ATO ID 2004/211: Property fringe benefit: 'in-house property fringe benefit' - house and land package
Date of decision: 13 February 2004
Year of income: Year ended 31 March 2004
Business line: Superannuation and Employer Obligations

Issue
Will the taxable value of a house and land package provided by a property developer to an employee, be calculated as an 'in-house property fringe benefit' in accordance with subsection 42(1) of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 (FBTAA)?

Decision
No. Subsection 42(1) of the FBTAA does not apply as the house and land package is not an 'in-house property fringe benefit'.

Facts
The employer is engaged in the business of property development. The employer acquired a parcel of land and constructed a number of houses on the land. Most of the house and land packages were sold at market price to members of the public. During the FBT year the employer provided an employee with a house and land package at below market price. The provision of a house and land package to the employee is a property fringe benefit in accordance with section 40 of the FBTAA.

Reasons for decision
Summary: The taxable value of a property fringe benefit depends on whether the property benefit falls for consideration under subsection 42(1) of the FBTAA as an 'in-house property fringe benefit' or section 43 of the FBTAA as an 'external property fringe benefit'. An 'in-house property fringe benefit' is defined in subsection 136(1) of the FBTAA to mean a property fringe benefit in relation to the employer in respect of 'tangible property', where both the following conditions are satisfied: (a) 'Tangible property' is defined as 'goods and includes animals, including fish; and gas and electricity', whereas (b) 'Intangible property' is defined as: There is no definition of 'real property' in the FBTAA therefore it takes on its ordinary meaning. Words And Phrases - legally defined , (1990), Volume 4, 3rd Edition, Saunders JB, Butterworths, London at page 10, defines the term 'real property' as follows, ....denotes (1) land and things attached to land, so as to become part of it...' The house and land package would clearly meet the definition of real property and consequently, intangible property. Therefore, it cannot be taxed as an 'in-house property benefit' and is not subject to the 25% in-house concession. As such, the taxable value of the property fringe benefit is determined in accordance with section 43 of the FBTAA, as an external property fringe benefit.

Legislative references: Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 section 40 section 42 section 43 subsection 136(1)
Other references: Words And Phrases - legally defined, (1990), Volume 4, 3rd Edition, Saunders JB, Butterworths, London
Subject references: External property fringe benefits FBT tangible property FBT taxable value Fringe benefits tax In-house property fringe benefits Property fringe benefits