneous amendments to the taxation laws. These amendments are part of the Government's commitment to the care and maintenance of the tax system.

Date of effect : These amendments commence from Royal Assent unless otherwise stated in this explanatory memorandum.

Proposal announced : These amendments were all foreshadowed by their release in draft form on the Treasury website on 28 January 2011.

Financial impact : The amendment to allow the nomination of controllers of discretionary trusts for the purposes of capital gains tax small business concessions (Part 19, comprising items 91 to 105) is expected to result in a small cost to revenue (with an upper bound of $10 million per annum).

The other amendments are expected to have nil to minimal revenue impacts.

Compliance cost impact : Nil to low.

Chapter 1

Deductible gift recipients

Outline of chapter

1.1 Schedule 1 to this Bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) to update the list of deductible gift recipients (DGRs) by changing the name of one entity and making two entities deductible gift recipients.

Context of amendments

1.2 The income tax law allows taxpayers who make gifts of $2 or more to DGRs to claim income tax deductions. To be a DGR, an organisation must fall within one of the general categories set out in Division 30 of the ITAA 1997, or be listed by name in that Division.

1.3 DGR status assists eligible funds and organisations to attract public support for their activities.

Summary of new law

1.4 These amendments add the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students, and the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation to the list of specifically listed DGRs, and change the name of a currently listed DGR from 'Guides Australia Incorporated' to 'Girl Guides Australia'.

Detailed explanation of new law

Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students (ABN 24 869 741 764)

1.5 Schedule 1 allows taxpayers to claim a deduction for gifts made to the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students after 2 August 2010 and before 2 August 2013. [ Schedule 1, item 4, item 2 . 2 . 39 in the table in subsection 30 - 25(2 )]

1.6 The purpose of the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students is to advance the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the provision of scholarships to Indigenous Australians for study at overseas institutions, such as Oxford and Cambridge University.

1.7 It is a condition of the listing that the fund meets the requirements of the scholarship general DGR category, except for the provisions requiring that it must be provided by an Australian higher education provider and not target a predetermined section of the community. Also, as a condition of listing, that the Australian Educational International (AEI) raise no objections to the institutions to which the scholarship fund seeks to send scholars, and that the fund advise the Australian Government annually on those institutions to which scholars have been sent in a given year.

Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation (ABN 99 950 620 671)

1.8 This Schedule allows taxpayers to claim a deduction for gifts made to the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation after 2 August 2010 and before 2 August 2013. [ Schedule 1, item 4, item 2 . 2 . 40 in the table in subsection 30 - 25(2 )]

1.9 The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation works to advance the education and life opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and provides additional assistance to female Indigenous scholars undertaking programs overseas, such as assisting with the cost of relocating families and partners.

1.10 It is a condition of the listing that the fund meets the requirements of the scholarship general DGR category, except for the provisions requiring that it must be provided by an Australian higher education provider and not target a predetermined section of the community. Also, as a condition of listing, that the AEI raise no objections to the institutions to which the scholarship fund seeks to send scholars, and that the fund advise the Australian Government annually on those institutions to which scholars have been sent in a given year.

Girl Guides Australia (ABN 62 477 364 942)

1.11 This Schedule also changes the name of 'Guides Australia Incorporated' to 'Girl Guides Australia'. [ Schedule 1, items 1 and 2, items 10 . 2 . 2 and 10 . 2 . 3 in the table in section 30 - 90 ]

1.12 The purpose and operation of the organisation has not changed.

Consequential amendments

1.13 Changes have been made to update the index in Division 30 of the ITAA 1997 to add Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students and the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation. [ Schedule 1, items 5 and 6, items 30A and 97AA in the table in section 30 - 315 ].

1.14 Changes have been made to update the index in Division 30 to reflect the change in name to Girl Guides Australia. [ Schedule 1, item 3, item 53A in the table in section 30 - 315 ]

Chapter 2

Self managed superannuation fund investment in collectables and personal use assets

Outline of chapter

2.1 Schedule 2 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) to permit the regulations to impose rules on self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) investment in collectables and personal use assets.

2.2 Schedule 2 also amends the SIS Act to remove a reference to a provision that was repealed on 24 September 2007.

2.3 This measure will have effect from 1 July 2011.

2.4 All legislative references in this chapter are to the SIS Act unless otherwise stated.

Context of amendments

2.5 Superannuation funds, including SMSFs, are generally free to invest in any asset they choose. However, taxation concessions are provided to superannuation savings with the objective of providing individuals with better income in retirement. Consequently, there are some rules on superannuation investments. The aim of these rules is to ensure that superannuation savings are accumulated for retirement income purposes, not current day benefit or estate planning.

2.6 These rules include that investments must be consistent with the sole purpose test in section 62 of the SIS Act, which, broadly, requires that superannuation funds must be maintained for the sole purpose of providing retirement income to members or, in the event of a member's death, to the member's dependants or legal personal representative. Although the sole purpose test covers all operations of the fund, in terms of investment this means that investments must be made solely for retirement income purposes.

2.7 In May 2009, the Government announced a review into the governance, efficiency, structure and operation of Australia's superannuation system. The Super System Review had the goal of ensuring that the superannuation system operates in the most cost effective manner and in the best interests of all its members.

2.8 The Super System Review's final report was released on 5 July 2010. The report made a number of recommendations regarding SMSFs, one of which was that SMSF investment in collectables and personal use assets should be prohibited and that existing SMSF holdings of these assets should be disposed of within five years.

2.9 The Super System Review panel found that investments in collectables and personal use assets pose issues in relation to the application of the sole purpose test. They argued that these investments lend themselves to personal enjoyment and therefore can involve current day benefits being derived by those using or accessing the assets. The panel argued that these assets should not be regarded as investments that build retirement savings and consequently should not be available to SMSFs.

2.10 An SMSF is a superannuation entity that has less than five members, all of whom are trustees of the fund or directors of the corporate trustee. A key characteristic of an SMSF is that all members are involved in the decision-making process and control the management of the fund.

2.11 SMSFs are subject to compliance-based regulation by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), unlike most other superannuation funds which are subject to prudential regulation by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). SMSFs are subject to a less onerous prudential regime than APRA-regulated entities on the basis that all members of SMSFs are in a position to protect their own interests.

2.12 Given the closely-held nature of SMSFs, members have direct control over the investment of their superannuation savings and have the capacity to invest their money for their own current day benefit. The same risk does not exist in APRA-regulated funds, because the members in these funds have minimal control over investment decisions and are unlikely to receive any current day benefit from an investment.

2.13 It is extremely difficult for the ATO to determine the true purpose for which an investment in a collectable or personal use asset is made, particularly where the asset is 'stored' in premises owned by the SMSF trustee. As such, there are insufficient regulatory tools available to prevent SMSF investment in collectables and personal use assets giving rise to current day benefits for SMSF members.

2.14 On 30 July 2010, the Government announced, as an election commitment, that it does not support the Super System Review recommendation to prohibit SMSF investment in collectables and personal use assets, in recognition that collectables can be a legitimate investment for some SMSF trustees. However, the Government also announced that it would tighten the legislative standards applying to SMSF investment in collectables and personal use assets to ensure that such investments do not give rise to current day benefit for SMSF trustees.

Summary of new law

2.15 Schedule 2 amends the SIS Act to permit the regulations to impose rules on SMSF trustees that make, hold or realise investments involving collectables or personal use assets. Assets considered to be collectables and personal use assets are listed in the provisions.

2.16 This Schedule also amends the SIS Act to remove a reference to a provision that was repealed on 24 September 2007.

Comparison of key features of new law and current law

Detailed explanation of new law

2.17 Currently, SMSF trustees may invest in a broad range of assets, provided the investments are permitted by the fund's trust deed and are in accordance with its investment strategy. The trustees must also comply with legislative rules, regardless of the asset class in which they invest. These amendments to the SIS Act provide for specific legislative rules to be applied solely to SMSF investments involving collectables and personal use assets.

2.18 Part 7 of the SIS Act sets out rules that apply only to regulated superannuation funds.

2.19 A new section is inserted into Part 7 to allow the regulations to prescribe rules that specifically relate to investments by an SMSF involving assets that are:

•

artwork (within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997);

•

jewellery;

•

antiques;

•

artefacts;

•

coins or medallions;

•

postage stamps or first day covers;

•

rare folios, manuscripts or books;

•

memorabilia;

•

wine;

•

cars;

•

recreational boats;

•

memberships of sporting or social clubs; or

•

assets of a particular kind, if assets of that kind are ordinarily used or kept mainly for personal use or enjoyment (not including land).

[ Schedule 2, item 1, section 62A ]

2.20 This measure applies not only where the asset is the primary investment but also where the asset is attached to an investment or is a related benefit of an investment.

Example 2.1

Jemma is a trustee of an SMSF. As trustee of her SMSF, Jemma makes an investment in XYZ Golf Club. By making the investment, Jemma receives a complimentary membership. Although the membership is not the primary investment, Jemma must comply with regulations made for the purpose of section 62A of the SIS Act in relation to the membership.

2.21 'Self managed superannuation fund' is defined in section 17A of the SIS Act.

2.22 Section 62A does not override section 62 of the SIS Act, which sets out the sole purpose test. Investments to which this measure applies need to comply with both section 62 and section 62A.

2.23 The rules that the regulations may prescribe can relate to the making, holding and realising an investment. In other words, the rules may be in relation to how the asset is acquired, stored and used while in the SMSF, and disposed of. [ Schedule 2, item 1, section 62A ]

2.24 The regulations may prescribe penalties for non-compliance with the rules set out in the regulations. The penalties cannot exceed 10 penalty units. This is consistent with paragraph 353(1)(d) of the SIS Act, which provides that the regulations may prescribe penalties not exceeding 10 penalty units in respect of offences against the regulations. [ Schedule 2, item 1, section 62A, note ]

2.25 Matters relating to offences against the rules will be set out in the regulations. Including the offence with the rules will ensure transparency and simplicity, and will assist with interpretation.

Minor amendment

2.26 Paragraph 353(1)(d) is amended to remove the reference to subsection 376(6). Subsection 376(6) was repealed on 24 September 2007 by item 55 of Schedule 1 to the Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Act 2007. [ Schedule 2, item 2, paragraph 353(1 )( d )]

Application provisions

2.27 These amendments apply in relation to investments made by an SMSF before, on or after 1 July 2011. [ Schedule 2, item 3 ]

2.28 The regulations may specify that the amendments apply to only some of these investments. This will allow the five-year transitional period, announced by the Government as part of its election commitment, to be included in the regulations. [ Schedule 2, item 3 ]

Chapter 3

Superannuation - tax file number amendments

Outline of chapter

3.1 Schedule 3 to this Bill amends the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) and the Retirement Savings Accounts Act 1997 (RSA Act) to allow superannuation fund trustees and retirement savings account (RSA) providers respectively to use tax file numbers (TFNs) to locate member accounts and to facilitate the consolidation of multiple member accounts.

Context of amendments

Current law

3.2 A TFN is a unique number issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for each taxpayer, which allows the ATO to match details of income disclosed in a taxpayer's return with details of a person's income received from other sources. TFNs are used by the ATO as a primary identifier of an individual for the purposes of the administration of taxation and superannuation laws administered by the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner).

3.3 There are current laws which allow use of TFNs in the superannuation industry. These laws apply to trustees of regulated superannuation funds, approved deposit funds, RSAs, exempt public sector superannuation schemes, and employers.

3.4 The collection of TFNs by superannuation funds is authorised under Part 25A of the SIS Act. This Act provides clear limitations on the use of TFNs and also outlines details of the recording and destruction of TFN records.

3.5 If the superannuation fund trustee or RSA provider is not provided with a member's TFN for superannuation purposes, the superannuation fund trustee or RSA provider is required to seek the member's TFN within 30 days of the person becoming a fund member. However, it is not compulsory for the member to quote their TFN.

3.6 However, where a TFN is not provided, member contributions may not be accepted, and there may be adverse taxation consequences. For example, if a TFN is not quoted and the fund receives employer contributions for that member, additional income tax is payable by the fund which will generally reduce the member's benefit in the fund.

3.7 Superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers currently use TFNs primarily for the purpose of calculating the amount of tax which will be deducted from the member's benefit when paid. In most cases, where a TFN is quoted, tax will be deducted at normal, concessional rates.

3.8 Currently, TFNs may only be used by a superannuation fund trustee or RSA provider to locate, in the fund's records, member accounts provided other methods are used first and only if the other methods are insufficient. It is an offence for the superannuation fund trustee or RSA provider to contravene this part of the Act.

3.9 Superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers are not currently permitted to use TFNs for the purpose of locating multiple accounts held by the same person in order to consolidate the accounts, whether in the same superannuation fund, RSA, or across multiple superannuation funds.

3.10 TFN use by superannuation funds is governed by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA 1953) to ensure member privacy is protected and to prevent unauthorised use of TFNs.

Summary of new law

3.11 Schedule 3 amends the SIS Act and the RSA Act to allow superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers respectively to use TFNs to locate member accounts and to facilitate the consolidation of multiple accounts held by the same person.

3.12 This measure was announced in the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation's Media Release No. 024 of 16 December 2010.

Comparison of key features of new law and current law

Detailed explanation of new law

3.13 These amendments will allow superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers to use TFNs to locate member accounts. [ Schedule 3, item 2, section 137A of the RSA Act ; item 12, section 299LA of the SIS Act ]

3.14 The new laws will cover TFNs regardless of whether they are provided to the superannuation fund by the member, the member's employer or the Commissioner in accordance with the SIS Act and the RSA Act provisions.

3.15 The new law does not impose any compulsory obligations on superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers.

3.16 The new law will allow superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers to use TFNs to locate a member's account details. However the law will not allow the fund to use TFNs to replace their existing account numbers. The aim of the law is to remove the impediment for funds to use other search methods before TFNs are used. It will not replace existing account identification methods (such as account or membership numbers). This ensures that the amendment operates in accordance with National Privacy Principle 7. [ Schedule 3, item 2, subsection 137A(3 ) of the RSA Act ; item 12, subsection 299LA(3 ) of the SIS Act ]

3.17 These amendments will also allow superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers to use TFNs to facilitate the consolidation of multiple accounts held by the same person in the same superannuation fund and across multiple superannuation funds, provided the requirements of the regulations are met (see paragraph 3.24). [ Schedule 3, item 2, subsection 137A(2 ) of the RSA Act ; item 12, subsection 299LA(2 ) of the SIS Act ]

Example 3.2: Consolidation within a fund

Rhonda is not aware she has two superannuation accounts with Fund A. Fund A is permitted to match Rhonda's TFN and consolidate the two accounts provided the conditions in the regulations are met. The regulations, may for example, provide conditions relating to member consent and other procedures that superannuation fund trustees must follow before consolidating accounts.

Example 3.3: Consolidation between funds

Stephen holds a superannuation account with Fund A and suspects he may hold an account in Fund B. The regulations may provide conditions relating to member consent and other procedures that superannuation fund trustees must follow before consolidating accounts. Provided Stephen consents to the consolidation and the other conditions in the regulations are met, the fund may use the TFN to facilitate the consolidation of the accounts.

3.18 All of these amendments will apply to eligible superannuation entities, regulated exempt public sector superannuation schemes (as defined under section 299W of the SIS Act), and RSAs.

Safeguarding member privacy

3.19 This Schedule will not alter an individual's right to choose not to quote their TFN and there will not be additional consequences for not quoting a TFN. However, the current consequences for failing to quote a TFN will remain.

Example 3.4: Non-quotation of a TFN

Vincci has not quoted her TFN to her superannuation fund. In accordance with the conditions in the regulations, her fund has advised that it will match TFNs in its records to locate multiple accounts. The fund provides Vincci the opportunity to provide her TFN before the matching occurs, however Vincci decides not to quote her TFN. As her fund does not have her TFN in relation to this account, the fund will not be able to match any additional accounts she may have using this method. In addition, her fund may be liable for extra income tax on no-TFN contributions made for her which it may deduct from her account. Further, her fund will not be able to accept member contributions from her.

3.20 Sections 8WA and 8WB of the existing TAA 1953 will provide for a penalty for the unauthorised use or recording of TFNs. The penalty is currently 100 penalty units (currently $11,000), or imprisonment for two years, or both. [ Schedule 3, items 2 and 16, note in subsection 137A(2 ) of the RSA Act ; items 12 and 17, note in subsection 299LA(2 ) of the SIS Act ]

3.21 Binding TFN Guidelines, issued under section 17 of the Privacy Act 1988, protect the privacy of natural persons by regulating the collection, storage, use, disclosure, security and disposal of TFN information. In addition, the National Privacy Principles, contained in Schedule 3 to the Privacy Act 1988, govern the collection, use and disclosure of personal information and the use of agency identifiers.

3.22 TFN Guideline 1.1 states that 'The TFN is not to be used as a national identification system by whatever means.' Guideline 1.2 states that 'The rights of individuals under taxation, assistance agency or superannuation law to choose not to quote a TFN shall be respected.'

3.23 These amendments are consistent with the Privacy Act 1988, the National Privacy Principles and the TFN Guidelines. The reasons include:

•

superannuation funds will not be able to use TFNs to replace member account numbers;

•

use of TFNs for the purposes outlined in the legislation is a limited extension of the current TFN use rather than a new application;

•

the increased use of TFNs has been authorised by amending the superannuation law as referenced under the TFN Guidelines;

•

the increased use of TFNs will be safeguarded by regulations that ensure member identity is protected and member consent is obtained where appropriate;

•

the law does not alter an individual's right to choose not to quote a TFN; and

•

superannuation funds are not obliged to increase their TFN use.

Regulation changes

3.24 In addition to the legislation, regulations will also be made to specify additional requirements that must be met. In relation to account consolidation, these will cover requirements for member consent and other procedures that superannuation fund trustees and RSA providers must follow before consolidating accounts. [ Schedule 3, items 2 and 16, subsection 137A(2 ) of the RSA Act ; items 12 and 17, subsection 299LA(2 ) of the SIS Act ]

3.25 The details of these regulations will be finalised following consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Application and transitional provisions

3.26 The amendments relating to account location will apply from 1 July 2011. The amendments relating to consolidation will apply from 1 January 2012 or a date as proclaimed and both amendments will apply to the use of TFNs on or after commencement whether the TFN was quoted before, on or after the commencement of this Schedule. [ Schedule 3, items 13 and 18 ]

3.27 The proclamation provision has been included to allow time for consultation on the regulations relating to the legislation. The regulations will contain necessary safeguards and processes and it is important that industry is given sufficient time to consider these changes. Given the importance of these regulations, the Government has included a proclamation provision to ensure that the legislation and the accompanying regulations commence operation as close to the same time as possible.

3.28 Transitional provisions relating to the regulations are included to ensure that any regulations which were made under Schedule 3, Part 1 continue to have effect when Schedule 3, Part 2 repeals and replaces the relevant provisions. [ Schedule 3, item 19 ]

3.29 Safeguards are in place to ensure that fund members and RSA holders who have previously provided a TFN are not disadvantaged by the change, including strong penalties for the misuse of TFNs. In addition, superannuation providers are not obliged to increase their use of TFNs and members can still decide not to provide their TFN to their superannuation provider.

Consequential amendments

3.30 Several amendments are required to repeal the previous TFN provisions. [ Schedule 3, item 1, subsections 137(4 ) and ( 5 ) of the RSA Act ; items 3, 6, 8 and 10, subsections 299H(4 ) and ( 5 ), 299J(4 ) and ( 5 ), 299K(4 ) and ( 5 ) and 299L(4 ) and ( 5 ) of the SIS Act ]

3.31 Several amendments are required to remove references to the previous uses of TFNs from the applicable offences and strict liability sections of the SIS Act. [ Schedule 3, items 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11, subsections 299H(6 ) and ( 7 ), 299J(6 ) and ( 7 ), 299K(6 ) and ( 7 ), 299L(6 ) and ( 7 ) of the SIS Act ]

3.32 The definitions of 'eligible superannuation entity' and 'regulated exempt public sector superannuation scheme' are added to the RSA Act. [ Schedule 3, items 14 and 15, section 16 of the RSA Act ]

Chapter 4

Exempting Australian taxes, fees and charges from the goods and services tax

Outline of chapter

4.1 Schedule 4 to this Bill amends:

•

the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) to replace the current mechanism for ensuring Australian taxes, and certain Australian fees and charges are not subject to the goods and services tax (GST) with specific legislative exemptions;

•

the GST Act to allow for the making of regulations to treat an Australian tax, or an Australian fee or charge to be treated in a particular way; and

•

the A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax) Act 1999 to account for changes being made to the GST Act.

Context of amendments

4.2 This Schedule implements the Government's decision to replace the current mechanism for ensuring Australian taxes, fees and charges are not subject to GST with a 'self assessment' mechanism, announced in the 2010-11 Budget on 11 May 2010.

4.3 The GST Act operates by treating a payment, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, of any Australian tax, fee or charge (other than GST) to be consideration for a supply that the Australian government agency makes to the payer in return for that payment (subsection 81-5(1) of the GST Act). This ensures that all Australian taxes, fees and charges are potentially subject to GST regardless of whether they are connected with a supply under the GST basic rules.

4.4 However, the GST Act then allows the Commonwealth Treasurer to specify by legislative instrument (a Determination), that the payment, or discharging of the liability to make such a payment, of any Australian tax, fee or charge is not the provision of consideration (subsection 81-5(2) of the GST Act). The effect of this is that taxes, fees and charges included in the Determination are not consideration for a taxable supply and therefore not subject to GST.

4.5 The Determination is updated twice a year in accordance with an administrative process that involves the agreement of the GST Administration Sub-Committee of the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations and the formal agreement of the state and territory Treasurers. The Determination is registered as a legislative instrument and is subject to scrutiny by the Senate Regulations and Ordinances Committee.

4.6 When the GST was introduced, the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed that the GST would apply to the commercial activities of government at all levels and that the non-commercial activities of government would be outside the scope of the GST.

4.7 Accordingly, under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations the parties agreed that Division 81 of the GST Act will exempt Australian taxes, fees and charges from GST in accordance with the following principles:

•

taxes that are in the nature of a compulsory impost for general purposes and compulsory charges by the way of fines or penalties will be exempt from GST; and

•

regulatory charges that do not relate to particular goods or services will be exempt from GST, including:

-

fees and charges levied on specific industries and used to finance particular regulatory or other activities in the government sector; and

-

licences, permits and certifications that are required by government prior to undertaking a general activity.

4.8 The current Determination is the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1).

4.9 The Determination has grown to over 680 pages and its making involves a lengthy process that places an administrative burden on all levels of government. This amendment will reduce administrative costs by removing the need to list items in a Determination and undertake a twice yearly exhaustive process of updating the Determination. It will also provide increased certainty by allowing government entities to treat eligible items as exempt from the time that they are introduced rather than some later time when they are listed in a Determination.

Summary of new law

Exempting Australian taxes or Australian fees and charges from the GST

4.10 Schedule 4 repeals and replaces Division 81 of the GST Act to allow entities to self assess the GST treatment of a payment of an Australian tax or an Australian fee or charge in accordance with certain principles. Under these amendments, government agencies will no longer need to have an Australian tax or certain categories of Australian fees or charges listed on the Determination in order for those taxes, fees or charges to not be subject to GST.

4.11 In addition, the amendments allow for regulations to be made to treat an Australian tax, or any Australian fee or charge in a particular way that will determine if the amount paid, or the discharging of a liability to make such payment, is subject to GST.

4.12 Those Australian taxes, fees and charges currently not subject to GST under the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1) will remain not subject to GST until 1 July 2012 and thereafter will be assessed under the changes made in this Schedule.

4.13 The GST treatment of all new Australian taxes or Australian fees or charges that are not currently entered on the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) (Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1) will be self assessed under the changes made by this Schedule with effect from 1 July 2011. Those Australian taxes or Australian fees and charges that are not covered by the changes made by this Schedule and meet the requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act will be taxable supplies, unless excluded by regulation.

Comparison of key features of new law and current law

Detailed explanation of new law

4.14 Schedule 4 repeals and replaces Division 81 of the GST Act to allow government agencies to self assess the GST treatment of any Australian tax or any Australian fee or charge imposed under an Australian law and payable to the agency, in accordance with certain principles.

4.15 Under these amendments, an 'Australian tax' or an 'Australian fee or charge' (as defined in the GST Act) will no longer be treated as the provision of consideration for a supply at first instance. Government agencies will no longer need to have an Australian tax, fee or charge listed on a Determination made by the Commonwealth Treasurer as a prerequisite for it not to be subject to GST.

4.16 Under these amendments, the payment of an Australian tax will not be treated as the provision of consideration and therefore any supply to which it relates will not attract GST. Furthermore, an Australian fee or charge of a kind to which subsections 81-10(4) and (5) apply will not be treated as the provision of consideration (for a supply) and also will not attract GST.

4.17 However, a regulation can be made with the effect of treating payments, or the discharging of a liability to make such payments, of an Australian tax or of an Australian fee or charge, as the provision of consideration for a supply. The GST treatment of the supply to which the tax, fee or charge relates may be a taxable supply.

4.18 The changes also provide for the making of regulations, where necessary, that will allow for the payment of an Australian fee or charge, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, to not be the provision of consideration and therefore any supply to which it relates will not be subject to GST.

4.19 It is not intended that the payment of a fine or penalty imposed under an Australian law and payable to an Australian government agency be subject to GST. Application of the GST basic rules should ensure that such payments are not subject to GST, therefore they are not addressed by these amendments.

Australian taxes

4.20 Taxes are imposed as part of the general revenue raising activities of government and should not be subject to GST. Generally, taxes are not considered to be associated with a supply and are not subject to GST under the GST basic rules. However, given the expansive definition of 'supply' and 'consideration' contained within the GST Act, these amendments ensure all payments of taxes imposed under an Australian law will not be subject to GST at first instance.

4.21 The payment of an Australian tax, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, will not be treated as the provision of consideration (for any supply). Therefore, a supply (if any) will not be a taxable supply as the supply has not been made for consideration in accordance with paragraph 9-5(a) of the GST Act. Consequently, an Australian tax, imposed under an Australian law, will not attract GST. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsection 81 - 5(1 )]

4.22 Examples of Australian taxes imposed under an Australian law include: income tax, stamp duty, fringe benefits tax, payroll tax, the Medicare Levy, local government 'ordinary rates' and various industry levies.

4.23 These amendments allow for a payment, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, of an Australian tax, or of a kind, that is not treated as the provision of consideration under subsection 81-5(1) of the GST Act, to be treated, by way of regulation, as the provision of consideration to the entity to which the tax is payable for a supply made by that entity to the payer. Therefore, the supply will be a taxable supply if all of the requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act are satisfied. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsections 81 - 5(2 ) and ( 3 )]

4.24 The abovementioned regulation-making power allows for circumstances where, for policy reasons, the Government considers that GST should apply to a payment that falls within the definition of an 'Australian tax'.

4.25 Any regulations would be made through procedures agreed to by the Commonwealth and the states and territories, in accordance with the A New Tax System (Managing the GST Rate and Base) Act 1999. The agreed procedures involve consultation and agreement between the Commonwealth and the states and territories on changes made to the GST base, through the GST Administration Sub-Committee of the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations. Following consultation, any proposed regulation would require the unanimous agreement of the members of the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations.

Australian fees and charges

4.26 These amendments ensure that a payment or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, for certain categories of Australian fees or charges will not be treated as the provision of consideration and therefore, any supply to which the payment relates will not be subject to GST. A supply to which a payment, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, relates will not be subject to GST to the extent the payment is for a fee or charge covered by subsection 81-10(1) of the GST Act. For a supply to which a fee or charge relates not to be subject to GST, the fee or charge must be imposed under an Australian law and be payable to an Australian government agency. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsection 81 - 10(1 )]

4.27 To the extent a payment, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, is a payment or discharge of an Australian fee or charge that relates to, or relates to the application for, the provision, amendment or retention under an Australian law, of a permission, exemption, authority or licence, it will not be treated as the provision of consideration. Therefore, any supply to which the fee or charge relates will not be subject to GST. A fee or charge in relation to the provision, amendment or retention of a permission, exemption, authority or licence (however described) includes but is not limited to:

•

application fees, licences, permits and certifications that are required by government prior to undertaking an occupation (for example, medical and legal professionals' right of practice licences, pilots' licences, heavy vehicle drivers' licences and adjustments to such licences); and

•

regulatory charges imposed to undertake an activity (for example, compulsory testing fees for regulatory purposes, compulsory inspection fees for regulatory purposes, a permit for restaurants to occupy the footpath, and a licence for an event to close roads).

4.28 As noted, this exemption applies to an Australian fee or charge imposed in relation to, or to the application for, the retention of a permission, exemption, authority or licence. An example of such a fee would be a periodic compulsory inspection fee, made under an Australian law and payable to an Australian government agency, for the retention of a permit. In such cases, the inspection fee is directly related to the retention of the permission (the permit) and would not be subject to GST. In cases where the inspection fee is payable to a private entity (not an Australian government agency) then subsection 81-10(4) of the GST Act will not apply and the supply will be taxable provided it meets the requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsection 81 - 10(4 )]

4.29 The payment of an Australian fee or charge, to an Australian government agency, in relation to the lodgment of, or access to, documents provided under an Australian law will not be treated as the provision of consideration. Therefore, the supply to which the fee or charge relates will not be subject to GST. Examples of such fees and charges, payable to Australian government agencies, are those that are paid in order to obtain information from a government agency under relevant freedom of information legislation, searches and extracts from registers, copies of official documents, registration fees and lodgment fees for property transfers, deeds, plans and instruments.

4.30 It is intended that consideration that is provided for commercial sales of information supplied by Australian government agencies, including supplies of books by a government bookshop, be subject to GST at first instance. It is also intended that consideration that is provided for supplies made under commercial arrangements, including the hire of government assets (such as recreation halls, office space, conference centres and equipment), be subject to GST at first instance. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsection 81 - 10(5 )]

4.31 These amendments allow for a payment, or discharging of a liability to make such a payment, of any Australian fee or charge, or a fee or charge of a specified kind, (including fees and charges that have not been treated as the provision of consideration due to the application of subsection 81-10(1)) to be treated, by way of regulation, as the provision of consideration for a supply made by the entity to which the fee or charge is payable. This supply will be a taxable supply if the requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act are met. [ Schedule 4, item 2, subsections 81 - 10(2 ) and ( 3 )]

4.32 The abovementioned regulation-making power allows for circumstances where, for policy reasons, the Government considers that GST should apply to the payment, or discharging of a liability to make such a payment, of an Australian fee or charge.

4.33 These amendments allow for the payment of any Australian fee or charge, or the discharging of a liability to make such a payment, to be treated as not the provision of consideration and therefore, any supply to which the fee or charge relates will not be subject to GST. This power is to apply in circumstances where an Australian fee or charge is not otherwise covered by subsections 81-10(4) and (5) of the GST Act, and for policy reasons, the Government considers that GST should not apply. This will also assist with the correcting of unintended consequences that may arise as a result of the operation of the new provisions inserted by these amendments. [ Schedule 4, item 2, section 81 - 15 ]

4.34 These amendments have effect despite the operation of section 9-15 which otherwise defines, for GST purposes, what constitutes consideration. [ Schedule 4, item 2, section 81 - 20 ]

4.35 Any regulations would be made through procedures agreed to by the Commonwealth and the states and territories, in accordance with the A New Tax System (Managing the GST Rate and Base) Act 1999. The agreed procedures involve consultation and agreement between the Commonwealth and the states and territories on all changes made to the GST base, through the GST Administration Sub-Committee of the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations. Following consultation, any proposed regulation would require the unanimous agreement of the members of the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations.

4.36 The changes also allow for a regulation that is made under these amendments to be expressed as taking effect from a date before the regulations are registered under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. This is despite the operation of subsection 12(2) of that Act which otherwise limits the commencement date of regulations in certain circumstances. This would for instance, allow for the desired GST treatment for a payment, or discharging of the liability to make such a payment, to be achieved where a new Australian tax or Australian fee or charge is imposed under an Australian law before regulations can be made to provide for the desired treatment. [ Schedule 4, item 2, section 81 - 25 ]

Application and transitional provisions

4.37 These amendments will apply in relation to Australian taxes or Australian fees or charges that are imposed under an Australian law on or after 1 July 2011.

4.38 However, under these amendments, the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax)(Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1) which lists all Australian taxes, fees and charges that are not treated as consideration, and thus supplies to which they relate are not subject to GST, is to be grandfathered for one year. Thus, taxes, fees and charges that are imposed prior to 1 July 2012 and are currently listed in the Determination will not 'be subject to GST' for the transitional period (until 1 July 2012), after which any supplies to which they relate will be assessed against the provisions set out in these amendments. [ Schedule 4, item 16 ]

4.39 This transitional arrangement will allow for Australian government agencies to reconcile the current taxes, fees and charges listed in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax)(Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1) with these amendments.

4.40 Any taxes, fees or charges that are currently listed in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax)(Exempt taxes, fees and charges) Determination 2011 (No. 1) that become subject to GST (in relation to a supply) under these amendments will attract GST if they are imposed under an Australian law on or after 1 July 2012 (provided they satisfy the requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act and are not otherwise treated, by way of regulation, as not being subject to GST).

Consequential amendments

4.41 As a consequence of the amendments under this Schedule 4:

•

Subsection 82-10(3) of the GST Act, which refers to the previous subsection 81-5(1), is amended to refer to the new provisions inserted by this Schedule [ Schedule 4, item 3, subsection 82 - 10(3 )].

•

Subparagraph 117-5(1)(ba)(i) of the GST Act, which refers to the previous subsection 81-5(2), is amended to refer to the new provisions inserted by this Schedule [ Schedule 4, item 4, subparagraph 117 - 5(1 )( ba )( i )].

•

The definition of 'Australian tax, fee or charge' has been repealed from section 195-1 of the GST Act. Definitions for 'Australian tax' and for 'Australian fee and charge' have been inserted into section 195-1 of the GST Act and references to the previous definition have been amended to refer to the new definitions. Consequentially, previous references to the former definition have been amended to make reference to the new definitions in section 27-1, paragraph 5-20(1)(b) and paragraph 5-20(6)(b) of the A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax) Act 1999 [ Schedule 4, items 5 to 8, section 195 - 1, GST Act ; items 11 to 13, section 27 - 1, paragraphs 5 - 20(1 )( b ) and 5 - 20(6 )( b ) of the A New Tax System ( Luxury Car Tax ) Act 1999 ].

•

A reference to the previous provisions repealed by this Schedule in section 195-1 (note at the end of the definition of 'taxable supply') and in section 195-1 (note at the end of the definition of 'connected with Australia') has been removed [ Schedule 4, item 10, section 195 - 1 ].

•

A reference to the previous provisions repealed by this Schedule in section 195-1 (note at the end of the definition of 'consideration') has been amended to refer to the new provisions inserted by this Schedule [ Schedule 4, item 9, section 195 - 1 ].

•

A reference to the previous provisions repealed by this Schedule in subparagraph 13-20(2)(ba)(i) was amended to refer to the new provisions inserted by this Schedule [ Schedule 4, item 1, subparagraph 13 - 20(2 )( ba )( i )].

•

The note in the previous section 81-1 has been amended to reflect the new provisions inserted by this Schedule [ Schedule 4, item 2, section 81 - 1 ].

Chapter 5

Miscellaneous amendments

Outline of chapter

5.1 Schedule 5 makes various miscellaneous amendments to the taxation laws.

Context of amendments

5.2 These amendments seek to ensure the taxation law operates as intended by correcting technical or drafting defects, removing anomalies, and addressing unintended outcomes. The miscellaneous amendments are part of the Government's commitment to the care and maintenance of the taxation laws.

5.3 Miscellaneous amendment packages include addressing issues raised through the Tax Issues Entry System (TIES). The TIES website (www.ties.gov.au), which the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Treasury jointly operate, provides a way for tax professionals and the general public to raise issues relating to the care and maintenance of the tax system. The relevant parts of the explanatory memorandum identify TIES issues.

Summary of new law

5.4 The issues these miscellaneous amendments deal with include:

•

correcting grammatical, referencing and asterisking errors;

•

ensuring that provisions are consistent with the original policy intent; and

•

repealing inoperative provisions.

5.5 The table below lists the titles of the various parts of this Schedule.

5.6 More significant amendments include:

•

providing the Commissioner of Taxation (Commissioner) with a discretion to extend the main residence exemption from CGT (Part 18, comprising items 93 and 94). (This issue was identified through TIES issue 0056-2009 ); and

•

allowing the nomination of controllers of discretionary trusts for the purposes of the CGT small business concessions (Part 19, comprising items 95 to 109). (This issue was identified through TIES issue 0059-2009 ).

5.7 All of the amendments in this Schedule commence from the date of Royal Assent unless otherwise stated.

Detailed explanation of new law

Part 1 - A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999

Part 2 - Approved worker entitlement funds

Part 3 - Confidentiality of taxpayer information

Part 4 - Employee share schemes

5.8 These amendments make some miscellaneous changes to ensure recent reforms to the taxation of employee share schemes, introduced in the Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Budget Measures No. 2) Act 2009, apply as intended.

5.9 An employee share scheme provides employees with a financial interest in the company they work for through the distribution of shares in that company. Employee share schemes are concessionally taxed to align the interests of employees with their employer.

Part 5 - General interest charge

Part 6 - Deductible gift recipients

Part 7 - Section 23AB of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

Part 8 - Definitions and signposts to related material

Part 9 - Repeal of redundant reference to Papua New Guinea

Part 10 - Repeal of redundant references to franking

Part 11 - Correction of cross-reference in provision about dividend streaming etc.

Part 12 - Minor changes to provisions about concessional rebates

Part 13 - Fixing outdated references to Medicare levy

Part 14 - Repeal of references to previously repealed provisions

Part 15 - Correction of asterisking of reference to tax debts

Part 16 - Repeal of outdated provisions about exemptions from income tax

Part 17 - Correction of asterisking of references to quarter

Part 18 - Inclusion of Commissioner's discretion to extend main residence exemption from CGT

Part 19 - Nomination of controllers of discretionary trust

5.10 These amendments give effect to the suggestion made through TIES issue 0059-2009 .

5.11 All references to legislative provisions in this Part are references to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 unless otherwise stated.

5.12 Section 152-42 currently allows a trustee of a discretionary trust to nominate up to four beneficiaries of the trust as controllers of the trust for an income year in which the trustee did not make a distribution of income or capital and the trust had a tax loss or no taxable income for that year.

5.13 The result of nominating a beneficiary to be a controller of a discretionary trust is that the beneficiary and discretionary trust are connected entities for the income year but only for the purpose of applying the definition of 'active asset' in subparagraph 152-40(1)(a)(iii) or paragraph 152-40(1)(b).

5.14 This allows a capital gain made on a passively held CGT asset (that is, an asset that is owned by one entity and used in the business of an affiliate of, or an entity connected with, the asset-owning entity) to qualify for the small business CGT concessions via the maximum net asset value test where the asset is:

•

owned by a nominated beneficiary (or beneficiaries) or by an entity connected with a nominated beneficiary; and

•

used or held ready for use in the discretionary trust's business.

5.15 However, where a beneficiary is a controller of a discretionary trust only because of the nomination in section 152-42, this does not make the beneficiary a controller of the trust for calculating the maximum net asset value of the entity that owns the asset.

5.16 Currently, section 152-42 does not apply to paragraph 152-10(1A)(a), which is part of the provisions that extend access to the small business CGT concessions via the small business entity test to passively-held assets.

5.17 This means that an entity that does not carry on a business (other than as a partner in partnership) and that is not connected with a discretionary trust cannot access the small business CGT concessions via the small business entity test for a capital gain made on a CGT asset it owned that was used in the business of the discretionary trust.

5.18 The amendments, which repeal section 152-42 with effect from Royal Assent, introduce a new provision to allow a trustee of a discretionary trust to nominate up to four beneficiaries of the trust as controllers of the trust for an income year in which the trustee did not make a distribution of income or capital and the trust had a tax loss or no net income for that year. The nomination must be in writing and signed by the trustee and by each nominated beneficiary. The proposed provision relates to 'net income' rather than 'taxable income', which is used in section 152-42. 'Taxable income' is technically incorrect because, under subsection 95(1) of the ITAA 1936, a trust has net income rather than taxable income. [ Schedule 5, items 99, 102 and subitem 105(2 ), sections 152 - 42 and 152 - 78 of the ITAA 1997 ]

5.19 The amendments also extend the scope of the nomination so that it applies for the purposes of Subdivision 152-A and for sections 328-110, 328-115 and 328-125 as they relate to that Subdivision. [ Schedule 5, item 102, subsection 152 - 78(1 ) of the ITAA 1997 ]

5.20 Where the trustee has made a nomination under the new provision, its extended scope allows an entity that does not carry on a business (other than as a partner in partnership) whose asset is used in the trust's business to access the small business CGT concessions via the small business entity test through the operation of subsection 152-10(1A).

5.21 The extended scope of a nomination also means that it applies for determining whether one entity is connected with another entity for calculating the maximum net asset value of the entity that owned the asset or the aggregated turnover of the discretionary trust that used the asset in its business.

5.22 Various notes in the legislation have been changed and new notes inserted to indicate the location and effect of the amendments. [ Schedule 5, items 91 to 98, 100, 103 and 104, paragraph 152 - 1 -( 1 )( c )( note ), subsection 152 - 10(1A )( note 1 ), subsection 152 - 10(1A )( note 2 ), section 152 - 15(note ), section 152 - 15, subsections 152 - 20(2 ) to ( 4 ), subsection 152 - 40(1 )( note 2 ), subsections 152 - 40(4 ) and ( 4A ), 152 - 47(1 ) and 152 - 48(2 ), subsection 328 - 115(1 )( note ), subsection 995 - 1(1 )( note at the end of the definition of ' connected with' ) of the ITAA 1997 ]

5.23 For access to the small business CGT concessions generally, the amendments apply in relation to CGT events that happen on or after the day this Bill receives Royal Assent. [ Schedule 5, paragraph ( a ) of subitem 105(1 )]

5.24 For access to the small business CGT concessions via the small business entity test only, the amendments also apply in relation to CGT events that happen before the day this Bill receives Royal Assent but after the start of the 2007-08 income year. [ Schedule 5, item 109, paragraph ( b ) of subitem 105(1 )]

5.25 The combination of the two application rules results in:

•

the amendments applying, for access to the concessions via the small business entity test, in relation to CGT events that happen in the 2007-08 income year and later income years (which aligns with the date of effect of the amendments that extended access to the concessions via the small business entity test to passively held assets); and

•

taxpayers who accessed the concessions where a trustee made a nomination under section 152-42 prior to Royal Assent not being disadvantaged by the increased scope of the new nomination, which includes determining whether one entity is connected with another entity for calculating the maximum net asset value of the entity that owned the relevant asset.

5.26 The retrospective component of the amendments will be beneficial to discretionary trust beneficiaries who, following the trustee of the trust making a nomination, will have the opportunity to access the small business CGT concessions via the small business entity test.

5.27 The small business CGT concessions require taxpayers to make choices. For example, the small business retirement exemption and small business roll-over are available only if the taxpayer chooses to obtain them.

5.28 Subsection 103-25(1) limits the date for making a choice to the day an entity lodges its income tax return for the income year in which the relevant CGT event happened or a later date allowed by the Commissioner.

5.29 Taxpayers who become eligible to make a choice under Division 152 due to these amendments will have an extended period, under a transitional rule, to make such a choice in relation to CGT events happening before the day on which this Bill receives Royal Assent.

[ Schedule 5, subitem 105(3 )]

5.30 The time limit for an entity to make the choice it is eligible to make as a result of these amendments is the latest of:

•

the day the entity lodges its income tax return for the income year in which the relevant CGT event happened;

•

12 months after the day this Bill receives Royal Assent; and

•

a later day allowed by the Commissioner.

[ Schedule 5, subitem 105(4 )]

Part 20 - Definitions mainly relevant to Subdivision 165-F of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

Part 21 - Removal of definition from imputation provisions

Part 22 - Correction of outdated references to virtual PST assets

Part 23 - Repeal of spent provision about land transport facilities borrowings

Part 24 - Prevention of double counting for direct value shifts

Part 25 - Ineligible income tax remission decisions

Part 26 - Correction of references to chains of fixed trusts

Part 27 - Gender-specific language

Part 28 - Misdescribed amendments

Part 29 - References to Schedules

Part 30 - References to taxation laws

Part 31 - Other amendments

Index

Schedule 1: Deductible gift recipients

Schedule 2: Self managed superannuation funds

Schedule 3: Use of TFNs for superannuation purposes

Schedule 4: GST: payments of taxes, fees and charges

Schedule 5: Other amendments