Private ruling: Capital gains tax - deceased estate - Commissioner's discretion two year period
Published: June 2015
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2016.
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2015.

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 settlement in 2015? | A1: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: The deceased purchased a dwelling prior to 20 September 1985. The deceased passed away in the 20XX income year. The dwelling had been the deceased's main residence until they passed away. The deceased's spouse was named as executor in the deceased will. The deceased's spouse experienced medical complications which involved numerous hospitalisations and periods of respite care in a nursing home. The deceased's spouse left the dwelling and was admitted to a nursing home in the 20XX income year. The dwelling was rented out for a period of time in 20XX to offset some of the nursing home costs. The deceased's spouse passed away in the 20XX income year. The deceased's spouse passed away without obtaining a grant of probate. Letters of administration was granted in the 20XX income year. Title to the dwelling was transferred to the executor's in the 20XX income year. Settlement of the sale of the dwelling will occur in the 20XX income year

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 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. In your case, when the deceased died, an interest in 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. 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 delay in disposing of the dwelling was due to you being unable to attend to the deceased estate due to serious personal circumstances arising during the two year period. 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 dd/mm/yyyy.