Income tax: is the value of the shares received as consideration for providing services for research and development activities assessable income in the hands of an independent contractor?

Yes. Shares in a company issued to an independent contractor as consideration for services performed in relation to research and development activities undertaken by the company, constitutes assessable income of the independent contractor under section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. That is, the value of the shares constitutes gross income derived by the contractor for the purposes of section 6-5. The amount of assessable income is the value of the shares at the time they are issued.

Section 21 applies where consideration is given other than in cash. The money value of the consideration is deemed to have been paid or received.

In Taxation Board of Review case, (1953) 4 TBRD Case D1, it was held that it was the market value of the shares and not their nominal value that was the correct amount to be assessed to the taxpayer for the services rendered to the company. The ATO agrees with this view.

Section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, to which this Determination refers, expresses the same ideas as subsection 25(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. Example: An independent contractor performs services in relation to research and development activities on behalf of a mining company. The contractor receives as consideration for the services performed an issue of shares in that company. The market value of the shares at the time they are issued constitutes assessable income of the contractor.