Taxation Determination TD 93/96







This Determination, to the extent that it is capable of being a 'public ruling' in terms of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , is a public ruling for the purposes of that Part. Taxation Ruling TR 92/1 explains when a Determination is a public ruling and how it is binding on the Commissioner. Unless otherwise stated, this Determination applies to years commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, this Determination does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20). | 1. Yes. These costs are regarded as an expense payment benefit under section 20. | 2. The employer's fringe benefits tax liability is based on the personal use of the telephone by the employee. The taxable value of the benefit, which is the telephone cost paid for by the employer, is reduced by that proportion of the telephone expense that the employee would have been entitled to claim as an income tax deduction, if he/she had not been paid or reimbursed by the employer. This is in accordance with the 'otherwise deductible rule' of section 24. | 3. The employer requires a written declaration from the employee (in the approved format) before the due date of lodgment of the FBT return. This declaration should detail the total expense relating to the telephone and a reasonable estimate of the percentage of the costs that relate to business activities. This percentage should take into account the rental portion of the telephone bill where the employee is on-call or is regularly required to telephone the employer, and would therefore have been entitled to an income tax deduction for that amount if he or she had incurred the telephone expense (see IT 85). | Example: Commissioner of Taxation 3/6/93 | Previously issued as Draft TD 93/D85


Related rulings: IT 85; MT 2021
Legislative references: FBTAA 20; FBTAA 24
Subject references: expense payment fringe benefits; fringe benefits tax; telephone expenses; benefits