Private ruling: Extension of time
Date of advice: 9 February 2017
Published: July 2017
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 2015.
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2014.

Ruling: Q1: Will the Commissioner exercise his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) and allow an extension of time to the two year period until ddmmyy? | A1: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: The deceased purchased the dwelling before 20 September 1985. The deceased passed away in late 201X. The dwelling was the deceased main residence at the time of their death. The dwelling was not used for income producing activities. No income has been received from the dwelling after the passing of the deceased. You are the beneficiary of the dwelling in accordance with the deceased Will. A deed was entered into between you and X (partner of the deceased) in late 201X which provided X the right to reside in the dwelling whilst they remain mentally and physically able to do so. The title of the dwelling was transferred to you in mid-late 201Y. You were a victim of unforeseen or serious personal circumstances which resulted in court orders during the two year period of review. X vacated the dwelling in mid-late 201Z. A real estate agent was engaged in mid-late 201Z to sell the dwelling. You entered into a contract of sale for the dwelling in mid-late 201Z. The purchaser required a longer settlement period than usual. The dwelling settled around two years and three months after the deceased passed away.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 104-10 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 118-130(3) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 118-195 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 118-195(1) Further issues for you to consider | Anti-avoidance rules

Reasons for decision: Summary: The Commissioner will exercise his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) and allow an extension of time until ddmmyy. | Detailed Reasoning - Detailed reasoning: In certain circumstances, section 118-195 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) provides that the trustee of a deceased estate may disregard an assessable gain or loss made from the disposal of a property that passed to them in their capacity as trustee of a deceased estate if: ● the property was acquired by the deceased before 20 September 1985, or ● the property was acquired by the deceased on or after 20 September 1985 and the dwelling was the deceased's main residence just before the deceased's death and was not then being used for the purpose of producing assessable income, and ● Your ownership interest ends within 2 years of the deceased's death. The Commissioner has discretion to extend the two year time period where the trustee or beneficiary of a deceased estate's ownership interest ends after two years from the deceased's death. This discretion may be exercised in situations such as where: 1) the ownership of a dwelling or a Will is challenged; 2) the complexity of a deceased estate delays the completion of administration of the estate; 3) a trustee or beneficiary is unable to attend to the deceased estate due to unforeseen or serious personal circumstances arising during the two-year period (for example, the taxpayer or a family member has a severe illness or injury); or 4) Settlement of a contract of sale over the dwelling is unexpectedly delayed or falls through for circumstances outside the beneficiary or trustee's control. These examples are not exhaustive, but provide guidance on what factors the Commissioner would consider reasonable to exercise his discretion to extend the two year period to dispose of an inherited property. In exercising the discretion the Commissioner will also take into account whether and to what extent the property is used to produce assessable income and for how long the trustee or beneficiary held the ownership interest in the property. Whether the Commissioner will exercise his discretion under subsection 118-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 will depend on the facts of each case. In this case, it is acknowledged that the property was not disposed of within two years of the deceased's passing due to unforeseen or serious personal circumstances arising during the two-year period therefore the Commissioner accepts that it is appropriate to grant the short extension that you have requested until settlement.

ATO view documents: Guide to Capital Gains Tax Nat 4151 | Other references (non ATO view): Explanatory memorandum to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.9) of 2011 (Cth) | Explanatory memorandum to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.3) of 1997 (Cth) | In exercising this discretion, the Commissioner is expected to consider whether and to what extent the dwelling is used to produce assessable income and the period that the trustee or beneficiary held the ownership interest in the dwelling. | 5.16 Beneficiaries and trustees of deceased estates may have difficulty arranging the orderly sale of the deceased's principal residence within the current 12 month period. These amendments will give beneficiaries and trustees more time to make appropriate arrangements by extending the current time limit by 12 months. [Division 1 of Part 1]