Taxation Ruling

TR 1999/7

Income tax: reasonable allowances amounts for the 1999-2000 income year

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FOI status:

May be releasedFOI number: I 1020262

Preamble

What this Ruling is about

Class of person/arrangement

1. This Ruling sets out the amounts that the Commissioner of Taxation considers are reasonable ('the reasonable amounts') for the 1999-2000 year of income in relation to claims made for:

(a)

overtime meal allowance expenses;

(b)

domestic travel allowance expenses;

(c)

travel allowance expenses for employee truck drivers; and

(d)

overseas travel allowance expenses;

that are work-related losses or outgoings incurred and are covered by award overtime meal allowances, domestic travel allowances and overseas travel allowances.

2. Subdivision 90- B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 ('ITAA 1997') provides that the substantiation requirement to obtain written evidence does not apply to claims by employee taxpayers for expenses covered by:

(a)

an overtime meal allowance paid under an industrial instrument; or

(b)

a domestic travel allowance or overseas travel allowance, whether or not the allowance is paid under an industrial instrument;

if the amount of the claim for losses or outgoings incurred does not exceed the amount the Commissioner considers reasonable (see paragraphs 18 to 43). This Ruling discusses the exceptions from substantiation that are available for travel allowance and award overtime meal allowance expenses.

3. The Commissioner takes a number of factors into account in determining what is a reasonable amount for purposes of the exceptions from substantiation. These factors include surveys conducted by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Small Business (DEWRSB) and the Remuneration Tribunal and also salary levels, the circumstances under which the various allowances are paid and other occupational aspects.

4. The deductibility of losses and outgoings incurred is not discussed in detail in this Ruling. However, it remains a requirement of the law that, before the exception from substantiation can apply in respect to claims for the losses or outgoings incurred, the losses or outgoings must be deductible under some provision of the Act.

5. This Ruling has application to employers for determining whether or not tax instalments, which are required to be deducted from award overtime meal allowances or travel allowances, can be varied where special circumstances exist. That is, where it is reasonable to expect that:

•

expenses up to at least the amount of the allowance will be incurred by the employee;

•

the expenses will be incurred for the purpose for which the allowance is paid; and

•

the expenses will be tax deductible;

(see Taxation Ruling IT 2583, paragraph 3).

6. Some of the key terms used in this Ruling (and indicated by the use of bold italic text) are defined in paragraph 13 below.

Date of effect

7. This Ruling applies to deductions claimed for work-related losses and outgoings incurred during the 1999-2000 income year, which are covered by a travel allowance or award overtime meal allowance.

Previous Rulings

8. This Ruling updates the Reasonable Allowances Amounts previously advised in Taxation Rulings TR 98/10, TR 97/14, TR 96/21, TR 95/26 and TR 94/23.

What has changed ?

9. The reasonable amounts in this Ruling for award overtime meal allowance expenses, domestic travel allowance expenses and overseas travel allowance expenses shown at paragraphs 23, 30 to 33, 38 and 40 are the reasonable allowances amounts for the whole of the 1999-2000 year. Previous Rulings have stated that the reasonable travel allowance amount was the amount shown in the relevant year's Ruling or the amount applicable at the time of travel based on the rates produced by DEWRSB.

10. The reasonable allowances amounts in this Ruling will not be affected by any changes that may be made to the DEWRSB rates during the 1999-2000 income year. This is because the rates produced by DEWRSB are not the only factor used by the Commissioner in setting the reasonable allowances amounts.

11. An additional table has been included to reflect the reasonable allowances amounts for taxpayers on salaries above $122,136. This table shows the reasonable amounts for accommodation, meals and incidental expenses including amounts for particular meal expenses.

12. The reasonable allowance amounts shown in the relevant tables in this Ruling for overseas travel allowance expenses reflect amounts for particular salary ranges. Previous Rulings reflected the relevant overseas reasonable allowance amounts for particular Australian Public Service designations.

Definitions

13. Employee

Section 900-12 of the ITAA 1997 states that the substantiation rules apply to Pay As You Earn ('PAYE') earners and the entities that pay them. A PAYE earner means an employee as defined by section 221A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 ('ITAA 1936'). When the word 'employee' is used in this Ruling it means a PAYE earner.

Expense

Before the changes made by the Tax Law Improvement (Substantiation) Act 1995, the substantiation provisions defined an expense as including a loss or outgoing. This extended meaning of expenses is now carried into the substantiation rules in Division 900 of the ITAA 1997. When the word 'expense' is used in this Ruling it means a loss or outgoing.

Sleep away from home

We consider the term 'travel away from the employee's ordinary residence' means, for most employees, that the travel involves an overnight stay; that is, the acquisition of accommodation or the occasion of an outgoing on accommodation, e.g., sleeps in a motel/hotel or, for a truck driver, sleeps in their truck. Some employees may work at night and sleep during the day; therefore, the plain English term 'sleep away from home' is used in this Ruling.

Travel record

A travel record is a record of activities undertaken during the travel (Subdivision 900-F of the ITAA 1997). It is not a record of expenses incurred during the travel. A travel record can be a diary or similar document, which specifies the activities as required in section 900-150 of the ITAA 1997. The purpose of travel records is to show which activities were undertaken in the course of producing assessable income, so that expenses or portions of those expenses can be attributed to those income-earning activities.

The Act or this Act

Any reference in this Ruling to the Act or this Act refers to the ITAA 1936 and/or the ITAA 1997, as appropriate.

Ruling

Substantiation

14. Before considering the application of the substantiation provisions to a travel allowance expense or an award overtime meal allowance expense, it is a pre-requisite that the expense is deductible under another provision of the ITAA 1997 (subsection 900-15(1)).

15. An expense must actually be incurred before a claim can be made. A taxpayer cannot automatically claim a deduction just because they receive an allowance. If an expense is incurred partly for work purposes and partly for private purposes, only the work-related portion is an allowable deduction.

16. Under Subdivision 900-B of the ITAA 97, a deduction is not allowable for a work expense, including a meal allowance expense or travel allowance expense, unless the expense qualifies as a deduction under a provision of this Act and written evidence of the expense has been obtained and retained by the employee taxpayer.

17. If a deduction is claimed for an expense covered by an allowance, the total allowance received must be shown as assessable income in the employee's tax return. If the amount incurred is less than the amount of the allowance received, the allowance must still be shown as assessable income and a deduction can be claimed for deductible expenses incurred. Paragraphs 44 to 50 in the Explanations part of this Ruling give further information.

Substantiation exception

18. The objective of the substantiation exception provisions in Subdivision 900-B of the ITAA 1997 is to relieve taxpayers covered by the exception from the requirement to substantiate claims for deductible expenses by using detailed calculations, records or receipts. If a claim covered by a travel allowance or award overtime meal allowance qualifies for exception from substantiation, it is not necessary to keep written evidence as required under Subdivision 900-E of the ITAA 1997.

19. A taxpayer can choose not to use the exception from substantiation. Each taxpayer can decide between maintaining fewer records and claiming the reasonable amount, which in some circumstances may be lower than the amount actually incurred, or keeping written evidence and claiming the full amount of deductible expenses incurred, which may be higher than the reasonable amount.

20. If a taxpayer relies on the exception from substantiation, they may still be required to show the basis for determining the amount of their claim and that the expense was actually incurred for work-related purposes. What is a reasonable basis for determining the amount of a claim that is subject to an exception from substantiation varies according to individual circumstances and the nature of the expense.

21. If necessary, it is acceptable for a reasonable estimate to be the basis for claims having regard to the taxpayer's occupation and the types of expenses that would be expected to be incurred. Paragraphs 53 to 71 in the Explanations part of this Ruling have further information.

Award overtime meal allowance expense exception

22. For overtime meal expenses to be considered under the exception from substantiation, the award overtime meal allowance must be paid to cover the cost of food or drink in connection with overtime worked. The overtime meal allowance must be paid or payable under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or an award, order, determination or industrial agreement in force under such a law (section 900-60 of the ITAA 1997).

Reasonable overtime meal allowance expense claims

23. Overtime meal allowance expense claims up to an amount of $16.20 per meal are considered to be reasonable for the 1999-2000 income year where the overtime meal allowance is paid under an industrial instrument. If a deduction claimed is more than the reasonable amount, the whole claim must be substantiated with written evidence, not just the excess over the reasonable amount.

Travel allowance expense exception

24. For domestic or overseas travel allowance expenses to be considered for exception from substantiation, the employee must be paid a bona fide travel allowance to cover specific travel. The allowance must be paid to cover work-related travel expenses incurred for travel away from the employee's ordinary residence, undertaken in the course of performing duties as an employee (subsection 900-30(3) of the ITAA 1997).

25. Further, the travel allowance must be paid or payable to cover expenses for accommodation or food or drink or expenses incidental to the travel. A travel allowance that is not paid or payable to cover specific work-related travel is not considered a travel allowance for the purposes of the exception from substantiation. The exception does not apply to accommodation expenses for overseas travel. Paragraphs 59 to 69 in the Explanations part of this Ruling have further information.

Reasonable domestic and overseas travel allowance expense claims

26. A domestic or overseas travel allowance expense claim is considered to be reasonable if the amount of the claim covered by the allowance received by an employee, does not exceed the relevant reasonable amount shown in this Ruling. Reasonable amounts are given for relevant salary levels, office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal including Federal Members of Parliament (see paragraphs 34 and 35) and for employee truck drivers (see paragraph 38).

27. The amounts set for domestic accommodation expenses shown in this Ruling, represent amounts that could reasonably be expected to be incurred at commercial establishments such as hotels, motels and serviced apartments. The relevant amounts for accommodation are only considered reasonable amounts to claim if the expense is incurred for accommodation at these types of establishments, generally at daily rates, subject to paragraph 35 (see also paragraphs 83 and 84).

Reasonable domestic travel allowance amounts

Daily travel allowance expense claims

28. Subject to paragraphs 26 and 27, a claim for travel expenses by an employee in receipt of a daily travel allowance (i.e., where an employee sleeps away from home) is considered reasonable if it does not exceed the relevant amounts for the 1999-2000 income year shown in this Ruling. If a deduction is claimed for more than the reasonable amount, the whole claim must be substantiated with written evidence, not just the excess over the reasonable amount.

29. Subsection 900-50(2) of the ITAA 1997 requires that, in determining what is reasonable, the Commissioner must consider what it would be reasonable for the employee to incur for the travel. In determining the reasonable amount to claim for meals, reference should be made to the period of the travel. That is, what meals (e.g., for breakfast, lunch and dinner) would it be reasonable for that employee to incur during the period from the commencement to the end of the travel, given the individual employment circumstances of the employee.

Reasonable daily travel allowance amounts

30. The reasonable daily travel allowance amounts, according to salary levels and destinations, for the 1999-2000 income year are as follows:

31. High cost country centres - accommodation expenses:

32. Tier 2 country centres:

Employees with annual salaries above $122,136

33. For employees with annual salaries above $122,136 the following amounts are considered reasonable for the relevant components covered by a daily domestic travel allowance for the 1999-2000 income year:

Office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal

34. Daily domestic travel allowance expense claims made by office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal are considered to be reasonable if they do not exceed the rate of allowances set by the Remuneration Tribunal for that office holder (see also paragraphs 79 to 82).

35. The travel allowances paid to Federal Members of Parliament and Federal Parliamentary Secretaries, under the arrangements that commenced on 14 April 1998, are considered reasonable amounts for the recipients of those allowances to claim for the purposes of the exception from substantiation in section 900-50 of the ITAA 1997. This includes the Capital City and Canberra travel allowances rates for domestic travel, having regard to the circumstances under which those allowances are paid (see paragraphs 83 and 84).

Part-day travel allowance amounts

36. Australian Public Service (APS) employees receive an allowance for travel that necessitates their being absent from their normal workplace and away from their region, on official business, for not less than 10 hours, but which does not require an overnight absence ('Part-day travel allowance').

37. The APS Part-day travel allowance is not paid for travel away from the taxpayer's ordinary residence, i.e., the travel does not involve sleeping away from home. This allowance is, therefore, not a travel allowance for the purposes of the exception from substantiation in section 900-50 of the ITAA 1997. Part-day travel allowances received by members of the APS, and similar allowances received by other taxpayers, should be shown as assessable income in the employees' tax returns. Any claim for work-related expenses incurred for travel that does not involve sleeping away from home is subject to the normal substantiation requirements.

Reasonable travel allowance expense claims for employee truck drivers who receive a travel allowance

38. Amounts claimed up to the food and drink component only of the reasonable domestic daily travel allowance amounts for 'other country centres' (see paragraph 30) are considered to be reasonable for meal expenses of employee truck drivers who have received a travel allowance and who are required to sleep away from home. For the 1999-2000 income year, the relevant amounts are:

(for further information on truck drivers see the Explanations part at paragraphs 85 to 93 and Taxation Ruling TR 95/18).

Reasonable overseas travel allowance expense claims

39. The exception from substantiation, in relation to claims for work-related expenses covered by an overseas travel allowance, applies only to expenses for food or drink or incidentals, not for accommodation. Where an overseas travel allowance is received, the amount claimed for work-related expenses incurred is considered reasonable if it does not exceed the relevant food or drink or incidentals component for overseas travel allowance shown in this Ruling (see paragraphs 94 to 99 below). If a deduction is claimed for more than the reasonable amount, the whole claim must be substantiated, not just the excess over the reasonable amount.

40. The overseas amounts shown in this Ruling identify the meals component and the incidentals component separately, and the amounts for each country are shown in Schedule 1 of this Ruling. The relevant reasonable amounts covered by an overseas travel allowance are shown in Schedule 1 according to the salary ranges of the following three levels of employees:

•

Column 1- Applicable to employees whose salary exceeds $122,136 per annum;

•

Column 2- Applicable to employees whose salary is in the range $68,228 per annum to $122,136 per annum;

•

Column 3- Applicable to employees whose salary is less than $68,228 per annum.

41. If an employee travels to a location for which the reasonable amount covered by an overseas travel allowance shown in this Ruling does not include a component for food and drink (meals), a reasonable amount for meals may be added to the relevant incidentals component.

42. For the purposes of paragraph 41, the reasonable amounts for meals for overseas travel are as follows:

•

Salary in excess of $122,136 per annum - $69.25 per day;

•

Salary in range $68,228 to $122,136 per annum - $69.25 per day;

•

Salary less than $68,228 per annum - $58.65 per day.

43. The requirement to add a reasonable meals component only applies if the employee travels to 'other countries' (i.e., a location not specifically described in Schedule 1). Examples of calculating the reasonable daily overseas meals and incidentals component are in the Examples part at paragraphs 98 and 99.

Explanations

Claiming a deduction

44. Where there is an exception from substantiation, it remains a requirement of the law that the relevant expenditure covered by the award overtime meal allowance or travel allowance qualifies as a deduction under another provision of this Act (subsection 900-15(1) of the ITAA 1997). That is, an award overtime meal allowance or travel allowance expense must satisfy the requirements of Division 8 of the ITAA 1997 before a claim for a deduction can be made.

45. In the case of a domestic or overseas travel allowance, this can generally be satisfied by reference to the employer's arrangements for payment of allowances. The circumstances under which the employer pays the allowance should be considered, e.g., is the allowance paid only in circumstances involving deductible travel? If the allowance is paid in circumstances involving deductible and non-deductible travel, appropriate adjustments should be made.

46. The receipt of a travel allowance or an award overtime meal allowance does not automatically entitle an employee to a deduction, nor does the amount of an allowance received determine if the claim is reasonable. Only the actual amount incurred on work-related travel expenses or award overtime meal allowance expenses can be claimed as a deduction.

47. Award overtime meal allowances or travel allowances paid in deductible circumstances that are equal to or less than the reasonable allowances amount, are not always shown on an employee's group certificate. This can occur if the employer is reasonably satisfied that the employee will incur deductible expenses at least equal to the amount of the allowance paid, and that the expenses will be incurred for the purpose for which the allowance was paid (see paragraph 5).

48. If, in the circumstances described in paragraph 47, the employee has incurred deductible expenses at least equal to the amount of the allowance received, the employee does not need to claim a deduction for the expenses. If a deduction is not claimed, the allowance does not need to be shown as assessable income in the employee's tax return.

49. If a deduction is claimed for a travel allowance expense or award overtime meal allowance expense, the total allowance received must be shown as assessable income in the employee's tax return. This is required even if the amount of the allowance has not been shown on the employee's group certificate.

50. If an employee does not incur deductible expenses at least equal to the amount of award overtime meal allowance or travel allowance received, the whole amount of the allowance should be shown as assessable income in their tax return. This is required even if the allowance is not shown on the employee's group certificate. The employee can then claim a deduction for the amount of deductible expenses actually incurred, subject to the substantiation provisions. The exception from substantiation may apply, depending on the amount of the claim.

The requirement to substantiate expenses

51. Under Subdivision 900-B of the ITAA 1997, a deduction is not allowable for a work expense, including a meal allowance expense or travel allowance expense, unless the expense qualifies as a deduction under a provision of this Act and written evidence of the expense has been obtained and retained by the employee taxpayer.

52. Broadly speaking, written evidence is a receipt, invoice or similar document that sets out the particulars outlined in Subdivision 900-E of the ITAA 1997. Where overseas or domestic travel involves being away for 6 or more nights in a row, a travel record must also be kept in accordance with Subdivision 900-F of the ITAA 1997. The Commissioner considers that a travel diary is an appropriate travel record for this purpose.

Substantiation exception

53. There are exceptions where written evidence or a travel record is not required. These exceptions apply to claims for expenses covered by a travel allowance or by an award overtime meal allowance and which are considered by the Commissioner to be reasonable. The travel allowance and award overtime meal allowance must satisfy the definitions in the substantiation provisions. An amount for travel expenses or overtime meal expenses that has been folded-in as part of normal salary/wages, e.g., under a workplace agreement, is not considered to be an allowance.

54. These exceptions do not apply to accommodation expenses for overseas travel. The exception also does not apply to travel records for overseas travel where the travel involves being away for 6 or more nights in a row, even if an overseas travel allowance is paid (see paragraphs 91 and 96; also see paragraph 92 re members of international flight crews).

55. If the travel allowance expense or award overtime meal allowance expense claimed qualifies for exception from substantiation, it is not necessary to keep written evidence as required under Subdivision 900-E of the ITAA 1997. The objective is to relieve taxpayers, who are covered by the exception from substantiation, of the requirement to determine claims from detailed calculations based on records or receipts.

56. However, a taxpayer may still be required to show the basis for determining the amount of their claim and that the expense was actually incurred for work-related purposes. What is a reasonable basis for determining the amount of a claim that is subject to an exception from substantiation, varies according to individual circumstances and the nature of the expense. If necessary, it is acceptable for a reasonable estimate to be the basis for claims having regard to the taxpayer's occupation and the types of expenses that would be expected to be incurred. This is a significantly lesser requirement than the need to keep written evidence.

57. A taxpayer can choose not to use the exception from substantiation. Each taxpayer can decide between maintaining fewer records and claiming the reasonable amount, which in some circumstances may be lower than the amount actually incurred, or keeping written evidence and claiming the full amount of deductible expenses incurred, which may be higher than the reasonable amount.

58. The following table is a summary of the substantiation requirements for claims for work-related travel allowance expenses where the taxpayer is required to sleep away from home when travelling on work.

* Regardless of the length of the trip, written evidence is required for overseas accommodation expenses - but not for food, drink and incidentals (see paragraph 94).

** Members of international air crews do not need to keep a travel diary (travel record) if they limit their claim to the amount of the allowance received (see paragraph 96).

Exception for travel allowance expenses

Must sleep away from home

59. For domestic or overseas travel allowance expenses to be considered for exception from substantiation, the relevant allowance must qualify as a travel allowance. The allowance must be paid to cover work-related travel expenses incurred or to be incurred for travel away from the employee's ordinary residence, undertaken in the course of performing duties as an employee (subsection 900-30(3) of the ITAA 1997). The Commissioner takes the view that the term 'travel away from the employee's ordinary residence' means that the employee must sleep away from their home.

Must cover cost of accommodation, food or drink, or incidentals

60. The travel allowance must be paid to cover the cost of accommodation (domestic travel only) or food or drink or expenses incidental to the travel (paragraph 900-30(3)(b) of the ITAA 1997).

Must cover specific journeys

61. The travel allowance must also be paid for specific journeys undertaken or to be undertaken for work-related travel. A travel allowance that is not paid to cover relevant expenses for specific journeys undertaken or to be undertaken for work-related travel, is not a travel allowance for the purposes of the exception from substantiation.

62. Examples of expenses relating to allowances that would not qualify for the exception from substantiation because they are not travel allowances paid to cover deductible expenses for specific journeys are:

(a)

where a fixed annual travel allowance amount of, say, $2,000 a year is paid, regardless of how often or even whether travel is actually undertaken; or

(b)

where a travel allowance is paid at a certain rate per hour for hours worked, even if deductible work-related travel is not undertaken.

63. However, a fixed annual entitlement for travel expenses may be a travel allowance where the allowance is based on a specified number of overnight stays and there is a requirement for recipients to repay that part of the entitlement referrable to trips not undertaken.

Must be a bona fide amount

64. For the substantiation exception to apply, the allowance must be a bona fide travel allowance. That is, the amount paid must be an amount that could reasonably be expected to cover accommodation, or meals or expenses incidental to the travel.

65. A token amount of allowance, e.g., $5 a day to cover meals for travel that involves sleeping away from home, would not be considered a payment that is expected to cover the purchase of three meals when travelling for work. The payment would not be considered a travel allowance for the purposes of the exception from substantiation.

66. What is a bona fide amount to cover accommodation or meals or expenses incidental to the travel depends on the facts of each case, including the arrangements for payment of the allowance.

Reasonable amount for meals

67. Subsection 900-50(2) of the ITAA 1997 requires that, in determining what is reasonable, the Commissioner must take into account the total losses or outgoings that it would be reasonable to incur for accommodation, food or drink, or expenses incidental to the travel. In determining the reasonable amount of a claim for meals, reference should be made to the period of the travel. That is, what expenses on meals (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner) it is reasonable to incur from the time the travel commences to the end of the travel period, given the individual employment circumstances of that taxpayer.

68. Example: Janet travels from her normal work place in Sydney to attend a meeting in Canberra. She leaves Sydney at 5.00 pm on Monday and stays 1 night in Canberra, returning to Sydney at 4.30 pm on the Tuesday. It is reasonable to expect Janet to incur the following meal expenses while travelling for work: Monday - dinner; Tuesday - breakfast and lunch.

69. Example: Phil is a truck driver who is based in Brisbane. He regularly drives his truck from Brisbane to Maryborough. After unloading the truck he sleeps in the cabin for 5 or 6 hours before returning home. If Phil leaves Brisbane at 3.00 pm and returns home at 9.00 am the next day, it is reasonable for Phil to incur expenses on 2 meals - dinner and breakfast.

Exception for award overtime meal allowance expenses

70. For overtime meal expenses to be considered under the exception from substantiation, the award overtime meal allowance must be paid to cover the cost of food or drink in connection with a specific occasion when overtime is worked. The overtime meal allowance must be paid or payable under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or an award, order, determination or industrial agreement in force under such a law (section 900-60 of the ITAA 1997). An amount for overtime meals that has been folded-in as part of normal salary or wages, e.g., under a workplace agreement, is not considered to be an overtime meal allowance.

71. The following table is a summary of the substantiation requirements for claims for award overtime meal allowance expenses:

* Deduction allowable provided the amount of expense claimed was actually incurred to buy food or drink in connection with overtime worked. A deduction is not automatically allowable up to the reasonable amount of $16.20 per meal.

Reasonable allowance amount

72. In setting the reasonable allowance amounts, the Commissioner takes into account the costs of food, drink and accommodation in a range of regions and establishments, based on DEWRSB and Remuneration Tribunal surveys. The Commissioner also considers salary levels, the circumstances for payment of the relevant allowance and occupational aspects. The Commissioner also sets amounts for special occupational groups. That is, the reasonable amounts are set to reflect the average cost of a meal or accommodation or expenses incidental to the travel, that might actually be incurred by an employee for those expenses that are covered by the travel allowance.

73. Against that background, where a work-related travel allowance is received and the claim for work-related travel expenses that are covered by the allowance does not exceed the relevant amounts shown in this Ruling, the travel expenses claimed are treated as reasonable (see paragraphs 24 to 35 and 38 to 43).

74. In determining if travel allowance expense claims are reasonable, consideration is given to the circumstances for payment of the travel allowance. That is, whether the travel allowance is only paid to cover deductible work-related travel undertaken or to be undertaken. These conditions for payment of the allowance satisfy the requirements of the definitions of 'travel allowance expense' and 'travel allowance' in subsections 900-30(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997.

75. In determining the overtime meal allowance amount, consideration is given to surveys conducted in a range of areas and establishments to ascertain the costs of food and drink. These surveys take into account a variety of food and drink from different establishments and regions where it would be reasonable to purchase food and drink during a meal break while working overtime.

76. Any variation to a reasonable amount shown in this Ruling would be considered only in unique or unusual circumstances where there are strong grounds for departure from that reasonable amount. Some unique circumstances may be when a taxpayer travels for work to an area where there has been a natural disaster or where, at the time of the travel, a significant event such as the Olympic Games or World Expo is being held. In these circumstances, there may be grounds for departure from the Commissioner's published reasonable amounts for those journeys.

77. The fact that a travel allowance or award overtime meal allowance amount has been approved by an Industrial Relations Commission or indexed in accordance with the CPI movement is not, on its own, considered sufficient basis for an application to vary the reasonable amounts shown in this Ruling.

Employees with annual salaries above $122,136

78. Daily domestic travel allowance expense claims made by employees with salaries above $122,136 are considered reasonable if they do not exceed the amounts set at paragraph 33 for the relevant expenses covered by the allowance. These amounts reflect accommodation expenses incurred in commercial accommodation for short term daily travel and the relevant food and drink expenses incurred during the period of that travel. The reasonable amount for incidentals applies to deductible incidental travel expenses incurred for each day the employee travels if those expenses are covered by the travel allowance.

Office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal

79. Daily domestic travel allowance expense claims made by office holders covered by the Remuneration Tribunal are considered reasonable if they do not exceed the rate of allowances set by the Remuneration Tribunal for that office holder (see paragraph 34 and 35).

80. The Tribunal inquires into the allowances to be paid to Ministers, other Members of Parliament, officers of the Parliament, holders of office of Justice, judges of a Federal Court and certain public office holders such as Secretaries of Departments. The Inquiry receives submissions from interested parties, examines relevant salary movements and takes account of price movements relevant to the kinds of expenditures for which the allowances are paid.

81. The Tribunal rate covers accommodation, meals and incidental expenses incurred when travelling within Australia. With the exception of the special Canberra travel allowance for Federal Members of Parliament, the rate set by the Tribunal for the cost of accommodation covers accommodation at commercial establishments such as hotels, motels and serviced apartments.

82. Where accommodation is provided, the Commissioner accepts as reasonable, the amount for meals and incidentals for relevant office holders as determined by the Tribunal. If the amount for meals and incidentals is not specified by the Tribunal, the Commissioner accepts the amount for meals and incidentals for the relevant salary range shown at paragraphs 30(i), 30(ii) and 33 of this Ruling. Overseas travel is covered at Schedule 1 of this Ruling.

Travel allowances for Federal MPs

83. The Canberra travel allowance recognises that most Federal Members make 'more settled accommodation arrangements in Canberra'. This travel allowance is paid at a rate below that for full commercial accommodation, meals and incidentals. The Capital City travel allowance for commercial accommodation reflects the costs associated with taking up accommodation in commercial establishments such as hotels, motels and serviced apartments in capital cities other than Canberra.

84. The Capital City travel allowance for non-commercial accommodation is paid if accommodation is not taken up in a commercial establishment. The rate for this travel allowance is one-third of the commercial rate to cover the cost of meals and incidental travel expenses. Having regard to the circumstances under which Canberra and Capital City travel allowances are paid to Federal Members, the Commissioner accepts as reasonable, claims for expenses incurred up to the amount of allowance received (see paragraphs 44 to 50).

Employee truck drivers who receive a travel allowance

85. An employee truck driver who, in the course of earning his or her income, is required to sleep away from home, is considered to be travelling for work and may incur meal expenses as part of a work-related travel expense. Truck drivers generally do not incur accommodation expenses when travelling for work, as they sleep in their truck. Accommodation expenses incurred as part of work-related travel must be substantiated with written evidence as described in Subdivision 900-E of the ITAA 1997. Paragraph 38 sets out the reasonable amounts for food and drink expenses incurred by employee truck drivers as part of a travel allowance expense.

86. Subsection 900- 50(2) of the ITAA 1997 requires that, in determining what is reasonable, the Commissioner must take into account the total losses or outgoings it would be reasonable to incur for accommodation, food or drink, or expenses incidental to the travel. In determining the reasonable amount to claim for meals, reference should be made to the period of the travel. That is, what meals (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner) would it be reasonable to incur from the time the travel commences to the end of the travel period, given the individual employment circumstances of the taxpayer.

87. If an employee truck driver, who receives a travel allowance and incurs work-related meal expenses, claims as a deduction an amount greater than the amount considered to be reasonable, the whole claim, not just the excess over the reasonable amount, must be substantiated by written evidence. Travel records also need to be kept for work-related travel of 6 or more nights in a row. Taxation Ruling TR 95/18 provides detailed information on the written evidence and travel records required to substantiate travel expenses, including meal expenses, for employee truck drivers.

88. The receipt of a travel allowance does not automatically entitle the employee truck driver to a deduction for travel expenses, nor does the amount of a travel allowance received determine if the claim is reasonable. Only the actual amount incurred on work-related travel expenses can be claimed as a deduction.

Employee truck drivers who do not receive a travel allowance

89. Claims for work-related travel expenses by employee truck drivers who are required to sleep away from home and who do not receive a travel allowance, must be substantiated. Written evidence is required to substantiate accommodation, meal and other work-related travel expenses. Travel records must be kept for work-related travel of 6 or more nights in a row. Taxation Ruling TR 95/18 provides detailed information on the written evidence and travel records required to substantiate travel expenses for employee truck drivers.

Truck drivers who are owner-drivers

90. Subdivision 900-D of the ITAA 1997 refers to the substantiation of business travel expenses and requires that travel records and written evidence be kept in accordance with Subdivision 900-E and Subdivision 900-F of the ITAA 1997. Travel records (e.g., a travel diary or similar record of activities undertaken during the travel) must be kept for travel of 6 or more nights in a row.

91. An owner-driver who, in the course of earning his or her income, is required to sleep away from home, is considered to be travelling on business and may incur meal expenses as part of a travel expense. As owner-drivers do not receive a travel allowance, travel records and written evidence are required to substantiate accommodation, meal and other travel expenses.

92. In most cases a receipt can be obtained for the cost of a meal, for example, where it is purchased from a roadhouse with dining or takeaway facilities. It is considered reasonable for a truck driver to obtain receipts for meal expenses incurred in roadhouses or similar food outlets (e.g., fast food chains or diners).

93. It may not be reasonable for a truck driver to obtain receipts for some food and drink purchases from vending machines or outlets, such as roadside caravans, that do not normally provide receipts. These expenses are considered 'otherwise too hard to substantiate' (section 900-130) and must be supported by a diary or similar record providing details in accordance with subsection 900-125(3) of the ITAA 1936.

Reasonable overseas travel allowance expense claims

94. For overseas travel covered by an allowance, reasonable amounts are determined for food or drink or incidental expenses only. Under section 900-55 of the ITAA 1997, taxpayers must still obtain written evidence for accommodation expenses. A travel record must also be kept if the overseas travel involves being away from the taxpayer's ordinary residence for 6 or more nights in a row.

95. A travel record is a record of activities undertaken during the travel (Subdivision 900-F of the ITAA 1997). It is not a record of expenses incurred during the travel. The purpose of a travel record is to show what activities were undertaken in the course of producing assessable income, so that expenses or portions of those expenses can be attributed to those income-earning activities.

96. Under section 900-65 of the ITAA 1997 crew members of international flights need not keep travel records (i.e., a record of activities undertaken during the travel). The exception is from keeping travel records only. It is not an exception from keeping written evidence for travel expenses if required. The exception from keeping travel records applies if:

(i)

the allowance covers travel by the taxpayer as a crew member of an aircraft; and

(ii)

the travel is principally outside Australia; and

(ii)

the total of the losses or outgoings claimed for the travel that are covered by the allowance, does not exceed the allowance received.

97. If an employee, who receives an overseas travel allowance and incurs work-related travel expenses, claims a deduction in excess of the reasonable meal and incidentals amount, the whole claim must be substantiated, not just the excess over the reasonable amount. Written evidence must be obtained for overseas accommodation expenses regardless of whether an overseas travel allowance is received.

Examples

Calculation of reasonable daily overseas travel allowance amounts

Allowance includes a meals component

98. An employee travels to Italy on business for two weeks and is paid a travel allowance of $300 per day ($100 for meals and incidentals and $200 for accommodation). The employee's annual salary is $69,000 and, at the time of travel, the exchange rate is 1,178 lira to one Australian dollar ($A1). The reasonable daily overseas travel allowance expense claim is calculated as follows:

(1)

At a salary of $69,000 per annum, the daily meals and incidentals allowance payable for Italy is 162,694 lira (Schedule 1);

(2)

Converting the lira allowance to Australian dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of travel, provides the reasonable daily overseas travel allowance claim for meals and incidental expenses:

162694 / 1178 = $A138.11


The employee claims a deduction for meals and incidentals expenses actually incurred of $120 per day. As the employee is claiming a deduction that is less than the reasonable amount of $138.11 per day, the employee does not need to keep written evidence to substantiate expenditure on meals and incidental expenses. The employee is required, however, to maintain a travel record and to keep receipts or other documentary evidence to substantiate accommodation expenses.

Allowance without a meals component

99. An employee travels overseas on business for four days and is paid a travel allowance of $300 per day for meals, incidentals and accommodation. The employee's annual salary is $33,000. The employee travels to a country in Europe that is not listed in Schedule 1. The reasonable daily overseas travel allowance expense claim is calculated as follows:

(1)

At a salary of $33,000 per annum the incidentals allowance payable for 'other countries - Europe' as per Schedule 1 is $32.00 Australian (there is no meals component);

(2)

Add to the incidentals component of $32.00 the relevant meals component amount (described at paragraph 42), i.e., $58.65;

(3)

The resulting total of $90.65 Australian is the reasonable daily overseas travel allowance expense claim for meals and incidentals for 'other countries'.

As the travel allowance paid to the employee does not specify an amount for each of the components of the allowance, the employee is entitled to claim up to $A90.65 per day for expenses incurred on meals (i.e., food and drink) and incidentals without substantiation. Written evidence is required to substantiate any accommodation costs claimed.

SCHEDULE 1

REASONABLE OVERSEAS TRAVEL ALLOWANCE AMOUNTS

Meal and incidental allowances

The amounts listed for all countries and cities shown in the following pages of this Schedule show separate amounts for both meals and incidentals. If a country or city does not appear in this Schedule, an incidentals only component is shown at the end of the Schedule under 'other countries'. A meals component can be added to the incidentals component as shown in the Example at paragraph 99.

Column 1 = Applicable to employees whose salary exceeds $122,136 per annum.

Column 2 = Applicable to employees whose salary is in the range $68,228 to $122,136 per annum.

Column 3 = Applicable to employees whose salary is less than $68,228 per annum.

Note that '(note a)' in the following tables in Schedule 1 means:

'The cost of accommodation at this locality includes breakfast. The amount specified for meals is for lunch and dinner only.'

Detailed contents list

100. Below is a detailed table of contents for this Ruling:

Commissioner of Taxation
23 June 1999

No draft issued

References

ATO references:
NO 98/6080-1; 97/3772-3; 96/4347-8; 95/8179-6

Related Rulings/Determinations:

IT 2583
TR 93/22
TR 94/23
TR 95/18
TR 95/26
TR 96/21
TR 97/14
TR 98/10

Subject References:
accommodation allowances
allowances
award overtime and allowances
domestic travel allowance
exception from substantiation
judges
meal allowance
meals
members of parliament
overseas travel allowance
overseas travel expenses
overtime meal allowances
owner drivers
parliamentarians
reasonable allowances
reasonable claim
substantiation
travel
travel allowances
travel diary
travel expenses
travel record
truck drivers
work-related expense
written evidence

Legislative References:
ITAA36 221A
ITAA97 Div 8
ITAA97 8-1
ITAA97 Div 900
ITAA97 900-12
ITAA97 Subdiv 900-B
ITAA97 900-15(1)
ITAA97 900-30(2)
ITAA97 900-30(3)
ITAA97 900-30(3)(b)
ITAA97 900-50
ITAA97 900-50(2)
ITAA97 900-55
ITAA97 900-60
ITAA97 900-65
ITAA97 Subdiv 900-D
ITAA97 Subdiv 900-E
ITAA97 900-125(3)
ITAA97 900-130
ITAA97 900-150
ITAA97 Subdiv 900-F