Private ruling: Temporary residency
Date of advice: 27 September 2016
Published: November 2016
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2014 | Year ended 30 June 2015 | Year ended 30 June 2016
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2013

Ruling: Question and answer | 1. Were you a temporary resident of Australia for taxation purposes for the period you were working in Australia? | Yes. | 2. Are you assessed on your foreign sourced income for the period you were working in Australia? | No.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You hold a 457 visa which is a temporary visa. You were a resident of Australia for taxation purposes. You lived and worked in Australia for less than five years. You had income from foreign sources. You and your spouse are not residents of Australia for the purposes of the Social Security Act .

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 768-910. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 768-915.

Reasons for decision: Detailed Reasoning - Temporary residency: You are a temporary resident if you: • hold a temporary visa granted under the Migration Act 1958 • are not an Australian resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991, and • do not have a spouse who is an Australian resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991. The Social Security Act 1991 defines an Australian resident as a person who resides in Australia and is an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, or a protected special category visa holder. In your case, you are not an Australian resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991 as you are not an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, or a protected special category visa holder. In your case you are a temporary resident because: • you hold a temporary visa granted under the Migration Act 1958 • you are not an Australian resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991, and • You do not have a spouse who is an Australian resident within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1991. You are a Temporary resident of Australia for taxation purposes. | Detailed Reasoning - Foreign source income: From 1 July 2006, those taxpayers considered to be temporary residents do not have to pay tax in Australia on most of their foreign income if they: • are an individual who is an Australian resident for tax purposes, and • Satisfy the requirements of being a temporary resident. Section 768-910 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that ordinary income derived from a foreign source (excluding employment related income and capital gains on shares and rights acquired under employee share schemes) and is exempt from income tax in Australia when derived by a temporary resident in Australia. Therefore, as you are a temporary resident of Australia for taxation purposes, any foreign sourced income you have derived will be exempt from income tax in Australia under section 768-910 of the ITAA 1997. This income is not required to be declared in your Australian income tax return.