ATO ID 2002/716: Depreciation - whether depreciation rates increased by 20% loading for purposes of undeducted PABV calculations
Date of decision: 22 May 2002
Business line: Public Groups and International

Issue
If a purchaser acquires a pre-20 August 1980 unit of plant to which former Subdivision 58-C of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) applies, is the depreciation rate used to calculate the undeducted pre-existing audited book value ("PABV") of the unit increased by a 20% loading?

Decision
Yes, the depreciation rate used to calculate the undeducted PABV of the unit is increased by the 20% loading that would have applied under the subsection 55(6) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) as in force immediately before the commencement of section 7 of the Taxation Laws Amendment Act (No 2) 1992 (former subsection 55(6) of the ITAA 1936).

Facts
The arrangement may be summarised as follows:

Reasons for decision
Detailed Reasoning - Choice under Division 58 to calculate depreciation deductions for transitional plant by reference to undeducted PABV: Division 58 of ITAA 1997 sets out special rules for calculating depreciation deductions and balancing adjustments in respect of certain plant previously owned by an exempt entity. Division 58 as originally enacted was repealed and replaced with the current streamlined Division 58 which applies to privatisations occurring on or after 1 July 2001: see item 244 of Schedule 2 of New Business Tax System (Capital Allowances-Transitional and Consequential) Act 2001 . Former Subdivision 58-C of the ITAA 1997 applies to plant acquired by a purchaser in connection with the acquisition of a business from a TEV on or after 4 August 1997 and before 1 July 2001. Under former subsection 58-155(1) of the ITAA 1997, the purchaser must choose to calculate depreciation deductions in relation to a unit of such plant by reference to either (a) the notional written down value of the unit; or (b) the undeducted PABV of the unit. Where a purchaser chooses (b), the opening cost of the unit to the purchaser for depreciation purposes is taken to be the sum of (i) the undeducted PABV of the unit in relation to the TEV; and (ii) any incidental costs to the purchaser in respect of acquiring the unit: see former subsection 58-220(1) of the ITAA 1997. The calculation of the undeducted PABV of a unit depends on whether the date of the PABV (i.e. the PABV test time) is one year or more before the privatisation date. If it is, the PABV must be reduced by PABV notional depreciation assumed to have been allowed to the TEV in respect of the unit: see former paragraph 58-265(b) of the ITAA 1997. In calculating this PABV notional depreciation, the unit is assumed to have been used wholly for the purpose of producing assessable income by the TEV for the period beginning at the PABV test time and ending immediately before the privatisation time: see former section 58-245 of the ITAA 1997. | Detailed Reasoning - Depreciation rates used for calculating PABV notional depreciation: The depreciation rates used for PABV notional depreciation purposes are calculated by reference to the relevant depreciation regime that would have applied to the unit under ITAA 1936 and/or ITAA 1997 as determined by the date upon which the TEV originally acquired the unit. A general discussion of the various depreciation regimes that have applied under ITAA 1936 is contained in Taxation Ruling IT 2685: Income Tax: Depreciation. The "broadbanding" depreciation regime (refer paragraphs 33 - 47 of IT 2685), which commenced in the 1992 income year, applied to most plant acquired before 27 February 1992. Under the broadbanding rules, basic depreciation rates for most plant were increased by a standard 20% loading: see former subsection 55(6) of ITAA 1936. Note that the 20% loading did not apply to some plant ("excluded units"), such as certain motor vehicles: see former paragraph 55(6)(b) of ITAA 1936. Former paragraph 58-255(b) of ITAA 1997 provides that, if this 20% loading under the broadbanding rules had applied in relation to the TEV's assumed assessable use of the unit, the 20% loading is to be taken into account in calculating the depreciation rate to be used for PABV notional depreciation purposes. | Detailed Reasoning - Applying the tax law to this arrangement: The purchaser has chosen to calculate depreciation deductions in relation to each unit of old plant by reference to its undeducted PABV. As the period between the PABV date (30 June 1996) and the privatisation date is more than one year, each PABV must be notionally depreciated for this period to calculate the undeducted PABV of the old plant in relation to the TEV. As the old plant was acquired by the TEV before 27 February 1992 the depreciation rates used for PABV notional depreciation purposes are calculated by reference to the broadbanding depreciation regime. As the 20% loading under the broadbanding rules would have applied to the TEV's assumed assessable use of the old plant (not being excluded units) during the 1997 - 2000 income years up until the privatisation date, this 20% loading is to be taken into account in calculating the depreciation rates to be used for PABV notional depreciation purposes. Example On 1 August 1980, the TEV acquired a unit of plant. The Commissioner's determination of its effective life at that time was 40 years. On 1 October 1999 the purchaser acquired the unit in connection with the acquisition of a business from the TEV for consideration of $82,000. The purchaser did not incur any incidental costs in respect of the acquisition. The purchaser uses the unit wholly for the purposes of producing assessable income. The unit had a PABV of $90,000 at the test time, which is 30 June 1996. The purchaser chooses to calculate depreciation deductions and balancing adjustments by reference to the undeducted PABV of the unit. As the period between the PABV test time (30 June 1996) and the privatisation date (1 October 1999) is more than one year, the PABV of the unit must be notionally depreciated for this period to calculate its undeducted PABV in relation to the TEV. For PABV notional depreciation purposes, the purchaser selects (under former section 58-250 of the ITAA 1997) that TEV will use the prime cost method of depreciation. As the unit was originally acquired by the TEV prior to 27 February 1992, the depreciation rate used for PABV notional depreciation purposes is calculated by reference to the broadbanding depreciation regime. The 20% loading under the broadbanding rules would have applied to the TEV's assumed assessable use of the unit in the period from 1 July 1996 to 1 October 1999. Therefore, that 20% loading is to be taken into account in calculating the depreciation rate to be used for PABV notional depreciation purposes. This results in a prime cost depreciation rate of 3% for PABV notional depreciation purposes, calculated as follows: basic depreciation rate of 2.5% (1/40 x 100%) increased by 20% loading (2.5% x 1.2 = 3%). The undeducted PABV of the unit in relation to the TEV is calculated as follows:

Legislative references: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 58-10 paragraph 58-150(1)(b) paragraph 58-150(1)(c) subsection 58-155(1) subsection 58-220(1) section 58-245 section 58-250 paragraph 58-255(b) paragraph 58-265(b)
Related public rulings and determinations: Taxation Ruling IT 2685
Subject references: Depreciation rates Depreciation loadings Notional depreciation