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Taxation Determination

TD 93/55

Income tax: is a 'housing allowance subsidy' paid to an employee in respect of the employee's principal residence assessable under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA)?

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FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: I 1214540

This Determination, to the extent that it is capable of being a 'public ruling' in terms of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , is a public ruling for the purposes of that Part. Taxation Ruling TR 92/1 explains when a Determination is a public ruling and how it is binding on the Commissioner. Unless otherwise stated, 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 a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).

1. Yes. An amount paid to an employee as a housing allowance subsidy (as described below) is considered to be an allowance given in respect of employment or services rendered and is assessable to the employee under subsection 26(e) of the ITAA.

2. Some remuneration packages provide for the payment of a housing allowance subsidy where the employee owns a home. The subsidy is not intended to be a payment or reimbursement of any particular expense of home purchase or ownership incurred by the employee. The subsidy is merely intended to maintain equitable remuneration between employees who own their homes and those whose rental of private accommodation is paid or reimbursed by the employer.

3. Because the payment is not intended to reimburse a particular expense of home purchase or ownership, a housing allowance subsidy paid in these circumstances is not a fringe benefit as defined in the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 but is assessable income of the employee.

Note:
Where rental of private accommodation is paid or reimbursed by the employer or
where a payment by the employer is intended to reimburse a particular expense of
home purchase or ownership, the payment would be considered to be a fringe
benefit as defined in the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986.

Commissioner of Taxation
1/4/93

Previously issued as Draft TD93/D27

References

ATO references:
NO PNR T95 Pt3

ISSN 1038 - 8982

Related Rulings/Determinations:

IT 2614;
TR 92/15

Subject References:
housing allowance subsidy

Legislative References:
ITAA 26(e)
ITAA 23L
FBTAA 20
FBTAA 25
FBTAA 40
FBTAA 136(1)

TD 93/55 history
  Date: Version: Change:
You are here 1 April 1993 Original ruling  
  29 November 2006 Original ruling + note Repeal provision note

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