ATO ID 2002/972: GST and the supply of accommodation in residential premises to school staff
Date of decision: 30 August 2002
Business line: Indirect Tax

Issue
Is the entity, a school, making an input taxed supply under section 40-35 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act), when it supplies accommodation to a staff member in residential premises?

Decision
Yes, the entity is making an input taxed supply under section 40-35 of GST Act when it supplies accommodation to a staff member in residential premises.

Facts
The entity is a school as defined in section 195-1 of the GST Act. The entity is not a charitable institution, a trustee of a charitable fund, a gift deductible entity or a government school. The entity supplies accommodation to a staff member by way of lease or licence in residential premises. These residential premises provided are houses, units or flats. The entity is registered for goods and services tax (GST).

Reasons for decision
Summary: Under section 40-35 of the GST Act, a supply of residential premises (other than commercial residential premises), by way of lease, hire or licence, is input taxed to the extent that the premises are to be used predominantly for residential accommodation. The entity supplies the staff member with accommodation in residential premises by way of lease or licence. Therefore, the supply of the accommodation to the staff member is an input-taxed supply under paragraph 40-35(1)(a) of the GST Act unless the residential premises are commercial residential premises. Under section 195-1 of the GST, commercial residential premises includes: The entity is a school that supplies accommodation to a staff member in residential premises. Therefore, it is necessary to examine whether the accommodation is provided in commercial residential premises, as defined in paragraph (b) above. An important rule of statutory interpretation is that the words in the legislation must be read in their context ( K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 302). Broadly, commercial residential premises have a particular character that removes them from the class of residential premises (paragraph 10 of GSTR 2000/20). Therefore, an interpretation of paragraph (b) must be made in context by reading the definition of 'commercial residential premises' in its totality. As the premises described under paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (da) and (e) all have characteristics that exhibit a commercial flavour, paragraph (b) must be read in this context. This means that paragraph (b) also covers only those premises that exhibit characteristics that have a commercial flavour. In the context of paragraph (b), this limits its application to boarding houses in boarding schools and other similar premises. Residential premises, such as houses, units or flats, that the entity provides to the staff member do not exhibit characteristics that have a commercial flavour. Therefore, the residential premises that the entity provides to the staff member are not premises of the type covered by paragraph (b) of the definition of commercial residential premises in section 195-1 of the GST Act. The entity is supplying residential accommodation to the staff member in residential premises that are not commercial residential premises. Therefore, the entity is making an input taxed supply under section 40-35 of GST Act when it supplies accommodation to a staff member in residential premises.

Legislative references: A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 subsection 9-30(3) section 38-250 section 40-35 section 40-35(1)(a) section 195-1
Case references: K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 309
Related public rulings and determinations: Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2000/20
Subject references: Goods and services tax GST education GST property & construction GST commercial residential premises GST residential premises GST supplies & acquisitions Taxable supply Input taxed supplies