Private ruling: GST - sale of vacant land
Date of advice: 16 October 2024
Published: 25 November 2024
Ruling period: Financial year ending 30 June 2025, to | Financial year ending 30 June 2030
Date scheme commenced: The date the private ruling is issued

Ruling: Q1: Will GST be payable on the sale of the vacant lot B which was subdivided from the main property? | A1: No. GST will not be payable on the sale of lot B because the sale will not be a taxable supply.

Relevant facts and circumstances: Mr A and Mrs A are the joint owners of the Property. You provided a copy of the Record of Certificate of Title for the Property, which lists the registered proprietor, as tenants in common. At the time of purchase, there was an old timber 2 storey residence on the property, which was demolished, and a new residence built. When the new residence was completed, you moved into the Property and lived there as your main residence. After a number of years, you moved out of the property and the property was leased for a number of years. You did not return to the Property as all your children were no longer living at home. You considered selling the Property as a whole and it was last listed for sale a few years. You were aware that the Property could technically be subdivided from when it was purchased. With the zoning it was capable of being subdivided into a number of lots. You were approached by adjoining owners who were keen to acquire some of your land to enable them to subdivide their block. You agreed to a land swap which resulted in the adjoining owners getting some extra land in exchange for a separate access to a road which was considered useful to your ability to subdivide. You and the adjoining owners obtained a land report which confirmed that the property was capable of being subdivided and from there you and the adjoining owners have been progressing the subdivision. You and the adjoining owners engaged professional planners. In the course of the negotiations with Council it became apparent that they would not approve the number of lots originally planned so you agreed to reduce your part of the subdivision to just 2 lots. This was approved (subject to various conditions). You have appointed a surveyor and an engineer to provide the necessary information required by the Council. The only activities undertaken were the obtaining of the development assessment and the engagement of planners, surveyors and engineers. The bulk of the engineer's report relates to your new lots. You and the adjoining owners have both appointed separate surveyors. Total costs for the creation of your lots are expected to come to be less than $75,000 being land assessment report and planning fees, engineering fees and surveying fees. The development activities are funded through your savings. Once all clearances are received, you will list Lot B for sale. You have not claimed income tax deductions for any of the development costs or interest on loans. You are not carrying on any business and are not registered for GST. You have not previously undertaken any subdivision activities or any business of land development nor do you intend to undertake any subdivision activities or any business of land development in the future.

Relevant legislative provisions: A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 9-5. | A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 9-20. | A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 9-40. | A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 section 23-5.

Reasons for decision: Summary: For a sale to be a taxable supply all the requirements of section 9-5 must be satisfied. In your case, the sale of Lot B will be for consideration and connected with Australia; hence paragraphs 9-5(a) and 9-5(c) will be satisfied. However, the requirements of paragraphs 9-5(b) and 9-5(d) will not be satisfied because:

the sale will be a mere realisation of a private asset and hence, will not be made in the course or furtherance of an enterprise that you carry on (paragraph 9-5(b); and | you are neither registered nor will be required to be registered for goods and services tax (paragraph 9-5(d).