TR 2007/7: Income tax:
consolidation: errors in tax cost setting amounts of reset cost
base assets
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LEGALLY BINDING SECTION: |
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What this Ruling is about |
1 |
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Ruling |
5 |
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Date of effect |
45 |
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NOT LEGALLY BINDING SECTION: |
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Appendix 1: Explanation |
46 |
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Appendix 2: Detailed contents list |
72 |
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This
publication provides you with the following level of
protection:
This publication (excluding appendixes) is a public
ruling for the purposes of the Taxation
Administration Act 1953.
A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's
opinion about the way in which a relevant provision
applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a
class of entities in relation to a particular scheme or
a class of schemes.
If you rely on this ruling, we must apply the law to you
in the way set out in the ruling (unless we are
satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages
you, in which case we may apply the law in a way that is
more favourable for you - provided we are not prevented
from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). You
will be protected from having to pay any underpaid tax,
penalty or interest in respect of the matters covered by
this ruling if it turns out that it does not correctly
state how the relevant provision applies to you. |
What this Ruling is about
1. This Ruling considers the treatment under Subdivision 705-E
and section 104-525 of the Income
Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA
1997) of errors the head company of a consolidated group or
multiple entry consolidated (MEC) group makes in working out, in
purported compliance with Division 705 of the ITAA 1997, the tax
cost setting amounts (TCSAs) of reset cost base assets of an
entity that becomes a subsidiary member of the group.
2. Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997 provides that, subject to
certain conditions being satisfied,1 those
TCSAs that are affected by the errors are taken to be correct
for the purposes of:
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·
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the ITAA 1997 except Subdivision 705-E;
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·
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the Income
Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA
1936); and
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·
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the Taxation
Administration Act 1953 (TAA)
except for certain offences and administrative penalty
provisions.2
However, Subdivision 705-E does not limit the operation of Part
IVA of the ITAA 19363 and
does not apply if the errors were to any extent caused by fraud
or evasion.4
3. Where there is a net overstated amount or net understated
amount in relation to the TCSAs that are taken to be correct
under Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997, a capital gain or
capital loss arises respectively under CGT event L6 in
accordance with section 104-525 of the ITAA 1997.
4. The Ruling, in particular, addresses the following issues:
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(a)
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the meaning of the phrase 'in purported
compliance with this Division' in subsection 705-315(2)
of the ITAA 1997;
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(b)
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what is considered to be an error in
working out a TCSA;
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(c)
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when it is not reasonable to require
recalculations to correct such errors; and
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(d)
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whether the erroneous TCSAs are taken to
be correct under section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where
all the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997
are satisfied, even if CGT event L6 does not happen.
Ruling
The meaning of 'in purported compliance with this Division'
5. The errors that Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997 deals with
are made in working out a TCSA for a reset cost base asset in
'purported compliance' with Division 705 of the ITAA 1997.
6. The Commissioner considers that the meaning of the phrase 'in
purported compliance with this Division' in subsection
705-315(2) of the ITAA 1997 presupposes a genuine attempt by the
head company to comply with the tax cost setting rules in
Division 705 of the ITAA 1997. Where the errors have arisen
because the TCSA calculations have been made without regard to
Division 705, the condition in that subsection would not be
satisfied.
What is considered to be an error in working out a TCSA
7. For the purposes of Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997, an
error is made in working out the TCSA of a reset cost base asset
when that amount deviates from its correct amount.
8. An error in working out the TCSA of a reset cost base asset
may arise as a result of the head company of a consolidated
group or MEC group:
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·
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making a mistake in working out the
allocable cost amount (ACA);
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making a mistake in allocating the ACA to
the reset cost base assets;
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making a mistake in applying rules
capping the TCSA of a reset cost base asset that is
trading stock, a depreciating asset or a revenue asset;
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making a mistake in arriving at the
market value of a reset cost base asset;
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incorrectly characterising an asset (for
example, characterising a reset cost base asset as a
retained cost base asset, or vice versa);
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·
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incorrectly including or excluding assets
in the TCSA calculations; or
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inadvertently failing to recognise an
asset.
9. An error in working out the TCSA of a reset cost base asset
may also result from:
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·
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a retrospective amendment to the law that
causes the TCSA to differ from its correct amount; or
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·
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the clarification of the law by a Court.
10. The contributory factors listed in paragraphs 8 and 9 of
this Ruling are not intended to be exhaustive.
Example 1
11. Sub Co becomes a subsidiary member of a consolidated group
of which H Co is the head company on 1 July 2005. H Co
calculates the ACA of Sub Co according to the Commissioner's
preliminary view as set out in a draft public ruling. H Co
lodges its 2005-06 income tax return on 15 January 2007. On 14
March 2007, the final public ruling is published. The ACA
calculated in accordance with the final public ruling is less
than the ACA H Co calculated in accordance with the draft public
ruling.
12. H Co decides that the Commissioner's views as set out in the
final public ruling should be followed. In order to determine
whether it is not reasonable to require recalculation of the
TCSAs and amendment of H Co's 2005-06 income tax return, H Co
has to have regard to the factors listed in subsection
705-315(4) of the ITAA 1997.5
13. H Co does not have to pay a penalty under section 284-75 of
Schedule 1 to the TAA6 or
the general interest charge or shortfall interest charge in
relation to the shortfall amount because H Co made the error as
a result of reasonably relying on the draft public ruling in
good faith.7
Example 2
14. Sub Co, a resident company with a large number of reset cost
base assets, becomes a subsidiary member of a consolidated group
of which H Co is the head company on 1 July 2005. In working out
Sub Co's ACA, H Co follows a public ruling and lodges its
2005-06 income tax return on 15 January 2007. As a result of a
Federal Court decision the Commissioner withdraws the public
ruling followed by H Co. The notice of withdrawal appears in the Commonwealth
Gazette on 27
February 2008.
15. By this time, H Co has lodged its 2006-07 income tax return,
on 15 January 2008. H Co worked out Sub Co's ACA to be less than
its correct value, leading to understatements in the TCSAs of
all Sub Co's reset cost base assets.
16. H Co has to have regard to the factors listed in subsection
705-315(4) of the ITAA 1997 in order to determine whether it is
not reasonable to require recalculations of all of the TCSAs and
amendment to H Co's 2005-06 and 2006-07 income tax assessments.
Example 3
17. H Co, an Australian resident company, acquires 60% of the
membership interests in an Australian resident company, Sub Co,
on 26 June 2002. On 1 July 2003, H Co forms a consolidated group
together with its wholly-owned Australian subsidiaries. On 1
July 2004, H Co acquires the remaining membership interests in
Sub Co, which joins the group. H Co works out the TCSAs for Sub
Co's assets. Some of the assets are items of trading stock,
which H Co treats as reset cost base assets. H Co lodges its
2004-05 income tax return on 15 January 2006.
18. Subsequently, H Co realises that because Sub Co is a
continuing majority-owned entity as defined in section 701A-1 of
the Income
Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 ,
it should have treated the items of trading stock as retained
cost base assets under section 701A-5 of that Act.
19. The correct TCSAs of the items of trading stock, properly
considered as retained cost base assets, work out to be less
overall than originally worked out. This means that the trading
stock absorbed more of the ACA than it should have, and
consequently the TCSAs of all of the reset cost base assets are
understated.
20. H Co has to have regard to the factors listed in subsection
705-315(4) of the ITAA 1997, in order to determine whether it is
not reasonable to require recalculations of the TCSAs of the
reset cost base assets.
21. In any case, the TCSAs for the items of trading stock would
have to be recalculated because those items are not reset cost
base assets. H Co has to request the Commissioner to amend its
2004-05 income tax assessment in order to correct any errors
resulting from those incorrect TCSAs.
When it is not reasonable to require calculations to correct
the errors
22. The question of when it is not reasonable to require
recalculations to correct errors affecting the TCSAs for reset
cost base assets for the purposes of subsection 705-315(4) of
the ITAA 1997 is answered upon making an objective judgment, in
the circumstances of a particular case, having regard to:
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the net size of the errors relative to
the ACA for the joining entity;
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the number of TCSAs that would have to be
recalculated and the difficulty of doing so;
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the number of adjustments in assessments
that could be amended; and
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the difficulty in obtaining the necessary
information.
23. The relative weighting to be given to each of the prescribed
factors in subsection 705-315(4) of the ITAA 1997, which are
listed in paragraph 22 of this Ruling, will depend on the
particular circumstances of each case.
24. An objective judgment of whether or not it is reasonable to
require a recalculation of the amounts involved may be
influenced by the stated object of Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA
1997, which is to avoid the time and expense involved in
correcting the errors. If this would involve little time and
expense, it is more likely that it would be reasonable in the
circumstances to require recalculation of the amounts involved.
25. It would be less reasonable to require the TCSAs to be
recalculated as:
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the proportion of the ACA represented by
the net size of the errors gets smaller;
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the number of TCSAs that have to be
recalculated get larger;
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the number of adjustments required in
assessments get larger; and
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·
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it becomes more difficult to obtain the
necessary information to perform the recalculations.
26. 'Net size of the errors' is not a defined term. The
reference to net size of the errors in paragraph 705-315(4)(a)
is understood in a practical sense to be equivalent to the 'net
overstated amount' or 'net understated amount' as defined in
subsection 104-525(3) of the ITAA 1997 (see the second dot point
of paragraph 46 of this Ruling) assuming that the conditions in
section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 (see paragraphs 50 and 51 of
this Ruling) were satisfied.
27. Recalculations to correct errors affecting TCSAs are
required to be made in all cases where the errors were to any
extent due to fraud or evasion.8 Recalculations
of the TCSAs may also be required where the Commissioner applies
Part IVA of the ITAA 1936.9
Example 4
28. On 1 July 2004, Sub Co, an Australian resident company,
joins a consolidated group of which H Co is the head company.
Sub Co owns a large number of depreciating assets. H Co works
out Sub Co's ACA to be $50 million, which is allocated to Sub
Co's assets according to the cost setting rules in Division 705
of the ITAA 1997. It lodges its 2004-05 income tax return on 15
January 2006.
29. While preparing its 2008-09 income tax return, H Co
discovers that it had made an error in working out the ACA,
which should have been $51 million. Due to the effect of
over-depreciation adjustments in respect of some of the
depreciating assets under section 705-50 of the ITAA 1997, not
all of the $1 million shortfall in the ACA translates into a net
understated amount in the TCSAs, which H Co works out to be $0.8
million. H Co informs the Commissioner of the errors and lodges
its 2008-09 income tax return on 11 January 2010 on the basis
that the erroneous TCSAs of its reset cost base assets are taken
to be correct, and returns a capital loss of $0.8 million in its
2009-10 income tax return.
30. Although H Co has the necessary information and ability to
readily recalculate the TCSAs, it would not be reasonable to
require recalculations of all the amounts involved on the
grounds that:
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the net size of the errors is small
compared to the ACA;10 and
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·
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the adjustable values and the deductions
claimed for the decline in value of a large number of
depreciating assets over a four year period would need
to be recalculated, and the corresponding income tax
assessments would require amendment.
Example 5
31. H Co is the head company of a consolidated group. On 1 July
2004, H Co acquires the balance of the membership interests of
an Australian resident company, Sub Co, that it did not already
own, and Sub Co thereupon joins the group. H Co calculates the
ACA of Sub Co to be $200 million. H Co lodges its 2004-05 income
tax return on 20 December 2005.
32. On 5 July 2006, H Co discovers that it has made an error in
working out the ACA, which should have been $220 million. As a
result, the TCSAs of all of its reset cost base assets are
understated by a net $20 million. In deciding whether it is not
reasonable to require H Co to recalculate the amounts involved,
the following circumstances are taken into account:
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·
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the net size of the errors in the TCSAs
is a significant proportion of the ACA;
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H Co has the computing resources to
recalculate the TCSAs without difficulty;
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amendments are required only to the
income tax assessment for the 2004-05 income year; and
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the information necessary to recalculate
the amounts involved is readily available.
33. Therefore H Co is required to recalculate the amounts
involved and to request an amendment to its 2004-05 income tax
assessment.
34. Now suppose instead that H Co does not discover the errors
until 5 July 2009 but that all the other circumstances are the
same. In this case, it is still considered that H Co is required
to recalculate the amounts involved and to request amendments to
the four income tax assessments for the 2004-05 to 2007-08
income years. The fact that H Co now has to amend four income
tax returns rather than one does not outweigh the influence of
the other three factors.
Example 6
35. H Co and Sub Co are resident companies, with H Co holding 30
percent of the membership interests in Sub Co. Sub Co
manufactures and supplies goods to H Co and to other businesses.
36. On 1 July 2006, H Co acquires the remaining membership
interests in Sub Co and immediately forms a consolidated group
with Sub Co as its subsidiary member. Sub Co's assets include
goodwill, 100 items of trading stock on hand and 30 items of
depreciating plant. H Co, which employs an efficient computer
system and software for the cost setting process, works out Sub
Co's ACA correctly to be $5 million.
37. However, in working out the market value of Sub Co's
goodwill, H Co fails to take into account the fact that Sub Co
has not been supplying the goods to H Co on arms length terms.
As a result, the goodwill is significantly undervalued.11 Consequently
the TCSA of the goodwill is understated by $500,000, while the
TCSAs of the items of plant and trading stock are
correspondingly overstated. There is no net overstated amount
and no net understated amount.
38. H Co submits its first post-consolidation income tax return
on 17 December 2007. During an audit of H Co in June 2008, the
Commissioner discovers the error, but is satisfied that no fraud
or evasion is involved. H Co has to correct the TCSAs and
request an amendment of its 2006-07 income tax assessment. The
condition in subsection 705-315(4) of the ITAA 1997 is not
satisfied as it is not difficult or costly to do the
recalculations and amendment given that H Co's computing
resources can easily handle the relatively few assets involved,
the required information is readily available and there is only
one income tax assessment to amend.
Whether the erroneous TCSAs are taken to be correct under
section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where all the conditions in
section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are satisfied, even if CGT
event L6 does not happen
39. Erroneous TCSAs are taken to be correct under section
705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where all the conditions in section
705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are satisfied, even if CGT event L6
does not happen.
40. Where there are both overstated amounts and understated
amounts for a subsidiary member for the purposes of subsection
705-315(3) of the ITAA 1997 and they net off to zero, CGT event
L6 does not happen because there is no net overstated amount or
net understated amount for the subsidiary member for the
purposes of subsection 104-525(1) of the ITAA 1997.
Example 7
41. Sub Co becomes a subsidiary member of a consolidated group
of which H Co is the head company on 1 July 2005. The ACA for
Sub Co is $20 million of which $2 million relates to retained
cost base assets leaving $18 million to be allocated to Sub Co's
numerous reset cost base assets in proportion to their market
values. A keying error causes the market value of one of these
assets (asset X) to be recorded as being $200,000 instead of its
correct value of $220,000. This incorrect value is then used in
working out the TCSAs of the reset cost base assets. The total
market value recorded for all of the reset cost base assets is
$20 million.
42. Because the $18 million is allocated to the reset cost base
assets in proportion to their market values, the TCSAs of those
assets are all incorrect, but nevertheless sum correctly to $18
million.12 The
error in the market value of asset X causes the TCSA of asset X
to be understated by $17,802 and the TCSAs of all the other
reset cost base assets to be overstated by amounts totalling
$17,802.
43. It is not reasonable to require a recalculation of the
amounts involved because the net size of the errors is nil and
numerous TCSAs would have to be recalculated. H Co is required
to notify the Commissioner of the errors as soon as practicable
after becoming aware of the errors. In the absence of fraud or
evasion, section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 would apply as all the
conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 have been
satisfied, resulting in incorrectly worked out TCSAs being taken
to be correct.
44. As no net overstated amount or net understated amount
arises, the third condition in subsection 104-525(1) of the ITAA
1997 is not satisfied, and therefore CGT event L6 does not
happen.
Date of effect
45. This Ruling applies both before and after its date of issue.
However, the Ruling will not apply to taxpayers to the extent
that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute
agreed to before the date of issue of the Ruling (see paragraph
75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10).
Commissioner of Taxation
1 August 2007
Appendix 1 - Explanation
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This
Appendix is provided as information to help you
understand how the Commissioner's view has been reached.
It does not form part of the binding public ruling. |
Background
46. Where the head company of a consolidated group or MEC group
makes errors in calculating the TCSA of a reset cost base asset
of an entity that becomes a subsidiary member of the group and
the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are
satisfied:13
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·
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the TCSA is taken to be correct under
subsection 705-320(1) of the ITAA 1997 for the purposes
of the ITAA 1936, the ITAA 1997 (apart from Subdivision
705-E of that Act) and the TAA;14 and
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·
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the overstated amounts and understated
amounts for the TCSAs of all reset cost base assets of
the entity to which section 705-320 applies are netted
off, and if there is a net overstated amount or a net
understated amount, a capital gain or a capital loss
arises respectively under section 104-525 of the ITAA
1997 (CGT event L6) at the start of the income year in
which the Commissioner becomes aware of the errors.
47. Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997 and CGT event L6 (the
error rules) are intended:
to avoid the time and expense involved in correcting errors
affecting tax cost setting amount calculations. This is done
by providing for capital gains or capital losses to reverse
the errors.15
The error rules therefore provide an alternative to
correcting the errors and requesting such amendments as may be
required.
48. The error rules are intended to bring:
the total amount of the error to account as a single amount
rather than as a series of adjustments to the tax values of
the joining entity's assets. The same amount will be brought
to account in total but its character and the timing could
be different.16
49. For example, if an error causes the TCSA of an item of
trading stock to be overstated, the effect of the error will be
reversed by a capital gain rather than a revenue gain.17 Similarly,
if an error has resulted in the TCSA of a depreciating asset
being understated, the effect of the error will be reversed by
recognising an immediate capital loss. This compensates for the
reduced capital allowance deduction that would be claimed over
the effective life of the asset.
50. The conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 that have
to be satisfied before an erroneous TCSA is taken to be correct
are set out in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of that section, and
are (respectively) as follows:
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(a)
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the head company worked out the TCSA of a
reset cost base asset in purported compliance with
Division 705 of the ITAA 1997 (the cost setting rules);
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(b)
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the head company made one or more errors
in working out the TCSA that caused the TCSA to differ
from its correct amount; and
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(c)
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it is not reasonable to require a
recalculation of the amounts involved, having regard to:
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(i)
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the net size of the errors
compared to the size of the ACA;
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(ii)
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the number of TCSAs that would
have to be recalculated and the difficulty of
doing so;
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(iii)
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the number of adjustments in
assessments that could be amended and in future
tax returns that would be necessary to correct
the errors; and
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(iv)
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the difficulty in obtaining the
necessary information.
51. However, subsection 705-315(5) of the ITAA 1997 provides
that these conditions are not satisfied where the errors were to
any extent due to fraud or evasion. In these cases,
recalculations are required to be made to correct the errors in
the TCSAs of the reset cost base assets and amendments would
need to be made to the income tax assessments for the relevant
income years insofar as they are affected by the errors.
52. Furthermore, section 705-310 of the ITAA 1997 ensures that
Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997 does not limit the operation
of Part IVA of the ITAA 1936.
53. Even where there is no fraud or evasion, the head company
may still be subject to certain penalties arising from the
provisions listed in subsection 705-320(2) of the ITAA 1997.
These provisions are:
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section 8N of the TAA (offence of
recklessly making false or misleading statements);
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·
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section 284-75 in Schedule 1 to the TAA
(liability to administrative penalty for making a false
or misleading statement); and
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·
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section 284-145 in Schedule 1 to the TAA
(liability to administrative penalty in relation to a
scheme benefit).
54. These are the only provisions in the TAA that escape the
effect of subsection 705-320(1) of the ITAA 1997. Accordingly,
penalties may still apply in a case where an erroneous TCSA is
taken to be correct.
55. The head company is required under subsection 705-315(6) of
the ITAA 1997 to notify the Commissioner of the errors as soon
as practicable after becoming aware of them.18 Note
that the time of occurrence of CGT event L6 is the start of the
income year in which the Commissioner becomes aware of the
errors.19
The meaning of 'in purported compliance with this Division'
56. The first condition in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997, set
out in subsection (2) of that section, is that the head company
worked out the TCSA of a reset cost base asset 'in purported
compliance with this Division' (being Division 705 of the ITAA
1997: see paragraph 50(a) of this Ruling).
57. This condition is satisfied where the head company has at
least made a genuine attempt to work out the TCSA in accordance
with Division 705 of the ITAA 1997. Working out the TCSA without
regard to Division 705 would bring about a failure to satisfy
the condition in subsection 705-315(2).
What is considered to be an error in working out a TCSA
58. As the word 'error' is not a defined term in either the ITAA
1997 or the ITAA 1936, it takes its ordinary meaning for the
purposes of Subdivision 705-E of the ITAA 1997. The
Macquarie Dictionary 20 defines
an error as a 'deviation from accuracy or correctness; a
mistake, as in action, speech, etc.' In the context of
Subdivision 705-E, there is an error in working out a TCSA when
there is a deviation from accuracy or correctness in the result
of the calculation of the TCSA.
When it is not reasonable to require calculations to correct
the errors
59. The four factors listed in subsection 705-315(4) of the ITAA
1997 (see paragraph 50(c) of this Ruling) that one must have
regard to when determining whether or not it is reasonable to
require recalculation of the amounts involved are discussed
below. The relative importance of each of the factors will vary
from case to case. In forming an objective judgment on the
reasonableness or otherwise of requiring a recalculation of the
amounts involved, the factors are to be evaluated in the context
of the compliance costs that such recalculation would involve.
For example, if there would be little time or expense involved
in correcting the errors, it is more likely that it would be
reasonable in the circumstances to require the tax cost setting
amounts to be re-calculated.21
The net size of the errors
compared to the size of the ACA
60. 'Net size of the errors' is not a defined term. The
Commissioner considers that the term is equivalent to what would
be the 'net overstated amount' or 'net understated amount' as
defined in subsection 104-525(3) of the ITAA 1997 (see the
second dot point of paragraph 46 of this Ruling) assuming that
the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 (see
paragraphs 50 and 51 of this Ruling) were satisfied.
61. Where the net size of the errors represents only a small
fraction of the ACA, it would be less reasonable to require the
TCSAs to be recalculated. However, this factor, like the others,
is not necessarily decisive by itself.22
The number of TCSAs that would
have to be recalculated and the difficulty of doing so
62. The more TCSAs that would have to be recalculated and the
more difficult the recalculations become, the less reasonable it
would be to require the recalculations. However, the
availability of computers and suitable software enables the
recalculations of even large numbers of TCSAs to be readily
made. In such cases, the weighting given to this factor would be
reduced accordingly.
The number of adjustments in
assessments that could be amended and in future income tax
returns that would be necessary to correct the errors
63. As the number of adjustments becomes larger, it would become
less reasonable to have to recalculate the amounts involved. The
time limit for amending assessments that would generally apply
under section 170 of the ITAA 1936 restricts the number of
assessments that could be amended. (The reference in paragraph
705-315(4)(c) of the ITAA 1997 to adjustments in future income
tax returns may be interpreted as a reference to adjustments to
presently existing information that would be necessary for the
preparation of future tax returns.)
Difficulty in obtaining the
necessary information
64. The greater the difficulty in obtaining the information
necessary to perform the recalculations and make the
adjustments, the less reasonable it would be to require those
recalculations and adjustments to be carried out. It may be very
time consuming to locate the relevant records or they may have
been destroyed by a fire or natural catastrophe.
65. It should be noted that the record keeping requirements in
Division 121 of the ITAA 1997 require records to be kept of
every act, transaction, event or circumstance that can
reasonably be expected to be relevant to working out whether a
capital gain or capital loss arises from a CGT event (including
CGT event L6), whether that event has happened or may happen in
the future. These records must be retained until the end of 5
years after it becomes certain that no subsequent CGT event can
happen such that the records could reasonably be expected to be
relevant to working out whether there is a capital gain or
capital loss from the event.23
Partial recalculation
66. On one reading of section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997,24 it
may not strictly be possible to recalculate only some of a
number of TCSAs affected by errors in the tax cost setting
process. However, there will be cases where some amounts can be
recalculated with relative ease and at low cost (for example, a
discrete list of asset cost bases on an assets register), but
there are also a large number of items that are difficult and
costly to recalculate.
67. The result in such a case (recalculations of certain
amounts, with the balance addressed under Subdivision 705-E and
CGT event L6) would usually be an increase in the overall
integrity of the final tax cost setting outcome as compared to a
situation where no recalculations at all were done. If such an
approach were taken the Commissioner would generally not seek to
disturb the outcome.
68. This does not, in any way, sanction the 'cherry picking' of
amounts to adjust so as to maximise the resulting tax benefit to
the group. The clear object of Subdivision 705-E is to minimise
the time and expense involved in correcting errors25 and
this is the only proper basis upon which the group could
proceed.
Whether the erroneous TCSAs are taken to be correct under
section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where all the conditions in
section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are satisfied, even if CGT
event L6 does not happen
69. Subsection 705-320(1) of the ITAA 1997 states:
For the purposes of this Act (other than this Subdivision)
and for the purposes of the Taxation
Administration Act 1953 ,
any tax cost setting amounts that were worked out by the
head company, so far as they were due to the errors, are
taken to have been correct if the conditions in section
705-315 are satisfied.
70. Subsection 104-525(1) of the ITAA 1997 states:
CGT event L6 happens if:
-
(a)
-
you are the head company of a
consolidated group or a MEC group; and
-
(b)
-
the conditions in section 705-315 (about
errors in tax cost setting amounts) are satisfied for a
subsidiary member of the group; and
-
(c)
-
you have a net overstated amount or a net
understated amount for the subsidiary member.
71. Therefore, where there are both overstated amounts and
understated amounts for a subsidiary member for the purposes of
subsection 705-315(3) of the ITAA 1997 and they net off to zero,
CGT event L6 does not happen because there is no net overstated
amount or net understated amount for the subsidiary member for
the purposes of subsection 104-525(1) of the ITAA 1997. However,
as long as the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997
are satisfied, the erroneous TCSAs will nevertheless be taken to
be correct under section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997.
Appendix 2 - Detailed contents list
72. The following is a detailed contents list for this Ruling:
|
|
Paragraph |
|
What this Ruling is about |
1 |
|
Ruling |
5 |
|
The meaning of 'in purported compliance
with this Division' |
5 |
|
What is considered to be an error in
working out a TCSA |
7 |
|
Example 1 |
11 |
|
Example 2 |
14 |
|
Example 3 |
17 |
|
When it is not reasonable to require
calculations to correct the errors |
22 |
|
Example 4 |
28 |
|
Example 5 |
31 |
|
Example 6 |
35 |
|
Whether the erroneous TCSAs are taken to be
correct under section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where all
the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are
satisfied, even if CGT event L6 does not happen |
39 |
|
Example 7 |
41 |
|
Date of effect |
45 |
|
Appendix 1 - Explanation |
46 |
|
Background |
46 |
|
The meaning of 'in purported compliance
with this Division' |
56 |
|
What is considered to be an error in
working out a TCSA |
58 |
|
When it is not reasonable to require
calculations to correct the errors |
59 |
|
The net size
of the errors compared to the size of the ACA |
60 |
|
The number of
TCSAs that would have to be recalculated and the
difficulty of doing so |
62 |
|
The number of
adjustments in assessments that could be amended and in
future income tax returns that would be necessary to
correct the errors |
63 |
|
Difficulty in
obtaining the necessary information |
64 |
|
Partial recalculation |
66 |
|
Whether the erroneous TCSAs are taken to be
correct under section 705-320 of the ITAA 1997 where all
the conditions in section 705-315 of the ITAA 1997 are
satisfied, even if CGT event L6 does not happen |
69 |
|
Appendix 2 - Detailed contents list |
72 |
Footnotes
[1]
These conditions are set out in section 705-315 of the ITAA
1997. See also paragraphs 50 and 51 of this Ruling.
[2]
The exceptions are listed in subsection 705-320(2) of the ITAA
1997. See also paragraphs 53 and 54 of this Ruling.
[3]
Section 705-310 of the ITAA 1997. See also paragraph 52 of this
Ruling.
[4]
Subsection 705-315(5) of the ITAA 1997. See also paragraphs 50
and 51 of this Ruling.
[5]
These factors are discussed in paragraphs 22 to 27, Examples 4
to 7 and paragraphs 59 to 65 of this Ruling.
[6]
See paragraphs 53 and 54 of this Ruling.
[7]
Note that where a draft public ruling represents the
Commissioner's only public statement on an issue, it will
usually represent the Commissioner's general administrative
practice for the purposes of subparagraph 284-215(1)(b)(ii) and
paragraph 361-5(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the TAA: see paragraph
3.130 of the Explanatory Memorandum to Tax Laws Amendment
(Improvements to Self Assessment) Bill (No. 2) 2005, Taxation
Ruling 2006/10 and Practice Statement PS LA 2003/3.
[8]
Subsection 705-315(5) of the ITAA 1997. See also paragraphs 50
and 51 of this Ruling.
[9]
Section 705-310 of the ITAA 1997. See also paragraph 52 of this
Ruling.
[10]
See paragraphs 60 and 61 of this Ruling.
[11]
See Taxation Determination TD 2007/1.
[12]
It is assumed that none of the TCSAs of the reset cost base
assets is reduced subsequent to the application of section
705-35 of the ITAA 1997 by provisions such as sections 705-40,
705-45, 705-47, 705-50 and 705-57 of the ITAA 1997.
[13]
These conditions are described at paragraphs 50 and 51 of this
Ruling.
[14]
A limited number of provisions dealing with offences and
penalties in the TAA escape the application of subsection
705-320(1) of the ITAA 1997 - see paragraphs 53 and 54 of this
Ruling.
[15]
Section 705-305 of the ITAA 1997.
[16]
Paragraph 5.31 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the New Business
Tax System (Consolidation and Other Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2002.
[17]
However, if the entity is a continuing majority-owned entity,
the items of trading stock are treated as retained cost base
assets and so fall outside the scope of Subdivision 705-E: see
Example 3 and paragraph 50(a) of this Ruling.
[18]
For information regarding notification requirements, refer to
'Consolidation: notification forms and instructions' on the
Consolidation web page at www.ato.gov.au.
[19]
See paragraph 46 of this Ruling.
[20]
Revised 3rd ed, 2001, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, NSW.
[21]
See the Explanatory Memorandum to the New Business Tax System
(Consolidation and Other Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2002, paragraphs
5.20 to 5.22.
[22]
For an illustration of this, see Example 6 in this Ruling.
[23]
There are limited exceptions to this requirement - see
subsection 121-25(4) and section 121-30 of the ITAA 1997. See
also Taxation Ruling TR 2002/10.
[24]
See paragraph 46 of this Ruling.
[25]
See paragraph 47 of this Ruling.
Previously released in draft form as TR 2006/D12
References
ATO references:
NO 2006/12035
ISSN 1039-0731
Related Rulings/Determinations:
TD 2007/1
TR 2002/10
TR 2006/10
Subject References:
capital gains tax
CGT events
CGT events L1-L8 - consolidated and MEC groups
consolidation
consolidation - assets
consolidation - joining
cost setting rules
tax cost setting rules
Legislative References:
TAA 1953
TAA 1953 8N
TAA 1953 Sch 1 284-75
TAA 1953 Sch 1 284-145
TAA 1953 Sch 1 284-215(1)(b)(ii)
TAA 1953 Sch 1 361-5(1)(b)
ITAA 1936
ITAA 1936 Pt IVA
ITAA 1936 170
ITAA 1997 104-525
ITAA 1997 104-525(1)
ITAA 1997 104-525(3)
ITAA 1997 Div 121
ITAA 1997 121-25(4)
ITAA 1997 121-30
ITAA 1997 Div 705
ITAA 1997 705-35
ITAA 1997 705-40
ITAA 1997 705-45
ITAA 1997 705-47
ITAA 1997 705-50
ITAA 1997 705-57
ITAA 1997 Subdiv 705-E
ITAA 1997 705-305
ITAA 1997 705-310
ITAA 1997 705-315
ITAA 1997 705-315(2)
ITAA 1997 705-315(3)
ITAA 1997 705-315(4)
ITAA 1997 705-315(4)(a)
ITAA 1997 705-315(4)(c)
ITAA 1997 705-315(5)
ITAA 1997 705-315(6)
ITAA 1997 705-320
ITAA 1997 705-320(1)
ITAA 1997 705-320(2)
IT(TP)A 1997 701A-1
IT(TP)A 1997 701A-5
Other References
The Macquarie Dictionary, 2001, rev. 3rd ed, The Macquarie
Library Pty Ltd, NSW
Explanatory Memorandum to the New Business Tax System
(Consolidation and Other Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2002
Explanatory Memorandum to Tax Laws Amendment (Improvements to
Self Assessment) Bill (No. 2) 2005
Practice Statement PS LA 2003/3