ART rejects taxpayer's claim for CGT small business relief

In a recent decision, the Administrative Review Tribunal ('ART') held that a taxpayer was not entitled to the CGT small business concessions on the disposal of his interests in some farm land.

The taxpayer ran a beef cattle business (in partnership with his wife) on properties adjacent to the dairy farm that his parents owned. Following his father's death in 2007, the taxpayer acquired legal interests in the two properties on which that dairy farm was operated.

The ATO rejected the taxpayer's contention that he was entitled to concessional CGT small business relief on disposal of those interests in 2016, on the basis that the interests disposed of did not meet the 'active asset' test.

The ART upheld the ATO's decision, finding that the taxpayer did not use his interests in the properties, nor were they held 'ready for use', in carrying on his cattle business. His claim that he intended to use the properties, but that he could not due to his strained relationship with his brother, was not sufficient.

Consequently, the interest in the properties was not an active asset and the taxpayer was not entitled to concessional CGT treatment.

Please note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information's applicability to their particular circumstances.