Private ruling: Zone tax offset
Published: April 2012

Ruling: A1: No. A zone tax offset is provided under subsection 79A(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) for individuals who are residents of certain areas which are subject to uncongenial climatic conditions, are isolated, or where the cost of living is high. These areas are comprised of two zones - Zone A and Zone B. Zone A comprises those areas where the above factors are more pronounced whilst Zone B comprises the less badly affected areas. For the purposes of the zone tax offset, Zone A and Zone B are defined at subsection 79A(4) of the ITAA 1936 to mean the area described in Part I and Part II of Schedule 2 of the ITAA 1936. The areas described in Schedule 2 of the ITAA 1936 generally refer to the mainland of Australia and islands forming part of Australia. The Tax Office Australian Zone List (the List) is also used when considering a taxpayer's entitlement to the zone tax offset. The List is used when determining whether an area is in Zone A or Zone B, a special area in either Zone A or Zone B or in no zone. In order for an individual to be eligible for a zone tax offset, a taxpayer must satisfy one of the residency tests as outlined in subsection 79A(3B) of the ITAA 1936. These tests are: a) the individual resided in the zone for more than one-half of the year of income b) the individual was actually in the relevant area for more than one-half of the income year c) the individual died during the income year and at the date of death resided in the relevant area d) in the circumstances stated in paragraph 79A(3B)(d) or 79A(3B)(e) of the ITAA 1936, he or she resided or was actually in the relevant area for more than 182 days in two consecutive years of income. In your case, you reside and work at a town for more than 183 days. The town you reside and work in is not an area described within Part I and Part II of Schedule 2 of the ITAA 1936, and therefore is not an area in Zone A or Zone B as defined at subsection 79A(4) of the ITAA 1936. The ITAA 1936 provides the Commissioner with some discretion to treat a point in close proximity to a special area of a zone as if it were within that special zone area for the purposes of zone tax offsets under section 79A of the ITAA 1936. Subsection 79A(3E) of the ITAA 1936 (which provides that discretion to the Commissioner) is applicable specifically only to points already within the ordinary area of either Zone A or Zone B and lying in close proximity to the special area of those zones. This discretion however, is not available to the Commissioner to bring a point lying outside of a zone into the ordinary area of either Zone A or Zone B. Consequently, you are not entitled to a zone tax offset.




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. | Question: Are you entitled to a zone tax offset?