Private ruling: No goodwill incorporated professional practice
Date of advice: 28 November 2022
Published: 6 February 2023
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 20YY | Year ended 30 June 20YY | Year ended 30 June 20YY
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 20YY

Ruling: Q1: Will the shareholders of Company A ('the Taxpayer') be entitled to administrative treatment of interests in 'no goodwill' incorporated practices for the CGT and employee share scheme consequences which arise from the acquisition and disposal of shares in the Taxpayer? | A1: Yes, the administrative treatment will apply where the requirements set out in QC 48882 are satisfied.

Relevant facts and circumstances: 1. Company A ('the Taxpayer') was incorporated on DD MM YYYY. Prior to incorporation, it was operated as a family business by the A family. 2. Since early YYYYs the A family had been considering its options to ensure the business would continue to operate into the future, while preserving its history and the legacy they had created. 3. In this respect, it was decided that non-family members would need to be introduced as future owners of the business, to ensure its ongoing operations. Consequently, it was decided that senior practitioners working in the practice would be invited to receive interests/shares in Taxpayer. 4. In MM YYYY, the Taxpayer exercised its right to redeem the redeemable class shares of the non-working A family members who still held shares in the Taxpayer. This was with the intention that only senior practitioners who were actively working in the practice would be entitled to be shareholders moving forward. 5. In early YYYY, the Directors determined that several additional senior practitioners would be invited to acquire interests / shares in the Taxpayer. The intention being that these practitioners would be offered interests in the Taxpayer for nominal consideration on the basis the Taxpayer will be treated as a 'no goodwill' practice moving forward. 6. The shareholders and directors of The Taxpayer are currently as follows: 6.1. Mr A 6.1.1. X ordinary shares 6.1.2. 1 class H share held by a family trust associated with Mr A 6.2. 1 class I share held by a family trust associated with Mr B 7. Mr A's X ordinary shares were inherited from his parent in YYYY on their passing. The X ordinary shares were held by his parent pre-CGT and had an initial issue price of $1 per share. 8. The Class H and Class I shares were issued for $1. 9. The Taxpayer wishes to move to a 'no goodwill' incorporated professional practice. It is intended additional senior practitioners will be invited to participate as new shareholders. 10. The Taxpayer will operate the 'no goodwill' practice in accordance with the following documents: 10.1.Company Constitution 10.2.Shareholders Agreement 10.3.Directors' Indemnity and Access Agreement 10.4.Employment Agreements 11. All shareholders (or their associate) of the Taxpayer will be employed by the Taxpayer and will draw a salary personally equivalent to the highest amount paid to senior practitioners who are non-shareholders. 12. There will be no precondition for shareholders (or their associates) to also be a Director of the Taxpayer. It is envisaged that not all senior practitioners who are invited to take up shares in the Taxpayer will become Directors of it. 13. There will be no salary paid to Directors who represent the shareholders of the Taxpayer. To the extent the shareholders of the Taxpayer appoints non-shareholder representatives to its Board, these persons may be paid a market value fee. 14. Under the proposed Shareholders' Agreement, the following terms will apply: 14.1.Issue of both ordinary and class shares to each shareholder (or their associated entity). 14.1.1. It is expected that each shareholder receives only one (1) class share each - each shareholder will have a different class share to the other. No additional class shares shall be issued to an existing shareholder even if their ordinary shares change. 14.1.2. The number of ordinary shares issued to a shareholder will represent their seniority in the practice, thus allowing those with a certain number to appoint a Director to the Board. 14.1.3. There will be scope for additional ordinary shares to be issued in the future (or transferred) to existing shareholders as their seniority changes (either up or down). The intention is to allow for changes in the number of ordinary shares held by senior shareholders over time, so they have greater voting rights and hence a greater say/input into the overall operations of the business. 14.1.4. The issue (or redemption) of shares in the Taxpayer requires 70% approval of the existing ordinary shareholders. 14.1.5. Shareholders will pay $1 per share in respect of their acquisition of ordinary and class shares and will only receive $1 per share in respect of their disposal of ordinary and class shares. 14.2.It is the intention that shareholders will not continue to receive substantial dividends on cessation of their employment with the Taxpayer: 14.2.1. The Agreement provides that no dividends are to be paid on ordinary shares and the Constitution together with the Agreement provide that any exiting shareholder's class shares are able to be redeemed (subject to substantial majority support for the decision to redeem). Furthermore, there are restrictions on who a shareholder can transfer shares to, including current shareholders having first rights to acquire them or not consent to the transfer (including because the acquirer lacks the appropriate skills). In this respect it is still a requirement that any shares only be transferred for $1 each. 14.3.Shareholders with at least a 25% interest in the ordinary shares in the Taxpayer will be granted the right to appoint a Director. 14.4.Determination of dividend payments each year will be done annually in accordance with a written policy agreed to by the shareholders for that year, or if there is no agreement, as determined by a majority decision of the ordinary shareholders: 14.4.1. Under the dividend policy it is intended that newly admitted shareholders shall only participate in the profits generated by the Taxpayer from the date after they were admitted. 15. In accordance with the Shareholders' Agreement and the Constitution, it is proposed that the Ordinary Shareholder will remain as permanent chair of the Board of Directors of the Taxpayer and have casting vote in the event of a tie between the Directors. 16. As long-term employees in the Taxpayer, the existing Directors have entitlements to annual leave and long service leave entitlements, which are consistent with commercial practices and applicable State legislation. There are no arrangements whereby the existing Directors, or new shareholders will receive additional benefits (such as pension plan payments funded by the Taxpayer) on their termination of employment in the future. 17. All historical retained earnings will be paid out as dividends via the Class H and Class I shares to the family trusts associated with Mr A and Mr B. 18. No formal valuation has been performed on the Taxpayer. Assumptions 19. Immediately before the issue of any new shares, the market value of Company A, represented predominantly by its retained earnings, will be less than $150,000. 20. Immediately before the issue of any new shares, any goodwill associated with Company A is $Nil or immaterial.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 subsection 159GZZZQ(2) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 318 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 83A-20 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 112-20 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 116-30 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 128-15(4) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 104-250 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 725-50 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 725-70

Reasons for decision: Summary: Yes, the administrative treatment of interests in 'no goodwill' incorporated practices will apply where the requirements set out in QC 48882 are satisfied. However, the requirements will not be satisfied in respect of the X ordinary shares held by Mr A. | Detailed Reasoning - Detailed reasoning: The Commissioner sets out in Administrative treatment: acquisitions and disposals of interests in 'no goodwill' professional partnerships, trusts and incorporated practicesQC 48882 the administrative treatment of the acquisition and disposal of practice interest in 'no goodwill' professional practices. The administrative treatment will apply in relation to the specific tax issues set out in the table below: Tax Issue Provisions Applicable Treatment CGT: Calculation of cost bases and reduced cost bases of the practice interest Section 112-20, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) The market value of the practice interest at the time of acquisition is treated as being equal to the amount the paid (including nil) in respect of the acquisition. ESS: Calculation of a discount (if any) on the issue of shares in an incorporated practice Section 83A-20, ITAA 1997 The market value of the practice interest at the time of acquisition is treated as being equal to the amount the paid (including nil) in respect of the acquisition. CGT: Calculation of the capital proceeds in respect of a CGT event happening to a practice interest Section 116-30, ITAA 1997 The market value of the practice interest at the time of disposal is treated as being equal to the amount received (including nil) in respect of the disposal. OMB: Calculation of consideration in respect of an off-market share buy-back of shares in an incorporated practice Subsection 159GZZZQ(2), Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) The market value of the practice interest at the time of disposal is treated as being equal to the amount received (including nil) in respect of the disposal. Where the administrative treatment is applied, the following conditions must be met: • it must be applied to all applicable tax issues set out in the table above • the CGT treatment of assets which are exchanged for practice interests subject to the guidelines should be determined on a consistent basis. The guidelines only apply in relation to the tax issue identified above. They do not apply in relation to other tax issues. | Detailed Reasoning - Administrative treatment requirements: In order for the administrative treatment to apply, all the following requirements must be satisfied: | Detailed Reasoning - Practitioner entity: The practitioner entity must carry on or participate in the carrying on of a professional practice, and be one of the following - a: • partner in a partnership carrying on that practice • shareholder in a company carrying on that practice • beneficiary of a trust (including a unit holder) carrying on that practice. | Detailed Reasoning - Applicable circumstances: The dealings and relationships between the parties satisfy all of the following conditions: 1. the governing documents of the practice provide a. in the case of a partnership - that consideration payable and receivable by a practitioner entity for the acquisition and disposal of a practice interest in goodwill will be nil or a nominal amount; or b. in any other case - that consideration payable and receivable by a practitioner entity for the acquisition and disposal of a practice interest will be determined on the assumption that the value of goodwill is nil or a nominal amount; and 2. the governing documents have no further provision relating to consideration for practice interests; or such documents provide a. in the case of a partnership - that consideration payable and receivable by a practitioner entity for the acquisition and disposal of a practice interest in assets other than goodwill will be nil or a particular amount; or b. in any other case - that consideration payable and receivable by a practitioner entity for the acquisition and disposal of a practice interest will be determined on the assumption that the value of certain assets other than goodwill will be nil or a particular amount; and 3. An acquisition and/or disposal occurs in the circumstances covered above 4. The following parties have an arm's length relationship with one another immediately before the acquisition or disposal a. the acquiring entity (if any); and b. each practitioner entity (if any) who disposes of a practice interest which the acquired interest represents or is reasonably attributable to 5. The evidence reasonably supports the conclusion that the following represent arm's length dealings a. the governing documents; and b. the acquisition and/or disposal transaction 6. The practitioner entity applies the treatment in these guidelines to all acquisitions or disposals covered above. | Detailed Reasoning - Practitioner Entity: The practitioner entity in this circumstance is Company A with its current and future shareholders. As the shareholders and proposed shareholders participate in the carrying of the professional practice in the company, the practitioner entity requirement is satisfied. | Detailed Reasoning - Applicable Circumstances: • Mr A's ordinary shares Mr A's X ordinary shares were inherited from his parent who held them pre-CGT prior to the determination that the practice would operate on a 'no goodwill' incorporated practice. The cost base of those shares will be determined under item 1 of the table in subsection 128-15(4) of the ITAA 1997, as the market value of the shares on the date of death. Therefore, condition 3 and condition 6 above would not be satisfied for these shares. • Class H and Class I shares on issue Mr A and Mr B's class shares were acquired for $1 and the sale of those shares will be governed by the Shareholder's Agreement ie a nominal amount. Therefore, conditions 1 to 3 would be satisfied for these shares. • Future acquisitions and disposals of shares The proposed Shareholders' Agreement outlines that all shares in the Taxpayer to be acquired for $1 and disposed of for $1. No other provisions in the Shareholders' Agreement or other documents relate to the consideration payable or receivable for share in the Taxpayer. Therefore, conditions 1 to 3 are satisfied. • Arm's length dealings - conditions 4 and 5 Based on the facts and our review of the documents provided, the Commissioner is satisfied that Mr A, Mr B and the proposed shareholders have an arm's length relationship and will conduct arm's length dealings. Therefore, conditions 4 and 5 would be satisfied. • Condition 6 Aside from Mr A's X ordinary shares inherited from his parent as discussed above, all other acquisitions and disposals proposed under the arrangement will satisfy condition 6 of the guidelines. | Detailed Reasoning - Conclusion: As the guidelines will not be used to determine Mr A's cost base of the X ordinary shares on acquisition, the guidelines cannot be used in calculating the capital proceeds on their disposal. The non-availability of the administrative treatment to Mr A for his X ordinary shares will not impact the availability of the administrative treatment to the other shareholders and proposed shareholder, nor does it preclude him from utilising the administrative treatment in respect to his Class I shares or new issues of ordinary shares. The requirements for the administrative treatment would be satisfied for all future acquisitions of shares and disposals that meet the guidelines in QC 48882 while they remain in place, in the ordinary course of business of the Taxpayer, excluding the future disposal of Mr A's X ordinary shares.