Private ruling: Prize money
Date of advice: 3 August 2015
Published: August 2015
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2015
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2014

Ruling: Q1: Is the cash prize awarded to you assessable income? | A1: No.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You are a student. You were awarded a cash prize from the university. The prize is for disseminating research undertaken and is judged by a selection committee. You are not an employee of the university.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 6-10 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 6-5(1) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 15-2(1)

Reasons for decision: Summary: A prize or gift will be assessable income if it is: • income in the ordinary sense of the word (ordinary income), or • the provisions of the tax law include it as assessable income (statutory income). | Detailed Reasoning - Ordinary income: Under subsection 6-5(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997 ), ordinary income means income 'according to ordinary concepts'. Generally, a gift or prize is regarded as a personal windfall gain and not as ordinary income unless the taxpayer has received the prize or gift because of, in respect of, or in relation to any income-producing activity of the taxpayer. In determining whether a prize or gift is ordinary income, the courts have established that consideration of the whole of the circumstances is necessary and that the following factors need to be taken into account: • how, in what capacity, and for what reason the recipient received the prize or gift • whether the prize or gift is of a kind which is a common incident of the recipient's calling or occupation • whether the prize or gift is made voluntarily • whether the prize or gift is solicited • whether the prize or gift can be traced to gratitude engendered by some service rendered by the recipient to the prize or gift donor • the motive of the prize or gift donor (through this factor is rarely decisive in itself), and • whether the recipient relies on the prize or gift for regular maintenance of themselves and any dependants. | Detailed Reasoning - Statutory income: Under section 6-10 of the ITAA 1997 assessable income also includes statutory income. Statutory income is amounts that are not ordinary assessable income. Subsection 15-2(1) of the ITAA 1997 provides that the value to the taxpayer of all gratuities and benefits given or granted to them in respect to, or for, or in relation directly, or indirectly, to any employment will be included in their assessable income. There must be a connection between the payment and the employment. The receipt must be a product of the employment. | Detailed Reasoning - Application to your circumstances: You received a prize for your research undertaken as student. The cash prize was not remuneration for services you have provided as an employee. The prize money is a windfall gain. Therefore, the prize money is not assessable as ordinary or statutory income.