Income tax: insurance: can a life assurance company claim a deduction under section 279 for the cost of providing death and disability cover for members of a complying superannuation fund?

No. Section 279 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 only allows a complying superannuation fund to claim a deduction for the cost of providing death and disability cover for members of a complying superannuation fund. A life assurance company cannot be a complying superannuation fund and is therefore unable to claim a deduction under section 279.