Taxation Determination
TD 2000/33
Income tax: capital gains: is know-how a CGT asset?
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Please note that the PDF version is the authorised version of this ruling.
FOI status:
may be releasedFOI number: I 1022802| Preamble |
| The number, subject heading, date of effect and paragraph 1 of this Taxation Determination are a 'public ruling' for the purposes of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and are legally binding on the Commissioner. The remainder of the Determination is administratively binding on the Commissioner. Taxation Rulings TR 92/1 and TR 97/16 together explain how a Determination is legally or administratively binding. |
| Date of effect |
| This Determination applies to years commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, this Determination does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20). |
1. No. Know-how is not a CGT asset because it is neither a form of property nor a legal or equitable right.
2. Know-how is knowledge or information rather than a CGT asset.
Note 1
3. According to the Macquarie Dictionary 3rd ed, 'know-how' is knowledge of how to do something.
Note 2
4. A right in respect of know-how, such as a contractual right to require the disclosure or non-disclosure of know-how, is a CGT asset under subsection 108-5(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Similarly, a licence to use know-how is a CGT asset.
Note 3
5. There may be implications under the revenue provisions of the income tax law for receipts for supplying or imparting knowledge or information: see sections 6-5 and 6-10.
Commissioner of Taxation
13 September 2000
Previously issued as TD 1999/D69
References
ATO references:
NO 99/10671-9
Related Rulings/Determinations:
IT 2660
TR 93/12
TR 98/3
TR 1999/16
Subject References:
CGT asset
information
know-how
knowledge
licence
rights
Legislative References:
ITAA 1997 6-5
ITAA 1997 6-10
ITAA 1997 108-5(1)