Goods and Services Tax Ruling

GSTR 2001/5

Goods and services tax: when is a 'supply of a going concern' GST-free?

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FOI status:

may be releasedFOI number: 1023547

Contents	Para
What this Ruling is about	1
Date of effect	7
Background	8
Ruling with explanations	15
Detailed contents list	193

Preamble

This document is a public ruling for the purposes of section 37 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953. You can rely on the information presented in this document which provides advice on the operation of the GST system.

What this Ruling is about

1. This Ruling explains what is a 'supply of a going concern' for the purposes of Subdivision 38-J of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 ('GST Act'). It also explains when the 'supply of a going concern' is GST-free for the purposes of the Subdivision.

2. The Ruling is intended to provide guidance on the application of the going concern provisions. It does not discuss the application of the provisions to specific industries. However, the examples used in the Ruling do illustrate the application of relevant principles to particular factual circumstances relating to some industries.

3. The Ruling confirms that the going concern provisions are to be considered from the perspective of the supplier.

4. This Ruling does not discuss the supply of farm land under Subdivision 38-O of the GST Act.

5. Although Divisions 129 and 135 are mentioned in the Background section of this Ruling, the Ruling does not discuss adjustments under these provisions.

6. All legislative references in this Ruling are to the GST Act, unless otherwise stated.

Date of effect

7. This Ruling applies on and from 1 July 2000. You can rely upon this Ruling as and from its date of issue for the purposes of section 37 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953. Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 1999/1 explains the GST rulings system and our view of when you can rely on our interpretation of the law in GST public and private rulings.

Background

8. Subdivision 38-J of the GST Act provides that, if certain conditions are satisfied, a 'supply of a going concern' is GST-free. This means that, in the case of a supply which would otherwise be a taxable supply, or an input taxed supply, the supply is GST-free if it is supplied under an arrangement for the 'supply of a going concern'.

9. The term 'supply of a going concern' is a statutory term which is defined for the purposes of Subdivision 38-J of the GST Act in subsection 38-325(2):

(2)

A supply of a going concern is a supply under an arrangement under which:

(a): the supplier supplies to the *recipient all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an *enterprise; and
(b): the supplier carries on, or will carry on, the enterprise until the day of the supply (whether or not as part of a larger enterprise carried on by the supplier).^[F1]

10. The ordinary meaning of the term 'going concern', which is often used in reference to the activity of a business, does not necessarily correspond to the statutory definition. The elements of the statutory definition are discussed in detail in this Ruling.

11. The application of Subdivision 38-J means that the recipient does not have to obtain additional funds to cover the GST that would otherwise be included in the price of a going concern if the Subdivision did not apply.^[F2]

12. Subsection 38-325(1) provides:

(1)

The supply of a going concern is GST-free if:

(a): the supply is for consideration; and
(b): the recipient is registered or required to be registered; and
(c): the supplier and the recipient have agreed in writing that the supply is of a going concern.

13. A recipient of a 'supply of a going concern' that intends to make supplies which are neither taxable nor GST-free may be required by section 135-5 to make an initial increasing adjustment.

14. The recipient of a 'supply of a going concern' is required to make a further increasing or decreasing adjustment under section 135-10 where the proportion of the supplies made through the enterprise which are neither taxable nor GST-free has changed from the proportion of intended supplies. Section 135-10 requires that, in these circumstances, an increasing or decreasing adjustment is to be made using the method contained in Division 129.

Ruling with explanations

What is a 'supply of a going concern'?

15. The statutory term 'supply of a going concern' is defined in subsection 38-325(2). For the purposes of the definition of a 'supply of a going concern', it is not a supply itself which must satisfy the conditions in paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b), but the arrangement under which a supply is made. There may be several supplies, each of which is a 'supply of a going concern' under the one arrangement.

16. A supply is the 'supply of a going concern' where:

(i): there is an arrangement which satisfies paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b); and
(ii): the relevant supply is made under that arrangement.

17. An arrangement satisfies paragraph 38-325(2)(a) where each of the following elements is present:

•: the supplier supplies to the recipient;
•: all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation;
•: of an enterprise.

18. Paragraph 38-325(2)(b) of the definition also requires two additional elements to be present:

•: the supplier carries on, or will carry on, the enterprise (whether or not as part of a larger enterprise);
•: until the day of the supply.

What is a 'supply under an arrangement'?

19. A supply is defined in section 9-10.

20. The term 'supply under an arrangement' includes a supply under a single contract or supplies under multiple contracts which comprise a single arrangement. However, the things supplied under the arrangement must relate to the same enterprise, that is, the enterprise referred to in paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b) (the 'identified enterprise').

21. The supplier and the recipient may identify the arrangement and the supplies under the arrangement in the written agreement which is required under paragraph 38-325(1)(c) or in any other written agreement that relates to the arrangement entered into on or prior to the day of the supply. (Refer to paragraphs 161 to 168 for more details). However, an arrangement between a supplier and a recipient is characterised not merely by the description which both parties give to the arrangement, but by looking at all of the transactions entered into and the circumstances in which the transactions are made.

What is the 'enterprise' referred to in paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b)?

22. Paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b) require the conditions to be satisfied in relation to an 'identified enterprise'.

23. The term 'enterprise'^[F3] is defined in section 9-20 as an activity, or series of activities, done:

•: in the form of a business; or
•: in the form of an adventure or concern in the nature of trade; or
•: on a regular or continuous basis, in the form of a lease, licence, or other grant of an interest in property; or
•: by the trustee of a fund that is covered by, or by an authority or institution that is covered by, Subdivision 30-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and to which deductible gifts can be made; or
•: by a trustee of a complying superannuation fund or, if there is no trustee of the fund, by a person who manages the fund; or
•: by a charitable institution or by a trustee of a charitable fund; or
•: by a religious institution; or
•: by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory, or by a body corporate, or corporation sole, established for a public purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

24. The meaning of the term 'enterprise' is wider than the meaning of the term 'business'. For example, the activity of leasing can be the subject of the 'supply of a going concern'.

Example: fully tenanted building

25. DiggerCo owns a small retail shopping complex that has been fully tenanted for many years. For the purposes of the definition of 'enterprise' in section 9-20, DiggerCo is carrying on an enterprise of leasing because it carries on leasing activities on a regular or continuous basis.

26. Where the thing supplied is merely an asset used in an activity that is carried on as an enterprise, the supply of that asset is not the 'supply of a going concern'.

Example: supply of an asset which is not an enterprise in its own right

27. InsuranceCo is an entity that owns the building from which it operates its insurance business. InsuranceCo enters into a contract to sell the building to Landlord Unit Trust and agrees to enter into an agreement to lease the building back from the trust. Whilst InsuranceCo carries on an enterprise of conducting an insurance business from the premises,InsuranceCo does not at any time conduct an enterprise of leasing the premises.

28. InsuranceCo did not (and could not) conduct an enterprise of leasing to itself prior to the day of the supply and merely supplied Landlord Unit Trust with an asset used by InsuranceCo in the conduct of its enterprise. Although the recipient commenced to carry on an enterprise of leasing after the day of the supply, the supply of the premises cannot be the 'supply of a going concern' because no enterprise of leasing had been operated by the supplier.

29. That is, InsuranceCo could not satisfy the requirement that an enterprise be carried on to the day of the supply because there was no enterprise of leasing carried on by the supplier, InsuranceCo. Furthe, InsuranceCo cannot supply all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise that was not carried on prior to the day of the supply.

30. Subsection 38-325(2) requires the identification of an enterprise that is being carried on by the supplier (the 'identified enterprise'). This is the enterprise for which the supplier must supply all of the things that are necessary for its continued operation. Also, the supplier must carry on this enterprise until the day of the supply, whether or not as part of a larger enterprise.

31. Where the enterprise identified for the purpose of subsection 38-325(2) forms part of a larger enterprise, a supply is a 'supply of a going concern' when all of the things necessary to continue the operation of that part of the enterprise as an independent enterprise are supplied.

Example: an enterprise within a larger enterprise

32. Stay-Puff Bakeries is a chain of retail bakeries conducted by Pufferies Pty Ltd ('Pufferies'). Pufferies sells the bakery operating in a particular suburb to Pies and Things partnership. All of the things necessary for the continued operation of the bakery are supplied under the arrangement. As the suburban bakery is part of the larger enterprise being conducted by Pufferies and is capable of operating as an independent enterprise, each of the supplies made under an arrangement to supply all of the things that are necessary for the bakery business will be the 'supply of a going concern'.

33. A supply of a thing necessary for the continued operation of an activity which is part of an enterprise cannot be the 'supply of a going concern' unless the conduct of the activity is itself an 'enterprise' as defined in section 9-20 of the GST Act.

Example: supply of an activity which is not an enterprise in its own right

34. BCA NL ('BCA') is a large public company engaged in the mining industry. A decision is made to outsource its information technology ('IT') services to a private company, ServiCo. Prior to outsourcing taking place, the IT function within BCA is performed by its own employees. BCA does not maintain a separate accounting system nor is there any internal user charging for the provision of the IT function. The employment of staff performing the IT function is terminated and some staff are offered employment by ServiCo. ServiCo leases office accommodation within the BCA building and purchases all of the relevant equipment and software from BCA.

35. The IT services function of BCA was not capable of being an enterprise in its own right because it was not operated in the form of a business or in the form of an adventure or concern in the nature of trade. This is not the 'supply of a going concern'.

36. It has been suggested that an enterprise is not being carried on where the internal division does not make supplies to external clients. This means that many sales of distinct parts of a larger enterprise, including privatisations of public infrastructure, would not get the benefit of Subdivision 38-J. We are of the view that the use of the term 'in the form of' in paragraph 9-20(1)(a) suggests that not all of the features of a business need to be present. For example, making supplies only to internal clients will not necessarily be fatal to the supply of part of an enterprise being a 'supply of a going concern'.

37. Similarly, it will not be necessary for every element of the larger enterprise to be supplied, for example, shared service arrangements. However, where shared service arrangements are essential for the continued operation of the enterprise, they must be supplied. What is essential depends on the nature of the 'identified enterprise' being carried on. The 'identified enterprise' is a smaller enterprise within the larger overall enterprise being conducted by the supplier. Where the 'identified enterprise' is part of a larger enterprise being conducted by the supplier, the 'identified enterprise' may not require the shared services to continue to operate.

38. The following elements are indicators that part of an enterprise may be carried on 'in the form of' a business:

•: a degree of autonomy;
•: a separate management structure;
•: a system of internal user charging;
•: a separate budget; and
•: agreements with internal service providers or external customers.

Example: part of an enterprise which is an enterprise in its own right

39. Zinco is a manufacturer of metal products which uses a large amount of electricity for its processes. Zinco has its own power generation plants to ensure that it has sufficient electricity supplies at all times. The power generation activity is a separate division with substantial operations which are separate and distinct. It has a system of internal user charging for those services. The power generation division has a separate management structure and a degree of autonomy within the company structure. It does not deal with nor generate any revenue from external customers but supplies the power it generates to other divisions under internal service agreements.

40. Zinco sells the power generation activity to an independent power provider. Zinco transfers the plant and premises which are used in power production, the benefit of existing contracts with external suppliers, separate management structure and facilitates the transfer of necessary employees. As a part of the sale agreement, a contract is entered into under which the power provider is to supply electricity to Zinco.

41. Because Zinco is conducting the power generation operations as a separate division and in the form of a business within its larger enterprise, the activities of that division may be an enterprise. The supply of the power generation operation is the 'supply of a going concern' provided the activity of power generation is conducted by Zinco up to the day of the supply and all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the division are supplied to the recipient.

What is meant by 'the supplier supplies'?

42. This term emphasises that the elements of paragraph 38-325(2)(a) must be satisfied from the perspective of the supplier. The ability of the recipient to provide some of the things necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise is not a relevant consideration.^[F4] The requirements in paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b) must be met by the same single supplier.

43. Section 23 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 provides rules as to gender and number. It states:

23

In any Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

(a): words importing a gender include every other gender; and
(b): words in the singular number include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.

44. We are of the view that a contrary intention is evidenced by the words used in subsection 38-325(2). This requires an entity to conduct the enterprise which is to be carried on until the day of the supply. It follows that the supplier is an entity (singular) as only an entity can carry on an enterprise. Section 184-1 states that an entity includes a partnership. Therefore, the partnership, rather than the individual partners, is the single supplier of a going concern.

45. Similarly, the requirement in paragraph 38-325(2)(a) can only be met where a single entity is the recipient of the supply. This is because the supplier must supply all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the 'identified enterprise' to the recipient and the recipient must be put in a position on the day of the supply where it can, if it so chooses, continue to operate that enterprise. Only an entity can operate an enterprise and the supplier cannot put more than one recipient in a position to operate a single enterprise.

46. A GST group is treated under Division 48 as a single entity for specific purposes.^[F5] The purposes for which a GST group may be treated as a single entity do not include the supply or receipt of supplies under an arrangement for the 'supply of a going concern'. However, a member of a GST group may individually make a 'supply of a going concern'.

Things that the supplier can supply

47. The term 'thing' is defined in section 195-1 as anything that can be supplied or imported. The things which are necessary for the continued operation of an 'identified enterprise' will vary according to the nature of the enterprise and the thing supplied.

48. In some circumstances, it may not be possible for a supplier to transfer or convey some of the things necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise. For example, in some States, a logging licence cannot be assigned and must be surrendered before a new licence is issued by the relevant authority.^[F6] Similarly, the benefit of certain contracts are not assignable because of the nature of the contract itself, for example, employment contracts, or because of limitations which are imposed under the relevant contract, e.g., franchise agreements.

49. Because the relevant thing which is incapable of assignment is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise, it is arguable that the supplier is unable to supply one of the necessary things. A narrow or technical construction of the term 'supplier supplies' leads to a conclusion in these circumstances that the supplier would not have supplied a thing which is necessary where the thing has in fact been supplied to the recipient by a third party.

50. We are of the view that the surrender of the relevant licence, permit or quota is, in substance, the supply of that thing which is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise in circumstances where it is highly probable that the licence, permit or quota will be automatically reissued by the relevant government or agency.

51. Where the relevant thing is the rights under an existing contract, the surrender of those rights, in circumstances where the third party has committed to enter into a contract under which substantially similar rights will be created in favour of the recipient, will satisfy the requirement that the relevant thing is supplied.

52. The requirement that the supplier supply the relevant thing will not however be satisfied where the supplier simply chooses not to supply that thing. Further, the relevant thing is not supplied if the statutory authority or the third party does not supply that thing to the recipient.

53. The supply of a thing which is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise by a party other than the supplier is a substantive supply to the recipient of that thing in the following limited circumstances:

•: the thing must be incapable of assignment because of a statutory or legal impediment;
•: the supplier must make all reasonable efforts to have the thing supplied to the recipient;
•: the supply must be by a statutory authority or other party to the contract with the supplier;
•: normal commercial practice dictates that the supply can only be effected in this way^[F7]; and
•: the thing must actually be supplied to the recipient.

Example: surrender of licence is sufficient

54. Totenwood Pty Ltd ('Totenwood') conducts an enterprise of sapling removal from pastoral properties. It is required to have a licence from the relevant State authority to remove native trees. The licence is not able to be transferred to another entity without the permission of the State authority. In practice, approval by the State authority is not given. However, when a licence is surrendered, it is reissued to the potential transferee in all but exceptional cases.

55. Totenwood enters into an agreement with Tree-Away Pty Ltd ('Tree-Away') for the sale of the enterprise as a going concern. All of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise (e.g., machinery, advertising material, client lists), other than the licence, are supplied under the arrangement.

56. Totenwood applies to the relevant State authority for permission to transfer the licence and is refused, in accordance with usual practice. Totenwood effects the supply of the licence to Tree-Away by surrendering the licence and asking the State authority to reissue it to Tree-Away.

57. As there was a statutory impediment to the transfer of the licence, and Totenwood made all reasonable efforts to have the licence transferred, the surrender of the licence and its reissue to Tree-Away was the supply of the licence by the supplier.

58. Many enterprises operate from leased premises. The supplier may supply the lease either by assignment or by surrendering the lease and facilitating the entry by the recipient into a lease or agreement to lease the same premises by the day of the supply.

Example: surrender of lease

59. Cleaver and Son is a partnership which operates an enterprise of retail meat sales from premises leased from Monitor Trust. The terms of the lease agreement permit the assignment of the lease with the approval of the landlord.

60. Cleaver and Son enter into an agreement to sell the enterprise to Fillet Pty Ltd ('Fillet'). The agreement is for the supply of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise, including plant and equipment, stock, trade name and advertising. The partners write to Monitor Trust seeking their approval for the assignment of the current lease. Monitor Trust does not approve the assignment of the lease because it wishes (and is permitted by the lease) to negotiate a fresh lease with the recipient.

61. Cleaver and Son cannot supply the lease over the premises by assignment. Instead, Cleaver and Son arrange for Fillet to enter into a new lease with Monitor Trust and surrender their lease on the day of the supply.

62. Cleaver and Son have, in substance, made a supply of the premises, even though the actual supply of the premises has been made by Monitor Trust. Cleaver and Son have supplied all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

63. An expired lease or a tenancy at will is not capable of assignment or transfer. Where a supplier occupies premises without a written lease agreement or freehold, a supplier is not capable of supplying one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation, that is, the right to occupy the premises. Therefore, the supply cannot be a 'supply of a going concern'.

Chattel Leases

64. Where entities lease plant and equipment under a financing arrangement with a financier, the financier has legal title over the chattels. When the entity disposes of the enterprise, the finance is usually paid out as part of the settlement process. The entity therefore obtains legal title to the chattels for at least a brief period of time and is capable of supplying the chattels to the recipient as part of the 'supply of a going concern'. How the recipient finances the purchase of the chattels as part of the arrangement is not a relevant factor.

All of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise

65. The term 'necessary' incorporates every attribute of an enterprise that is essential for the continued operation of the 'identified enterprise'. This will depend on the nature of the enterprise carried on and the core attributes of that enterprise. The term 'all of the things that are necessary' does not refer to every conceivable thing which might be used in the 'identified enterprise'. Access to environmental factors, for example, access to public roads, public telephone systems and postal services, are not ordinarily things which must be supplied by the supplier.

66. A 'thing' is necessary for the continued operation of an 'identified enterprise' if the enterprise could not be operated by the recipient in the absence of the thing. For example, a boat may be essential to the conduct of the businesses of a professional fisherman, a water-ski instructor, a deep-sea diving instructor or a repairer of underwater structures because, in most instances, the relevant business could not be conducted at all without a boat.^[F8] The supplier must supply the boat for the continued operation of the enterprise.

67. The supplier is required to supply to the recipient all of the things that are necessary to carry on the 'identified enterprise' so that the recipient is put in a position to carry on the enterprise if it chooses.

68. Two elements are essential for the continued operation of an enterprise:

•: the assets necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise including, where appropriate, premises, plant and equipment, stock-in-trade and intangible assets such as goodwill, contracts, licences and quotas; and
•: the operating structure and process of the enterprise consisting of the commercial or economic activity relevant to the type of enterprise being conducted, for example, ongoing advertising and promotion.^[F9]

69. In the New Zealand case Allen Yacht Charters Ltd v. CIR (1994) 16 NZTC 11,270, the Court was asked to consider whether the sale of a yacht charter business was a supply of a taxable activity as a going concern for the purposes of the former subsection 11(1) of the New Zealand Goods and Services Tax Act 1985.

70. In holding that the sale of a yacht and equipment by the vendor of a yacht charter business, without a transfer of goodwill or of forward bookings, was not the supply of a taxable activity as a going concern, the Court observed:

'In this case the "going concern" consisted of two elements. One was the assets necessary for the business or undertaking, namely Chateau Briand and the equipment on her, together with the Ministry of Transport survey and the berth on Z pier. The other is what Barber DCJ described in Case M89 (1990) 12 NZTC 2,556 at p 2,561 ... as the business structure and process that had been operated by the objector with the emphasis on the process rather than the structure.'

71. The supplier supplies all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise when the supplier supplies those things which will put the recipient in a position to carry on the enterprise, if it chooses.

72. The intended and actual use by the recipient of all of the things supplied are not relevant in determining if a particular supply is a 'supply of a going concern'^[F10]. The enterprise may be continued as a different enterprise, as part of a larger enterprise, or may not be continued at all by the recipient.^[F11]

73. A number of things which are commonly necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise are discussed in the following paragraphs (refer paragraphs 81-117), but not all of these things will always be necessary for the continued operation of a particular enterprise.

74. Certain things which are used in the enterprise as a matter of choice by the supplier conducting the enterprise are not necessary in circumstances where the enterprise can be carried on in the absence of those things, that is, they are not essential.

Example: things that are not necessary

75. Bill is the proprietor of a medium sized insurance broking firm. He operates his business entirely from an inner city office building and all appointments with clients are conducted at these premises. He does not require a motor vehicle for business purposes.

76. Bill enters into an agreement to sell his business to Jake. Under the arrangement, Bill supplies his client list, goodwill, office furniture and equipment, and assigns the lease over the premises.

77. As a motor vehicle is not one of the things that is essential for the continued operation of Bill's enterprise, it is not necessary for Bill to supply a motor vehicle to Jake as part of the arrangement. That is, it is not one of the things that must necessarily be supplied under the arrangement for it to qualify as a 'supply of a going concern'.

Example: things that are necessary

78. Ben conducts a mobile mechanic business. He has a specially fitted out van which carries all his tools and equipment. Ben travels widely throughout the metropolitan area and carries out repairs at clients' premises. He does not have a workshop of his own where repairs can be performed.

79. Ben enters into an agreement with Pistons Pty Ltd ('Pistons'), a company that owns several motor repair workshops, to sell his business. Under the arrangement between Ben and Pistons, Ben supplies his client list, the mobile telephone number, goodwill and motor vehicle, together with all the equipment and tools.

80. Ben's motor vehicle is essential to the continued operation of his enterprise and is one of the things that must necessarily be supplied under the arrangement for it to qualify as a 'supply of a going concern'.

Premises that are necessary

81. Where particular premises are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise, these premises must be supplied. Characteristics or attributes of particular premises may be determinative of the necessity for those particular premises to be supplied. For example, a factory building may have specially modified floors to take the weight of certain necessary machinery. The characteristics of the building itself are such that those particular premises are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

82. Where an enterprise is necessarily conducted from premises but particular premises are not necessary, then suitable premises, or the right to occupy such premises, must be supplied as one of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

83. Where premises are necessary for the continued conduct of the enterprise and premises are not supplied by the supplier because the recipient has, or is able to secure, suitable premises prior to the day of the supply, the supplier is not supplying a thing which is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise.

84. In limited circumstances, premises are not one of the things necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise. This is the case where an enterprise requires few tangible assets, for example, a personal fitness trainer who visits clients and does not need any premises to operate the enterprise.

Example: premises that are not necessary

85. Betty is a clairvoyant who works from home. Betty provides tarot readings over the telephone using a 0055 number. Betty sells her business including her cards, the files on her regular clients, her advertising material, her trading name "Madame Ecarte" and the 0055 number to Bruce. She is not required to supply her home as a part of the 'supply of a going concern'. Premises are not an essential part of her enterprise.

Example: premises that are necessary

86. DeliCo conducts a delicatessen business from leased premises adjacent to a large grocery retailer within a suburban shopping mall. DeliCo negotiates the sale of the business to another registered entity, NewCo, which has its own premises from which it intends to operate the delicatessen. The contract provides that the business name, plant and equipment, stock and goodwill are to be supplied to NewCo. DeliCo retains its premises and intends to commence another business from these premises.

87. Because the delicatessen is conducted from premises within the mall, some premises are necessary for the conduct of the delicatessen business. The supply is not the 'supply of a going concern' as DeliCo is not supplying premises which are one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation of the supplier's enterprise.

Example: particular premises

88. Heavy Duty Ltd manufactures earth moving equipment in its suburban factory. Heavy Duty Ltd intends to sell its manufacturing business. The factory floors have been specially modified to handle the extreme weights of the manufacturing plant and earth moving equipment produced. Heavy Duty Ltd must supply the factory as one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Things brought into existence on the day of the supply

89. The supply of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise may require that the supplier enters into contracts, leases or other things which were not in existence prior to the day of the supply. This will be the case where the supplier retains the ownership of premises from which an enterprise is conducted, but supplies the business structure and possession of the premises by way of a lease.

Example: contracts entered into on the day of the supply

90. Sunset Unit Trust owns and operates a nursing home on a particular site. Hands On Pty Ltd ('Hands On') enters into a contract to purchase the business of operating the nursing home. Plant and equipment, residents' records and stock are supplied as part of the arrangement. Permission was sought and granted by the relevant authority to transfer the bed allocation and a lease agreement was entered into with Hands On, effective on the day of settlement.

91. As the premises were supplied by way of lease, the supplier has supplied all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Statutory licences, permits, quotas or similar statutory authorisations

92. The supply of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise that has or is required to have, as part of its business activities, statutory licences, permits, quotas or similar things, other than personal qualifications discussed in paragraph 116 below, must include those things as part of the supply in order for it to be the 'supply of a going concern'.

93. Some enterprises are required by law to be operated under a licence, permit or other statutory authorisation. Examples of this are liquor licences and fishing licences. Some industries also have statutory allocations or quotas, such as water allocations or sugar quotas.

94. Where a supplier is permitted by the relevant statutory regime to transfer the licence, permit or other statutory authorisation, it must transfer it. Where the supplier may only transfer the thing with permission from a relevant entity, it must attempt to gain that permission. As discussed in paragraph 50 above, where the supplier, having made all reasonable attempts to transfer the thing, has no option but to surrender it in favour of the recipient, the surrender and reissue will be, in substance, a supply of the licence, permit or other statutory authorisation by the supplier.

95. Where the statutory permissive licence is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise and a new licence is not in fact issued to the recipient in consequence of the surrender by the supplier of an existing licence, the supplier has not provided that thing to the recipient regardless of whether the supplier has used best endeavours to procure the intended result. The supply of all other things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise will not satisfy the requirement in paragraph 38-325(2)(a). In these circumstances, the supply was not in fact a 'supply of a going concern'. The supplier will have a liability to pay GST.

Supply by a lessor of the benefits of covenants under a lease

96. The owner of an enterprise which consists solely of the leasing of property cannot make a 'supply of a going concern' when supplying the real property subject to the lease to the lessee. All of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise includes the supply of the property and the covenants. The owner is not able to supply to the lessee the benefit of the covenants which are necessary for the continued operation of the existing enterprise of leasing the property.

97. In the decision of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in Pine v. CIR (1998) 18 NZTC 13,570, the majority of the Court held that the supplier could supply the interest in the real property subject to a lease to the tenant as a going concern. The decision of the Court turned largely on a consideration of the doctrine of merger, the Court concluding that the merger of the interests in the land did not occur until after the point of supply. The ability of the supplier to supply the benefit of the covenants under a lease was not considered by the Court. The decision in Pine v. CIR has no application to the issue of whether the benefit of covenants can be passed on to the recipient of a supply of freehold premises where the recipient is a lessee under an existing lease.

Goodwill

98. Goodwill is intangible property. It attaches to a business and cannot attach to an enterprise which is not a business. As stated by Gaudron, McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ in FC of T v. Murry:

'From the viewpoint of the proprietors of a business and subsequent purchasers, goodwill is an asset of the business because it is the valuable right or privilege to use the other assets of the business as a business to produce income. It is the right or privilege to make use of all that constitutes 'the attractive force which brings in custom.' Goodwill...is the legal right or privilege to conduct a business in substantially the same manner and by substantially the same means that have attracted custom to it. It is a right or privilege that is inseparable from the conduct of the business.'^[F12]

99. So, if the 'identified enterprise' is a business, goodwill is supplied as one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation of that enterprise.

100. Goodwill which emanates from the personality, reputation, skills or attributes of an individual is not transferable. However, goodwill emanating from other sources will continue to draw custom to the enterprise and can be supplied.

Example: goodwill emanating from personal attributes

101. Enrico's Coffee Emporium is well known not only for the quality of its coffee beans, but also for Enrico's friendliness and knowledge of coffee. A large number of his clients travel some distance to purchase coffee from his store and to discuss the rival merits of various blends with him. Enrico intends to retire and sells the store complete with all stock, fixtures, plant, etc., to Julius.

102. Much of the goodwill of the business emanates from Enrico's personal attributes. This part of the goodwill of the enterprise is not transferable, however, goodwill can be supplied as custom will continue to flow from the other sources of goodwill. Julius is acquiring all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise of Enrico's Coffee Emporium.

Restrictive Covenants

103. Some arrangements for the supply of a business may include restrictive covenants. Where a restrictive covenant is supplied as part of an arrangement, it is one of those things that is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise.

Intellectual property

104. Where intellectual property exists and is one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise which is the subject of the arrangement, the benefit of the intellectual property must be supplied to the recipient under the arrangement.

Franchises

105. A franchisee cannot supply its franchise as a going concern to another entity which is to become the franchisee, unless the franchisee is capable of supplying all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise. In many instances, restrictions are imposed under the franchise agreement on the ability of the franchisee to transfer or assign the benefit of the franchise agreement.

106. The benefit of a franchise agreement is a thing which is necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise. Where, under the terms of the franchise agreement, the franchisee can supply the franchise agreement to an incoming franchisee, it must be supplied. If the agreement can only be supplied subject to the franchisor's approval, the franchisee must seek approval and, if such approval is given, transfer the agreement.

107. As discussed at paragraph 50 above, if either the franchise agreement does not allow the transfer of the agreement to the recipient or permission to transfer the agreement is withheld by the franchisor, surrender of the rights under the agreement in favour of the recipient will be the supply of the agreement, provided a new agreement is entered into by the franchisor and the recipient on similar terms.

Example: supply of a franchise without franchise agreement

108. Outgoing Ltd ('Outgoing') is carrying on a franchised cleaning business. It does not operate from premises, but has plant and equipment, contracts with the entities for which it supplies cleaning services, and a franchise agreement with the franchisor. The head franchise agreement requires any prospective purchaser of the business to enter into a new franchise agreement.

109. Outgoing enters into a contract of sale which includes the assets of the business and the service contracts with clients with Incoming Ltd ('Incoming'). Outgoing is unable, because of the terms of the agreement, to supply the franchise agreement by transfer. Outgoing surrenders its rights under the franchise agreement in favour of Incoming. The franchisor enters into a new agreement with Incoming on similar terms as the previous agreement.

110. Outgoing has supplied the benefit of the franchise agreement by the surrender of its rights under the agreement and securing the entry into a new franchise agreement between the franchisor and Incoming.

Staff

111. The services of employees are necessary for the operation of many enterprises. Employees are not 'things' as defined in section 195-1 and therefore are not of themselves 'things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise'. However, the benefit of a contract of employment or service is a thing which may be a thing 'necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise'. As a matter of law, employment contracts are personal contracts and are incapable of assignment.^[F13] Strict application of this legal principle would lead to a conclusion which would preclude the supply of employees of an enterprise as one of the things necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

112. In commercial practice, the retention of employees may be facilitated upon a change in ownership of the business or undertaking in various ways. Provided that the supplier takes all reasonable steps which are commercially necessary to facilitate the continued employment of essential employees in the enterprise after the day of the supply, the requirement that the benefit of the employment contracts as a thing that is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise be supplied by the supplier will be satisfied Where only some employees accept an offer of employment with the recipient and the enterprise is capable of continuing with those employees, the supplier is taken to have supplied all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

113. Some entities have key personnel who may or may not be integral to the continued operation of the enterprise. In the case of a key employee, the benefit of a contract of employment covering the key employee is the thing which is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise. The supplier must take all reasonable steps to facilitate the employment of key personnel. Where the enterprise cannot continue to operate without the key personnel, the supplier has not supplied all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Example: key personnel

114. Geordie is a computer programmer with GoingCom Ltd ('GoingCom'), an entity that conducts a software business. Geordie developed GoingCom's best selling product, a virus checker, and is the only person who is capable of updating the software for new viruses, debugging it and providing technical support in relation to that product as part of GoingCom's after sale service. GoingCom agrees to sell its entire business to DigiConcern Pty Ltd ('DigiConcern') as a going concern.

115. Without the services of Geordie, the enterprise cannot continue. An agreement by Geordie to continue to work with the software business under DigiConcern must be secured to enable the supply by GoingCom to be the 'supply of a going concern'. Geordie's agreement may be for an indefinite period of time. Alternatively, Geordie may agree to work for DigiConcern for a limited period of time which is sufficient to train new staff to perform the tasks normally carried out by him.

116. The services of a sole proprietor are not provided pursuant to a contract and therefore are not a thing that is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise. Similarly, where the nature of the business is such that personal qualifications (e.g., educational qualifications, practicing certificates, etc.) attaching to an individual are necessary for the continued conduct of the business, we consider that the supply of those attributes would require the supply of the individual. However, as the individual is not a 'thing', because an individual is not capable of being supplied, the supply of an individual with such attributes is not required under paragraph 38-325(2)(a).

Example: personal qualifications

117. Marco, a health practitioner, supplies his practice to another practitioner. Marco is required to hold a practising certificate which he gained through study and supervised practice. The qualification is personal to Marco and cannot be transferred to another entity. Provided that everything else necessary to continue to operate the practice is supplied, including the client list, this will be the 'supply of a going concern'.

Supply of parts of an existing enterprise to two or more recipients

118. Paragraph 38-325(2)(a) expressly recognises that each supply under the relevant arrangement of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of part of a larger enterprise may be the 'supply of a going concern'. Equally, supplies of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of parts of a larger enterprise may be separate supplies of going concerns to two or more recipients provided the two or more different parts of the enterprise are each capable of separate independent operation.

119. Where the owner of both a business enterprise and of the real property upon which the business enterprise is necessarily conducted sells the business enterprise to a second entity and the business premises to a third entity, the supply to the second entity will not be the 'supply of a going concern'. This is because the second entity is not supplied with one of the things necessary for the continued operation of that enterprise, by the supplier, that is, the business premises.

120. Where the owner of both the business enterprise and the premises grants a lease of the premises in favour of the second entity prior to the day of the supply of the premises to that second entity, the supplier is supplying the second entity with all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise. The requirement that the premises are supplied to the second entity is met even if the property is subsequently sold to a third entity subject to a lease.

121. Similarly, the supply of the real property to the third entity subject to a lease to a second entity in the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph, may also be the 'supply of a going concern' because an enterprise of leasing the relevant property is conducted by the supplier up to the day of the supply, albeit for a brief period of time. The supplier, being the owner of both the business and the real property, is making two supplies, each of which is capable of being the 'supply of a going concern'.

Supply of two separate enterprises by two suppliers to one recipient

122. It is not uncommon to have a business structure in which one entity owns the land and buildings and a separate legal entity operates the business from those premises under a lease. When the two entities sell their enterprises to one recipient and the contracts are interdependent, each supply must be considered separately.

123. Where both supplies occur on the same day, each enterprise which is the subject of the separate supplies must be capable of continued operation by the recipient if only for a brief period of time. When settlement of both enterprises occurs simultaneously, neither supply will be the 'supply of a going concern'. The supplier of the premises is not putting the recipient into a position to continue to operate the enterprise of leasing and the supplier of the business operating from these premises is not supplying the right to occupy the premises to the recipient.

Supplier carries on the enterprise until the day of the supply

124. A supply under an arrangement will only be the 'supply of a going concern' where the enterprise is carried on by the supplier until the day of the supply. All of the activities of the enterprise must be active and operating on the day of the supply. The activities must be capable of continuing after the transfer to new ownership.

125. A supply will not be a 'supply of a going concern' where, on the day of the supply, the activity carried on by the enterprise has ceased. The New Zealand case of Belton v. CIR (1997) 18 NZTC 13,403 provides a useful illustration of a failure to fulfil a similar requirement under the New Zealand law. There, an owner of an operating motel sold the motel. Under the contractual agreement, the sale was subject to vacant possession and the land, building and chattels only were transferred to the purchaser. At settlement, the motel had been closed down and there were no future bookings. After the settlement date, the premises did not immediately operate as a motel, but did so again several weeks later.

126. The Court accepted that the vendor had supplied all the assets necessary for the supply of the motel as a going concern:

'The fact that the purchaser could resume operations shortly after the transfer illustrates that there was available a business structure as well as the business activity. Mr Belton could exploit the location goodwill and the benefits flowing from pre-existing clientele, advertising and background. At settlement he was in a position to resume the operation of the motel business notwithstanding the vacant possession which he demanded and received.'

127. However, the supply was held not to be of a going concern because, at the time of the supply, the motel business was not operating.

128. A supplier, who temporarily ceases some activities of an enterprise for a short period, for example, for cleaning and maintenance purposes, to facilitate the supply under the arrangement, has not ceased to carry on the enterprise for the purposes of paragraph 38-325(2)(a).

129. The enterprise must be carried on by the supplier which may do so itself or have another entity carry on the enterprise on its behalf. However, an entity that does not have legal ownership or possession of the enterprise is not in a position to deal with that enterprise and therefore cannot be the supplier of all of the things that are necessary to continue to operate the enterprise.

Example: enterprise not carried on at the day of the supply

130. Old Salt Limited ('Old Salt') owns a fishing vessel and fishing licence, both of which it leases to the Rockhopper partnership on a month to month basis. The partnership carries on a business of fishing using the trawler and licence. Old Salt enters into a contract to sell the fishing boat and licence to George Gudgeon, terminating the lease arrangement with Rockhopper two days before the settlement date.

131. Old Salt did not carry on the enterprise of leasing the trawler and licence up to the day of the supply and therefore cannot make a 'supply of a going concern'.

Continued operation

132. The term 'carrying on an enterprise' includes doing anything in the course of the commencement or termination of the enterprise.^[F14] A supplier may carry on an enterprise to the day of the supply for the purposes of paragraph 38-325(2)(b) during the period of commencement or termination of an enterprise.

133. A supplier is unable to supply all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise unless the relevant enterprise is not only being 'carried on', but is also operating. Where an enterprise engaged in an activity ceases to carry on that activity and the assets are in the course of being sold off, the enterprise is being 'carried on', but is not operating.

134. The activity of leasing a building which has previously been leased to a tenant remains an 'enterprise' of leasing for the purposes of section 9-20 of the GST Act during the period of temporary vacancy when a new tenant is being actively sought by the building owner. However, where a building has not previously been leased to a tenant, but is being actively marketed, an 'enterprise of leasing' is not operating until the activity of leasing actually commences. The activity of leasing commences when at least one tenant enters into an agreement to lease or occupies the building.

Example: partly tenanted building

135. The Bullish Unit Trust enters into a contract to sell a large commercial building which it has leased out for several years. At the time of sale, the building has only one tenant which occupies a part of the available floor space. The balance of the floor space is available for lease and the trust has engaged a leasing agent to find tenants for the remaining area. The trust is carrying on an enterprise of leasing the building as it is carrying on leasing activities on a regular or continuous basis.

136. In the course of conducting an enterprise of leasing a building, certain floors may be unavailable for lease temporarily while repairs, refurbishments or other activities requiring vacancy take place. The requirement that vacant floors be actively marketed will not apply to those floors for the period during which the activities are taking place.

137. Some areas or floors may not be available for lease but may still be part of the enterprise of leasing the building. The areas may be used for storage of cleaning equipment, as offices for the building manager or for some other purpose relevant to the enterprise of leasing. Where the supplier can demonstrate that all of the floor space in the building is part of an enterprise of leasing on the day of the supply, the supply of the whole building may be the 'supply of a going concern'.

Example: part of the building that is not actively marketed

138. Bearish Pty Ltd enters into a contract to sell a large commercial building which it has leased out for a number of years. At the time of sale, the building has no tenants. A number of floors are available for lease and the company has engaged a leasing agent to secure tenants for those floors. The remaining floors are being refurbished and these floors are neither tenanted nor actively marketed.

139. The company is carrying on an enterprise of leasing the building as it is carrying on leasing activities on a regular or continuous basis. The refurbishment of the vacant floors is one of the activities of the enterprise of leasing the building.

Example: some of the building that is not part of the enterprise of leasing

140. Breakeven Distributors Pty Ltd ('Breakeven') owns a large commercial property on a single title. The building has five levels. Breakeven conducts a discount retail business from the ground and first floors of the building, and leases the upper three floors as professional offices. Breakeven enters into a contract to sell the building and the agreement states that it will be the 'supply of a going concern'. At the time of contract, two levels are leased and the other is being advertised for lease. An office on the first floor is being used as the building manager's office from which the enterprise of leasing the building is conducted. The remaining floor space on this floor is used in the discount retailing business and has never been available for lease.

141. The identified enterprise is the leasing of commercial premises. The portion of the building in which an enterprise of leasing is being conducted is the upper three floors and the area occupied by the building manager's office. Provided the conditions in subsection 38-325(2) are satisfied, the supply of this portion of the building will be the 'supply of a going concern'.

Successive Sales

142. Where all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the same enterprise are supplied two or more times in succession, each of the supplies subsequent to the initial supply as a going concern cannot be the 'supply of a going concern' unless the relevant supplier of that supply has actually operated the enterprise and carries on the enterprise until the day of the supply.

143. The recipient of a 'supply of a going concern' that immediately on-sells the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise to a subsequent purchaser without actually operating the enterprise cannot satisfy the requirement in subsection 38-325(2) that it carry on the enterprise to the day of the supply. If, however, the operation of the enterprise continues uninterrupted throughout the subsequent supply(s), each supplier will be capable of satisfying the subsection.

The day of the supply

144. The day of the supply is determined in each case by reference to the terms of the particular contract, if applicable, and the nature of the supply. It is the date on which the recipient assumes effective control and possession of the enterprise carried on by the supplier. The day of the supply occurs when the supplier has done everything to satisfy the obligations under the contract or arrangement governing the supply and the recipient has assumed effective control and possession of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Example: no change in effective control

145. On 1 August 2000, Frank enters into negotiations to buy a manufacturing business from Kerry. Negotiations are concluded on 31 August and contracts are exchanged on that date with settlement occurring on 31 October 2000. Kerry continues to conduct the business until 31 October. The contract provides that the transfer of the assets and undertaking of the business is deemed to have occurred at midnight on 31 August and that profits or losses incurred after that date are those of the purchaser.

146. The day of the supply in these circumstances is the date on which effective control actually passes, that is, 31 October 2000. Notwithstanding that the economic risk and benefit are deemed to have passed at an earlier date, effective control did not pass until 31 October.

Example: change in effective control

147. Sue enters into a contract to purchase a whale watching business from Cheryl. The assets of the business include a boat, goodwill and a statutory permissive licence from the State Government. Sue takes possession of the boat on 31 October 2000 and commences to carry on the business from that date. The transfer of the licence is subject to formal consent from the relevant Minister and this process is not completed until 30 November. Under the contract, Cheryl is required to work in the business until the transfer of the licence to Sue has been completed. Settlement will occur on the day the licence is issued to Sue.

148. The day of the supply is 31 October 2000 because economic ownership and effective control of the enterprise has actually passed to Sue on that day, notwithstanding the delay in supply of one of the things necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Supply of things in addition to those necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise

149. Supplies made under an arrangement, under which all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the 'identified enterprise' are supplied to the recipient, may each be the 'supply of a going concern' for the purposes of subsection 38-325(2). The arrangement to which the provision refers is the arrangement under which all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise is supplied (paragraph 38-325(2)(a)). It may include the supply of those things which, while not essential to the continued operation of the business, are utilised in the enterprise carried on by the supplier until the day of the supply (paragraph 38-325(2)(b)).

150. The relevant arrangement may be narrower than the arrangement entered into by the supplier and recipient. The arrangement may include a single supply, multiple supplies or part of a supply. What the relevant arrangement is will be a question of fact in each case and will depend upon what is the 'identified enterprise'.

151. The supplies made under the relevant arrangement are those which are capable of being GST-free. Supplies which are not made under the relevant arrangement, even if made under the wider arrangement, are not GST-free as supplies of going concerns.

152. If part of a supply is under the relevant arrangement and part is not, section 9-80 provides a method of apportionment of the GST-free part and the taxable part.

Example: supply of things not under the relevant arrangement

153. A motor mechanic contracts to sell his motor repair business, including the building from which it operates, and a residence located on an adjoining block in which he lives. The supply of the business and any related buildings is a supply under the relevant arrangement. The supply of the residential premises is neither the supply of a thing which is necessary to the continued operation of the 'identified enterprise', nor the supply of a thing used in carrying on the enterprise until the day of the supply. It is not a supply under the relevant arrangement.

Going concerns and shares

154. When all of the shares constituting the issued capital of a company are supplied as part of the supply of an enterprise under an arrangement, whether or not the supply of the shares will be under a relevant arrangement will be a question of fact. If the shares are utilised in carrying on the 'identified enterprise', then they may be supplied under the relevant arrangement. Where shares are merely passive investments, they will not be capable of being supplied under the relevant arrangement.

155. The supply of a bundle of shares which does not constitute the whole of the issued capital of a company will be a supply of one of the things necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise where the shares are essential to the continued operation of the enterprise, for example, as trading stock, membership of buyers' cooperatives or a shareholding in a competitor.

Example: supply of shares in a subsidiary company

156. XYZ Ltd ('XYZ') is a parent company for the XYZ group of companies which are engaged in an office furniture manufacturing business. The manufacturing premises are owned by XYZ which conducts the business in its own right, however, a wholly owned subsidiary, Subco Ltd ('Subco'), owns all plant and equipment used by XYZ pursuant to various lease arrangements. XYZ enters into an agreement to sell the manufacturing business to ABC Ltd. Under the contract, XYZ agrees to sell all assets associated with the business, including shares held in Subco.

157. The equipment in Subco is utilised solely in the business of XYZ, Subco owns no other assets nor conducts any other enterprise. As the arrangement includes the shares in Subco, the supply of those shares will be considered to be a supply under the relevant arrangement.

Example: shares held as trading stock

158. Joe Trader is a registered stockbroker who carries on an enterprise of buying and selling shares from leased premises. He enters into an arrangement to supply his stockbroking enterprise to another registered stockbroker, Bob Bearish. Under the arrangement Joe is supplying his staff, trading stock (i.e.,. shares), office equipment, client list and leased premises. For Joe Trader to make a 'supply of a going concern', he must supply his trading stock (i.e., shares) as one of the things that is necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

Example: shares as a passive investment

159. Sparky Pty Ltd ('Sparky') owns a small electrical repairs business which it operates from rented premises. It enters into an arrangement with Ampere Ltd under which Sparky will supply the stock on hand, work-in-progress, advertising material, signage and the lease of the premises. The supply under the contract also includes three parcels of shares in blue chip companies from which Sparky derives dividend income.

160. The part of the supply which relates to the parcel of shares is not under the relevant arrangement. The shares are not necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise and are not used in carrying on the enterprise until the day of the supply.

Agreed in writing

161. One of the requirements of section 38-325 is that the supplier and the recipient have agreed in writing that the supply is of a going concern. This agreement need not necessarily form part of the arrangement under which the relevant supply is made.

162. The GST Act does not specify what form the agreement has to be in, nor does it define the term 'agreed in writing'. The term 'agreed' means 'to be in one mind; harmonise in opinion or feeling'.^[F15]

163. Section 25 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 defines 'writing' as 'includes any mode of representing or reproducing words, figures, drawings or symbols in a visible form.' In Peverill v. Meir (1990) 95 ALR 401, Justice Burchett concluded that:

'When the Act requires the request to be in writing, I think it refers to a request which read reasonably, conveys the information that the procedure in question is to be performed.'

164. The term 'agreed in writing' means that the supplier and the recipient have made a mutual declaration in such form that clearly evidences that they agree that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern'.

165. The supplier and the recipient must agree that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern' on or before the day of the supply.

166. An agreement in writing by the parties that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern' will not conclusively determine that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern' where the other requirements of Subdivision 38-J are not satisfied. This will depend on a consideration of all factual circumstances. For example, a supply which does not include all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise will not be a 'supply of a going concern' under Subdivision 38-J, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement between the parties that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern'.

167. A supply to a recipient who is not registered or required to be registered^[F16] will not be a GST-free supply, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement between the parties that the supply is a 'supply of a going concern'.

168. Where all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise are supplied to a registered recipient but there is no agreement in writing between the parties, there will not be a GST-free 'supply of a going concern'.

Recipient is registered or required to be registered

169. Paragraph 38-325(1)(b) requires that the recipient is registered or is required to be registered. A recipient that is required to be registered in respect of the enterprise on and from the date of the supply will satisfy the requirement in paragraph 38-325(1)(b). If the recipient is not required to be registered, but chooses to register to obtain the benefit of the provision, the mere lodging of an application to be registered will not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 38-325(1)(b). The effective date of registration of the recipient must be on or before the day of the supply.

Options to acquire a thing or things as a going concern

170. Subsection 9-30(1) deals with supplies that are GST-free. In addition to those supplies which are GST-free under Division 38 of the GST Act, including the 'supply of a going concern', the subsection also provides that the supply of a right to receive a supply that would be GST-free under Division 38 is GST-free.

171. The supply of an option to acquire a supply of a going concern is a supply of a right to receive the 'supply of a going concern'. Whether the supply of the option is GST-free will depend upon the wording of the option. The wording must have the effect that the supply made on the exercise of the option is GST-free, or the option will not be exercised. For example, an option to acquire a load of apples is not GST-free, but an option to acquire a load of apples fit for human consumption is GST-free.

172. When this principle is applied to the option to acquire a 'supply of a going concern', the parties to the option must agree that, on the exercise of the option, the supply will be GST-free. The parties must specify that, on the exercise of the option, what is supplied will satisfy the conditions of section 38-325.

Going concerns and partnerships

173. A partnership interest is the property of the partner and may be assigned or sold by the partner. In the case of a common law partnership, any dealing with the partnership interest, other than by assignment, terminates the partnership.

174. Merely admitting new partners cannot be the 'supply of a going concern'. What has happened is that a partnership interest has been created. The new partner has been supplied with an interest in each of the assets of the partnership and not with all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise. As the enterprise is carried on by the entity which is the partnership, the supply of an interest in the partnership by either assignment or sale will not be the supply of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise.

175. When a partner in a partnership disposes of their interest, the supply of that interest will not be a taxable supply because the supply is not in the course or furtherance of an enterprise that is carried on by the partner. However, where an enterprise which involves the acquisition of interests in a number of partnerships is being conducted, the supply of an interest in one of those partnerships is an input taxed supply under Item 10 of regulation 40-5.09 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 1999.

176. Where the partnership entity sells the enterprise it operates to another entity (including a partnership constituted of some of the original partners) and that entity is registered or required to be registered, the supply may be GST-free as a 'supply of a going concern'. Similarly, where the partnership sells part of its enterprise to another entity and all of the conditions of section 38-325 are satisfied, the supply may be GST-free as the 'supply of a going concern'.

177. When a sole trader/practitioner supplies an interest in their enterprise to another person, they create an interest in a partnership in making the supply. The supply of this interest is not the 'supply of a going concern'. It is a financial supply. However, where a sole trader/practitioner supplies all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise to a partnership of which he or she is a partner, this will be a 'supply of a going concern'.

Going concerns and joint ventures

178. Whether or not a business structure is a joint venture is a matter of fact. If the structure is a joint venture, then each joint venturer is an entity which is capable of conducting an enterprise. Provided that all of the requirements of section 38-325 are satisfied, it is possible for a joint venturer entity to make a GST-free 'supply of a going concern'. This may be when part or all of the enterprise conducted by the joint venturer is supplied, provided that what is supplied is all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the 'identified enterprise'.

Going concerns and companies

179. The supply of all of the shares in a company that conducts an enterprise is not the 'supply of a going concern' when the shares are all that is supplied. The supply of the shares may satisfy the test in paragraph 38-325(2)(a) as it is the supply of all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise. The supplier of the shares is the shareholder. The supply will fail the test in paragraph 38-325(2)(b) because the supplier of the shares does not conduct the enterprise and so cannot carry it on until the day of the supply. The 'identified enterprise' is the enterprise conducted by the entity which is the company. A supply of shares may be a financial supply.^[F17]

180. However, where an entity which conducts an enterprise is a company and the company supplies all of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of the enterprise in accordance with the conditions of Subdivision 38-J, each supply is a GST-free 'supply of a going concern'.

Going concerns and trusts

181. An enterprise may be conducted by an entity which is a trust. It is the trustee of the trust, as the entity conducting the enterprise, which may make a 'supply of a going concern'.

A 'supply of a going concern' which would otherwise be input taxed

182. Where a supply under an arrangement is GST-free because of the application of Subdivision 38-J, input tax credits on creditable acquisitions made in relation to the supply are available to the supplier.

183. Input tax credits relating to a supply, which would have otherwise been input taxed but is GST-free because of the operation of the Subdivision, are available to the extent that they relate to the supply under the arrangement. This means that input tax credits relating to the acquisition and use of the thing supplied will not be available, but those relating to the supply of the thing under the arrangement are available.

184. The acquisition of a thing used to make input taxed supplies is not a creditable acquisition to the extent that it is used for that purpose. Input tax credits are also not available in relation to the use of the thing to make input taxed supplies. However, as the supply of the thing under an arrangement which satisfies the conditions of Subdivision 38-J is GST-free, acquisitions for the purposes of making that supply are for a creditable purpose and the input tax credits which relate to those acquisitions will be available to the supplier.

Example: availability of input tax credits

185. Gerald acquires a block of flats which are subsequently let as residential premises for several years. Gerald sells the property to Grace with existing leases intact. The supply is for consideration, Gerald and Grace are both registered for GST and they agree in writing that the supply is of a going concern. In the course of the sale, Gerald consults a solicitor and utilises the services of a real estate agent.

186. As the acquisition of the premises by Gerald is for the purpose of making input taxed supplies, it is not acquired for a creditable purpose and input tax credits are not available in relation to the acquisition. The acquisitions made in the course of the leasing activities, such as plumbing and painting, are also not acquisitions for a creditable purpose. The input tax credits in relation to these acquisitions are not available to Gerald.

187. The supply of the premises as a going concern is GST-free and acquisitions made in the course of making that supply are made for a creditable purpose. The input tax credits in relation to the acquisition of legal services and real estate services are available to Gerald.^[F18]

Mortgagee exercising a power to dispose of a debtor's property

188. A supply of property by a mortgagee is a taxable supply if the supply would have been a taxable supply had it been made by the debtor.^[F19]

189. A supply is a GST-free 'supply of a going concern' by a mortgagee if the requirements of subsection 38-325(2) are met by the mortgagee in their own capacity as the supplier. If the mortgagee, or any other representative of an incapacitated entity, carries on the enterprise until the day of the supply and makes the supply in their own capacity as the supplier, the supply may be a GST-free 'supply of a going concern'.

190. Where a mortgagee is empowered to sell some, but not all, of the assets of an enterprise that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise, the supply will not satisfy paragraph 38-325(2)(a).

191. Where a mortgagee is empowered to sell the assets of an enterprise, but has no power to enter into possession and conduct the activity of the enterprise, the supply will not satisfy the requirement in paragraph 38-325(2)(b) that the supplier carry on the enterprise until the day of the supply.

192. Subsection 105-5(3) provides that a supply is not a taxable supply where the debtor advises you in writing or, in the absence of a written statement, you conclude on the basis of reasonable information, that the supply would not have been a taxable supply if it had been made by the debtor. The subsection will have no application in relation to section 38-325 where a supply is made by a mortgagee in possession as the requirements of the section cannot be satisfied by the debtor. Specifically, the debtor cannot carry on the enterprise until the day of the supply and, consequently, the relevant notice cannot be given.

Detailed contents list

193. Below is a detailed content list for this Ruling:

	Paragraph
What this Ruling is about	1
Date of effect	7
Background	8
Ruling with explanations	15
What is a 'supply of a going concern'?	15
What is a 'supply under an arrangement?	19
What is the 'enterprise' referred to in paragraphs 38-325(2)(a) and (b)?	22
Example: fully tenanted building	25
Example: supply of an asset which is not an enterprise in its own right	27
Example: an enterprise within a larger enterprise	32
Example: supply of an activity which is not an enterprise in its own right	34
Example: part of an enterprise which is an enterprise in its own right	39
What is meant by 'the supplier supplies'?	42
Things that the supplier can supply	47
Example: surrender of licence is sufficient	54
Example: surrender of lease	59
Chattel Leases	64
All of the things that are necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise	65
Example: things that are not necessary	75
Example: things that are necessary	78
Premises that are necessary	81
Example: premises that are not necessary	85
Example: premises that are necessary	86
Example: particular premises	88
Things brought into existence on the day of the supply	89
Example: contracts entered into on the day of supply	90
Statutory licences, permits, quotas or similar statutory authorisations	92
Supply by a lessor of the benefits of covenants under a lease	96
Goodwill	98
Example: goodwill emanating from personal attributes	101
Restrictive Covenants	103
Intellectual property	104
Franchises	105
Example: supply of a franchise without franchise agreement	108
Staff	111
Example: key personnel	114
Example: personal qualifications	117
Supply of parts of an existing enterprise to two or more recipients	118
Supply of two separate enterprises by two suppliers to one recipient	122
Supplier carries on the enterprise until the day of the supply	124
Example: enterprise not carried on at the day of the supply	130
Continued operation	132
Example: partly tenanted building	135
Example: part of the building that is not actively marketed	138
Example: some of the building that is not part of the enterprise of leasing	140
Successive Sales	142
The day of the supply	144
Example: no change in effective control	145
Example: change in effective control	147
Supply of things in addition to those necessary for the continued operation of an enterprise	149
Example: supply of things not under the relevant arrangement	153
Going concerns and shares	154
Example: supply of shares in a subsidiary company	156
Example: shares held as trading stock	158
Example: shares as a passive investment	159
Agreed in writing	161
Recipient is registered or required to be registered	169
Options to acquire a thing or things as a going concern	170
Going concerns and partnerships	173
Going concerns and joint ventures	178
Going concerns and companies	179
Going concerns and trusts	181
A 'supply of a going concern' which would otherwise be input taxed	182
Example: availability of input tax credits	185
Mortgagee exercising a power to dispose of a debtor's property	188
Detailed contents list	193

Commissioner of Taxation
11 July 2001

Footnotes

[F1]

Asterisks refer to definitions in section 195-1 of the GST Act.

[F2]

Explanatory Memorandum to the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Bill 1998.

[F3]

Refer to Goods and Services Tax Determination GSTD 2000/8 and Taxation Ruling MT 2000/1 for discussion on the meaning of the term 'enterprise'.

[F4]

Belton v. CIR (1997) 18 NZTC 13,403; Allen Yacht Charters Ltd v. CIR (1994) 16 NZTC 11 270.

[F5]

For example, in relation to supplies and acquisitions made wholly within a GST group.

[F6]

See, for example, the discussion in Marbut Gunnersen Industries Pty Ltd v. FC of T 82 ATC 4182; (1982) 12 ATR 926.

[F7]

Marbut Gunnersen Industries Pty Ltd v. FC of T 82 ATC 4182; (1982) 12 ATR 926.

[F8]

Case R63 84 ATC 457.

[F9]

Case M89 (1990) 12 NZTC 2556.

[F10]

However, the use by the recipient may be relevant for an adjustment under Division 135.

[F11]

Pine v. CIR (1998) 18 NZTC 13,570; Belton v. CIR (1997) 18 NZTC 13 403; Allen Yacht Charters Ltd v. CIR (1994) 16 NZTC 11 270

[F12]

FC of T v. Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605; (1998) 39 ATR 129; 98 ATC 4585; Taxation Ruling TR 1999/16

[F13]

Nokes v. Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries Ltd [1940] AC 1014

[F14]

Section 195-1.

[F15]

Macquarie Dictionary (1997; 3rd edition).

[F16]

Division 23.

[F17]

Subregulation 40-5.09(3) Item 10 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 1999

[F18]

As Grace intends to continue to lease the premises for residential purposes, she will be making wholly input taxed supplies and will have an increasing adjustment under section 135-5.

[F19]

Section 105-5.

Previously released in draft form as GSTR 2001/D2.

References

ATO references:
NO T2000/19536

VISSN 1443-5160

Related Rulings/Determinations:

GSTR 2002/5
GSTD 2000/8
MT 2000/1
TR 1999/16

Subject References:
adjustments
agreed in writing
arrangement
consideration
continued operation
day of the supply
enterprise
franchises
going concern
goodwill
goods and services tax
GST-free
increasing adjustment
input tax credits
input taxed supply
leases
mortgagee
options
premises
restrictive covenants
shares
statutory licence
supply of a going concern
taxable supply

Legislative References:
ANTS(GST)A99 9-10
ANTS(GST)A99 9-20
ANTS(GST)A99 9-20(1)(a)
ANTS(GST)A99 9-20(1)(c)
ANTS(GST)A99 9-30(1)
ANTS(GST)A99 9-80
ANTS(GST)A99 Div 23
ANTS(GST)A99 Div 38
ANTS(GST)A99 Subdiv 38-J
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(1)
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(1)(b)
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(1)(c)
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(2)
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(2)(a)
ANTS(GST)A99 38-325(2)(b)
ANTS(GST)A99 Subdiv 38-O
ANTS(GST)A99 Div 48
ANTS(GST)A99 105-5
ANTS(GST)A99 105-5(3)
ANTS(GST)A99 Div 129
ANTS(GST)A99 Div 135
ANTS(GST)A99 135-5
ANTS(GST)A99 135-10
ANTS(GST)A99 184-1
ANTS(GST)A99 195-1
ANTS(GST)R99 40-5.09(3) Item 10
Acts Interpretation Act 1901 23
Acts Interpretation Act 1901 25
Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 (NZ) 11(1)
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 30-B

Case References:
Allen Yacht Charters Ltd v. CIR
(1994) 16 NZTC 11,270

Belton v. CIR
(1997) 18 NZTC 13,403

Case M 89
(1990) 12 NZTC 2,556

Case R 63
84 ATC 457

FC of T v. Murry
(1998) 193 CLR 605
(1998) 39 ATR 129
98 ATC 4585

Marbut Gunnersen v. FC of T
82 ATC 4182
(1982) 12 ATR 926

Nokes v. Doncaster Amalgamated Collieries Ltd
[1940] AC 1014

Peverill v. Meir
[1990] 95 ALR 401

Pine v. CIR
(1998) 18 NZTC 13 570

GSTR 2001/5 history

	Date:	Version:	Change:
You are here	11 July 2001	Original ruling
	5 September 2001	Consolidated ruling	Partial Withdrawal
	16 October 2002	Withdrawn

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