ATO ID 2002/341: Deductions - employee pays employer company's operating expenses
Date of decision: 8 March 2002
Business line: Small Business/Individual Taxpayers

Issue
Can the taxpayer claim a deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) for expenses incurred by them on behalf of their employer?

Decision
No. The taxpayer cannot claim a deduction under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 for expenses incurred by the taxpayer on behalf of their employer, as the expenses were incurred for the purposes of generating the assessable income of the employer, rather than the assessable income of the taxpayer.

Facts
The taxpayer is a shareholder, director and employee of a small private company. The taxpayer is responsible for the management and day to day operations of the company. The taxpayer is often required to pay the company's expenses out of their salary and wages. The taxpayer did not receive director's fees or dividend income from the company in the income year.

Reasons for decision
Summary: Section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 states that you can deduct from your assessable income any loss or outgoing to the extent that it is incurred in gaining or producing your assessable income and is not: An outgoing is considered to be incurred in gaining or producing assessable income if there is a sufficient connection between the outgoing and the activities which produce or are expected to produce assessable income ( Ronpibon Tin NL v. FC of T (1949) 78 CLR 47). The essential character of an outgoing is generally determined objectively. As a general rule, an outgoing will not be deductible unless it is incurred in gaining or producing the assessable income of the taxpayer who incurs it. In Case U134 87 ATC 780; Case 92 (1987) 18 ATR 3646 the taxpayer was a shareholder and director of a family company who paid some of the company's expenses but was not reimbursed by the company for these expenses. The taxpayer did not receive any directors fees from the company in the relevant income year. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal held that the expenses were not deductible as the taxpayer incurred the expenses in his capacity as a director but did not derive any assessable income in that capacity. The taxpayer incurred the expenses in order to produce the assessable income of the company rather than the taxpayer's own salary and wages. There is no sufficient or direct connection between the expense and the taxpayer's assessable income for the income year. Accordingly, the taxpayer cannot claim a deduction under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 for the expenses incurred on behalf of the company.

Legislative references: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 8-1
Case references: Ronpibon Tin NL v FC of T 78 CLR 47
Related ATO interpretative decisions: ATO ID 2001/738
Subject references: Deductions & expenses Business income Work related expenses