Income tax: does the disposal or termination of an interest in a non-forestry managed investment scheme which arises as a result of circumstances outside the control of the taxpayer result in the denial of deductions previously allowed under paragraph 8-1(1)(b) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 in respect of your contributions to the scheme?

No.

Investors in non-forestry managed investment schemes may incur expenditure that is deductible under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). Special rules about the year of income in which that expenditure can be claimed are contained in Subdivision H of Division 3 of Part III (Subdivision H) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). There are no rules in Subdivision H applicable to non-forestry schemes that subsequently deny deductions that have been claimed if the scheme is discontinued because, for example, it is wound up on the basis that the purpose of the scheme cannot be accomplished.

Jane invested in a horticultural managed investment scheme in 2007, and claimed deductions in her 2007 and 2008 taxation returns. In 2009, due to the insolvency of the Responsible Entity, the scheme assets were sold by a liquidator, and the scheme was wound up. Jane's interest in the scheme came to an end as a result of circumstances outside the control of either herself, or the Responsible Entity. Jane will remain entitled to the relevant deductions.

This Determination applies to years of income commencing both before and after its date of issue. However, this Determination 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 Determination (see paragraphs 75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10).

Section 82KZMG in Subdivision H of the ITAA 1936 and Division 394 of the ITAA 1997 apply only to forestry managed investment schemes. In certain circumstances deductions claimed under these provisions can be subsequently denied if a CGT event happens in relation to the forestry interests to which the deductions relate.

Expenditure incurred in respect of participation in a non-forestry managed investment scheme will generally be deductible under section 8-1 of the ITAA 1997 as per Hance v. FC of T; Hannebery v. FC of T [2008] FCAFC 196; 2008 ATC 20-085. The year of income in which those deductions are allowable is governed by Subdivision H of the ITAA 1936.

However, where there is evidence that the investor intends at the time of entering into the scheme to exit the scheme once deductions for the initial fees are claimed and the resultant tax savings obtained or before income is due to flow to the investor, or the intention is not to maintain the scheme interest beyond the initial years, then the inference may be drawn that the investor entered the scheme for the sole or dominant purpose of obtaining a tax deduction. In such a case the total anticipated allowable deductions will far exceed the total assessable income reasonably expected to be derived until the time of termination. Accordingly the rule in Fletcher & Ors v. FC of T 91 ATC 4950 may have application or, alternatively, the general anti-avoidance rule in Part IVA of the ITAA 1936 may apply.

Where there is no evidence upon which to draw the inference mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Determination, and the scheme itself comes to an end, for example because the Responsible Entity is no longer able to discharge its obligations and the scheme is wound up, the deductions previously claimed will continue to be allowable.

That is, there is no section equivalent to section 82KZMGA of the ITAA 1936 or subsection 394-10(5) of the ITAA 1997 (about deductions for forestry managed investment schemes) that applies to non-forestry managed investment schemes.