ATO ID 2004/78: Assessability of employment income received by visiting professor from India
Date of decision: 27 November 2003
Year of income: Year ended 30 June 2004
Business line: Public Groups and International

Issue
Are the salary and wages received by a taxpayer who is a resident of India, from employment as a visiting professor at an Australian university, assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)?

Decision
No. The salary and wages received by a taxpayer who is resident of India, from employment as a visiting professor at an Australian university, are not assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997.

Facts
The taxpayer is a resident of India and a non-resident of Australia for Australian income tax purposes. The taxpayer is employed by an Australian university as a visiting professor. The taxpayer will be present in Australia for the purposes of teaching for a period of less than two years. The taxpayer receives salary and wages from the university.

Reasons for decision
Summary: Subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997 provides that the assessable income of a non resident taxpayer includes ordinary income derived directly or indirectly from Australian sources during the income year. Salary and wages are ordinary income for the purposes of subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997. In determining liability to Australian tax on foreign sourced income, it is necessary to consider not only the income tax laws but also any applicable double tax agreement contained in the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 (Agreements Act). Section 4 of the Agreements Act incorporates that Act with the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) and ITAA 1997 so that those Acts are read as one. Schedule 35 to the Agreements Act contains the double tax agreement between Australia and the Republic of India (the Indian Agreement). The Indian Agreement operates to avoid the double taxation of income received by Australian and Indian residents. Article 20(1) of the Indian Agreement provides that where a professor or teacher who is a resident of India visits Australia for a period not exceeding two years for the purpose of teaching or carrying out advanced study or research at a university, college, school or other educational institution, any remuneration that person receives for such teaching, advanced study or research shall be exempt from tax in Australia to the extent to which such remuneration is, or upon the application of this Article will be, subject to tax in India. Article 20(2) of the Indian Agreement provides that the Article shall not apply to remuneration which a professor or teacher receives for conducting research if the research is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons. The taxpayer is a resident of India who is visiting Australia for a period of less than two years for the purpose of carrying out employment as a visiting professor at an Australian university. Under Article 20(1) of the Indian Agreement, the salary and wages received by the taxpayer from employment as a visiting professor at an Australian university is exempt from tax in Australia. Accordingly, the salary and wages received by the taxpayer are not assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997.

Legislative references: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 6-5(3)
Subject references: Academic staff Double tax agreements Exempt income India International tax PAYG withholding PAYG withholding payments to employees Salary & wages income