Income tax: capital gains: does the redenomination of a financial arrangement to the Euro constitute: (a) the derivation of assessable income or the incurrence of an allowable deduction; (b) the realisation of a currency exchange gain or loss for the purposes of Division 3B of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936; or (c) a CGT event?
No. The redenomination of a financial arrangement to the Euro does not result in any taxation consequences under (a), (b) or (c).
The Euro has been introduced to replace the national currencies of 11 members of the European Monetary Union (EMU).1 Introduction is a two-stage process. The first stage began on 1 January 1999 with the ability, albeit not the compulsion, to denominate non-cash transactions in Euros. National currencies remain in circulation. The second stage involves the introduction of Euro notes and coins, and the withdrawal of national currencies, from 1 January 2002.
A financial arrangement that extends beyond 1 January 1999, which is denominated in one of the currencies being phased out, may be redenominated to the Euro (on a no compulsion, no prohibition basis). Where an arrangement extends beyond 1 January 2002 and is denominated in one of the affected national currencies, a reference to the national currency is to be read as the equivalent amount in Euros (compulsory redenomination).
Redenomination of an arrangement involves two currencies: the affected national currency and the Euro. Redenomination is the replacement of one currency with another. It is the changing of: 'the unit in which the amount of outstanding debt is stated from a national currency unit to the euro unit ...'.2 Redenomination may be either unilateral or mutual. It involves an agreement or requirement to satisfy rights and meet obligations under an existing arrangement in a replacement currency.
Types of financial arrangements affected by redenomination to the Euro include contractual arrangements, debt instruments, derivatives and equity holdings.
Provided the effect of redenomination of a financial arrangement to Euros is solely to change the monetary measurement of the financial arrangement, it is a minor alteration and does not alter the substance of the arrangement. Redenomination, of itself, does not cause assessable income to be derived or an allowable deduction to be incurred.
Foreign exchange gains and losses that are capital in nature fall within Division 3B of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. Division 3B uses the expressions 'currency exchange gain' and 'currency exchange loss' to describe such gains and losses. Currency exchange gains are made and currency exchange losses are incurred when they are realised (paragraph 82V(2)(b)). A redenomination of a financial arrangement to Euros does not constitute the realisation of a currency exchange gain or currency exchange loss.
The capital gains tax provisions apply if a CGT event occurs (section 102-20 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997). The redenomination of an arrangement does not of itself constitute a CGT event.
ABC Pty Ltd, an Australian resident company, borrows 1,000,000 deutschemarks on 1 July 1998 from DEF Inc., a resident company of Germany. The loan contract contains a general term allowing ABC Pty Ltd to change the denomination of the contractual currency. On 30 June 1999, ABC Pty Ltd invokes this clause so that it will now repay the balance of the principal of the loan and interest in Euros. ABC Pty Ltd's decision to redenominate and to repay in Euros does not discharge the loan. No assessable income is derived by the redenomination and no allowable deduction is incurred. No currency exchange gain or loss is made and no CGT event happens.
UVW Pty Ltd, an Australian resident company, borrows 1,000,000 deutschemarks on 1 July 1998 from XYZ Inc., a resident company of Germany. There is no term in the loan contract allowing either party to change the denominated currency. On 30 June 1999, UVW Pty Ltd and XYZ Inc. agree that UVW Pty Ltd will repay the balance of the principal of the loan and interest in Euros. This agreement does not discharge the loan. No assessable income is derived by the redenomination and no allowable deduction is incurred. No currency exchange gain or loss is made and no CGT event happens.
Bertha Young, an Australian resident, has an amount of 100,000 French francs deposited in a savings account with the Banque Nationale De Paris. On 1 March 1999, at Bertha's request, the account in French francs is redenominated to an equivalent amount of Euros. Bertha's rights against the bank for the deposit in the savings account remain the same. No assessable income is derived by the redenomination and no allowable deduction is incurred. No currency exchange gain or loss is made and no CGT event happens.