Private ruling: Residency and foreign source income
Published: October 2012
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2013 | Year ended 30 June 2014 | Year ended 30 June 2015 | Year ended 30 June 2016
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2012

Ruling: Question 1 and answer: | Are you a resident of Australia for income tax purposes? | No. | Question 2 and answer: | Is your foreign employment income exempt from income tax in Australia? | Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You commenced a work contract in an overseas country in 200X. The contract is automatically renewed on a regular basis and you intend to continue working with the same employer under contract. You have established a home overseas with your spouse and you live within a residential compound. You own a house in Australia jointly with your spouse. This property is leased to tenants on a long term basis through a real estate agent. You removed your name from the Australian electoral roll. You have advised all relevant financial institutions to deduct non-resident withholding tax from dividends and investment income which is derived by yourself. You only visit Australia for short periods to visit your parents and other family. You and your spouse are not members of a Commonwealth of Australian Government Superannuation fund.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 Subsection 6(1). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 6-5.

Reasons for decision: Detailed Reasoning - Residency: The terms 'resident' and 'resident of Australia', in regard to an individual, are defined in subsection 6(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). The definition provides four tests to ascertain whether a taxpayer is a resident of Australia for income tax purposes. These tests are: · the resides test · the domicile test · the 183 day test · the superannuation test The primary test for deciding the residency status of an individual is whether the individual resides in Australia according to the ordinary meaning of the word resides. However, where an individual does not reside in Australia according to ordinary concepts, they may still be considered to be a resident of Australia for tax purposes if they meet the conditions of one of the other three tests. | Detailed Reasoning - The resides test: The ordinary meaning of the word reside, according to the Macquarie Dictionary, 2001, rev. 3 rd edition, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, NSW, is to dwell permanently, or for a considerable time; having ones 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 ones settled or usual abode, to live in or at a particular place. As you have been living and working in an overseas country for some years you are not considered to be residing in Australia. | Detailed Reasoning - The domicile test: If a person is considered to have their domicile in Australia they will be considered an Australian resident unless the Commissioner is satisfied they have established a permanent place of abode outside of Australia. The expression 'place of abode' refers to a person's residence, where they live with their family and sleep at night. In essence, a person's place of abode is that person's dwelling place or the physical surroundings in which a person lives. A permanent place of abode does not have to be 'everlasting' or 'forever'. It does not mean an abode in which a person intends to live for the rest of his or her life. An intention to return to Australia in the foreseeable future to live does not prevent the taxpayer in the meantime setting up a permanent place of abode elsewhere. In your case, you have been living and working in an overseas country with your spouse for a considerable period of time. Therefore, the Commissioner is satisfied that you have established a permanent place of abode outside Australia. | Detailed Reasoning - The 183-day test: This test does not apply to you as you will not be present in Australia for 183 days or more in any income year. | Detailed Reasoning - The superannuation test: An individual is still considered to be a resident if that person is eligible to contribute to the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), or that person is the spouse or child under 16 of such a person. This test does not apply to you as you and your spouse are not members of a Commonwealth of Australian Government Superannuation fund. | Detailed Reasoning - Your residency status: As you are not an Australian resident under any of the tests of residency, you will not be an Australian resident for taxation purposes for the 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years. | Detailed Reasoning - Foreign employment income: Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that where you are a resident of Australia for taxation purposes, your assessable income includes income gained from all sources, whether in or out of Australia. However, where you are a non-resident of Australia for taxation purposes, your assessable income includes only income derived from an Australian source. As you are not considered to be an Australian resident, your foreign employment income will be exempt from tax in Australia.

Please check this edited version to be sure that there are no details remaining that you think may allow you to be identified. If you have any concerns about this ruling you wish to discuss, you will find our contact details in the fact sheet.