ATO ID 2002/208: Deductibility of visa expenses - temporary business visa to remain in Australia
Date of decision: 5 October 2001
Year of income: Year ended 30 June 2001
Business line: Small Business/Individual Taxpayers

Issue
Is a taxpayer entitled to claim a deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) for expenses incurred in applying for a visa to remain in Australia?

Decision
No. The taxpayer is not entitled to claim a deduction under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 for expenses incurred in applying for a visa to remain in Australia because the expense was not incurred in gaining or producing assessable income.

Facts
The taxpayer arrived and remained legally in Australia on a visa. The visa was conditional that certain requirements were met. The taxpayer's circumstances changed and the conditions on the visa were not satisfied. The taxpayer's options were to: Soon after arrival in Australia the taxpayer commenced employment as an employee. The employer agreed to sponsor the taxpayer by providing employment for the taxpayer to stay in Australia as a prerequisite to a further visa application. The taxpayer sought to remain in Australia and was successful in obtaining a temporary business visa from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. The taxpayer incurred expenses (legal expenses, labour market testing, medical certificate, etc) in obtaining the temporary business visa.

Reasons for decision
Summary: Section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 broadly allows a deduction for any losses or outgoings to the extent to which they are incurred in gaining or producing assessable income except to the extent outgoings are of a capital, private or domestic nature. The courts have considered the meaning of 'incurred in gaining or producing the assessable income'. In Ronpibon Tin NL Tong Kah Compound NL v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1949) 78 CLR 47; 56 ALR 785; 8 ATD 431 the High Court stated that: 'For expenditure to form an allowable deduction as an outgoing incurred in gaining or producing the assessable income it must be incidental and relevant to that end. The words "incurred in gaining or producing assessable income" mean in the course of gaining or producing such income.' The expenditure must therefore be related to the production of assessable income. The purpose of obtaining the temporary business visa was to allow the taxpayer to live in Australia rather than earn assessable income as an employee. Alternatively, the cost of making application for a temporary business visa is considered private in nature and not deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 because the purpose for applying for a temporary business visa was for the taxpayer to remain legally in Australia. Accordingly, the expenses for applying for the temporary business visa are not deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 because they were not incurred in gaining or producing assessable income and are also private in nature.

Legislative references: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 8-1
Case references: Ronpibon Tin NL Tong Kah Compound NL v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation 78 CLR 47 56 ALR 785 8 ATD 431
Subject references: Deductions & expenses Work related expenses