ATO ID 2004/589: Assessability of Australian rental income derived by a resident of Singapore
Date of decision: 22 June 2004
Year of income: Year ended 30 June 2004
Business line: Public Groups and International

Issue
Is the income derived from a rental property in Australia by a resident of Singapore assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)?

Decision
Yes. The income derived from a rental property in Australia by a resident of Singapore is assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997.

Facts
The taxpayer is a non-resident of Australia for income tax purposes. The taxpayer is a resident of Singapore for income tax purposes. The taxpayer owns real property in Australia from which they derive rental income.

Reasons for decision
Summary: Under subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997, the assessable income of a non-resident taxpayer includes: Rental income from real property is ordinary income for the purposes of subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997. In determining liability to Australian tax on income received by a non resident, it is necessary to consider not only the income tax laws but any applicable double tax agreement contained in the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 (the Agreements Act). Section 4 of the Agreements Act incorporates that Act with the ITAA 1997, so that these Acts are read as one. Schedule 5 to the Agreements Act contains the double tax agreement between Australia and the Republic of Singapore (the Singaporean Agreement). Schedule 5A of the Agreements Act contains the protocol amending the Singaporean Agreement (the Singaporean Protocol). The Singaporean Agreement and Singaporean Protocol operate to avoid double taxation of income received by Australian and Singaporean residents. Article 4A(1) of the Singaporean Agreement provides that income from real property may be taxed by the country in which the real property is situated. Paragraph 23 of Taxation Ruling TR 2001/13 states that the phrase 'may be taxed' normally means the source country has a non-exclusive entitlement to tax the income. However, the taxpayer's country of residence may also tax the income subject to the laws of that country, unless the double tax agreement explicitly prevents it. Article 17 of the Singaporean Agreement provides that income derived by a resident of Singapore which, under Article 4A, may be taxed in Australia, shall be deemed to be income from sources in Australia for Australian tax purposes. Therefore, the income received from a rental property in Australia by a non-resident taxpayer is assessable under subsection 6-5(3) of the ITAA 1997.

Legislative references: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 6-5(3) paragraph 6-5(3)(a) paragraph 6-5(3)(b)
Related public rulings and determinations: Taxation Ruling TR 2001/13
Related ATO interpretative decisions: ATO ID 2003/1082 | ATO ID 2001/224
Subject references: Double tax agreements International tax Rental property income Singapore