Taxation Determination

TD 94/88

Income tax: does Division 3B of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Division 3B) apply to ordinary shares denominated in foreign currency?

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FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: I 1217943

1. No. Division 3B allows income tax deductions for currency exchange losses of a capital nature and treats as assessable income currency exchange gains of a capital nature realised after 18 February 1986 under contracts entered into after that date. The losses are deductible and gains are assessable to the extent to which they relate to the production of assessable income or to the carrying on of a business for that purpose.

2. The general principles concerning the realisation of currency exchange gains or losses are stated in Taxation Ruling TR 93/8. If a currency exchange gain or loss arises from a liability in a foreign currency, the taxpayer realises the gain or loss when the liability is discharged by actual or constructive payment. Conversely, if a currency exchange gain or loss arises from a right to receive foreign currency, the taxpayer realises the gain or loss on the actual or constructive receipt.

3. The ownership of ordinary shares makes a shareholder a member of the company. Whilst each member has a contractual relationship with the company by virtue of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company, a currency exchange gain or a currency exchange loss cannot arise under that contract in the sense required by the terms of Division 3B.

4. For a currency exchange gain or a currency exchange loss to arise in the required sense the gain or loss must be attributable to a currency exchange rate fluctuation. When a share in a non-resident company denominated in a foreign currency is sold, or the company is wound up, any gain or loss in respect of the disposal is not attributable to a currency exchange rate fluctuation. The gain or loss is attributable to a change in the market value of the shares or a deficiency in shareholder funds as the case may be.

5. A currency exchange gain or loss may arise, however, in respect of a currency exchange rate fluctuation under a contract to acquire or dispose of shares denominated in a foreign currency in a non-resident company. See generally paragraphs 36-41 of Taxation Ruling TR 93/8.

6. We accept that a currency exchange gain or loss can also arise in respect of a change, in Australian dollar terms, that may occur between the time an entitlement to an amount of money denominated in a foreign currency arises upon the winding up of a company and the time the amount is actually paid if the difference results from a currency exchange fluctuation during that period.

Commissioner of Taxation
24 November 1994

Previously issued as Draft TD 93/D223

References

ATO references:
NO MEL ADVC 35148; NAT 94/8205-9

Related Rulings/Determinations:

TR 93/8

Subject References:
foreign exchange gains
foreign exchange losses
shares

Legislative References:
ITAA Pt III Div 3B