Private ruling: Am I in the business of trading contracts for differences?
Published: August 2013
Ruling period: 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2012

Ruling: Q1: Were you carrying on a business of trading contracts for differences (CFDs) during the 2012-13 financial year? | A1: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You are employed full-time and trade CFDs after work. You invested considerable funds into your CFD trading activity. You conducted daily market analysis which included charting, stock market reports, broker research papers and financial news on television to assist with your trading. You spent approximately three to four hours every weekday evening trading the United States and European markets and five hours on weekends formulating trading strategies and studying stock chart patterns. You operated to a business plan. Your summary of activity statement shows you closed out a significant number of CFD transactions. You have a home office set up in your house used solely for your CFD trading activity.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 6-5 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 8-1

Reasons for decision: Summary: Taxation Ruling TR 2005/15 provides the Commissioner's view on the income tax consequences of entering into financial CFDs. Where transactions are entered into as an ordinary incident of carrying on a business the gains from financial CFDs are assessable under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997), and the losses are deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. The question of whether a business is being carried on is a question of fact and degree and is determined on a year by year basis. If a taxpayer's activities do not amount to the carrying on of a business in one income year, that will not prevent them doing so in a later income year. Similarly, when the extent of an activity falls below what is required for that activity to be commercially viable, the activity may no longer constitute the carrying on of a business. Taxation Ruling TR 97/11 (Income Tax: am I carrying on a business of primary production?) provides a guide to the indicators that the courts have held to be relevant as to whether or not a person is carrying on a business. Having regard to the indicators contained in TR 97/11, you are considered to have carried on a business of trading CFDs in the 2012-13 financial year because: · you traded in CFDs for short term gains with the intention of making a profit, giving the activity a commercial purpose · you took a systematic and organised approach to your trading, conducting daily market analysis and operated to a plan · you had repetition and regularity in your trading activities, opening and closing a significant number of CFD positions, with trades occurring throughout the whole financial year · the level of your CFD trading was commercially significant, and · while you are engaged in full-time employment you devoted appropriate time to your CFD trading from your home office after work.