Private ruling: Residency
Date of advice: 13 April 2022
Published: July 2022
Ruling period: Year ending 30 June 20XX | Year ending 30 June 20XX
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 20XX

Ruling: Q1: Are you a resident of Australia for taxation purposes? | A1: Yes

Relevant facts and circumstances: You were born in Country Y. You are a citizen of Country Y and Country Z. Prior to moving to Australia, you and your spouse lived in Country X. You arrived in Australia in the 20XX income year. You came to Australia in 20XX to reside permanently. It is your intention to get citizenship of Australia. You have Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval to build a house in Australia and this should be completed in 20XX. You purchased the land for this property in 20XX. You and your spouse have been renting accommodation in Australia while your house is being built. You and your spouse left Australia on XXX 20XX for Country X to continue to liquidate all residual assets where you were unable to do so for the previous two years due to government border restrictions and travel bans relating to Covid. You intend to return to Australia in July 20XX. You have the following assets in Australia: • Bank account • Property You have assets in Country X. Your home in Country X is currently being rented out and is for sale and has been for sale since you arrived in Australia. You are not employed in Australia. Your two children are currently studying in Australia. You have social and sporting connections in Australia. You have social and sporting connections in Country X. You are currently enrolled in a course in Australia. You and your spouse are not eligible to contribute to the PSS or the CSS super funds.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 995-1 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 Subsection 6(1)

Reasons for decision: Summary: Section 995-1 of the Income tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) defines an Australian resident for tax purposes as a person who is a resident of Australia for the purposes of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). The terms resident and resident of Australia, as applied to an individual, are defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936. The definition offers four tests to ascertain whether each individual taxpayer is a resident of Australia for income tax purposes. These tests are: The primary test for deciding the residency status of an individual is whether they reside in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word resides. Where an individual does not reside in Australia according to ordinary concepts, they will still be an Australian resident if they meet the conditions of one of the other tests. | Detailed Reasoning - The resides test: The ordinary meaning of the word 'reside', according to the Macquarie Dictionary , 2001, rev. 3rd edition, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, NSW, is 'to dwell permanently or for a considerable time; having one's abode for a time', and according to the Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (1987), is 'to dwell permanently, or for a considerable time, to have one's settled or usual abode, to live in or at a particular place'. These definitions have been highlighted in cases as being definitive observations of the meaning of resides (see Viscount LC in Levene v Commissioners of Inland Revenue [1928] AC 217 and Logan J in Stockton v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2019] FCA 1679). The observations contained in the case of Hafza v Director-General of Social Security (1985) 6 FCR 444 are also important: Physical presence and intention will coincide for most of the time. But few people are always at home. Once a person has established a home in a particular place - even involuntarily: see Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Lysaght [1928] AC 234 at 248; and Keil v Keil [1947] VLR 383 - a person does not necessarily cease to be resident there because he or she is physically absent. The test is whether the person has retained a continuity of association with the place - Levene v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1928] AC 217 at 225 and Judd v Judd (1957) 75 WN (NSW) 147 at 149 - together with an intention to return to that place and an attitude that that place remains " home ": see Norman v Norman (No 3) (1969) 16 FLR 231 at 235... [W]here the general concept is applicable, it is obvious that, as residence of a place in which a person is not physically present depends upon an intention to return and to continue to treat that place as " home ", a change of intention may be decisive of the question whether residence in a particular place has been maintained. Case law decisions have considered the following factors in relation to whether the taxpayer was a resident under the 'resides' test: These factors are similar to those which the Commissioner has said are relevant in determining the residency status of individuals in Taxation Ruling IT 2650 Income tax: residency - permanent place of abode outside Australia and Taxation Ruling TR 98/17 Income tax: residency status of individuals entering Australia . It is important to note that not one single factor is decisive, and the weight given to each factor depends on each individual's circumstances. TR 98/17 explains that an individual may be considered a resident under the resides test if their behaviour while they are here is such that they exhibit a degree of continuity, routine or habit that is consistent with a person residing in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word 'reside'. As a broad principle, where a person has a settled routine for six months or more (for example, the person has stayed in one place or has been with one employer for six months at the same location) they may satisfy the resides test. The period of time of the settled routine need not be confined to one financial year. As long as the pattern of behaviour is exhibited the individual may be regarded as being a resident from the time of their arrival. We consider that your circumstances are consistent with you residing in Australia according to ordinary concepts. This is evident from the following: • You and your spouse came to Australia to live permanently on a subclass XXX visa in 20XX. • You have 2 children who are studying in Australia. • You purchased a block of land in 20XX, and you have commenced building a home in Australia. The expected completion of this property is 20XX. • You intend on obtaining citizenship of Australia. The Commissioner is satisfied that your routine and mode of life is consistent with someone residing in Australia. You are a resident under this test. | Detailed Reasoning - Domicile test: Under the domicile test, you are a resident of Australia if your domicile is in Australia unless the Commissioner is satisfied that your permanent place of abode is outside Australia. | Detailed Reasoning - Domicile: Whether your domicile is Australia is determined by the Domicile Act 1982 and the common law rules on domicile. Your domicile is your domicile of origin (usually the domicile of your father at the time of your birth) unless you have acquired a domicile of choice elsewhere. To acquire a domicile of choice of a particular country you must be lawfully present there and you must hold the positive intention to make that country your home indefinitely. Your domicile continues until you acquire a different domicile. Whether your domicile has changed depends on an objective consideration of all relevant facts. You were born in Country Y and you are a citizen of Country Y and Country Z. At present you have not changed your domicile to Australia. You are not a resident under this test. | Detailed Reasoning - 183-day test: Where a person is present in Australia for 183 days during the year of income the person will be a resident, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the person's usual place of abode is outside Australia, and the person does not intend to take up residence in Australia. You have been in Australia since12 February 20XX and remained here until you temporarily returned to Country X. You are a resident under this test as you have been in Australia for more than 183 days and you intend on remaining permanently in Australia. | Detailed Reasoning - Superannuation Test: An individual is a resident of Australia if they are either a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990 or an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976, or they are the spouse, or the child under 16, of such a person. You and your spouse are not a contributing member of the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) or a spouse of such a person, or a child under 16 of such a person. You are not a resident under this test. | Detailed Reasoning - Conclusion: You are a resident of Australia for taxation purposes.

Intention or purpose of presence | Family and business/employment ties | Maintenance and location of assets, and | Social and living arrangements.