Issue
Can a shareholder of Harris Scarfe Holdings Ltd (Harris Scarfe) choose to make a capital loss under CGT event G3 in section 104-145 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) in the 2002-03 income year?
Decision
Yes. The liquidators of Harris Scarfe made a written declaration on 30 June 2003 that they have reasonable grounds to believe there is no likelihood that the company's shareholders will receive any further distribution in the course of winding up the company.
Therefore, Harris Scarfe shareholders can choose to make a capital loss in the 2002-03 income year equal to the reduced cost base of each of their Harris Scarfe shares.
Facts
The taxpayer acquired shares in Harris Scarfe after 19 September 1985.
On 3 January 2002 a resolution was passed to wind up Harris Scarfe and liquidators were appointed to the company on this date.
On 30 June 2003 the liquidators declared they have reasonable grounds to believe there is no likelihood that Harris Scarfe shareholders will receive any further distribution in the course of winding up the company.
Reasons for Decision
CGT event G3 happens when the liquidator of a company makes a written declaration that they have reasonable grounds to believe there is no likelihood that the company's shareholders will receive any further distribution in the course of winding up the company (subsections 104-145(1) and 104-145(2) of the ITAA 1997).
A shareholder of such a company can choose to make a capital loss equal to the reduced cost base of each of their shares as at the time of the declaration (subsection 104-145(3) of the ITAA 1997).
In this case, the liquidators of Harris Scarfe made a declaration for the purposes of section 104-145 of the ITAA 1997 on 30 June 2003. Therefore, CGT event G3 happened when the declaration was made. Consequently, a taxpayer who owned shares in Harris Scarfe when the declaration was made can choose to make a capital loss in the 2002-03 income year equal to the reduced cost base of each of their Harris Scarfe shares at the declaration time.