Practice Statement Law Administration

PS LA 2004/4 (GA)

Taxing consumer loyalty program rewards

• This document has changed over time. View its history.

This Practice Statement provides guidance about when to refer a consumer loyalty program case to a senior technical leader to determine whether rewards are taxable.

1. What this Practice Statement is about

Taxation Ruling TR 1999/6 Income tax and fringe benefits tax: flight rewards received under frequent flyer and other similar consumer loyalty programs and Taxation Determination TD 1999/34 Income tax: is a reward received under a 'consumer loyalty program' that results from private expenditure assessable? set out the precedential ATO view on whether a reward received under a consumer loyalty program or a flight reward are fringe benefits or assessable income. Those rulings include the principles that came out of Payne, Janet Lynn v Commr of Taxation [1996] FCA 347.

However, there may be some cases where a reward from a consumer loyalty program or flight reward will fall outside the guidelines in those rulings.

This Practice Statement sets out factors which, if present, will require the case to be forwarded to a senior technical leader for review.

It also provides that unless the case has these factors, administrative action will not be considered warranted.

2. Consumer loyalty program rewards – the general principles

Receiving rewards under a consumer loyalty program may be subject to tax but receiving points is not, even if the points are transferred from one loyalty program to another.

Income tax

Rewards received under consumer loyalty programs will be taxable only where the facts demonstrate that the reward is received as:

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part of an income-earning activity, and

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there is a business relationship between the recipient of the reward and the reward provider, and

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the benefit is convertible directly or indirectly to money's worth, or

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part of an income-earning activity, and

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the taxpayer is carrying on a business^[1], and

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section 21A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 operates to include the reasonable value of the non-cash business benefit in the taxpayer's assessable income.

Fringe benefits tax

A reward received by an employee under a consumer loyalty program may be a fringe benefit for the purposes of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 where the facts demonstrate that there is an arrangement between the employee and employer so that the provision of the reward has a sufficient and material connection to employment.^[2]

3. Flight rewards

TR 1999/6 provides that flight rewards received under consumer loyalty programs are generally not taxable. However, it also notes that fringe benefits tax may apply where:

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the employer and the employee have a family relationship and the flight reward is received in connection with the employment, or

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a flight reward is provided to an employee, or the employee's associate, under an 'arrangement' for the purposes of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986, that results from business expenditure.^[3]

The flight reward might also be subject to income tax if they are received by an individual:

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who renders a service on the basis that an entitlement to a flight reward will arise

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who receives the flight reward as a result of business expenditure, or

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where the activities associated with the obtaining of the reward amount in themselves to a business activity.^[4]

4. Consumer loyalty programs

TD 1999/34 provides that rewards received under consumer loyalty programs arising from private expenditure are not subject to tax.

5. When to escalate a case and take administrative action

Generally, the way we treat rewards derived from consumer loyalty programs will fall within the guidelines in TR 1999/6 and TD 1999/34.^[5] You must apply those principles accordingly.

However, you must refer the case to a senior technical leader for review if the reward is considered to be assessable income or a fringe benefit because:

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the arrangement is so contrived and artificial that it has no commercial purpose other than to allow the recipient to receive the rewards

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the nature of the arrangements suggests that the rewards are a substitute for income which would otherwise be earned

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the points accumulated exceed 250,000 points per annum.

Administrative action is only considered warranted if at least one of these criteria exists.

6. Examples

Example 1 – Business relationship exists – reward assessable and referral not required

Pamela is a sole trader operating a painting and wallpapering business. She buys her paint from a paint wholesaler. The wholesaler has a loyalty program that entitles her to points that can be redeemed for shopping vouchers. There is a clear business relationship between Pamela and the paint wholesaler and it is this relationship that makes Pamela eligible to receive possible benefits.

Pamela redeems her points for vouchers worth $2,500. She uses the vouchers to acquire clothing for herself and her children.

Redeeming the points in return for the vouchers was the result of her business purchases. The $2,500 value of vouchers is assessable because the benefit flows from the business relationship Pamela has with the paint supplier. The vouchers are assessable income at the time of receipt. Pamela is required to declare $2,500 in her assessable income.

Pamela is also a member of a credit card loyalty program and uses her credit card for all her business and personal expenses. The rewards flowing from the loyalty program points arise from her relationship with the program provider and may be assessable because the relationship has both a personal and business aspect.

It is possible that the rewards Pamela receives for her business expenses are assessable. She pays fees for the credit card service and, where she incurs business expenditure, the credit card provider is extending credit to her business. She therefore has a business relationship with the provider. However, as the conditions listed in section 5 of this Practice Statement do not apply, it would not be necessary to refer this case to a senior technical leader. Further administrative action is not warranted.

Example 2 – Reward arises from business expenditure but employer not involved in arrangement – reward not assessable

Paula frequently travels interstate on business. Her employer has provided her with a corporate credit card so that she can pay for her business-related travel expenses – such as meals, taxis and hire cars. There is a fee for operating the corporate card but the savings in administration costs far outweigh the fee charged. The credit card company has a loyalty program and Paula joins.

The credit card arrangement exists primarily because it delivers administrative benefits to Paula's employer, not to her. Accordingly, it is unlikely that a sufficiently material connection exists with her personally for any loyalty rewards to be in respect to her employment.

As the conditions listed in section 5 of this Practice Statement do not apply, it is not necessary to refer this case to a senior technical leader, nor is further administrative action warranted.

Example 3 – Arrangement in place with employer to earn rewards – reward is likely to be assessable and referral required

John is an employee of XYZ Company. He uses his personal credit card for private expenditure. Under an arrangement (which can be explicit or tacit) between John and his employer, John is able to place all the company's business expenditure on his personal credit card. The company reimburses him for the expenditure he has paid on its behalf. Under this arrangement, John acquires points from the business expenditure exceeding 250,000 points per annum.

Fringe benefits tax may apply in this case. Any reward that arises from redeeming these points will relate directly to the significant business expenditure. The reward may have been provided under an arrangement and may be in respect of employment.

This arrangement falls within the conditions listed in section 5 of this Practice Statement. Such a case should be referred to a senior technical leader for review.

Example 4 – Arrangement in place with employer to earn rewards – reward is likely to be assessable and referral required

Sam is employed by James' Wholesale Stationery Company. Rather than paying Sam a Christmas bonus, the employer and Sam agree to an arrangement by which Sam will accrue points in a consumer loyalty program that he can redeem for significant rewards. Sam will pay a significant portion of the company's business expenses on his credit card each October and the company will reimburse Sam when the payment on his card falls due.

This arrangement has no apparent purpose other than to enable Sam to receive significant rewards by redeeming the points accumulated from business expenditure as a substitute for income he would otherwise have been expected to receive.

This arrangement falls within the conditions listed in section 5 of this Practice Statement. Such a case should be referred to a senior technical leader for review.

7. More information

For more information, see:

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Taxation Ruling TR 1999/6 Income tax and fringe benefits tax: flight rewards received under frequent flyer and other similar consumer loyalty programs

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Taxation Determination TD 1999/34 Income tax: is a reward received under a 'consumer loyalty program' that results from private expenditure assessable?

Amendment history

© AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).

Date of Issue: 14 July 2004

Date of Effect: 14 July 2004

File 1-15HPKCAW

Related Rulings/Determinations:
TR 1999/6
TD 1999/34

Legislative References:
ITAA 1936 21A
FBTAA 1986

Case References:

J & G Knowles v Commissioner of Taxation
[2000] FCA 196
96 FCR 402
2000 ATC 4151
44 ATR 22

Payne, Janet Lynn v Commr of Taxation
[1996] FCA 347
66 FCR 299
96 ATC 4407
32 ATR 516

Smith v Commissioner of Taxation
[1987] HCA 48
164 CLR 513
87 ATC 4883
19 ATR 274

Business Line:  IAI

ISSN: 2651-9526