Notice of Withdrawal
This Product Ruling has been withdrawn in accordance with subsection 358-20(1) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 , which states the Commissioner may withdraw a public ruling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 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 2007/15.
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, Bunbury and Green Triangle regions (the Transaction). The sale included forestry land and the Growers' standing timber.
For this Transaction, Growers with interests in the Albany and/or Green Triangle regions whose interests are sold are referred to as 'Participating Growers'.
All other Growers are referred to as 'Non-Participating Growers'.
Provided that up until the date of sale of Growers' interests in the Project land and standing timber, the Project was carried out as described in PR 2007/15, the sale does not disturb the tax treatment of Growers' previous outgoings as set out in PR 2007/15. This Withdrawal Notice sets out the tax outcomes for all Growers arising as a consequence of the sale of Project land and standing timber in the Albany and Green Triangle regions.
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.
The Responsible Entity has provided the following documents to the ATO in relation to the Transaction: • Affidavits of Mr Kenneth Andrew Serls dated 24 April 2012 and 3 May 2012; • Affidavit of Mr Samuel James Davies McClure dated 24 April 2012; • Draft Deed of surrender of Subleases; • Independent expert's report and Financial Services Guide dated 24 April 2012; • Grower Circular dated 3 May 2012; and • Orders of the Supreme Court of Victoria dated 4 June 2012.
In accordance with paragraph 32 of PR 2007/15 the Responsible Entity entered into a Lease over the Project land for the purpose of the scheme. The Responsible Entity then granted each Grower an interest in the land in the form of a sub-lease on execution of the Land Agreement (paragraph 44 of PR 2007/15).
The interests of Non-Participating Growers are not subject to the Transaction. Any sales proceeds received by Growers will be taxed under different tax provisions depending on whether they are Participating or Non-Participating Growers.
The sale of the Growers' interest in standing timber constitutes a CGT event for the purposes of section 82KZMGB of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).
Pursuant to subsection 82KZMGB(2) of the ITAA 1936, Growers will be required to include either the market value, or the decrease in market value for their interest in the Project, in their assessable income in the year of income in which the CGT event occurs.
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.
Proceeds from the sale of standing timber under the Transaction will be deposited into the Proceeds Fund and distributed to all Growers in accordance with the Project Constitution. The proceeds received by Non-Participating Growers will be assessable income under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997).
Proceeds from the sale of standing or harvested timber that are not part of the Transaction will be deposited into the Proceeds Fund and distributed to all Growers in accordance with the Project Constitution. The proceeds received by both Participating and Non-Participating Growers will be assessable income under section 6-5 of the ITAA 1997.
In accordance with the changes to the Constitution for PR 2007/15, the Grower's business activity has ceased and continuing participation in the Project does not constitute the carrying on of a business of primary production. As a consequence, the Commissioner's discretion under subsection 35-55(1) of the ITAA 1997 has no application for the year ending 30 June 2013 and subsequent income years.
Paragraph 23 of PR 2007/15 ruled that Growers can claim deductions for interest incurred on a loan to fund their investment in the Project if the loan was between the Investor and ITC Finance Pty Ltd (now Elders Forestry Finance Pty Ltd) or the Nominated Financier. Interest expenses incurred following this withdrawal will continue to be deductible provided the requirements outlined in Taxation Ruling TR 2004/4 Income tax : deductions for interest incurred prior to the commencement of, or following the cessation of, relevant income earning activities are met.