Product Ruling PR 2002/84W
Status: withdrawn








Withdrawal notice: 1. This Product Ruling has been withdrawn in accordance with subsection 358-20(1) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , which states the Commissioner may withdraw a public ruling either wholly or to an extent. Elders Forestry Management Limited (the Responsible Entity) has advised that Elders Limited has entered into a transaction which has potentially resulted in the Project being carried out in a materially different way from how it was described in Product Ruling PR 2002/84. Provided that up until the date of termination of Growers' interests in the Project land and standing timber, the Project was carried out as described in PR 2002/84, the termination does not disturb the tax treatment of Growers' previous outgoings as set out in PR 2002/84. This Withdrawal Notice sets out the tax outcomes for Growers arising as a consequence of the termination of Growers' interests in the Project land and standing timber. 2. On 18 April 2012, Elders Limited announced it had signed a conditional agreement for the sale of freehold land, assets and standing timber in the Albany and Green Triangle regions (the Transaction). The sale included forestry land and the Growers' standing timber. 3. On 4 June 2012, the Supreme Court of Victoria confirmed that the Responsible Entity was justified in amending the Project Constitution pursuant to paragraph 601GC(1)(b) of the Corporations Act 2001 to enable the Transaction to proceed. 4. The Responsible Entity has provided the following documents to the ATO in relation to the Transaction: 5. In accordance with paragraph 19 of PR 2002/84, the Responsible Entity had entered into a Lease over the Project land for the purpose of the scheme. The Responsible Entity had then granted each Grower an interest in land in the form of a sub-lease on execution of the Lease Agreement and Plantation Management Agreement (paragraph 24 of PR 2002/84). 6. The Transaction has resulted in the termination of the Growers' interest in land and standing timber during the year ending 30 June 2013. 7. Per paragraph 49 of PR 2002/84, the Growers' participation in the Project constitutes the carrying on of a business of primary production. This business activity ceased on the termination of the Growers' interest in Project land. As a consequence, the Commissioner's discretion under paragraph 35-55(1)(b) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) has no application for the year ending 30 June 2013 and subsequent income years. 8. As the Growers' afforestation activities constituted the carrying on of a business, the standing timber on the land previously held by the Grower is considered to be trading stock of the Grower as per section 70-85 of the ITAA 1997. 9. The Growers' loss of interest in the trees planted for sale results in the disposal of trading stock outside of the ordinary course of business under subsection 70-90(1) of the ITAA 1997. Where this occurs a Grower is required by that provision to include in their assessable income (for the year ending 30 June 2013) the market value of that trading stock on the day of disposal. 10. The Responsible Entity has agreed to provide information to Growers to assist them determine the market value of standing timber for the purposes of these provisions. Commissioner of Taxation 12 June 2002 Not previously issued in draft form.

Related rulings: PR 1999/95 TR 92/1 TR 92/20 TR 97/16 TR 98/22 TD 93/34
Legislative references: TAA 1953 Part IVAAA ITAA 1936 82KL ITAA 1936 Pt IVA ITAA 1997 Div 35 ITAA 1997 35-10 ITAA 1997 35-10(2) ITAA 1997 35-10(3) ITAA 1997 35-10(4) ITAA 1997 35-30 ITAA 1997 35-35 ITAA 1997 35-40 ITAA 1997 35-45 ITAA 1997 35-55 ITAA 1997 35-55(1) ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(a) ITAA 1997 35-55(1)(b) Copyright Act 1968 Corporations Act 2001
Subject references: carrying on a business commencement of business primary production primary production expenses management fee expenses producing assessable income product rulings public rulings schemes and shams taxation administration tax avoidance tax benefits under tax avoidance schemes tax shelters