Private ruling: Capital gains tax - deceased estate - Commissioner's discretion - two year period
Date of advice: 13 September 2016
Published: November 2016
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2017.
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2016.

Ruling: Q1: Will the Commissioner exercise his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) and allow an extension of time to the two year period until 1 July 2016? | A1: Yes.


Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 104-10 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 118-130(3) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 118-195 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 118-195(1) Explanatory memorandum to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.9) of 2011 (Cth)

Reasons for decision: Summary: A capital gain or capital loss may be disregarded under section 118-195 of the ITAA 1997 where a capital gains tax event happens to a dwelling if it passed to you as an individual and a beneficiary of a deceased estate or you owned it as the trustee of the deceased estate. For a dwelling acquired by the deceased prior to 20 September 1985, you will be entitled to a full exemption if: • the dwelling was, from the deceased's death until your ownership interest ends, the main residence of one or more of the following individuals: • the spouse of the deceased immediately before death (except a spouse who was living permanently separately and apart from the deceased) • an individual who had a right to occupy the dwelling under the deceased's will, or • an individual beneficiary to whom the ownership interest passed and the CGT event was brought about by that person, or • your ownership interest ends within two years of the deceased's death. For a dwelling acquired by the deceased on or after 20 September 1985, the dwelling must have been used as the deceased's main residence just before their death and not used to produce assessable income at that time. In your case, when the deceased died, the dwelling passed to you. The dwelling was the deceased's main residence prior to death, and at that time, was not being used to produce assessable income. However, the dwelling was not occupied by a relevant individual after the deceased's death and therefore this basis of exemption is not available. Subsection 118-130(3) of the ITAA 1997 provides that where the sale or other disposal of the dwelling proceeds under a contract, the ownership interest ends at the time of settlement of the contract of sale and not at the time of entering the contract. The dwelling sale settled more than two years after the deceased's death, therefore, the alternative basis of exemption is also not satisfied. However, subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 confers on the Commissioner discretion to extend the two year exemption period. The following is a non-exhaustive list of situations in which the Commissioner would be expected to exercise the discretion: • the ownership of a dwelling or a will is challenged • the complexity of a deceased estate delays the completion of administration of the estate • a trustee or beneficiary is unable to attend to the deceased estate due to unforeseen or serious personal circumstances arising during the two year period (for example: the taxpayer or a family member has a severe illness or injury), or • settlement of a contract of sale over the dwelling is unexpectedly delayed or falls through for reasons outside the beneficiary or trustee's control. The Commissioner accepts that it is appropriate to grant the short extension that you have requested. In determining whether or not to grant an extension the Commissioner is also expected to consider whether and to what extent the dwelling is used to produce assessable income and how long the trustee or beneficiary held it. Having considered the relevant facts, the Commissioner will apply his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 and allow an extension to the two year time limit until settlement.

The deceased acquired an interest as tenants in common with their sibling ('A') in a dwelling prior 20 September 1985 (The dwelling) | The deceased passed away in 20XX (the deceased) | The deceased sibling ('B') passed away. | The deceased died intestate. | The dwelling is less than 2 hectares. | The dwelling has had no major improvements undertaken. | The dwelling has not been used to produce assessable income. | The dwelling was vacant from the date of death of the deceased. | Letters of administration were granted in 20YY. (The trustee) | The trustee conducted a search for the next of kin. | The trustees determined that the deceased's sibling, 'A' and the child of 'B', ('C') were the next of kin of the deceased. | The process to determine the next of kin of the deceased was completed after a period of time. | 'A' was assessed as being under a disability and unable to make reasonable judgements about their estate and as a result administrator's were appointed. | The order was made in 20XX and appointed two individuals as administrators. | The deceased estate of 'A' was administered by a legal representative. | Letters of administration for the estate of 'A' was obtained by the legal representative in 2016. | The trustees experienced delays in finalising the sale of the dwelling due to delays by the legal representatives. | The dwelling was listed for sale by auction in 2016. | Settlement occurred in 2016.