Public Ruling TAA060.3.6 Penalty tax—home concessions

What this ruling is about

1. The Duties Act 2001 (the Duties Act) provides concessional treatment of acquisitions¹ relating to homes and first homes, or land on which a first home is to be constructed (home concessions).² The concessions are to assist people buying or constructing a residence to be used as their principal place of residence.
2. The home concessions may be reduced or lost entirely on a reassessment if the taxpayer:
   1. disposes of all or part of the residential land or vacant land within one year after occupation of the residence as their principal place of residence³
   2. disposes of the residential land or vacant land before occupation as their principal place of residence⁴
      or
   3. does not occupy the residence as their principal place of residence within:
      1. one year after the transfer date for the residential land⁵
         or
      2. two years after the transfer date for the vacant land.⁶
3. Where paragraph 2(a) applies, duty is reassessed so that the amount of the concession obtained is reduced in proportion with the part of the year for which the property was not occupied as a principal place of residence. Where paragraphs 2(b) or (c) applies, there is a total loss of the concession because the taxpayer never occupied the property as their principal place of residence.
4. The Taxation Administration Act 2001 (the Administration Act) automatically imposes penalty tax in certain circumstances.⁷
5. Penalty tax applies in addition to any unpaid tax interest (UTI) that may be imposed under the Administration Act.⁸ While UTI compensates the state for loss of use of funds due to non-payment or underpayment of primary tax⁹, penalty tax is an administrative sanction for certain conduct by taxpayers.
6. One circumstance in which a taxpayer is liable for penalty tax is where the primary tax assessed on a reassessment (other than under a reassessment of a default assessment in which a penalty tax amount has been included) is more than the primary tax assessed on the original assessment or an earlier reassessment.¹⁰
7. Penalty tax will therefore apply to a reassessment for a home concession. The amount on which the penalty tax will be based (the primary tax difference) is the difference in primary tax between the current reassessment and either:
   1. the original assessment
      or
   2. the lowest primary tax assessed on an earlier reassessment.
8. Penalty tax is imposed at the rate of 75% of the primary tax difference.
9. Also, the Commissioner may increase the amount of the penalty tax by not more than 20% if satisfied that the taxpayer:
   1. failed to advise the Commissioner upon becoming aware that an assessment of the taxpayer’s liability for tax was not, or is no longer, correct and the correct liability is more than the amount stated in the assessment
      or
   2. hindered or prevented the Commissioner from becoming aware of the nature and extent of the taxpayer’s liability for tax.¹¹
10. Penalty tax is an alternative to the prosecution of a taxpayer where the taxpayer is liable to pay penalty tax because of an act or omission of a person, and the act or omission constitutes an offence against a tax law.¹² Where the Commissioner commences a proceeding against a taxpayer for an offence and penalty tax has been imposed because of an act or omission of the taxpayer that constitutes the offence, penalty tax is only payable if the Commissioner withdraws the proceeding. If the Commissioner withdraws the proceeding, the Commissioner must make a reassessment to reinstate the penalty tax.¹³
11. Section 60 of the Administration Act allows the Commissioner to remit all or part of penalty tax.
12. In deciding what penalty tax (if any) should be remitted on a reassessment of a home concession, the Commissioner will take into account the fact that the taxpayer may fail to occupy a residence, or may dispose¹⁴ of the residence before occupation or within one year after occupying the residence as their principal place of residence, for the following reasons.
    1. After claiming the concession, there was an unexpected change of circumstances (e.g. the taxpayer’s relative suffers ill health or the taxpayer voluntarily accepts a new job in a different location at a higher salary). It is considered that penalty tax should not apply in these cases, if the required notice is given to the Commissioner under the Duties Act. In these cases, the taxpayer has not set out to exploit or abuse the concession but has unexpectedly encountered circumstances leading to a change in their previous plans.
    2. Prior to claiming the concession, the taxpayer intended to occupy the residence for less than a year because they were to leave the area at that time (e.g. a foreign executive being sent to Queensland for a short-term appointment). Usually, for these cases, no penalty tax would apply if the required notice is given to the Commissioner under the Duties Act. In these cases, the taxpayer genuinely occupied the home as their principal place of residence for the maximum period of time for which they were in the area concerned.
    3. After claiming the concession, and without a change of circumstances referred to in paragraph 12(a), the taxpayer failed to occupy or chose to dispose of the property principally for financial gain. Penalty tax is appropriate in these cases because the change that has occurred is to pursue some financial advantage or benefit. However, if the required notice is given, a significant remission of penalty tax would usually be appropriate, because the taxpayer has not set out to exploit or abuse the concession.
    4. Prior to claiming the concession, the taxpayer intended to sell or lease all or part of the residence as a profit-making or investment arrangement, within 12 months of taking up occupation of the property. In these cases, a higher level of penalty tax is appropriate because the concessions were not conferred to assist property speculators or investors.
    5. Prior to claiming the concession, the taxpayer never intended to occupy the home as their principal place of residence. In these cases, a high level of penalty tax is appropriate; and the Commissioner will not remit penalty tax because, in claiming the concession, the taxpayer has provided false and misleading information to the Commissioner.
13. This Public Ruling sets out the principles the Commissioner will apply in deciding whether or not to remit penalty tax and the extent of any remission, and gives guidelines on how those principles apply in the above cases.¹⁵ However, a taxpayer’s conduct in any given case may affect the Commissioner’s decision as to the appropriate level of remission and will be taken into account accordingly.

Ruling and explanation

General principles

14. The decision to remit penalty tax is made by the Commissioner on a case-by-case basis, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances including:
    1. the nature and extent of the taxpayer’s culpability
    2. the reason for the taxpayer’s failure to meet their obligations
    3. that the purpose of the home concessions is to assist people buying or constructing a residence to be used as their principal place of residence
    4. the nature and circumstances of any voluntary disclosure made by the taxpayer concerning the liability
    5. where an investigation has been, or is being conducted, in relation to the taxpayer’s liability—the level of co-operation by the taxpayer with the Commissioner
    6. the taxpayer’s previous failures to comply with the tax laws or any statute repealed by the tax laws.
15. Attachment 1 gives guidance on how the general principles would be applied by the Commissioner in particular cases. The categories are illustrative only and each case must be considered on its merits.
16. Attachment 2 summarises the guidelines in Attachment 1 and the further remissions for voluntary disclosure referred to in paragraphs 21 to 24 in this Public Ruling.

Higher penalty tax if section 58(3) applies

17. Where the Commissioner decides to increase the amount of penalty tax because of circumstances referred to in s.58(3) of the Administration Act¹⁶, the increase will be applied to the amount of penalty tax payable after the Commissioner has applied the general principles for remission in paragraphs 14 to 16 (general principles for remission).
18. Attachment 2 does not take into account any increase in penalty tax to be applied under s.58(3) of the Administration Act.

Lower penalty tax for voluntary disclosure

19. Voluntary disclosure occurs where a taxpayer informs the Commissioner that they have failed to comply with an obligation under a tax law.

Example A

20. A taxpayer can make a voluntary disclosure even though they are giving notice to the Commissioner, as required by the tax laws, of events or circumstances relating to a home concession they had previously obtained.

Example B

21. Voluntary disclosures assist the Commissioner to identify outstanding tax law liabilities.¹⁷ They also demonstrate the taxpayer’s willingness to pay the right amount of tax. Accordingly, to encourage voluntary disclosures, penalty tax would usually be remitted to a greater extent in these cases than in cases where no voluntary disclosure has been made.
22. Remission for voluntary disclosure will depend on the circumstances and the level of disclosure in any given case. Factors to be considered will include whether there has been a true and full disclosure of all relevant material facts necessary for the Commissioner to issue a correct assessment, and when the disclosure occurs.
23. For Attachment 1, Categories 1 and 2, the Commissioner would usually remit the penalty tax as follows.
    1. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation under Part 7 of the Administration Act (an investigation) and before the taxpayer receives a prompt¹⁸ from the Commissioner to comply with an obligation under a tax law (a prompt)—remit the calculated penalty tax¹⁹ in full.
    2. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation and within 30 days after the taxpayer receives a prompt—remit the calculated penalty tax in full.
    3. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation but 30 days or more after the taxpayer receives a prompt—remit the calculated penalty tax by 10 percentage points (i.e. remit the calculated penalty tax by 10% of the primary tax difference).
    4. If disclosure is made immediately after the taxpayer is notified of an investigation—remit the calculated penalty tax by 5 percentage points (i.e. remit the calculated penalty tax by 5% of the primary tax difference).
24. For Attachment 1, Category 3, the Commissioner would usually remit the penalty tax as follows.
    1. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation and before the taxpayer receives a prompt—remit the calculated penalty tax in full.
    2. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation and within 30 days after the taxpayer receives a prompt—remit the calculated penalty tax in full.
    3. If voluntary disclosure is made before the taxpayer is notified of an investigation but 30 days or more after the taxpayer receives a prompt—remit the calculated penalty tax by 45 percentage points (i.e. remit the calculated penalty tax by 45% of the primary tax difference).
    4. If disclosure is made immediately after the taxpayer is notified of an investigation—remit the calculated penalty tax by 15 percentage points (i.e. remit the calculated penalty tax by 15% of the primary tax difference).
25. Where the Commissioner decides to remit part of the penalty tax for voluntary disclosure, the reduction will be applied to the amount of penalty tax payable after the Commissioner has applied the general principles for remission and taken into account any increase in the penalty tax under s.58(3) of the Administration Act.
26. While the Commissioner may exercise the further remissions for voluntary disclosure outlined under paragraphs 21 to 25 above, the Commissioner may make a lesser or no further remission for the voluntary disclosure if on balance the taxpayer’s behaviour concerning their failure to meet their obligations for the transaction, and in the course of all their dealings with the Commissioner in general, makes remission pursuant to those paragraphs inappropriate in the Commissioner’s view.

Date of effect

27. This Public Ruling takes effect from the date of issue.

Elizabeth Goli
Commissioner of State Revenue
Date of issue: 1 February 2016

References

Attachment 1

Guidelines for remission of penalty tax in the event of a reassessment under ss.153 or 154 of the Duties Act 2001 of a home concession

This attachment illustrates circumstances in which the Commissioner would consider remission and the extent of remission when making a reassessment in relation to a previous claim for a transfer duty home concession or first home concession (home concession). The categories provide a guide only, and each case must be considered on its merits. The Commissioner will request evidence establishing that the claimed category applies, such as evidence from third parties.

Category 1—Remission of penalty tax to 15%

If this category applies, the Commissioner would usually consider partial remission of the penalty tax imposed so that the taxpayer is liable only for an amount equivalent to 15% of the increase in primary tax.

Case A—Unexpected change of circumstances

After claiming a home concession under the Duties Act, a taxpayer, due to an unexpected change of circumstances, either:

• does not take up occupation of the residence
  or
• disposes of the residential land prior to, or within one year after, taking up occupation as their principal place of residence.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Case B—Genuine short-term residence

After claiming a home concession under the Duties Act, a taxpayer disposes of the residential land within one year after taking up occupation as their principal place of residence, but always intended to occupy for less than the full year because they were to leave the area at that time.

Example 4

Category 2—Remission of penalty tax to 30%

If this category applies, the Commissioner would usually consider partial remission of the penalty tax imposed so that the taxpayer is liable only for an amount equivalent to 30% of the primary tax difference.

A taxpayer either:

• failed to occupy or chose to dispose of the property principally for financial gain, after claiming the concession and without an unexpected change of circumstances
  or
• prior to claiming the concession, intended to sell or lease all or part of the residence as a profit-making or investment arrangement, within 12 months of taking up occupation of the property.

Example 5

Example 6

Category 3—No remission of penalty tax

This category applies to the exclusion of the other categories. If this category applies, the Commissioner would usually not remit penalty tax. However, remission may be made for any voluntary disclosure.

After claiming a home concession under the Duties Act, a taxpayer does not take up occupation of the residence because the taxpayer never intended to occupy the home as their principal place of residence.

Example 7

Example 8

Attachment 2

Home concession clawback penalty tax guideline summary

This attachment summarises the guidelines in Attachment 1 and further remissions referred to in this Public Ruling. Percentages in this table are percentages of the primary tax difference.

The percentages shown below do not take into account any increase in penalty tax to be applied under s.58(3) of the Administration Act referred to in paragraph 17.

Footnotes