Private ruling: Residency
Date of advice: 25 August 2022
Published: November 2022
Ruling period: 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 Australia. You are a citizen of Australia. You are not a permanent resident of any other country. You intend on travelling to Country A for approximately X days each year to do volunteer work for your church. You intend on applying for a volunteer visa to be in Country A. You will be in Australia for approximately xx days each year and will continue your work as a tax agent during this period to earn income. Your tax agent office will remain open in Australia. You are not able to work in Country A on the volunteer visa. You will stay with your family in Country A in their home. You will have your own bedroom and bathroom and have access to small kitchen appliances in the room. You will share all other facilities. Your apartment in Australia will be available for rent through Air B&B for the period you are in Country A. You will come back to the apartment to live when you are in Australia working. You will keep most of your belongings in the apartment and will have your personal items locked in your walk-in wardrobe. It is not your intention to leave Australia on a permanent basis. You have no spouse or dependants. You have significant family ties to Australia. You are not eligible to contribute to the PSS or the CSS super funds.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 subsection 6(1)

Reasons for decision: Summary: For tax purposes, whether you are a resident of Australia is defined by subsection 6(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). The definition has four tests to determine your residency for income tax purposes. These tests are: • the resides test • the domicile test • the 183 day test, and • the Commonwealth superannuation fund test. It is sufficient for you to be a resident under one of these tests to be a resident for tax purposes. Our interpretation of the law in respect of residency is set out in: Taxation Ruling IT 2650 Income tax: residency - permanent place of abode Taxation Ruling TR 98/17 Income tax: residency status of individuals entering Australia. | Detailed Reasoning - The resides test: The resides test is the primary test of tax residency for an individual. If you reside in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word resides, you are considered an Australian resident for tax purposes. Some of the factors that can be used to determine whether you reside in Australia include: • period of physical presence in Australia • intention or purpose of presence • behaviour while in Australia • family and business/employment ties • maintenance and location of assets • social and living arrangements. No single factor is decisive, and the weight given to each factor depends on your specific circumstances. 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 domicile test: Under the domicile test, if your domicile is in Australia, you are a resident of Australia unless the Commissioner is satisfied that your permanent place of abode is outside Australia. Whether your domicile is Australia is determined by the Domicile Act 1982 and the common law rules on domicile. For example, you may have a domicile by origin (where you were born) or by choice (where you have changed your home with the intent of making it permanent). Whether your permanent place of abode is outside Australia is a question of fact to be determined in light of all the facts and circumstances of each case. Key considerations in determining whether you have your permanent place of abode outside Australia are: • whether you have definitely abandoned, in a permanent way, living in Australia • length of overseas stay • nature of accommodation, and • durability of association | Detailed Reasoning - The 183-day test: Under the 183 day test, if you are present in Australia for 183 days or more during the income year, you will be a resident, unless the Commissioner is satisfied that both: • your usual place of abode is outside Australia, and • you do not intend to take up residence in Australia. The question of usual place of abode is a question of fact and generally means the abode customarily or commonly used by you when are physically in a country. | Detailed Reasoning - The Commonwealth 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. | Detailed Reasoning - Application to your circumstances: We have considered each of the statutory tests listed above in relation to your particular facts and circumstances. We conclude that, for the period you are in Country A on the volunteer visa you are a resident of Australia as follows. Taking into account your individual circumstances, we have concluded that you are a resident of Australia according to ordinary concepts. We also consider that your domicile is in Australia and the Commissioner is satisfied that you do not have a permanent place of abode outside Australia. We considered the following factors in forming our conclusion: • You do not intend on leaving Australia on a permanent basis • You will return to Australia on a regular basis to carry out your work as a tax agent • You will live with your sister and brother-in-law in Country A • You will return to Australia and live in your apartment • You will rent out your apartment in Australia only for the period you are in Country A • You will keep your belongings in the apartment in Australia You will not be in Australia for more than 183days in any of the financial years you are in Country A. You do not fulfil the requirements of the Commonwealth Superannuation test and are therefore not a resident under this test.