Class Ruling CR 2012/109
Date of effect: 1 July 2011

What this ruling is about: 1. This Ruling sets out the Commissioner's opinion on the way in which the relevant provision(s) identified below apply to the defined class of entities, who take part in the scheme to which this Ruling relates. Relevant provision(s) 2. The relevant provisions dealt with in this Ruling are: All subsequent legislative references are to the ITAA 1997 unless otherwise indicated. Class of entities 3. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies comprises 'R&D entities', as defined by section 355-35, who are liable for levy contributions under the ACA Low Emissions Technologies Program, and who 4. In this Ruling the term 'Contributor' is used to refer to those companies that are ultimately obliged to pay levy contributions to ACA Low Emissions Technologies Limited (ACALET). In the Contribution Deed discussed below, those companies are either the 'mine owner(s)' or 'operator(s) of coal producing assets' or 'contributor(s)' where no separate 'mine owner(s)' are identified in the Contribution Deed. 5. This Ruling does not apply to R&D entities that are not registered for the relevant years of income with Innovation Australia. The publication of this Ruling does not relieve companies making ACALET contributions of the obligation to make separate applications for registration of their activities under section 27A of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 (IR&D Act 1986). Qualifications 6. The Commissioner makes this Ruling based on the precise scheme identified in this Ruling. This Ruling only applies to contributions used to fund the projects, and the management and administration expenses associated with those projects, which are identified in the following agreements: 7. Further, this Ruling does not apply to any contributions made in a relevant year of income that are less than $1,000 (in total for that year of income). 8. The class of entities defined in this Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 12 to 64 of this Ruling. 9. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Ruling, then: 10. 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: 3. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies comprises 'R&D entities', as defined by section 355-35, who are liable for levy contributions under the ACA Low Emissions Technologies Program, and who 4. In this Ruling the term 'Contributor' is used to refer to those companies that are ultimately obliged to pay levy contributions to ACA Low Emissions Technologies Limited (ACALET). In the Contribution Deed discussed below, those companies are either the 'mine owner(s)' or 'operator(s) of coal producing assets' or 'contributor(s)' where no separate 'mine owner(s)' are identified in the Contribution Deed. 5. This Ruling does not apply to R&D entities that are not registered for the relevant years of income with Innovation Australia. The publication of this Ruling does not relieve companies making ACALET contributions of the obligation to make separate applications for registration of their activities under section 27A of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 (IR&D Act 1986). | Qualifications: 6. The Commissioner makes this Ruling based on the precise scheme identified in this Ruling. This Ruling only applies to contributions used to fund the projects, and the management and administration expenses associated with those projects, which are identified in the following agreements: 7. Further, this Ruling does not apply to any contributions made in a relevant year of income that are less than $1,000 (in total for that year of income). 8. The class of entities defined in this Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 12 to 64 of this Ruling. 9. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Ruling, then: 10. 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: 11. This Ruling applies from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2017. The Ruling continues to apply after 30 June 2017 to all entities within the specified class who entered into the specified scheme during the term of the Ruling. However, this Ruling will 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 this Ruling (see paragraphs 75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10). 12. The following description of the scheme is based on information provided by the applicant. The following documents, or relevant parts of them form part of and are to be read with the description: | Background: 13. The Coal21 National Action Plan was formally issued on March 2004 by the Minister for Industry Tourism and Resources, highlighting the national challenge facing Australia with substantial greenhouse gas emission impact from fossil fuel use. The plan identified options to address the greenhouse gas emissions impact by an intensive program of research, development and demonstration in the areas of low emissions technologies associated with the use of coal. 14. The Australian black coal industry accepted the need to arrange a new program consistent with the Coal21 National Action Plan. The ACA Low Emissions Technologies Program (ACALET Program) was established to support research, development and demonstration aimed at developing clean coal technologies. Funding for the ACALET Program is provided by way of voluntary levies. | ACALET: 15. ACALET has been established to manage the ACALET Program. ACALET is not a research service provider under Division 4 of the IR&D Act 1986. 16. Clause 4 of ACALET's Constitution describes its objects, which include: 17. Each coal producer group operating in Australia has the opportunity to become a member of ACALET. The Board of ACALET comprises of up to 15 directors. 18. Clause 6 of ACALET's Constitution governs membership of the company. In particular clause 6.10 provides that: 19. As detailed in paragraph 14 of this Ruling, participation in this arrangement is voluntary. Any payments made by a contributing company under this scheme, who is also a member of ACALET, are taken to be made voluntarily, and not in its capacity as a member of ACALET. | Contribution Deed: 20. Each affected coal producer (referred to as an 'operator of coal producing assets' or 'contributor') enters into a Contribution Deed with ACALET under which they are liable to pay contributions (levies). Agency clauses are present in the agreement, which demonstrate that in some circumstances, the operator of coal producing assets is entering into the Contribution Deed on behalf of the relevant 'mine owners'. 21. The Contribution Deed sets out the rights and obligations of ACALET and the Contributor, in particular the: 22. The Contributors agree to pay levies to ACALET in consideration for its promise that they will be applied exclusively in respect of 'research and development' (R&D) and/or 'demonstration projects' as defined in the Contribution Deed and also for management and administration expenses in respect of R&D and/or 'demonstration projects'. Further, the Contribution Deed also requires that the results of the R&D will be made available to the Contributor to the extent possible, under the terms of the various agreements entered into by ACALET in relation to the ACALET Program. 23. Contributions accrued by the Contributor are calculated up to a maximum of $0.20 per tonne of coal produced by the Contributor from the coal producing assets from 30 June 2007. The Contributor must pay to ACALET the amount of contribution equal to the accrual balance (which increases by quarterly sales multiplied by the rate of contribution and decreases by any payments made), unless a payment notice has issued. If it has then the Contributor must only pay the amount on the Payment Notice. Contributions are made on a quarterly basis. 24. All contributions paid to ACALET become property of ACALET and cannot be refunded. 25. The Contribution Deed defines R&D to mean scientific, technical or economic research in connection with the beneficiation and use of coal or products derived from coal, including the demonstration and development of the results of that research and includes: 26. The Contribution Deed defines 'demonstration project' to mean a project with the objective of demonstrating the technical and/or commercial potential of a new low emissions technology or process, and includes the application of an existing overseas technology or process to Australian circumstances. 27. ACALET is required to provide expenditure statements to Contributors pursuant to clause 9(d) of the Contribution Deed. This requires that ACALET provide biannual reports to Contributors indicating the apportionment of the expenditure of contributions to R&D and demonstration projects. ACALET is also required to provide quarterly reports to Contributors, as it recognises that companies will have a range of tax year-end dates. The quarterly reports are derived from a 'contributor reporting spreadsheet' developed by ACALET, and set out the Contributor's percentage of the eligible R&D expenditure and other expenditure spent on the relevant project or on related overheads for the quarter. It is intended that a Contributor's claim under Division 355, in relation to expenditure incurred to ACALET for a particular income year, should be able to be compiled by taking the appropriate details from the quarterly reports for the four quarters falling within that taxpayer's particular income year. 28. The Contribution Deed commences on the effective date and will be reviewed by the parties during the three month period expiring on 30 June 2017. It envisages continuing to the later of such date that the parties agree upon, or the date on which the accrual balance is nil, unless terminated earlier. The effective date will vary for Contributors, as some entered into the Contribution Deed prior to 30 June 2007 and some after this date. 29. The Contribution Deed and the manner in which the program is executed provide rights to coal producers in relation to the R&D to be undertaken, such that control of the R&D resides with the Contributors. 30. Companies representing over 95% of black coal production capacity have committed to participate in the ACALET Program by making contributions to ACALET for the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2017. 31. The expenditure is not a 'pre-RBT obligation' as defined in subsection 82KZL(1) of the ITAA 1936. | ACALET's funding and operations: 32. Contributions paid to ACALET by the Contributors are (in part) used to fund the operations of projects carried out in accordance with one of the funding agreements identified in paragraph 6 of this Ruling. 33. The R&D activities undertaken in accordance with the CGI Project Funding Agreement, Delta Project Funding Agreement, and the NSW Project Funding Agreement (relevant projects), are described in paragraphs 50 to 62. In this Ruling a reference to 'relevant project(s)', 'relevant project activity(ies)', 'relevant steering committee(s)', and 'relevant funding agreement(s)' refers to those three funding agreements both individually and severally as applicable. 34. ACALET has entered into both the CGI and NSW Project Funding Agreements with the governments of the States of Queensland and New South Wales respectively. The Delta Project Funding Agreement is a tripartite funding agreement executed between ACALET, the Commonwealth Government, the State of New South Wales and Delta Electricity. 35. Under the relevant funding agreements ACALET has agreed to provide funding for the relevant projects being undertaken. It has been agreed that all funding provided by ACALET and other parties must be used for the sole purpose of carrying out the relevant projects and must not be used for any other purpose. 36. The relevant projects are carried out on a collaborative basis with cash and in kind contributions also made by other parties to the relevant funding agreement. Some of those parties also provide background intellectual property (IP) to be used in the relevant project. 37. Under the relevant funding agreements, it is agreed that for the duration of that agreement ACALET will be provided with reports setting out: 38. Under the relevant funding agreement a steering committee is established, which amongst other responsibilities, is required to oversee the preparation of both an annual program and budget for the relevant project. The relevant funding agreement provides a process for the approval and adoption of the annual program and budget by the relevant steering committee, and ultimately ACALET. It is also agreed that ACALET will have access to certain other reports, which the relevant steering committee must ensure are prepared for approval. Those reports are: 39. With the exception of the NSW Project Funding Agreement, some quarterly reports have been provided illustrating the apportionment of the contributions made by the parties to the relevant projects. This includes contributions made by ACALET on behalf of its Contributors, detailing the expenditure which is eligible R&D expenditure under Division 355, and that which is not. 40. The relevant steering committee formed under the relevant funding agreement must prepare work programs and budgets before work on the project can commence. This information must be approved by the parties to the relevant project. The relevant steering committee will oversee the preparation of annual statements, projected cash flow and monthly reconciliation reports specifying details including the relevant project's total expenditure to date. 41. It is expected that the information prepared for the relevant steering committee's purposes will be provided to ACALET. This information will be utilised by ACALET in the preparation of quarterly information to be provided to the Contributors. 42. IP resulting from the relevant projects will not be legally owned by the Contributors. Further, the Contributors will not own any assets acquired in the course of the relevant project, nor will they be the holders of any Division 40 depreciating asset in relation to the relevant project. Further, by making contributions to the ACALET Program, the Contributors are not acquiring or acquiring the right to use any existing technology for the purposes of R&D activities. 43. Under the terms of the relevant funding agreement, ACALET or such other persons as ACALET nominates, must be provided with a final report describing all work done in connection with the relevant project supported by the relevant funding agreement. It is agreed that ACALET may publish the final report. ACALET will make this report available to each Contributor. 44. Contributors receive rights in relation to the use of project IP for internal purposes. Other parties involved in the relevant projects may also have access to project IP. 45. Benefits received by Contributors and other parties to the relevant project, which includes their interest in the results of the relevant project, are commensurate with the contributions made. 46. Some contributions made by the Contributors to ACALET are also used by ACALET for management and administration activities in respect of the relevant projects. 47. The payment of levies to ACALET by the Contributors constitutes 'expenditure incurred' for the purposes of ascertaining entitlement to a notional deduction under section 355-205, or a general deduction under section 8-1. Levies paid by each Contributor to which this Ruling applies, for each relevant income year, are $1,000 or more. 48. Contributions do not produce any enduring benefit or advantage to the Contributor, but rather are intended to assist them in marketing of their products. | R&D activities under the relevant projects: 49. The R&D activities undertaken in accordance with the relevant funding agreements are described in paragraphs 50 to 62. The description of the R&D activities is a summary only. | Carbon Geostorage Initiative Project (CGI Project): 50. The CGI Project is a two stage process for the identification and assessment of CO 2 storage sites. The CGI Project comprises a regional basis level assessment for five selected priority areas (being the Eromanga, Surat and Gallilee basins and the Wunger Ridge/Roma Shelf regions of the Bowen Basin). 51. The regional basis level assessment involves obtaining seismic data, and information sourced through drilling activities so as to determined: | Delta Carbon Capture and Storage Project (Delta Project): 52. The objective of the Delta Project is for Delta to demonstrate integrated post combustion capture (PCC), transport and permanent geological storage of carbon dioxide (storing up to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum in a saline aquifer) from a Delta black coal power station. The Delta Project will take place predominantly in New South Wales. 53. The Delta Project is a two stage project. The first stage is the project design, development and approvals stage. The second stage is the construction and operation phase. ACALET has agreed to provide funding for the first stage. | Technology Selection and Design: 54. Specific design considerations arising from the project include: | Transport: 55. Specific transport considerations arising from the Delta Project include: Aspects of this R&D will also look at the effect of varying the quality of CO 2 and the effect on transport and storage) | Storage: 56. Specific storage considerations arising from the Delta Project include: New South Wales State Wide Assessment of CO 2 Storage Capacity Project (NSW Project) 57. The objective of the NSW Project is to identify sites in New South Wales that are suitable for geological storage of CO 2 and to demonstrate the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 58. The NSW Project is the first two stages of a three stage work project. The NSW Project will involve the drilling of wells and undertaking of 2D seismic in the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin, the Darling Basin and the Clarence-Morton Basin. | NSW Post-Combustion Capture and Storage demonstration project: 59. The NSW CCS Demonstration Project aims to test PCC technology with integrated storage at an existing conventional pulverised coal combustion power station. The project is intended to commence operation in the first half of 2014. The demonstration will retrofit a 100,000 tonne per year PCC module to an existing coal fired power station. The captured CO 2 will then be compressed into a super critical state, transported and injected into deep underground rock formations located close to the project for permanent disposal. 60. The development and approvals stage is, in effect, a feasibility study with commencement of Front End Engineering Design (FEED) to ensure the project meets the 2014 operational commencement date. | Rationale for Basins of interest: 61. Studies have been carried out on 16 identified areas of interest in the Darling Basin and several areas of potential storage in the Sydney Basin. Further, the Clarence-Moreton Basin, Gunnedah Basin and Oaklands Basin have also been regarded as additional potential storage sites due to their geology, structural features and stratigraphical sequences. 62. Data generated by exploration activities and data acquisition in the form of 2D seismic and basin analysis through well log and core evaluation undertaken give encouraging indications as to the potential storage capacity of these basins. | No research service provider or CRC contributions: 63. Contributions are not expenditure incurred to a research service provider (RSP) within the meaning of the IR&D Act 1986, or a Cooperative Research Centre ( CRC ) under the Commonwealth CRC program. | Commonwealth funding: 64. The Commonwealth has agreed to provide grant funding for the purposes of the relevant projects which are funded under the various funding agreements. | R&D expenditure giving rise to a tax offset: 65. For the years of income ending 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2017 inclusive (or equivalent substituted accounting periods), to the extent that a Contributor pays levies in an income year that: they will be entitled to a tax offset calculated in accordance with section 355-100. Further, subsection 355-210(2) will not preclude a notional deduction arising under section 305-205. [1] 66. A notional deduction is not allowable under section 355-205 to a Contributor: 67. The Commissioner acknowledges that any opinion formed about the R&D activities referred to in this Ruling can be overridden by Innovation Australia (the Board). Therefore, the Commissioner does not express an opinion about these activities and whether they are R&D activities as defined in section 355-20. This Ruling is made on the presumption (unless told otherwise by the Board) that the activities are R&D activities as defined under section 355-20. | Section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936: 68. Where expenditure is notionally deductible under section 355-205, and the R&D activities to which the expenditure relates are not carried out in the current income year, section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936 applies, such that the timing and amount of the deduction is allocated over the relevant eligible service period. | Clawback - Subdivision 355-G: 69. Subdivision 355-G does not apply to any expenditure incurred by a Contributor if the requirements in section 355-440 are not met. Contributors are not recipients of any funds (or other form of recoupment): 70. As participation in the relevant projects does not result in a Contributor receiving any of these funds, they will not be required to pay extra income tax under section 355-435 in relation to this participation. 71. If a Contributor is a recipient of the funds referred to in paragraph 69, and wants to know whether Subdivision 355-G applies to them they should apply for a private ruling. | Section 8-1: 72. For the years of income ending 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2017 inclusive (or equivalent substituted accounting periods), the portion of the levy paid by a Contributor to the ACALET Program, which does not qualify for a notional deduction under section 355-205, will be deductible under section 8-1. | Section 82KZMD: 73. Where expenditure deductible under section 8-1 relates to activities which are not carried out in the current income year, section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936 applies, such that the timing and amount of the deduction is allocated over the relevant eligible service period. Commissioner of Taxation 28 November 2012 | Meaning of R&D activities and other terms: 74. R&D activities are defined by reference to section 355-20. This Ruling applies only to those Contributors who are correctly registered with Innovation Australia, so that the activities being undertaken in accordance with one (or any number) of the relevant funding agreements are regarded as being 'R&D activities' undertaken by the Contributors. 75. A Contributor cannot rely on this Ruling if the Board determines that: | R&D Entities: 76. R&D entities are defined in section 355-35 as: 77. The class of persons to which this Ruling applies (Contributors) are R&D entities within the meaning of section 355-35. Therefore this requirement is satisfied for the class of persons to which this Ruling applies. | Entitlement to tax offset: 78. For the purposes of this Ruling when calculating a Contributor's entitlement to an R&D tax offset it is necessary to first ascertain that they have notional deductions (for the purposes of Subdivision 355-C) for the year of income, that are at least $20,000. This is not to say that a Contributor must make contributions to ACALET of $20,000 each year. Rather, it is necessary that the R&D activities for which the Contributor is registered with Innovation Australia, result in them having notional deductions for the purposes of Subdivision 355-C that are at least $20,000 (subject to any other relevant requirements in Division 355 being satisfied). 79. Where an R&D entity is entitled to deduct an amount under: then that amount is used in calculating the R&D entity's entitlement to a tax offset, which is determined by reference to the tables contained in section 355-100. | When notional deductions for R&D expenditure arise: 80. A tax offset will be available in a year of income under Subdivision 355-C to the extent that an R&D entity: | Whether the contributions are incurred 'on one or more *R&D activities': 81. Paragraph 355-205(1)(a) says that in order to deduct expenditure for an income year the expenditure needs to have been 'incurred on one or more *R&D activities'. The nature of the connection between the expenditure and the R&D activities expressed by the word 'on' in this context is governed by its place in the overall scheme of Division 355. 82. In Division 355, section 355-5 provides that the object of the Division concerns encouraging the conduct of particular R&D activities. Paragraph 355-205(1)(b) envisages that an R&D entity might incur expenditure within paragraph 355-205(1)(a), that is, incurring that expenditure 'on' an R&D activity, by incurring an amount to an 'associate' of theirs. That associate might be the entity which conducts the R&D activity, or it might, in turn, pay its employees, or an agent, or an independent contractor, to conduct this activity. The requirement that the expenditure be linked to the conduct of particular R&D activities is also found in subsection 355-210(1), concerning whether the expenditure coming within paragraph 355-205(1)(a) has also been incurred on activities which have been 'conducted for' the R&D entity (see, paragraph 355-210(1)(a)). 83. Also in Division 355, section 355-110 provides for the spreading of an R&D entity's deductions under section 355-205 or section 355-480, where the prepaid expenditure rules in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 apply. Section 355-110 thus contemplates that there may be expenditure which comes within paragraph 355-205(1)(a), where there is a lapse in time between when that expenditure is incurred on particular R&D activities, and when those activities begin to be conducted. 84. The fact that the expenditure in question might be incurred to an intermediary, or that there might be a gap in time between the expenditure being incurred and when the R&D activities begin, therefore will not in themselves, mean that the expenditure fails the requirement of needing to have been 'incurred on one or more R&D activities'. On the other hand, having regard to the object of Division 355, expenditure that is 'on' an activity which is not an R&D activity, where that expenditure is not integral to the conduct of any R&D activity, cannot be said to be sufficiently connected to the conduct of any R&D activity in a way which would bring it within paragraph 355-205(1)(a). 85. Factors to consider in determining whether this sufficient connection exists include: | Registration under section 27A of the IR&D Act 1986: 86. In accordance with subparagraph 355-205(1)(a)(i), an R&D entity's entitlement to a notional deduction in income year, will only arise if (amongst other requirements) it is registered (for the activities to which the expenditure relates) under section 27A of the IR&D Act 1986. 87. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies comprise companies registered in relation to specific R&D activities in accordance with the requirements of subparagraph 355-205(1)(a)(i). Therefore, this requirement is satisfied for the class of entities to which this Ruling applies. | Notional deductions of at least $20,000: 88. The class of entities that this Ruling applies to comprises R&D entities with notional deductions for the purposes of calculating entitlement to a tax offset under section 355-100 of at least $20,000. Therefore, the third requirement is satisfied. | Preclusion by other provisions: 89. Subsection 355-205(2) provides that a notional deduction arising under subsection 355-205(1) will be subject to the effect of: | Excluded expenditure: 90. Section 355-255 excludes certain types of expenditure from giving rise to a notional deduction under section 355-205, and subsequent inclusion in the calculation of any entitlement to a tax offset under section 355-100. The contributions to the ACALET Program do not result in Contributors having any of the excluded expenditure types in section 355-255, for the following reasons: | Integrity rules: 91. Subdivision 355-F sets out various rules which are intended to preserve the integrity and operation of the R&D tax incentive. Paragraph 3.155 of the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanied the Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010 (EM) explains that Subdivision 355-F was intended to preserve (in a corresponding way), the integrity provisions in the existing R&D provisions. 92. This Ruling does not consider whether any of the integrity rules identified in Subdivision 355-F operate in such a way as to either prevent (or alter) a notional deduction that would otherwise arise under subsection 355-205(1). 93. A Contributor who wants to ensure that Subdivision 355-F does not have application to their circumstances should apply for a private ruling. | CRC contributions: 94. As identified in paragraph 63, contributions are not being paid to any entity that is part of the Commonwealth Government's CRC program. | R&D partnerships: 95. Given that there is no partnership between Contributors; Subdivision 355-J does not apply to this Ruling. | Conditions for R&D activities: 96. A Contributor's entitlement to a notional deduction under subsection 355-205(1) is subject to section 355-210 being satisfied. Section 355-210 provides specific conditions that must be satisfied before an activity will be regarded as an R&D activity. For the purposes of this Ruling those conditions are: 97. Whether R&D activities are to be carried out 'for' a Contributor as required by paragraph 355-210(1)(a), and not 'to a significant extent' for any other persons besides the Contributors, as provided by subsection 355-210(2), is considered in paragraphs 98 to 145 of this Ruling. | R&D activities conducted 'for' the R&D entity and not 'to a significant extent' for other entities: 98. Entitlement to a notional deduction under section 355-205 for the payment of levies to ACALET will only arise if that expenditure is incurred on R&D activities, and those R&D activities are conducted 'for' the R&D entity. Further, the R&D activities which give rise to any notional deduction under section 355-205 must not be 'conducted, to a significant extent' for any other entity which does not satisfy the qualifying condition in paragraph 355-210(1)(a). [2] 99. In explaining when expenditure on R&D will give rise to a notional deduction, the EM explains (at paragraphs 3.52 - 3.55): 100. These three key criteria apply then to two of the conditions in section 355-210. The first condition concerns whether, in a positive sense, the R&D activities in question have been conducted 'for' the R&D entity (paragraph 355-210(1)(a)). The second concerns whether, in a negative sense, those R&D activities have been conducted 'to a significant extent, 'for one or more other entities not covered by any paragraph of subsection (1)' (subsection 355-210(2)). Applying these key criteria to a particular case requires weighing them up against the relevant facts and circumstances of that case. | Effective ownership: 101. A company effectively owning results of the relevant R&D activities is the first identifying criterion in determining whether the R&D activities are being carried out for that company. However, it is recognised that this does not necessarily require that the company must be the proprietor of a piece of IP, as formal regimes of IP may not be available to protect the results. Further, it is possible that the formal owner of the IP may hold it on such terms that the company has all the advantages of ownership. 102. If a number of companies fund an R&D project together on their behalf, it is necessary that each must have a proper and effective interest in the R&D results. 103. ACALET uses levies paid by Contributors to fund the activities of the relevant projects which are undertaken in accordance with the relevant funding agreements. Any IP generated as a result of the relevant projects will not be legally owned by the Contributors. However, we are more concerned with effective ownership of the results of the R&D projects and whether the benefits obtained by the Contributors are such that they have an interest in the results of the relevant projects that is commensurate with their contributions. 104. The Contribution Deed between ACALET and the Contributor promises 'that the results of the research and development will be made available for the benefit of the operator to the extent possible under the terms of the agreements'. 105. In order to determine whether the Contributors' interests in the results of the R&D activities funded by their levies are commensurate with their contributions, it is necessary to consider the benefits that flow from the expenditure to the Contributors. 106. An examination of the benefits that Contributors are expected to gain and their individual interests in the results of the R&D activities conducted in connection with the scheme to which this Ruling applies, in comparison to their relevant expenditure, leads to the conclusion that the expenditure is commensurate with the benefits to be gained. | Control: 107. The second identifying criterion is the nature and extent of control that the Contributors have over the R&D activities. Both the relevant funding agreements and the Contribution Deed result in the Contributors, as a group, having sufficient control of the R&D activities that they have contracted ACALET to provide. The Contribution Deed has set the parameters for the R&D to be undertaken and the underlying philosophies which ACALET is bound to follow. The Contributors have effective legal control, as they have the ability to compel ACALET to perform in accordance with the Contribution Deed. The manner in which the relevant projects are executed also supports the conclusion that the Contributors have sufficient control over the R&D activities. | Financial risk: 108. The final identifying criterion is the degree of financial risk that Contributors are assuming when the R&D activities are undertaken. In accordance with the Contribution Deed, Contributors pay contributions which are calculated at a rate of up to $0.20 per tonne of coal produced over the term of the agreement. Payments are required on a quarterly basis. The Contribution Deed makes it clear that these contributions become the property of ACALET. These contributions cannot be refunded to the Contributors. 109. As Contributors pay non-refundable levies, they bear the financial risk associated with the R&D activities undertaken. | Summary: 110. The terms of the Contribution Deed show that contributions will be applied exclusively for R&D, demonstration projects and also for management and administration expenses relating to the above. The relevant funding agreements specify that contributions can only be used for the purposes of the relevant project. Some of the contributions will therefore be directed towards R&D activities identified above. 111. Similar to other parties to the relevant projects, Contributors benefit from the results of the R&D activities, including receiving final reports. They also have the same rights in relation to the use of the relevant project's IP for internal purposes as other parties to that relevant project. This shows there is a practical link between the expenditure and the activities and the results to be produced from the activities. 112. Therefore, this illustrates that there is a sufficiently close connection between the portion of contributions used to fund the carrying on of R&D activities for the relevant project, such that this expenditure qualifies as being 'for' the activities identified as R&D activities. The extent to which this is so will depend on the fairness and reasonableness of the apportionment methodology used. As discussed in paragraph 84, the fact that payments are made to an intermediary does not preclude those payments from being on particular R&D activities. 113. An examination of the benefits that Contributors are expected to gain and their individual interests in the results of the R&D activities conducted in connection with the scheme to which this Ruling applies, in comparison to their relevant expenditure, leads to the conclusion that the expenditure is commensurate with the benefits to be gained. 114. Contributions incurred by Contributors to ACALET are expenditures on conducting R&D activities 'for' them, for the purposes of determining whether the Contributors are entitled to deduct amounts under section 355-205. Subsection 355-210(2) will not preclude any entitlement to a notional deduction on the basis that the R&D activity is being conducted to a significant extent for another entity, which itself does not satisfy section 355-210. | Subdivision 355-G - Clawback: 115. Section 355-435 requires that an entity pay extra income tax when the requirements of section 355-440 and section 355-445 are met. The condition identified in section 355-440 requires that the entity receive (or becomes entitled to receive) a recoupment from: otherwise than under the CRC program. 116. Under section 355-445, the entitlement to a recoupment referred to in paragraph 115 must then be: 117. The Commonwealth has agreed to provide grant funding for all of the projects which are identified in this Ruling. However, both ACALET and the Commonwealth's funds can only be utilised for the relevant projects in accordance with the terms of the relevant funding agreements. The Commonwealth funding cannot be utilised or returned to any Contributor. 118. Whilst the relevant entity which incurs the expenditure referred to in section 355-445 will be different depending upon the relevant project, ACALET will not be the entity incurring that expenditure. 119. Any receipt of the Commonwealth funding by a Contributor in relation to the relevant projects is outside the scope of this Ruling. If a Contributor in this position wants to know whether Subdivision 355-G applies to them they should apply for a private ruling. | Entitlement to a deduction for payments made under the Contribution Deed which are not payments that can be notionally deducted under section 355-205: 120. To the extent that a payment made by a Contributor is not expenditure which can be notionally deducted under section 305-205, it may nevertheless be deductible under section 8-1. To be entitled to a deduction under section 8-1, a Contributor will need to satisfy subsection 8-1(1), and also not be precluded by any part of subsection 8-1(2). 121. Generally, this means that the payment will need to be: Taxation Ruling TR 95/1 [3] 122. Taxation Ruling TR 95/1 considers whether advertising costs associated with opposing legislation will be a deductible expense. TR 95/1 was issued as a result of the decision in Federal Commissioner of Taxation v. Rothmans of Pall Mall (Aust) Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 582; 92 ATC 4508; (1992) 23 ATR 620 ( Rothmans ). 123. The decision in Rothmans provides some assistance in determining a Contributor's entitlement to a deduction under the scheme set out in this Ruling. Rothmans concerned a claim for a deduction by a member of the Tobacco Institute of Australia (the Institute). That member claimed their contribution to the Institute as a deduction from their assessable income. At paragraph 10 of TR 95/1, the Commissioner notes that: 124. The principle established in Rothmans can be extended to include any portion of the levy payment (that is not eligible to be notionally deducted under section 355-205), which can be properly characterised as being incidental to the Contributor's business. 125. Where a Contributor makes a payment to ACALET, which enables it to promote its involvement with the relevant projects, it will be appropriate to characterise a portion of that payment as being in the nature of a marketing expense. The contributions are regular payments that do not produce any enduring benefit or advantage to the Contributors, but rather are intended to assist them in marketing their product. 126. Accordingly, in these circumstances, the payment will be deductible under subsection 8-1(1), and will not be precluded by any part of subsection 8-1(2). | Prepayments: 127. The timing of any entitlement to a tax offset available under section 355-100, or a deduction under section 8-1 can be affected by the prepayment rules. Section 82KZMA of the ITAA 1936 sets the amount and timing of deductions for expenditure that a taxpayer incurs in a year of income (the expenditure year), if: 128. As discussed above, the requirements of section 355-205 (R&D expenditure) will be met for expenditure incurred on R&D activities, and those for section 8-1 will be met for any remaining expenditure incurred by Contributors to ACALET under the Contribution Deed. Whether the requirements of subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) of the ITAA 1936 are satisfied also needs to be considered. | Whether subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) are satisfied: 129. Subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) of the ITAA 1936 are satisfied for the reasons outlined below: 130. Under paragraph 82KZMA(3)(c), the expenditure must also be in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement that is not to be wholly done within the expenditure year. The expenditure in question is, and will continue to be, incurred on an ongoing basis over the course of several years. The application of the expenditure and the means by which it delivers benefits to the Contributors depends on the complex interaction between several agreements, none of which precisely prescribe when various activities are to start being done, and when they are to stop being done. 131. The substance of these agreements however, is that the expenditure will typically relate to activities to be carried out at some future time, on the basis that relevant supervisory body requires funds in advance in order to see that the activities which are the subject of the relevant project are begun. 132. In respect of expenditure incurred over any one year it will generally not be possible to conclude therefore that it has all been incurred in return for doing things (the activities) that are all to be completed by the end of that year. Consistent with the proposition that contributions will be applied progressively over the life of the relevant project to carry out budgeted activities on behalf of the Contributors is the notion that each contribution is intended to fund only so much of these activities at any one time. 133. Accordingly, the condition in paragraph 82KZMA(3)(c) will also be satisfied. Identification of when the various activities are to start and stop is best done by reference to the underlying planning and budgetary documentation that guides the relevant project, and its supervisory body's actions. Determination of these stop and start times will necessarily, in the circumstances, be one of reasonable estimation, rather than something that occurs with absolute precision. | Amount and timing of deduction: 134. In accordance with section 82KZMD(2) of the ITAA 1936, for each year of income containing all or part of the eligible service period for the expenditure, the taxpayer may deduct the amount under section 8-1, or notionally deduct the amount under section 355-205 by applying this formula: 135. The eligible service period in relation to an amount of expenditure incurred under an agreement, means the period from the beginning of: until the end of: 136. Relevant to the task of determining the eligible service period are the Contribution Deed, the relevant funding agreement, and any other agreements entered into for the purposes of the relevant projects. In addition, financial reports, annual reports and annual budgets provided to ACALET for the purposes of the relevant project will also be of assistance. 137. There is an inherent or expected degree of imprecision when applying the calculation required under section 82KZMD. As discussed in paragraph 133, with reference to the relevant project's underlying planning and budgetary documentation which guide the relevant supervisory body's actions, it should be possible to calculate the amount identified in section 82KZMD with reasonable estimation. 138. Analysis of the various relevant projects spending to date in conjunction with the budget details for the planned spending should provide a suitable indicator as to how much of the contributions paid to date have actually been applied to the activities of the relevant project, and what the typical 'lag' is in this respect, so as to produce a broad, but still reasonable reflection of the extent to which each quarter's sum of contributions relates to activities to be performed in the future. 139. Note that in circumstances in which the last day of the eligible service period would exceed 10 years after the eligible period's start date, the eligible service period is limited to a period of 10 years. Refer to the definition of 'eligible service period' in subsection 83KZL(1) of the ITAA 1936. 140. The following is a detailed contents list for this Ruling: Not previously issued as a draft

Ruling: R&D expenditure giving rise to a tax offset: 65. For the years of income ending 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2017 inclusive (or equivalent substituted accounting periods), to the extent that a Contributor pays levies in an income year that: they will be entitled to a tax offset calculated in accordance with section 355-100. Further, subsection 355-210(2) will not preclude a notional deduction arising under section 305-205. [1] 66. A notional deduction is not allowable under section 355-205 to a Contributor: 67. The Commissioner acknowledges that any opinion formed about the R&D activities referred to in this Ruling can be overridden by Innovation Australia (the Board). Therefore, the Commissioner does not express an opinion about these activities and whether they are R&D activities as defined in section 355-20. This Ruling is made on the presumption (unless told otherwise by the Board) that the activities are R&D activities as defined under section 355-20. | Section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936: 68. Where expenditure is notionally deductible under section 355-205, and the R&D activities to which the expenditure relates are not carried out in the current income year, section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936 applies, such that the timing and amount of the deduction is allocated over the relevant eligible service period. | Clawback - Subdivision 355-G: 69. Subdivision 355-G does not apply to any expenditure incurred by a Contributor if the requirements in section 355-440 are not met. Contributors are not recipients of any funds (or other form of recoupment): 70. As participation in the relevant projects does not result in a Contributor receiving any of these funds, they will not be required to pay extra income tax under section 355-435 in relation to this participation. 71. If a Contributor is a recipient of the funds referred to in paragraph 69, and wants to know whether Subdivision 355-G applies to them they should apply for a private ruling. | Section 8-1: 72. For the years of income ending 30 June 2012 to 30 June 2017 inclusive (or equivalent substituted accounting periods), the portion of the levy paid by a Contributor to the ACALET Program, which does not qualify for a notional deduction under section 355-205, will be deductible under section 8-1. | Section 82KZMD: 73. Where expenditure deductible under section 8-1 relates to activities which are not carried out in the current income year, section 82KZMD of the ITAA 1936 applies, such that the timing and amount of the deduction is allocated over the relevant eligible service period. Commissioner of Taxation 28 November 2012


Appendix: Meaning of R&D activities and other terms: 74. R&D activities are defined by reference to section 355-20. This Ruling applies only to those Contributors who are correctly registered with Innovation Australia, so that the activities being undertaken in accordance with one (or any number) of the relevant funding agreements are regarded as being 'R&D activities' undertaken by the Contributors. 75. A Contributor cannot rely on this Ruling if the Board determines that: | R&D Entities: 76. R&D entities are defined in section 355-35 as: 77. The class of persons to which this Ruling applies (Contributors) are R&D entities within the meaning of section 355-35. Therefore this requirement is satisfied for the class of persons to which this Ruling applies. | Entitlement to tax offset: 78. For the purposes of this Ruling when calculating a Contributor's entitlement to an R&D tax offset it is necessary to first ascertain that they have notional deductions (for the purposes of Subdivision 355-C) for the year of income, that are at least $20,000. This is not to say that a Contributor must make contributions to ACALET of $20,000 each year. Rather, it is necessary that the R&D activities for which the Contributor is registered with Innovation Australia, result in them having notional deductions for the purposes of Subdivision 355-C that are at least $20,000 (subject to any other relevant requirements in Division 355 being satisfied). 79. Where an R&D entity is entitled to deduct an amount under: then that amount is used in calculating the R&D entity's entitlement to a tax offset, which is determined by reference to the tables contained in section 355-100. | When notional deductions for R&D expenditure arise: 80. A tax offset will be available in a year of income under Subdivision 355-C to the extent that an R&D entity: | Whether the contributions are incurred 'on one or more *R&D activities': 81. Paragraph 355-205(1)(a) says that in order to deduct expenditure for an income year the expenditure needs to have been 'incurred on one or more *R&D activities'. The nature of the connection between the expenditure and the R&D activities expressed by the word 'on' in this context is governed by its place in the overall scheme of Division 355. 82. In Division 355, section 355-5 provides that the object of the Division concerns encouraging the conduct of particular R&D activities. Paragraph 355-205(1)(b) envisages that an R&D entity might incur expenditure within paragraph 355-205(1)(a), that is, incurring that expenditure 'on' an R&D activity, by incurring an amount to an 'associate' of theirs. That associate might be the entity which conducts the R&D activity, or it might, in turn, pay its employees, or an agent, or an independent contractor, to conduct this activity. The requirement that the expenditure be linked to the conduct of particular R&D activities is also found in subsection 355-210(1), concerning whether the expenditure coming within paragraph 355-205(1)(a) has also been incurred on activities which have been 'conducted for' the R&D entity (see, paragraph 355-210(1)(a)). 83. Also in Division 355, section 355-110 provides for the spreading of an R&D entity's deductions under section 355-205 or section 355-480, where the prepaid expenditure rules in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III of the ITAA 1936 apply. Section 355-110 thus contemplates that there may be expenditure which comes within paragraph 355-205(1)(a), where there is a lapse in time between when that expenditure is incurred on particular R&D activities, and when those activities begin to be conducted. 84. The fact that the expenditure in question might be incurred to an intermediary, or that there might be a gap in time between the expenditure being incurred and when the R&D activities begin, therefore will not in themselves, mean that the expenditure fails the requirement of needing to have been 'incurred on one or more R&D activities'. On the other hand, having regard to the object of Division 355, expenditure that is 'on' an activity which is not an R&D activity, where that expenditure is not integral to the conduct of any R&D activity, cannot be said to be sufficiently connected to the conduct of any R&D activity in a way which would bring it within paragraph 355-205(1)(a). 85. Factors to consider in determining whether this sufficient connection exists include: | Registration under section 27A of the IR&D Act 1986: 86. In accordance with subparagraph 355-205(1)(a)(i), an R&D entity's entitlement to a notional deduction in income year, will only arise if (amongst other requirements) it is registered (for the activities to which the expenditure relates) under section 27A of the IR&D Act 1986. 87. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies comprise companies registered in relation to specific R&D activities in accordance with the requirements of subparagraph 355-205(1)(a)(i). Therefore, this requirement is satisfied for the class of entities to which this Ruling applies. | Notional deductions of at least $20,000: 88. The class of entities that this Ruling applies to comprises R&D entities with notional deductions for the purposes of calculating entitlement to a tax offset under section 355-100 of at least $20,000. Therefore, the third requirement is satisfied. | Preclusion by other provisions: 89. Subsection 355-205(2) provides that a notional deduction arising under subsection 355-205(1) will be subject to the effect of: | Excluded expenditure: 90. Section 355-255 excludes certain types of expenditure from giving rise to a notional deduction under section 355-205, and subsequent inclusion in the calculation of any entitlement to a tax offset under section 355-100. The contributions to the ACALET Program do not result in Contributors having any of the excluded expenditure types in section 355-255, for the following reasons: | Integrity rules: 91. Subdivision 355-F sets out various rules which are intended to preserve the integrity and operation of the R&D tax incentive. Paragraph 3.155 of the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanied the Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010 (EM) explains that Subdivision 355-F was intended to preserve (in a corresponding way), the integrity provisions in the existing R&D provisions. 92. This Ruling does not consider whether any of the integrity rules identified in Subdivision 355-F operate in such a way as to either prevent (or alter) a notional deduction that would otherwise arise under subsection 355-205(1). 93. A Contributor who wants to ensure that Subdivision 355-F does not have application to their circumstances should apply for a private ruling. | CRC contributions: 94. As identified in paragraph 63, contributions are not being paid to any entity that is part of the Commonwealth Government's CRC program. | R&D partnerships: 95. Given that there is no partnership between Contributors; Subdivision 355-J does not apply to this Ruling. | Conditions for R&D activities: 96. A Contributor's entitlement to a notional deduction under subsection 355-205(1) is subject to section 355-210 being satisfied. Section 355-210 provides specific conditions that must be satisfied before an activity will be regarded as an R&D activity. For the purposes of this Ruling those conditions are: 97. Whether R&D activities are to be carried out 'for' a Contributor as required by paragraph 355-210(1)(a), and not 'to a significant extent' for any other persons besides the Contributors, as provided by subsection 355-210(2), is considered in paragraphs 98 to 145 of this Ruling. | R&D activities conducted 'for' the R&D entity and not 'to a significant extent' for other entities: 98. Entitlement to a notional deduction under section 355-205 for the payment of levies to ACALET will only arise if that expenditure is incurred on R&D activities, and those R&D activities are conducted 'for' the R&D entity. Further, the R&D activities which give rise to any notional deduction under section 355-205 must not be 'conducted, to a significant extent' for any other entity which does not satisfy the qualifying condition in paragraph 355-210(1)(a). [2] 99. In explaining when expenditure on R&D will give rise to a notional deduction, the EM explains (at paragraphs 3.52 - 3.55): 100. These three key criteria apply then to two of the conditions in section 355-210. The first condition concerns whether, in a positive sense, the R&D activities in question have been conducted 'for' the R&D entity (paragraph 355-210(1)(a)). The second concerns whether, in a negative sense, those R&D activities have been conducted 'to a significant extent, 'for one or more other entities not covered by any paragraph of subsection (1)' (subsection 355-210(2)). Applying these key criteria to a particular case requires weighing them up against the relevant facts and circumstances of that case. | Effective ownership: 101. A company effectively owning results of the relevant R&D activities is the first identifying criterion in determining whether the R&D activities are being carried out for that company. However, it is recognised that this does not necessarily require that the company must be the proprietor of a piece of IP, as formal regimes of IP may not be available to protect the results. Further, it is possible that the formal owner of the IP may hold it on such terms that the company has all the advantages of ownership. 102. If a number of companies fund an R&D project together on their behalf, it is necessary that each must have a proper and effective interest in the R&D results. 103. ACALET uses levies paid by Contributors to fund the activities of the relevant projects which are undertaken in accordance with the relevant funding agreements. Any IP generated as a result of the relevant projects will not be legally owned by the Contributors. However, we are more concerned with effective ownership of the results of the R&D projects and whether the benefits obtained by the Contributors are such that they have an interest in the results of the relevant projects that is commensurate with their contributions. 104. The Contribution Deed between ACALET and the Contributor promises 'that the results of the research and development will be made available for the benefit of the operator to the extent possible under the terms of the agreements'. 105. In order to determine whether the Contributors' interests in the results of the R&D activities funded by their levies are commensurate with their contributions, it is necessary to consider the benefits that flow from the expenditure to the Contributors. 106. An examination of the benefits that Contributors are expected to gain and their individual interests in the results of the R&D activities conducted in connection with the scheme to which this Ruling applies, in comparison to their relevant expenditure, leads to the conclusion that the expenditure is commensurate with the benefits to be gained. | Control: 107. The second identifying criterion is the nature and extent of control that the Contributors have over the R&D activities. Both the relevant funding agreements and the Contribution Deed result in the Contributors, as a group, having sufficient control of the R&D activities that they have contracted ACALET to provide. The Contribution Deed has set the parameters for the R&D to be undertaken and the underlying philosophies which ACALET is bound to follow. The Contributors have effective legal control, as they have the ability to compel ACALET to perform in accordance with the Contribution Deed. The manner in which the relevant projects are executed also supports the conclusion that the Contributors have sufficient control over the R&D activities. | Financial risk: 108. The final identifying criterion is the degree of financial risk that Contributors are assuming when the R&D activities are undertaken. In accordance with the Contribution Deed, Contributors pay contributions which are calculated at a rate of up to $0.20 per tonne of coal produced over the term of the agreement. Payments are required on a quarterly basis. The Contribution Deed makes it clear that these contributions become the property of ACALET. These contributions cannot be refunded to the Contributors. 109. As Contributors pay non-refundable levies, they bear the financial risk associated with the R&D activities undertaken. | Summary: 110. The terms of the Contribution Deed show that contributions will be applied exclusively for R&D, demonstration projects and also for management and administration expenses relating to the above. The relevant funding agreements specify that contributions can only be used for the purposes of the relevant project. Some of the contributions will therefore be directed towards R&D activities identified above. 111. Similar to other parties to the relevant projects, Contributors benefit from the results of the R&D activities, including receiving final reports. They also have the same rights in relation to the use of the relevant project's IP for internal purposes as other parties to that relevant project. This shows there is a practical link between the expenditure and the activities and the results to be produced from the activities. 112. Therefore, this illustrates that there is a sufficiently close connection between the portion of contributions used to fund the carrying on of R&D activities for the relevant project, such that this expenditure qualifies as being 'for' the activities identified as R&D activities. The extent to which this is so will depend on the fairness and reasonableness of the apportionment methodology used. As discussed in paragraph 84, the fact that payments are made to an intermediary does not preclude those payments from being on particular R&D activities. 113. An examination of the benefits that Contributors are expected to gain and their individual interests in the results of the R&D activities conducted in connection with the scheme to which this Ruling applies, in comparison to their relevant expenditure, leads to the conclusion that the expenditure is commensurate with the benefits to be gained. 114. Contributions incurred by Contributors to ACALET are expenditures on conducting R&D activities 'for' them, for the purposes of determining whether the Contributors are entitled to deduct amounts under section 355-205. Subsection 355-210(2) will not preclude any entitlement to a notional deduction on the basis that the R&D activity is being conducted to a significant extent for another entity, which itself does not satisfy section 355-210. | Subdivision 355-G - Clawback: 115. Section 355-435 requires that an entity pay extra income tax when the requirements of section 355-440 and section 355-445 are met. The condition identified in section 355-440 requires that the entity receive (or becomes entitled to receive) a recoupment from: otherwise than under the CRC program. 116. Under section 355-445, the entitlement to a recoupment referred to in paragraph 115 must then be: 117. The Commonwealth has agreed to provide grant funding for all of the projects which are identified in this Ruling. However, both ACALET and the Commonwealth's funds can only be utilised for the relevant projects in accordance with the terms of the relevant funding agreements. The Commonwealth funding cannot be utilised or returned to any Contributor. 118. Whilst the relevant entity which incurs the expenditure referred to in section 355-445 will be different depending upon the relevant project, ACALET will not be the entity incurring that expenditure. 119. Any receipt of the Commonwealth funding by a Contributor in relation to the relevant projects is outside the scope of this Ruling. If a Contributor in this position wants to know whether Subdivision 355-G applies to them they should apply for a private ruling. | Entitlement to a deduction for payments made under the Contribution Deed which are not payments that can be notionally deducted under section 355-205: 120. To the extent that a payment made by a Contributor is not expenditure which can be notionally deducted under section 305-205, it may nevertheless be deductible under section 8-1. To be entitled to a deduction under section 8-1, a Contributor will need to satisfy subsection 8-1(1), and also not be precluded by any part of subsection 8-1(2). 121. Generally, this means that the payment will need to be: Taxation Ruling TR 95/1 [3] 122. Taxation Ruling TR 95/1 considers whether advertising costs associated with opposing legislation will be a deductible expense. TR 95/1 was issued as a result of the decision in Federal Commissioner of Taxation v. Rothmans of Pall Mall (Aust) Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 582; 92 ATC 4508; (1992) 23 ATR 620 ( Rothmans ). 123. The decision in Rothmans provides some assistance in determining a Contributor's entitlement to a deduction under the scheme set out in this Ruling. Rothmans concerned a claim for a deduction by a member of the Tobacco Institute of Australia (the Institute). That member claimed their contribution to the Institute as a deduction from their assessable income. At paragraph 10 of TR 95/1, the Commissioner notes that: 124. The principle established in Rothmans can be extended to include any portion of the levy payment (that is not eligible to be notionally deducted under section 355-205), which can be properly characterised as being incidental to the Contributor's business. 125. Where a Contributor makes a payment to ACALET, which enables it to promote its involvement with the relevant projects, it will be appropriate to characterise a portion of that payment as being in the nature of a marketing expense. The contributions are regular payments that do not produce any enduring benefit or advantage to the Contributors, but rather are intended to assist them in marketing their product. 126. Accordingly, in these circumstances, the payment will be deductible under subsection 8-1(1), and will not be precluded by any part of subsection 8-1(2). | Prepayments: 127. The timing of any entitlement to a tax offset available under section 355-100, or a deduction under section 8-1 can be affected by the prepayment rules. Section 82KZMA of the ITAA 1936 sets the amount and timing of deductions for expenditure that a taxpayer incurs in a year of income (the expenditure year), if: 128. As discussed above, the requirements of section 355-205 (R&D expenditure) will be met for expenditure incurred on R&D activities, and those for section 8-1 will be met for any remaining expenditure incurred by Contributors to ACALET under the Contribution Deed. Whether the requirements of subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) of the ITAA 1936 are satisfied also needs to be considered. | Whether subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) are satisfied: 129. Subsections 82KZMA(2) to (5) of the ITAA 1936 are satisfied for the reasons outlined below: 130. Under paragraph 82KZMA(3)(c), the expenditure must also be in return for the doing of a thing under the agreement that is not to be wholly done within the expenditure year. The expenditure in question is, and will continue to be, incurred on an ongoing basis over the course of several years. The application of the expenditure and the means by which it delivers benefits to the Contributors depends on the complex interaction between several agreements, none of which precisely prescribe when various activities are to start being done, and when they are to stop being done. 131. The substance of these agreements however, is that the expenditure will typically relate to activities to be carried out at some future time, on the basis that relevant supervisory body requires funds in advance in order to see that the activities which are the subject of the relevant project are begun. 132. In respect of expenditure incurred over any one year it will generally not be possible to conclude therefore that it has all been incurred in return for doing things (the activities) that are all to be completed by the end of that year. Consistent with the proposition that contributions will be applied progressively over the life of the relevant project to carry out budgeted activities on behalf of the Contributors is the notion that each contribution is intended to fund only so much of these activities at any one time. 133. Accordingly, the condition in paragraph 82KZMA(3)(c) will also be satisfied. Identification of when the various activities are to start and stop is best done by reference to the underlying planning and budgetary documentation that guides the relevant project, and its supervisory body's actions. Determination of these stop and start times will necessarily, in the circumstances, be one of reasonable estimation, rather than something that occurs with absolute precision. | Amount and timing of deduction: 134. In accordance with section 82KZMD(2) of the ITAA 1936, for each year of income containing all or part of the eligible service period for the expenditure, the taxpayer may deduct the amount under section 8-1, or notionally deduct the amount under section 355-205 by applying this formula: 135. The eligible service period in relation to an amount of expenditure incurred under an agreement, means the period from the beginning of: until the end of: 136. Relevant to the task of determining the eligible service period are the Contribution Deed, the relevant funding agreement, and any other agreements entered into for the purposes of the relevant projects. In addition, financial reports, annual reports and annual budgets provided to ACALET for the purposes of the relevant project will also be of assistance. 137. There is an inherent or expected degree of imprecision when applying the calculation required under section 82KZMD. As discussed in paragraph 133, with reference to the relevant project's underlying planning and budgetary documentation which guide the relevant supervisory body's actions, it should be possible to calculate the amount identified in section 82KZMD with reasonable estimation. 138. Analysis of the various relevant projects spending to date in conjunction with the budget details for the planned spending should provide a suitable indicator as to how much of the contributions paid to date have actually been applied to the activities of the relevant project, and what the typical 'lag' is in this respect, so as to produce a broad, but still reasonable reflection of the extent to which each quarter's sum of contributions relates to activities to be performed in the future. 139. Note that in circumstances in which the last day of the eligible service period would exceed 10 years after the eligible period's start date, the eligible service period is limited to a period of 10 years. Refer to the definition of 'eligible service period' in subsection 83KZL(1) of the ITAA 1936.


What this Ruling is about | A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion about the way in which a relevant 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, the Commissioner must apply the law to you in the way set out in the ruling (unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages you, in which case the law may be applied to you in a way that is more favourable for you - provided the Commissioner is 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. | [each] Member must enter into an agreement with the Company to pay contributions or levies to the Company which will be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Company set out in clause 4. | Generally, an R&D entity is only entitled to a tax deduction in relation to R&D activities conducted for the entity (whether by the R&D entity for itself or by another entity for it). Also, an entity cannot deduct its expenditure on R&D activities if it conducts those activities to a significant extent for another entity. | This retains a key rule from the existing law commonly known as the 'on own behalf' rule. This rule is intended to limit eligibility for a notional R&D deduction to where an R&D entity is the major benefactor from the expenditure it incurs on the R&D activities. In certain situations, the rule also prevents duplication of claims by different R&D entities. | Determining the major benefactor of expenditure on R&D activities involves examining the extent to which R&D activities are carried out for the R&D entity compared to the extent to which they are carried out for any other entity. This is tested by weighing up three key criteria, namely who: | In short, the question of whether an R&D activity is conducted for an R&D entity is a question of fact, determined by whether the activity is conducted in substance to provide the majority of knowledge benefits resulting from the activity, such as access to intellectual property, to this entity. | Whether an R&D entity has effective ownership involves reviewing all the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the relevant activities and the ownership and control of, and/or ability to utilise, the intellectual property or similar results obtained from the expenditure on the R&D activities. | The Court decided that the nature of the expenditure incurred by the company was, in the present commercial environment, an ongoing part of the circumstances in which companies carry on business. Accordingly, it was incidental to the carrying on of its business and did not involve the acquisition of an enduring asset . Lockhart J relied upon the decisions of the High Court in FC of T v. Snowden & Willson Pty Ltd (1958) 99 CLR 431 and of the Federal Court in Magna Alloys and Research Pty Ltd v. FC of T 80 ATC 4542; (1980) 11 ATR 276. His Honour found that the company was not seeking to maintain or preserve an existing capital asset by paying the levy to the Tobacco Institute. [emphasis added] | number of days in the eligible service period for the year of income total number of days of eligible service period | Section 8-1 - general deduction | Whether subsection 82KZMA(2) to (5) are satisfied | Appendix 2 - Detailed contents list


Related rulings: TR 95/1 TR 2006/10 CR 2010/44 CR 2009/45 CR 2012/82
Legislative references: ITAA 1936 82KZL ITAA 1936 82KZL(1) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(2) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(3) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(3)(a) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(3)(b) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(3)(c) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(4) ITAA 1936 82KZMA(5) ITAA 1936 82KZMD ITAA 1936 82KZMD(2) ITAA 1997 8-1 ITAA 1997 8-1(1) ITAA 1997 8-1(2) ITAA 1997 Div 40 ITAA 1997 40-40 ITAA 1997 328-110 ITAA 1997 Div 355 ITAA 1997 Subdiv 355-B ITAA 1997 355-20 ITAA 1997 355-25 ITAA 1997 355-30 ITAA 1997 355-35 ITAA 1997 Subdiv 355-C ITAA 1997 355-100 ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(a) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(b) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(c) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(d) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(e) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(f) ITAA 1997 355-100(1)(g) ITAA 1997 Subdiv 355-D ITAA 1997 355-205 ITAA 1997 355-205(1) ITAA 1997 355-205(1)(a) ITAA 1997 355-205(1)(a)(i) ITAA 1997 355-205(1)(b) ITAA 1997 355-210 ITAA 1997 355-210(1) ITAA 1997 355-210(1)(a) ITAA 1997 355-210(2) ITAA 1997 Subdiv 355-G ITAA 1997 355-305 ITAA 1997 355-315 ITAA 1997 355-480 ITAA 1997 Subdiv 355-J ITAA 1997 355-520 ITAA 1997 355-525 ITAA 1997 355-580 ITAA 1997 355-580(3) TAA 1953 Copyright Act 1968 Industry Research and Development Act 1986 27A Industry Research and Development Act 1986 Div 4
Case references: Federal Commissioner of Taxation v. Rothmans of Pall Mall (Aust) Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 582 92 ATC 4508 (1992) 23 ATR 620
Subject references: on own behalf research and development tax offsets
Other references: Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010 Explanatory Memorandum