Product Ruling PR 2007/58
Date of effect: 13 June 2007

What this ruling is about: 1. This Product Ruling sets out the Commissioner's opinion on the way in which the relevant provision(s) identified in the Ruling section (below) apply to the defined class of entities, who take part in the scheme to which this Ruling relates. All legislative references in this Ruling are to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) unless otherwise indicated. In this Product Ruling this scheme is referred to as the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 or simply as 'the Project'. Class of entities 2. This part of the Product Ruling specifies which entities can rely on the tax benefits set out in the Ruling section of this Product Ruling and which entities cannot rely on those tax benefits. In this Product Ruling, those entities that can rely on the tax benefits set out in this Ruling are referred to as Producer. 3. The class of entities who can rely on those tax benefits consists of entities that are accepted to participate in the scheme specified below on or after the date this Product Ruling is made and which execute relevant Project Agreements mentioned in paragraph 31 of this Ruling on or after 1 July 2007 and on or before 15 June 2008. They must have a purpose of staying in the scheme until it is completed (that is, being a party to the relevant agreements until their term expires), and deriving assessable income from this involvement. 4. The class of entities who can rely on the tax benefits set out in the Ruling section of this Product Ruling does not include: Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 5. This Product Ruling does not address the provisions of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA 1993). The Tax Office gives no assurance that the product is an appropriate investment for a superannuation fund. The trustees of superannuation funds are advised that no consideration has been given in this Product ruling as to whether investment in this product may contravene the provisions of SISA 1993. Qualifications 6. The class of entities defined in this Product Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 31 to 91 of this Ruling. 7. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Product Ruling, then: 8. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

Class of entities or scheme: 2. This part of the Product Ruling specifies which entities can rely on the tax benefits set out in the Ruling section of this Product Ruling and which entities cannot rely on those tax benefits. In this Product Ruling, those entities that can rely on the tax benefits set out in this Ruling are referred to as Producer. 3. The class of entities who can rely on those tax benefits consists of entities that are accepted to participate in the scheme specified below on or after the date this Product Ruling is made and which execute relevant Project Agreements mentioned in paragraph 31 of this Ruling on or after 1 July 2007 and on or before 15 June 2008. They must have a purpose of staying in the scheme until it is completed (that is, being a party to the relevant agreements until their term expires), and deriving assessable income from this involvement. 4. The class of entities who can rely on the tax benefits set out in the Ruling section of this Product Ruling does not include: | Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993: 5. This Product Ruling does not address the provisions of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA 1993). The Tax Office gives no assurance that the product is an appropriate investment for a superannuation fund. The trustees of superannuation funds are advised that no consideration has been given in this Product ruling as to whether investment in this product may contravene the provisions of SISA 1993. | Qualifications: 6. The class of entities defined in this Product Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 31 to 91 of this Ruling. 7. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Product Ruling, then: 8. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: 9. This Product Ruling applies prospectively from 13 June 2007, the date this Product Ruling is made. It therefore applies to the specified class of entities that enter into the scheme from 1 July 2007 until 15 June 2008, being the closing date for entry into the scheme. This Product Ruling provides advice on the availability of tax benefits to the specified class of entities up to 30 June 2010. This Product Ruling will continue to apply to those entities even after its period of application for schemes entered into during the period of application. 10. However the Product Ruling only applies to the extent that: 11. If this Product Ruling is inconsistent with a later public or private ruling, the relevant class of entities may rely on either ruling which applies to them (item 1 of subsection 357-75(1) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA)). 12. If this Product Ruling is inconsistent with an earlier private ruling, the private ruling is taken not to have been made if, when the Product Ruling is made, the following two conditions are met: 13. If the above two conditions do not apply, the relevant class of entities may rely on either ruling which applies to them (item 3 of subsection 357-75(1) of Schedule 1 to the TAA). | Changes in the law: 14. Although this Product Ruling deals with the laws enacted at the time it was issued, later amendments may impact on this Product Ruling. Any such changes will take precedence over the application of this Product Ruling and, to that extent, this Product Ruling will have no effect. 15. Entities who are considering participating in the scheme are advised to confirm with their taxation adviser that changes in the law have not affected this Product Ruling since it was issued. | Note to promoters and advisers: 16. Product Rulings were introduced for the purpose of providing certainty about tax consequences for entities in schemes such as this. In keeping with that intention the Tax Office suggests that promoters and advisers ensure that participants are fully informed of any legislative changes after the Product Ruling is issued. | Goods and Services Tax: 17. All fees and expenditure referred to in this Product Ruling include the Goods and Services Tax (GST) where applicable. In order for an entity (referred to in this Ruling as a Producer) to be entitled to claim input tax credits for the GST included in its expenditure, it must be registered or required to be registered for GST and hold a valid tax invoice. | Application of this Ruling: 18. Subject to the stated qualifications, this part of the Product Ruling sets out in detail the taxation obligations and benefits for a Producer in the defined class of entities who enters into the scheme described at paragraphs 31 to 91 of this Ruling. 19. The Producer's participation in the Project must constitute the carrying on of business of primary production. Provided the Project is carried out as described below, the Producer's business of primary production will commence at the time of execution of their Management Agreement. | Division 328: 20. To be an 'STS taxpayer' a Producer must be eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' and must have elected to be an 'STS taxpayer' (Division 328 of the ITAA 1997). For a Producer participating in the Project, the recognition of income and the timing of tax deductions is different depending on whether the Producer was an 'STS taxpayer' prior to 1 July 2005 and continues to use the cash accounting method (called the 'STS accounting method') - see sections 328-120 and 328-125 of the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 . 21. For such Producers, a reference in this Ruling to an amount being deductible when 'incurred' will mean that amount is deductible when paid and a reference to an amount being included in assessable income when 'derived' will mean that amount is included in assessable income when received. | Subdivision 61-J: 22. For the first income year starting on or after 1 July 2005, Subdivision 61-J provides for a tax offset of up to 25% of income tax liability related to the business income of a business in the STS with annual group turnover of less than $75,000. Entitlement to the offset varies depending on the type of entity and is therefore outside the scope of this Ruling. | Sections 6-5 and 17-5: 23. That part of the gross sales proceeds from the Project attributable to the Producer's produce, less any GST payable on those proceeds (section 17-5), will be assessable income of the Producer under section 6-5. | Section 8-1, section 25-25 and Division 27 of the ITAA 1997 and sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936: 24. A Producer may claim tax deductions for the following fees and expenses on a per Herd basis, as set out in the Table below. Notes : | Section 70-35: 25. A Producer who is not an 'STS taxpayer' will, in some years, hold cattle that will constitute trading stock on hand. Where, in an income year, the value of trading stock on hand at the end of an income year exceeds the value of trading stock on hand at the start of an income year a Producer must include the amount of that excess in assessable income. 26. Alternatively, where the value of trading stock on hand at the start of an income year exceeds the value of trading stock on hand at the end of an income year, a Producer may claim the amount of that excess as an allowable deduction. | Section 328-285: 27. A Producer who is an 'STS taxpayer' may, in some years, hold cattle that will constitute trading stock on hand. Where, for such a Producer, for an income year, the difference between the value of all their trading stock at the start and a reasonable estimate of it at the end, is less than $5,000, they do not have to account for that difference under the ordinary trading stock rules in Division 70 (subsection 328-285(1)). 28. Alternatively, a Producer who is an 'STS taxpayer' may instead choose to account for trading stock in an income year under the provisions of Division 70 (subsection 328-285(2)). | Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion: 29. A Producer who is an individual accepted into the Project by 15 June 2008 may have losses arising from their participation in the Project that would be deferred to a later income year under section 35-10. Subject to the Project being carried out in the manner described above, the Commissioner will exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) for Producers for the income year ended 30 June 2008 . This conditional exercise of the discretion will allow those losses to be offset against the Producer's other assessable income in the income year in which the losses arise. | Sections 82KZME, 82KZMF and 82KL and Part IVA: 30. For a Producer who commences participation in the Project and incurs expenditure as required by the Management Agreement, the following provisions of the ITAA 1936 have application as indicated: 31. The scheme that is the subject of this Ruling is identified and described in the following documents: Note : certain information has been provided on a commercial-in-confidence basis and will not be disclosed or released under Freedom of Information legislation. 32. The documents highlighted are those that a Producer may enter into. For the purposes of describing the scheme to which this Ruling applies, there are no other agreements, whether formal or informal, and whether or not legally enforceable, which a Producer, or any associate of a Producer, will be a party to, which are a part of the scheme. The effect of these agreements is summarised below. 33. All Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) requirements are, or will be, complied with for the term of the agreements. | Overview: 34. Following is a summary of the scheme: 35. Applicants that are accepted to participate in the Project will carry on the business of acquiring, fattening and selling beef cattle. Each applicant will subscribe to a minimum of one Herd. Each Herd will consist of 1,500 head of cattle. The cattle will be acquired throughout the life of the project in Lots of approximately 100 hundred head per Lot. Producers with an interest in a single Herd will only hold a single Lot at any time. The cattle will be placed in existing feedlot facilities in northern NSW or the Darling Downs area of Queensland. Each Lot will be kept in the feedlot for a period between 100 and 125 days. 36. There will be a maximum subscription of 400 Herds, however, there is no minimum subscription for the Project. The Producer's Herd will be acquired and sold in the period between 5 and 7 years from the date of acceptance into the Project. 37. Producers accepted to participate in the Project will enter a Management Agreement with Mort & Co Ltd who will act as Manager for the project. The Manager will acquire the cattle on behalf of the Producer, enter into agreements with the feedlot operators and arrange for the sale of the cattle at the end of the feedlot process. 38. Producers will utilise a Finance Facility (the 'Facility') provided by the Financier for the purchase of each Lot. The Producer will grant the Financier a stock mortgage over each Lot of cattle as security for the Facility. 39. [Omitted] | Information Memorandum: 40. The Manager is offering interests in the Project via the IM for Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008. Mort & Co Ltd are holders of Australian Financial Services Licence Number 228989. Offers under the IM are strictly limited to persons who are either a 'wholesale client' for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001 or receive a personal invitation from Mort & Co Ltd to participate in the Project as part of a small scale offering. The IM is not required to be lodged with ASIC. 41. Applications to participate in the Project must be made on the application form contained in the IM. 42. A Producer's application must be accompanied by the payment in full of the Initial Management Fee of $51,526 per Herd. A Self Funded Producer must also include payment of $100,000 per Herd, in addition to the Initial Management Fee, to fund the acquisition of cattle under the arrangement. 43. Producers execute a Power of Attorney which authorises the Manager to act on their behalf in relation to the arrangement, including executing the Management Agreement and, where the Producer is to utilise the Facility, entering the Loan Agreement and Stock Mortgage with the Financier. 44. Following the execution of the Management Agreement at the time of acceptance the Manager will commence the process of acquiring the Producer's first Lot. The Manager will be responsible for arranging the acquisition, lot feeding and negotiating the sale of each Lot. | Management Agreement: 45. The Producer will enter into a Management Agreement with the Manager where the Producer undertakes to conduct a business of backgrounding and feedlotting cattle and the Manager undertakes to provide certain services to assist the operation of the Producer's business. 46. The Manager will provide Management Services to the Producer for the Herd. The services will only be provided in respect of one Lot at a time for each Herd owned (clause 4.1). A Herd is defined as 1,500 head of cattle and a Lot as approximately 100 head (clause 1.1). The total number of cattle across all Lots will be equal to the Herd size. 47. Clause 4.2 specifies that the parties agree that the business will be conducted as follows: 48. The process in clause 4.2 will be repeated until the entire Herd has been acquired and sold or the Management Agreement is terminated. The balance of proceeds will be distributed to the Producer following the sale of the Final Lot and payment of any amounts owing by the Producer (clause 4.3). 49. It is intended that the Management Services will be provided in respect of up to 3 Lots each full financial year until the completion of the agreement. However the Manager reserves the right not to acquire a Lot at a particular time having regard to market conditions and other factors. The Producer may direct the Manager to acquire and manage a Lot against the recommendation of the Manager (clause 4.4). 50. Where the Producer directs the Manager to acquire a Lot contrary to the Manager's recommendation the Manager is under no obligation to draw down the Facility to fund the purchase of such a Lot (clause 4.6). 51. [Omitted] 52. The Manager may delegate some or all of its functions under the Management Agreement. Delegation of functions does not release the Manager from liability under the Agreement (clause 5.5). 53. The Producer appoints the Manager to perform all rights, duties and obligations of the Producer under the Finance Documents. 54. The Initial Management Fee is payable in respect of the Initial Management Services listed in clause 7.1 of the Agreement. Initial Management Services include establishing relevant accounting and reporting systems, establishment of Finance Facility, inspecting feedlot facilities, negotiating with feedlot owners for placement of cattle, development of ration and feeding systems, market analysis and negotiation with beef processors. 55. Once accepted into the Project the Producer is irrevocably committed to the Project and the Initial Management Fee is not refundable (clause 7.2). 56. The Producer must pay the Manager the Initial Management Fee and reimburse the Manager the Costs and Expenses associated with the Lot. Specifically the Producer irrevocably authorises the Manger to pay the following amounts from the Gross Sales Proceeds: Payments will be made in the order specified above (clause 9.2). 57. Costs and Expenses are defined as all costs, fees, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the Manager in providing the Management Services, including but not limited to freight costs, feed costs, induction fees and health costs, but excluding finance costs (clause 1.1). 58. The Manager will establish a separate sub-account for each Producer to record: | Pooling: 59. Clause 9.3 specifies that within 14 days after the end of each Half-Year during the term of the arrangement the Manager must: (average acquisition cost / total average aqcquisition cost) * total net sales proceeds 60. Net Sale Proceeds is Gross Sale Proceeds less repayment of the Facility Principal and payment of Management Charges, Costs and Expenses, Finance Expenses and Taxes (clause 1.1). 61. Average Acquisition Cost for all Lots is the average cost of acquisition less the purchase costs (excluding GST) of any cattle from the relevant Lot which have died prior to processing (clause 1.1). 62. Where the Net Sales Proceeds from a Lot is negative then the provisions of clause 9.3 will not apply and the Net Sales Proceeds will be treated as a Shortfall and will be dealt with in accordance with clause 9.8. 63. Within 21 days of the end of the financial years ending 30 June 2009 and 2010 the Manager must distribute 25% of the Total Net Returns for that financial year. The remaining 75% will be retained in the Account to assist funding the acquisition of future Lots (clause 9.5(a)). 64. Within 21 days of the end of each financial year commencing 30 June 2011 for the term of the Agreement the Manager must distribute 100% of the Total Net Returns for that financial year provided that the post distribution balance of the Producer's Account exceeds 20% of the expected purchase cost of any subsequent Lot (clause 9.5(b)). 65. In accordance with clause 9.7 and within 30 days of the sale of the Final Lot the Manager must: 66. Clause 9.8 provides that where Gross Sales Proceeds from a Lot are not sufficient to pay amounts due by a Producer to the Manager there is a Shortfall. The Manager may demand payment in writing. Where a demand has been made the Producer must pay the amount within 30 working days (clause 9.8(b)(ii)). 67. The Manager may choose not to demand payment but elect to recoup the Shortfall from the Gross Sales Proceeds of a subsequent Lot (clause 9.10(a)). However, notwithstanding clause 9.10(a), the Producer must, within 90 days of the end of a Financial Year, pay in full any Shortfall amounts owing on the last day of that Financial Year (clause 9.10(b)). 68. If there is a failure to make a payment (excluding Loan Principal) by the relevant due date the Manager will be entitled to recover compound interest accruing daily on the outstanding amount (clause 9.12). 69. The Manager may co-locate the Producer's cattle with another Producer's cattle for the provision of management services and/or for the purposes of selling the cattle to meet the requirements of a purchaser for a specific number of cattle (clause 11.2). 70. The Producer owns all cattle acquired by the Manager on their behalf. The Manager must tag and lot number the Producer's cattle as soon as practicable after their purchase (clause 13). | Self Funded Producers: 71. [Omitted] 72. [Omitted] | Custom Cattle Feeding Agreement: 73. The Manager will enter into a Custom Cattle Feeding Agreement with a Feedlot Operator (the 'Feeder') for the purpose of feeding the Producer's cattle at the feedlot under the terms set out in the agreement. A Producer's cattle may be pooled with the cattle of other Producers when placed in the feedlot, however at all times the Producer's cattle will remain separately identifiable. 74. The cattle will be delivered by the Manager in individual consignments. The consignments will be grouped into commonly identified 'lots' upon induction into the Feedlot. The Feeder will implement additional identification procedures as requested by the Manager to enable the Manager to meet its obligations to separately identify each Producer's cattle (clause 2.2). 75. Cattle lots entering the feedlot over a predetermined time period and comprising a predetermined number of cattle are referred to as a Cattle Batch (clause 2.3). 76. The terms and conditions for the custom feeding are as contained in the agreement and the corresponding cattle Feeding Schedule. 77. Clause 2.5 requires the cattle Feeding Schedule to specify: 78. The Manager or the Producer may enter the feedlot at any time without notice and in the presence of the Feeder to ensure that the Feeder is complying with their obligations under the agreement or to check stock numbers (clause 3.1). 79. The Manager will, on behalf of the Producer, be responsible for the delivery to and removal of the cattle from the feedlot, including all the necessary documentation and identification in relation to the cattle. The cattle will be weighed on a registered weighbridge on entry to and exit from the feedlot. 80. Clause 5.6 states that the Feeder will be responsible for: 81. The Producer at all times remains the owner of the cattle. The Producer will bear the risk of the mortality and morbidity of the cattle and any adverse climatic effect on the cattle except in the event of the Feeder breaching their responsibilities under the agreement. In the event of Feeder Breach the Feeder will pay the Manager the inventory value of the animal at the time of death (clause 6). 82. Clause 7 of the agreement details the fees and charges to be levied under the agreement. The charges levied will be consistent with industry standards and prevailing market conditions. | Stock Mortgage: 83. The Producer mortgages all its right title and interest to the Mortgaged Stock to the Financier as security for the Facility. The Producer will be responsible for all costs in relation to the Mortgage. | Guarantee and Indemnity: 84. The Manager grants to the Financier a guarantee in respect of Guaranteed Moneys under the Facility. Guaranteed Moneys is defined to mean all amounts, including principal, interest, fees, charges, costs and expenses, debts and other monetary liabilities owing under the Loan Agreement. Where a Producer defaults on the repayment of Guaranteed Moneys the Manager may be called on to pay to the Financier the Guaranteed Amount. The Guaranteed Amount is defined as an amount equal to 20% of the Guaranteed Moneys, up to a maximum of 20% of the Facility limit. 85. The Guaranteed Amount is payable by the Manager in the event of default of a Producer in respect of the Facility. However, the guarantee cannot be enforced until after the Financier has exercised its rights under the Stock Mortgage. 86. Where payment of the Guaranteed Amount under the agreement is enforced the Manager will pursue payment of that amount from the defaulting Producer. | Project Fees: 87. Upon application a Producer is required to pay an Initial Management Fee of $51,526. The Initial Management Fee includes $600 which relates to the establishment of the Producer's Facility under the arrangement. | Finance: 88. In accordance with clause 22 of the Management Agreement, a Producer must enter into the Finance Documents with the Financier. 89. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement the Financier will provide to the Producer access to a Facility on the following terms and conditions: 90. There will be no finance offered by the Financier or the Manager or any related entity in relation to a Producer's Initial Management Fee. 91. This Ruling also does not apply if the finance scheme entered into by the Producer with the Manager or any other lender includes or has any of the following features: Commissioner of Taxation 13 June 2007 | Is the Producer carrying on a business?: 92. For the amounts set out in paragraph 24 of this Ruling to constitute allowable deductions the Producer's cattle feedlot and sale activities as a participant in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 must amount to the carrying on of a business of primary production. 93. Two Taxation Rulings are relevant in determining whether a Producer will be carrying on of a business of primary production. 94. The general indicators used by the Courts are set out in Taxation Ruling TR 97/11 Income tax: am I carrying on a business of primary production? 95. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 Income tax: investment schemes, particularly paragraph 89, is more specific to arrangements such as the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out, the relevant principles have been established in court decisions such as Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202; 84 ATC 4929; (1984) 16 ATR 55. 96. Having applied these principles to the arrangement set out above, a Producer in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 is accepted to be carrying on a business of purchase and feedlotting cattle for sale. | Division 328: 97. Subdivision 328-F sets out the eligibility requirements that a Producer must satisfy in order to enter the STS and Subdivision 328-G sets out the rules for entering and leaving the STS. 98. Changes to the STS rules apply from 1 July 2005. The question of whether a Producer is eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' is outside the scope of this Product Ruling (but refer to Taxation Ruling TR 2002/6 and Taxation Ruling TR 2002/11). Therefore, any Producer who relies on those parts of this Ruling that refer to the STS will be assumed to have correctly determined whether or not they are eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'. | Section 8-1: 99. The Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are deductible under section 8-1 (see paragraphs 43 and 44 of TR 2000/8). A 'non-income producing' purpose (see paragraphs 47 and 48 of TR 2000/8) is not identifiable in the arrangement and there is no capital component evident in the Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee (see paragraphs 49 to 51 of TR 2000/8). 100. The tests of deductibility under the first limb of section 8-1 are met. The exclusions do not apply. Provided that the prepayment provisions do not apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling) a deduction for these amounts can be claimed in the year in which they are incurred. (Note: the meaning of incurred is explained in Taxation Ruling TR 97/7.) 101. Some Producers may finance their participation in the Project through a Loan Agreement with the Financier. Applying the same principles as that used for Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee, interest incurred under such a loan has sufficient connection with the gaining of assessable income to be deductible under section 8-1. 102. Other than where the prepayment provisions apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling), a Producer can claim a deduction for such interest in the year in which it is incurred. | Sections 82KZL to 82KZMF: 103. The prepayment provisions contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 affect the timing of deductions for certain prepaid expenditure. These provisions apply to certain expenditure incurred under an agreement in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement (for example, the performance of management services) that will not be wholly done within the same year of income as the year in which the expenditure is incurred. If expenditure is incurred to cover the provision of services to be provided within the same year, then it is not expenditure to which the prepayment rules apply. 104. For this Project, the only prepayment provisions that are relevant are section 82KZL of the ITAA 1936 (an interpretive provision) and sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 (operative provisions). | Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project: 105. Under the scheme to which this Product Ruling applies Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are incurred annually and the interest payable to the Financier is incurred monthly in arrears. Accordingly, the prepayment provisions in sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 have no application to this scheme. 106. However, sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 may have relevance if a Producer in this Project prepays all or some of the expenditure payable under the Management Agreement or prepays interest under a loan agreement (including loan agreements with lenders other than the Financier). Where such a prepayment is made these prepayment provisions will also apply to 'STS taxpayers' because there is no specific exclusion contained in section 82KZME that excludes them from the operation of section 82KZMF. 107. As noted in the Ruling section above, Producers who prepay fees or interest are not covered by this Product Ruling and may instead request a private ruling on the tax consequences of their participation in this Project. | Sections 35-10 and 35-55 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities and the Commissioner's discretion: 108. In deciding to exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) on a conditional basis for the income year 30 June 2008, based on the evidence supplied, the Commissioner has determined that for those income years: 109. A Producer who would otherwise be required to defer a loss arising from their participation in the Project under subsection 35-10(2) until a later income year is able to offset that loss against their other assessable income. 110. The exercise of the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) is conditional on the Project being carried on in the manner described in this Ruling during the income years specified. If the Project is carried out in a materially different way to that described in the Ruling a Producer will need to apply for a private ruling on the application of section 35-55 to those changed circumstances. | Section 82KL - recouped expenditure: 111. The operation of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936 depends, among other things, on the identification of a certain quantum of 'additional benefits(s)'. Insufficient 'additional benefits' will be provided to trigger the application of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936. It will not apply to deny the deduction otherwise allowable under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. | Part IVA - general tax avoidance provisions: 112. For Part IVA of the ITAA 1936 to apply there must be a 'scheme' (section 177A), a 'tax benefit' (section 177C) and a dominant purpose of entering into the scheme to obtain a tax benefit (section 177D). 113. The Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 will be a 'scheme'. A Producer will obtain a 'tax benefit' from entering into the scheme, in the form of tax deductions for the amounts detailed at paragraph 24 of this Ruling that would not have been obtained but for the scheme. However, it is not possible to conclude the scheme will be entered into or carried out with the dominant purpose of obtaining this tax benefit. 114. Producers to whom this Ruling applies intend to stay in the scheme for its full term and derive assessable income from the purchase, feedlotting and sale of cattle. There are no facts that would suggest that Producers have the opportunity of obtaining a tax advantage other than the tax advantages identified in this Ruling. There is no non-recourse financing or round robin characteristics, and no indication that the parties are not dealing at arm's length or, if any parties are not dealing at arm's length, that any adverse tax consequences result. Further, having regard to the factors to be considered under paragraph 177D(b) of the ITAA 1936 it cannot be concluded, on the information available, that participants will enter into the scheme for the dominant purpose of obtaining a tax benefit. 115. The following is a detailed contents list for this Ruling: Not previously issued as a draft

Ruling: 18. Subject to the stated qualifications, this part of the Product Ruling sets out in detail the taxation obligations and benefits for a Producer in the defined class of entities who enters into the scheme described at paragraphs 31 to 91 of this Ruling. 19. The Producer's participation in the Project must constitute the carrying on of business of primary production. Provided the Project is carried out as described below, the Producer's business of primary production will commence at the time of execution of their Management Agreement. | Division 328: 20. To be an 'STS taxpayer' a Producer must be eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' and must have elected to be an 'STS taxpayer' (Division 328 of the ITAA 1997). For a Producer participating in the Project, the recognition of income and the timing of tax deductions is different depending on whether the Producer was an 'STS taxpayer' prior to 1 July 2005 and continues to use the cash accounting method (called the 'STS accounting method') - see sections 328-120 and 328-125 of the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 . 21. For such Producers, a reference in this Ruling to an amount being deductible when 'incurred' will mean that amount is deductible when paid and a reference to an amount being included in assessable income when 'derived' will mean that amount is included in assessable income when received. | Subdivision 61-J: 22. For the first income year starting on or after 1 July 2005, Subdivision 61-J provides for a tax offset of up to 25% of income tax liability related to the business income of a business in the STS with annual group turnover of less than $75,000. Entitlement to the offset varies depending on the type of entity and is therefore outside the scope of this Ruling. | Sections 6-5 and 17-5: 23. That part of the gross sales proceeds from the Project attributable to the Producer's produce, less any GST payable on those proceeds (section 17-5), will be assessable income of the Producer under section 6-5. | Section 8-1, section 25-25 and Division 27 of the ITAA 1997 and sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936: 24. A Producer may claim tax deductions for the following fees and expenses on a per Herd basis, as set out in the Table below. Notes : | Section 70-35: 25. A Producer who is not an 'STS taxpayer' will, in some years, hold cattle that will constitute trading stock on hand. Where, in an income year, the value of trading stock on hand at the end of an income year exceeds the value of trading stock on hand at the start of an income year a Producer must include the amount of that excess in assessable income. 26. Alternatively, where the value of trading stock on hand at the start of an income year exceeds the value of trading stock on hand at the end of an income year, a Producer may claim the amount of that excess as an allowable deduction. | Section 328-285: 27. A Producer who is an 'STS taxpayer' may, in some years, hold cattle that will constitute trading stock on hand. Where, for such a Producer, for an income year, the difference between the value of all their trading stock at the start and a reasonable estimate of it at the end, is less than $5,000, they do not have to account for that difference under the ordinary trading stock rules in Division 70 (subsection 328-285(1)). 28. Alternatively, a Producer who is an 'STS taxpayer' may instead choose to account for trading stock in an income year under the provisions of Division 70 (subsection 328-285(2)). | Section 35-55 - exercise of Commissioner's discretion: 29. A Producer who is an individual accepted into the Project by 15 June 2008 may have losses arising from their participation in the Project that would be deferred to a later income year under section 35-10. Subject to the Project being carried out in the manner described above, the Commissioner will exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) for Producers for the income year ended 30 June 2008 . This conditional exercise of the discretion will allow those losses to be offset against the Producer's other assessable income in the income year in which the losses arise. | Sections 82KZME, 82KZMF and 82KL and Part IVA: 30. For a Producer who commences participation in the Project and incurs expenditure as required by the Management Agreement, the following provisions of the ITAA 1936 have application as indicated: 31. The scheme that is the subject of this Ruling is identified and described in the following documents: Note : certain information has been provided on a commercial-in-confidence basis and will not be disclosed or released under Freedom of Information legislation. 32. The documents highlighted are those that a Producer may enter into. For the purposes of describing the scheme to which this Ruling applies, there are no other agreements, whether formal or informal, and whether or not legally enforceable, which a Producer, or any associate of a Producer, will be a party to, which are a part of the scheme. The effect of these agreements is summarised below. 33. All Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) requirements are, or will be, complied with for the term of the agreements. | Overview: 34. Following is a summary of the scheme: 35. Applicants that are accepted to participate in the Project will carry on the business of acquiring, fattening and selling beef cattle. Each applicant will subscribe to a minimum of one Herd. Each Herd will consist of 1,500 head of cattle. The cattle will be acquired throughout the life of the project in Lots of approximately 100 hundred head per Lot. Producers with an interest in a single Herd will only hold a single Lot at any time. The cattle will be placed in existing feedlot facilities in northern NSW or the Darling Downs area of Queensland. Each Lot will be kept in the feedlot for a period between 100 and 125 days. 36. There will be a maximum subscription of 400 Herds, however, there is no minimum subscription for the Project. The Producer's Herd will be acquired and sold in the period between 5 and 7 years from the date of acceptance into the Project. 37. Producers accepted to participate in the Project will enter a Management Agreement with Mort & Co Ltd who will act as Manager for the project. The Manager will acquire the cattle on behalf of the Producer, enter into agreements with the feedlot operators and arrange for the sale of the cattle at the end of the feedlot process. 38. Producers will utilise a Finance Facility (the 'Facility') provided by the Financier for the purchase of each Lot. The Producer will grant the Financier a stock mortgage over each Lot of cattle as security for the Facility. 39. [Omitted] | Information Memorandum: 40. The Manager is offering interests in the Project via the IM for Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008. Mort & Co Ltd are holders of Australian Financial Services Licence Number 228989. Offers under the IM are strictly limited to persons who are either a 'wholesale client' for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001 or receive a personal invitation from Mort & Co Ltd to participate in the Project as part of a small scale offering. The IM is not required to be lodged with ASIC. 41. Applications to participate in the Project must be made on the application form contained in the IM. 42. A Producer's application must be accompanied by the payment in full of the Initial Management Fee of $51,526 per Herd. A Self Funded Producer must also include payment of $100,000 per Herd, in addition to the Initial Management Fee, to fund the acquisition of cattle under the arrangement. 43. Producers execute a Power of Attorney which authorises the Manager to act on their behalf in relation to the arrangement, including executing the Management Agreement and, where the Producer is to utilise the Facility, entering the Loan Agreement and Stock Mortgage with the Financier. 44. Following the execution of the Management Agreement at the time of acceptance the Manager will commence the process of acquiring the Producer's first Lot. The Manager will be responsible for arranging the acquisition, lot feeding and negotiating the sale of each Lot. | Management Agreement: 45. The Producer will enter into a Management Agreement with the Manager where the Producer undertakes to conduct a business of backgrounding and feedlotting cattle and the Manager undertakes to provide certain services to assist the operation of the Producer's business. 46. The Manager will provide Management Services to the Producer for the Herd. The services will only be provided in respect of one Lot at a time for each Herd owned (clause 4.1). A Herd is defined as 1,500 head of cattle and a Lot as approximately 100 head (clause 1.1). The total number of cattle across all Lots will be equal to the Herd size. 47. Clause 4.2 specifies that the parties agree that the business will be conducted as follows: 48. The process in clause 4.2 will be repeated until the entire Herd has been acquired and sold or the Management Agreement is terminated. The balance of proceeds will be distributed to the Producer following the sale of the Final Lot and payment of any amounts owing by the Producer (clause 4.3). 49. It is intended that the Management Services will be provided in respect of up to 3 Lots each full financial year until the completion of the agreement. However the Manager reserves the right not to acquire a Lot at a particular time having regard to market conditions and other factors. The Producer may direct the Manager to acquire and manage a Lot against the recommendation of the Manager (clause 4.4). 50. Where the Producer directs the Manager to acquire a Lot contrary to the Manager's recommendation the Manager is under no obligation to draw down the Facility to fund the purchase of such a Lot (clause 4.6). 51. [Omitted] 52. The Manager may delegate some or all of its functions under the Management Agreement. Delegation of functions does not release the Manager from liability under the Agreement (clause 5.5). 53. The Producer appoints the Manager to perform all rights, duties and obligations of the Producer under the Finance Documents. 54. The Initial Management Fee is payable in respect of the Initial Management Services listed in clause 7.1 of the Agreement. Initial Management Services include establishing relevant accounting and reporting systems, establishment of Finance Facility, inspecting feedlot facilities, negotiating with feedlot owners for placement of cattle, development of ration and feeding systems, market analysis and negotiation with beef processors. 55. Once accepted into the Project the Producer is irrevocably committed to the Project and the Initial Management Fee is not refundable (clause 7.2). 56. The Producer must pay the Manager the Initial Management Fee and reimburse the Manager the Costs and Expenses associated with the Lot. Specifically the Producer irrevocably authorises the Manger to pay the following amounts from the Gross Sales Proceeds: Payments will be made in the order specified above (clause 9.2). 57. Costs and Expenses are defined as all costs, fees, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the Manager in providing the Management Services, including but not limited to freight costs, feed costs, induction fees and health costs, but excluding finance costs (clause 1.1). 58. The Manager will establish a separate sub-account for each Producer to record: | Pooling: 59. Clause 9.3 specifies that within 14 days after the end of each Half-Year during the term of the arrangement the Manager must: (average acquisition cost / total average aqcquisition cost) * total net sales proceeds 60. Net Sale Proceeds is Gross Sale Proceeds less repayment of the Facility Principal and payment of Management Charges, Costs and Expenses, Finance Expenses and Taxes (clause 1.1). 61. Average Acquisition Cost for all Lots is the average cost of acquisition less the purchase costs (excluding GST) of any cattle from the relevant Lot which have died prior to processing (clause 1.1). 62. Where the Net Sales Proceeds from a Lot is negative then the provisions of clause 9.3 will not apply and the Net Sales Proceeds will be treated as a Shortfall and will be dealt with in accordance with clause 9.8. 63. Within 21 days of the end of the financial years ending 30 June 2009 and 2010 the Manager must distribute 25% of the Total Net Returns for that financial year. The remaining 75% will be retained in the Account to assist funding the acquisition of future Lots (clause 9.5(a)). 64. Within 21 days of the end of each financial year commencing 30 June 2011 for the term of the Agreement the Manager must distribute 100% of the Total Net Returns for that financial year provided that the post distribution balance of the Producer's Account exceeds 20% of the expected purchase cost of any subsequent Lot (clause 9.5(b)). 65. In accordance with clause 9.7 and within 30 days of the sale of the Final Lot the Manager must: 66. Clause 9.8 provides that where Gross Sales Proceeds from a Lot are not sufficient to pay amounts due by a Producer to the Manager there is a Shortfall. The Manager may demand payment in writing. Where a demand has been made the Producer must pay the amount within 30 working days (clause 9.8(b)(ii)). 67. The Manager may choose not to demand payment but elect to recoup the Shortfall from the Gross Sales Proceeds of a subsequent Lot (clause 9.10(a)). However, notwithstanding clause 9.10(a), the Producer must, within 90 days of the end of a Financial Year, pay in full any Shortfall amounts owing on the last day of that Financial Year (clause 9.10(b)). 68. If there is a failure to make a payment (excluding Loan Principal) by the relevant due date the Manager will be entitled to recover compound interest accruing daily on the outstanding amount (clause 9.12). 69. The Manager may co-locate the Producer's cattle with another Producer's cattle for the provision of management services and/or for the purposes of selling the cattle to meet the requirements of a purchaser for a specific number of cattle (clause 11.2). 70. The Producer owns all cattle acquired by the Manager on their behalf. The Manager must tag and lot number the Producer's cattle as soon as practicable after their purchase (clause 13). | Self Funded Producers: 71. [Omitted] 72. [Omitted] | Custom Cattle Feeding Agreement: 73. The Manager will enter into a Custom Cattle Feeding Agreement with a Feedlot Operator (the 'Feeder') for the purpose of feeding the Producer's cattle at the feedlot under the terms set out in the agreement. A Producer's cattle may be pooled with the cattle of other Producers when placed in the feedlot, however at all times the Producer's cattle will remain separately identifiable. 74. The cattle will be delivered by the Manager in individual consignments. The consignments will be grouped into commonly identified 'lots' upon induction into the Feedlot. The Feeder will implement additional identification procedures as requested by the Manager to enable the Manager to meet its obligations to separately identify each Producer's cattle (clause 2.2). 75. Cattle lots entering the feedlot over a predetermined time period and comprising a predetermined number of cattle are referred to as a Cattle Batch (clause 2.3). 76. The terms and conditions for the custom feeding are as contained in the agreement and the corresponding cattle Feeding Schedule. 77. Clause 2.5 requires the cattle Feeding Schedule to specify: 78. The Manager or the Producer may enter the feedlot at any time without notice and in the presence of the Feeder to ensure that the Feeder is complying with their obligations under the agreement or to check stock numbers (clause 3.1). 79. The Manager will, on behalf of the Producer, be responsible for the delivery to and removal of the cattle from the feedlot, including all the necessary documentation and identification in relation to the cattle. The cattle will be weighed on a registered weighbridge on entry to and exit from the feedlot. 80. Clause 5.6 states that the Feeder will be responsible for: 81. The Producer at all times remains the owner of the cattle. The Producer will bear the risk of the mortality and morbidity of the cattle and any adverse climatic effect on the cattle except in the event of the Feeder breaching their responsibilities under the agreement. In the event of Feeder Breach the Feeder will pay the Manager the inventory value of the animal at the time of death (clause 6). 82. Clause 7 of the agreement details the fees and charges to be levied under the agreement. The charges levied will be consistent with industry standards and prevailing market conditions. | Stock Mortgage: 83. The Producer mortgages all its right title and interest to the Mortgaged Stock to the Financier as security for the Facility. The Producer will be responsible for all costs in relation to the Mortgage. | Guarantee and Indemnity: 84. The Manager grants to the Financier a guarantee in respect of Guaranteed Moneys under the Facility. Guaranteed Moneys is defined to mean all amounts, including principal, interest, fees, charges, costs and expenses, debts and other monetary liabilities owing under the Loan Agreement. Where a Producer defaults on the repayment of Guaranteed Moneys the Manager may be called on to pay to the Financier the Guaranteed Amount. The Guaranteed Amount is defined as an amount equal to 20% of the Guaranteed Moneys, up to a maximum of 20% of the Facility limit. 85. The Guaranteed Amount is payable by the Manager in the event of default of a Producer in respect of the Facility. However, the guarantee cannot be enforced until after the Financier has exercised its rights under the Stock Mortgage. 86. Where payment of the Guaranteed Amount under the agreement is enforced the Manager will pursue payment of that amount from the defaulting Producer. | Project Fees: 87. Upon application a Producer is required to pay an Initial Management Fee of $51,526. The Initial Management Fee includes $600 which relates to the establishment of the Producer's Facility under the arrangement. | Finance: 88. In accordance with clause 22 of the Management Agreement, a Producer must enter into the Finance Documents with the Financier. 89. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement the Financier will provide to the Producer access to a Facility on the following terms and conditions: 90. There will be no finance offered by the Financier or the Manager or any related entity in relation to a Producer's Initial Management Fee. 91. This Ruling also does not apply if the finance scheme entered into by the Producer with the Manager or any other lender includes or has any of the following features: Commissioner of Taxation 13 June 2007 | Is the Producer carrying on a business?: 92. For the amounts set out in paragraph 24 of this Ruling to constitute allowable deductions the Producer's cattle feedlot and sale activities as a participant in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 must amount to the carrying on of a business of primary production. 93. Two Taxation Rulings are relevant in determining whether a Producer will be carrying on of a business of primary production. 94. The general indicators used by the Courts are set out in Taxation Ruling TR 97/11 Income tax: am I carrying on a business of primary production? 95. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 Income tax: investment schemes, particularly paragraph 89, is more specific to arrangements such as the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out, the relevant principles have been established in court decisions such as Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202; 84 ATC 4929; (1984) 16 ATR 55. 96. Having applied these principles to the arrangement set out above, a Producer in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 is accepted to be carrying on a business of purchase and feedlotting cattle for sale. | Division 328: 97. Subdivision 328-F sets out the eligibility requirements that a Producer must satisfy in order to enter the STS and Subdivision 328-G sets out the rules for entering and leaving the STS. 98. Changes to the STS rules apply from 1 July 2005. The question of whether a Producer is eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' is outside the scope of this Product Ruling (but refer to Taxation Ruling TR 2002/6 and Taxation Ruling TR 2002/11). Therefore, any Producer who relies on those parts of this Ruling that refer to the STS will be assumed to have correctly determined whether or not they are eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'. | Section 8-1: 99. The Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are deductible under section 8-1 (see paragraphs 43 and 44 of TR 2000/8). A 'non-income producing' purpose (see paragraphs 47 and 48 of TR 2000/8) is not identifiable in the arrangement and there is no capital component evident in the Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee (see paragraphs 49 to 51 of TR 2000/8). 100. The tests of deductibility under the first limb of section 8-1 are met. The exclusions do not apply. Provided that the prepayment provisions do not apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling) a deduction for these amounts can be claimed in the year in which they are incurred. (Note: the meaning of incurred is explained in Taxation Ruling TR 97/7.) 101. Some Producers may finance their participation in the Project through a Loan Agreement with the Financier. Applying the same principles as that used for Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee, interest incurred under such a loan has sufficient connection with the gaining of assessable income to be deductible under section 8-1. 102. Other than where the prepayment provisions apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling), a Producer can claim a deduction for such interest in the year in which it is incurred. | Sections 82KZL to 82KZMF: 103. The prepayment provisions contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 affect the timing of deductions for certain prepaid expenditure. These provisions apply to certain expenditure incurred under an agreement in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement (for example, the performance of management services) that will not be wholly done within the same year of income as the year in which the expenditure is incurred. If expenditure is incurred to cover the provision of services to be provided within the same year, then it is not expenditure to which the prepayment rules apply. 104. For this Project, the only prepayment provisions that are relevant are section 82KZL of the ITAA 1936 (an interpretive provision) and sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 (operative provisions). | Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project: 105. Under the scheme to which this Product Ruling applies Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are incurred annually and the interest payable to the Financier is incurred monthly in arrears. Accordingly, the prepayment provisions in sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 have no application to this scheme. 106. However, sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 may have relevance if a Producer in this Project prepays all or some of the expenditure payable under the Management Agreement or prepays interest under a loan agreement (including loan agreements with lenders other than the Financier). Where such a prepayment is made these prepayment provisions will also apply to 'STS taxpayers' because there is no specific exclusion contained in section 82KZME that excludes them from the operation of section 82KZMF. 107. As noted in the Ruling section above, Producers who prepay fees or interest are not covered by this Product Ruling and may instead request a private ruling on the tax consequences of their participation in this Project. | Sections 35-10 and 35-55 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities and the Commissioner's discretion: 108. In deciding to exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) on a conditional basis for the income year 30 June 2008, based on the evidence supplied, the Commissioner has determined that for those income years: 109. A Producer who would otherwise be required to defer a loss arising from their participation in the Project under subsection 35-10(2) until a later income year is able to offset that loss against their other assessable income. 110. The exercise of the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) is conditional on the Project being carried on in the manner described in this Ruling during the income years specified. If the Project is carried out in a materially different way to that described in the Ruling a Producer will need to apply for a private ruling on the application of section 35-55 to those changed circumstances. | Section 82KL - recouped expenditure: 111. The operation of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936 depends, among other things, on the identification of a certain quantum of 'additional benefits(s)'. Insufficient 'additional benefits' will be provided to trigger the application of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936. It will not apply to deny the deduction otherwise allowable under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. | Part IVA - general tax avoidance provisions: 112. For Part IVA of the ITAA 1936 to apply there must be a 'scheme' (section 177A), a 'tax benefit' (section 177C) and a dominant purpose of entering into the scheme to obtain a tax benefit (section 177D). 113. The Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 will be a 'scheme'. A Producer will obtain a 'tax benefit' from entering into the scheme, in the form of tax deductions for the amounts detailed at paragraph 24 of this Ruling that would not have been obtained but for the scheme. However, it is not possible to conclude the scheme will be entered into or carried out with the dominant purpose of obtaining this tax benefit. 114. Producers to whom this Ruling applies intend to stay in the scheme for its full term and derive assessable income from the purchase, feedlotting and sale of cattle. There are no facts that would suggest that Producers have the opportunity of obtaining a tax advantage other than the tax advantages identified in this Ruling. There is no non-recourse financing or round robin characteristics, and no indication that the parties are not dealing at arm's length or, if any parties are not dealing at arm's length, that any adverse tax consequences result. Further, having regard to the factors to be considered under paragraph 177D(b) of the ITAA 1936 it cannot be concluded, on the information available, that participants will enter into the scheme for the dominant purpose of obtaining a tax benefit. 115. The following is a detailed contents list for this Ruling: Not previously issued as a draft


Appendix: Is the Producer carrying on a business?: 92. For the amounts set out in paragraph 24 of this Ruling to constitute allowable deductions the Producer's cattle feedlot and sale activities as a participant in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 must amount to the carrying on of a business of primary production. 93. Two Taxation Rulings are relevant in determining whether a Producer will be carrying on of a business of primary production. 94. The general indicators used by the Courts are set out in Taxation Ruling TR 97/11 Income tax: am I carrying on a business of primary production? 95. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 Income tax: investment schemes, particularly paragraph 89, is more specific to arrangements such as the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008. Taxation Ruling TR 2000/8 sets out, the relevant principles have been established in court decisions such as Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202; 84 ATC 4929; (1984) 16 ATR 55. 96. Having applied these principles to the arrangement set out above, a Producer in the Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 is accepted to be carrying on a business of purchase and feedlotting cattle for sale. | Division 328: 97. Subdivision 328-F sets out the eligibility requirements that a Producer must satisfy in order to enter the STS and Subdivision 328-G sets out the rules for entering and leaving the STS. 98. Changes to the STS rules apply from 1 July 2005. The question of whether a Producer is eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer' is outside the scope of this Product Ruling (but refer to Taxation Ruling TR 2002/6 and Taxation Ruling TR 2002/11). Therefore, any Producer who relies on those parts of this Ruling that refer to the STS will be assumed to have correctly determined whether or not they are eligible to be an 'STS taxpayer'. | Section 8-1: 99. The Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are deductible under section 8-1 (see paragraphs 43 and 44 of TR 2000/8). A 'non-income producing' purpose (see paragraphs 47 and 48 of TR 2000/8) is not identifiable in the arrangement and there is no capital component evident in the Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee (see paragraphs 49 to 51 of TR 2000/8). 100. The tests of deductibility under the first limb of section 8-1 are met. The exclusions do not apply. Provided that the prepayment provisions do not apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling) a deduction for these amounts can be claimed in the year in which they are incurred. (Note: the meaning of incurred is explained in Taxation Ruling TR 97/7.) 101. Some Producers may finance their participation in the Project through a Loan Agreement with the Financier. Applying the same principles as that used for Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee, interest incurred under such a loan has sufficient connection with the gaining of assessable income to be deductible under section 8-1. 102. Other than where the prepayment provisions apply (see paragraphs 103 to 107 of this Ruling), a Producer can claim a deduction for such interest in the year in which it is incurred. | Sections 82KZL to 82KZMF: 103. The prepayment provisions contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 affect the timing of deductions for certain prepaid expenditure. These provisions apply to certain expenditure incurred under an agreement in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement (for example, the performance of management services) that will not be wholly done within the same year of income as the year in which the expenditure is incurred. If expenditure is incurred to cover the provision of services to be provided within the same year, then it is not expenditure to which the prepayment rules apply. 104. For this Project, the only prepayment provisions that are relevant are section 82KZL of the ITAA 1936 (an interpretive provision) and sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 (operative provisions). | Application of the prepayment provisions to this Project: 105. Under the scheme to which this Product Ruling applies Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses and Buyers Fee are incurred annually and the interest payable to the Financier is incurred monthly in arrears. Accordingly, the prepayment provisions in sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 have no application to this scheme. 106. However, sections 82KZME and 82KZMF of the ITAA 1936 may have relevance if a Producer in this Project prepays all or some of the expenditure payable under the Management Agreement or prepays interest under a loan agreement (including loan agreements with lenders other than the Financier). Where such a prepayment is made these prepayment provisions will also apply to 'STS taxpayers' because there is no specific exclusion contained in section 82KZME that excludes them from the operation of section 82KZMF. 107. As noted in the Ruling section above, Producers who prepay fees or interest are not covered by this Product Ruling and may instead request a private ruling on the tax consequences of their participation in this Project. | Sections 35-10 and 35-55 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities and the Commissioner's discretion: 108. In deciding to exercise the discretion in paragraph 35-55(1)(b) on a conditional basis for the income year 30 June 2008, based on the evidence supplied, the Commissioner has determined that for those income years: 109. A Producer who would otherwise be required to defer a loss arising from their participation in the Project under subsection 35-10(2) until a later income year is able to offset that loss against their other assessable income. 110. The exercise of the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) is conditional on the Project being carried on in the manner described in this Ruling during the income years specified. If the Project is carried out in a materially different way to that described in the Ruling a Producer will need to apply for a private ruling on the application of section 35-55 to those changed circumstances. | Section 82KL - recouped expenditure: 111. The operation of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936 depends, among other things, on the identification of a certain quantum of 'additional benefits(s)'. Insufficient 'additional benefits' will be provided to trigger the application of section 82KL of the ITAA 1936. It will not apply to deny the deduction otherwise allowable under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997. | Part IVA - general tax avoidance provisions: 112. For Part IVA of the ITAA 1936 to apply there must be a 'scheme' (section 177A), a 'tax benefit' (section 177C) and a dominant purpose of entering into the scheme to obtain a tax benefit (section 177D). 113. The Mort & Co No. 5 Project - 2008 will be a 'scheme'. A Producer will obtain a 'tax benefit' from entering into the scheme, in the form of tax deductions for the amounts detailed at paragraph 24 of this Ruling that would not have been obtained but for the scheme. However, it is not possible to conclude the scheme will be entered into or carried out with the dominant purpose of obtaining this tax benefit. 114. Producers to whom this Ruling applies intend to stay in the scheme for its full term and derive assessable income from the purchase, feedlotting and sale of cattle. There are no facts that would suggest that Producers have the opportunity of obtaining a tax advantage other than the tax advantages identified in this Ruling. There is no non-recourse financing or round robin characteristics, and no indication that the parties are not dealing at arm's length or, if any parties are not dealing at arm's length, that any adverse tax consequences result. Further, having regard to the factors to be considered under paragraph 177D(b) of the ITAA 1936 it cannot be concluded, on the information available, that participants will enter into the scheme for the dominant purpose of obtaining a tax benefit.


What this Ruling is about | NOT LEGALLY BINDING SECTION: | A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion about the way in which a taxation provision applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a class of entities in relation to a particular scheme or a class of schemes. | If you rely on this ruling, we must apply the law to you in the way set out in the ruling (or in a way that is more favourable for you if we are satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages you, and we are not prevented from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). You will be protected from having to pay any underpaid tax, penalty or interest in respect of the matters covered by this ruling if it turns out that it does not correctly state how the relevant provision applies to you. | [Note: This is a consolidated version of this document. Refer to the Tax Office Legal Database (http://law.ato.gov.au) to check its currency and to view the details of all changes.] | No guarantee of commercial success: The Tax Office does not sanction or guarantee this product. Further, we give no assurance that the product is commercially viable, that charges are reasonable, appropriate or represent industry norms, or that projected returns will be achieved or are reasonably based. | Potential participants must form their own view about the commercial and financial viability of the product. This will involve a consideration of important issues such as whether projected returns are realistic, the 'track record' of the management, the level of fees in comparison to similar products and how the product fits an existing portfolio. We recommend a financial (or other) adviser be consulted for such information. | This Product Ruling provides certainty for potential participants by confirming that the tax benefits set out in the Ruling part of this document are available, provided that the scheme is carried out in accordance with the information we have been given, and have described below in the Scheme part of this document. | If the scheme is not carried out as described, participants lose the protection of this Product Ruling. Potential participants may wish to seek assurances from the promoter that the scheme will be carried out as described in this Product Ruling. | Potential participants should be aware that the Tax Office will be undertaking review activities to confirm the scheme has been implemented as described below and to ensure that the participants in the scheme include in their income tax returns income derived in those future years. | Must be calculated See Notes (i), (ii) & (iii) | As incurred See Notes (iii) & (iv) | Must be calculated See Note (v) | Existing feedlot facilities in Northern NSW and the Darling Downs region of Queensland | Type of business to be carried on by each Producer | The purchase, lot feeding and sale of beef cattle | Number of Herds offered under the project | There are no minimum or maximum number of Herds | 1,500 head of beef cattle | Number of beef cattle per Lot | Between 5 to 7 years depending on purchase/sale cycle | Initial Management Fee of $51,526 (which includes a $600 finance establishment fee) plus costs of purchasing first Lot as determined by the market | Costs and Expenses, including feed, veterinary, transport and sale costs Management Fees of $28.60 per head Buyers Fee of $3.85 per head Interest and finance costs | The Simplified Tax System (STS) | 25% entrepreneurs tax offset | Deduction for Initial Management Fee, Management Fee, Costs and Expenses, Buyers Fee, Interest and Borrowing Costs | Division 35 - deferral of losses from non-commercial business activities | Prepayment provisions and anti-avoidance provisions | The Simplified Tax System | Deductibility of Initial Management Fee, Management Fees, Costs and Expenses, Buyers Fee and interest on the Facility with Financier | Appendix 2 - Detailed contents list


Related rulings: TR 97/7 TR 97/11 TR 98/22 TR 2000/8 TR 2002/6 TR 2002/11
Legislative references: ITAA 1936 82KL ITAA 1936 Pt III Div 3 Subdiv H ITAA 1936 82KZL ITAA 1936 82KZM ITAA 1936 82KZMA ITAA 1936 82KZMB ITAA 1936 82KZMC ITAA 1936 82KZMD ITAA 1936 82KZME ITAA 1936 82KZMF ITAA 1936 Pt IVA ITAA 1936 177A ITAA 1936 177C ITAA 1936 177D ITAA 1936 177D(b) ITAA 1997 6-5 ITAA 1997 8-1 ITAA 1997 17-5 ITAA 1997 25-25 ITAA 1997 Div 27 ITAA 1997 Div 35 ITAA 1997 35-10 ITAA 1997 35-10(2) ITAA 1997 35-55 ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(b) ITAA 1997 Subdiv 61-J ITAA 1997 Div 70 ITAA 1997 70-35 ITAA 1997 Div 328 ITAA 1997 328-285 ITAA 1997 328-285(1) ITAA 1997 328-285(2) ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-F ITAA 1997 Subdiv 328-G IT(TP)A 1997 328-120 IT(TP)A 1997 328-125 TAA 1953 TAA 1953 Sch 1 357-75(1) Copyright Act 1968 Corporations Act 2001 SISA 1993
Case references: Commissioner of Taxation v. Lau (1984) 6 FCR 202 84 ATC 4929 (1984) 16 ATR 55
Subject references: carrying on a business commencement of business fee expenses interest expenses management fees non-commercial losses producing assessable income product rulings public rulings tax avoidance tax benefits under tax avoidance schemes tax shelters tax shelters project taxation administration