Extension of temporary full expensing rules
Extension of the temporary loss carry-back rules
Taxation of Financial Arrangements – hedging amendments
Australian digital games tax offset
Self-assessing the effective life of intangible depreciating assets
Patent box – tax concession for Australian medical and biotechnology
CCIV regime to be finalised
Offshore Banking Unit concession to end
Review of venture capital tax incentive programs
Insolvency and restructuring reform
Extension of temporary full expensing rules
Summary
The existing temporary full expensing measure announced as part of the 2020-21 Federal Budget will be extended by 12 months to 30 June 2023.
Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of up to $5 billion are now able to deduct the full cost of eligible capital assets acquired after 7.30 pm on 6 October 2020 (the 2020-21 Federal Budget night) and, importantly, used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2023.
All other elements of the temporary full expensing rules will remain unchanged. Our detailed article on the 2020-21 Budget announcements, including these rules, can be found here.
Observation
This is a significant announcement, which will be welcomed by many and, in particular, businesses that have the ability to finance capital expenditure.
However, the automatic application of the temporary full expensing measures to some taxpayers is not universally welcome. In particular, the measures can cause issues for companies that require franking credits to pay franked dividends; for example, to manage Division 7A compliance.
Importantly, the eligibility for businesses will be key. The assets must be acquired from 7.30 pm on 6 October 2020 (Budget night), and must be first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2023.
The question of when a capital asset is used, or installed ready for use, is a factual question and we expect that, as we get closer to the key date of 30 June 2023, substantiation will be key. A business could get caught if, for example, the capital asset has been received and stored by the business, but is not yet fitted for its intended use. The ability to put the capital asset to use, or have it installed ready for use, may be affected by extraneous and unanticipated factors. Proper planning will be necessary to ensure that this requirement is satisfied.
Further, the full expensing will apply in the first year of use, and not the year of purchase. This means that expenditure on a capital asset acquired in the 2021 financial year may be fully deductible in either the 2021, 2022 or 2023 financial years.
Extension of the temporary loss carry-back rules
Summary
The Government will extend the temporary loss carry-back measures announced as part of its 2020-21 Budget to include tax losses in the 2023 income year.
Eligible corporate entities will be able to carry back tax losses incurred in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 income years to offset income from the 2019 income year onwards.
The measure will be available to eligible corporate entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $5 billion.
Observation
The extension of this measure is a welcome relief for eligible corporate entities, as it effectively represents a potential cash flow benefit to these companies by allowing them to reclaim some of the tax paid in previous years when they were profitable.
This measure provides a refundable tax offset that eligible corporate entities can claim in their 2021, 2022 and 2023 income tax returns. Refundable tax offsets can reduce the amount of tax that eligible corporate entities are liable to pay to zero, which may result in a refundable amount.
However, the refund will be limited so that the amount carried back is not more than the taxed profits of the earlier year and does not generate a franking account deficit.
Claiming the offset is optional, and eligible corporate entities that choose not to carry back losses may be able to carry forward losses to future income years.
This is an important option, as the offset may not be appropriate for eligible corporate entities that need to pay franked dividends (for example, to manage Division 7A compliance).
Our detailed article on the 2020-21 Budget announcements, including these rules, can be found here.
Taxation of Financial Arrangements – hedging amendments
Summary
Technical amendments have been proposed to the Taxation of Financial Arrangements (TOFA) rules in relation to accessing the TOFA hedging rules on a portfolio hedging basis.
These amendments will allow taxpayers to recognise taxation on unrealised foreign exchange gains and losses only where an election is made.
The amendments are expected to take effect for transactions entered into on or after 1 July 2022.
Observation
The amendments to the hedging rules for portfolio managers are welcomed and should facilitate reduced compliance costs and mitigate unintended outcomes.
Australian digital games tax offset
Summary
The Digital Games Tax Offset is expected to provide eligible business that spend a minimum of $500,000 on qualifying Australian games with a 30% refundable tax offset.
The Government intends to engage in consultation with the industry in mid-2021 and plans for the offset to be available from 1 July 2022. Prior to the Budget, the Government has stated that the offset will be available to eligible Australian resident businesses as well as foreign residents with a permanent establishment in Australia.
Observation
For businesses in the video games industry, this incentive is an exciting prospect and forms part of the Government’s broader Digital Economy Strategy.
Australia has a global reputation as a producer of talent, technically and creatively, in the gaming and allied industries. However, Australia suffers from a ‘brain drain’ in this industry, with some of the best and brightest game developers leaving Australia to pursue commercial and employment opportunities overseas.
Scale-wise, the gaming industry internationally is larger than the ‘traditional’ film and television industry by a significant stretch. We think the Government is ‘backing the right horse’ with this proposal. We anticipate that there will be keen interest from the industry on the developments through consultation and in particular the criteria for ‘qualifying’ expenditure and the pathways for businesses to access the incentive.
Self-assessing the effective life of intangible depreciating assets
Summary
As part of the Government’s $1.2 billion Digital Economy Strategy, taxpayers will be able to self-assess the tax effective lives of eligible intangible depreciating assets such as patents, registered designs, copyrights and in-house software.
Taxpayers will continue to have the option of applying the existing statutory effective life to depreciate intangible assets.
This measure will apply to assets acquired from 1 July 2023, when the extended temporary full expensing regime is slated to end.
Observation
Currently, the tax-effective life of intangible assets is set by statute. This measure will allow taxpayers to adopt a more appropriate and flexible useful life.
It is expected that this will encourage investment and hiring in research and development. It will also align the tax treatment of intangible assets with that of most tangible assets for depreciation purposes.
This measure may also impact mergers, acquisition and other deal structures. Purchasers may insist on allocating more purchase price to depreciable intellectual property assets, rather than goodwill or trademarks, on the basis that this will provide larger depreciation deductions in the future on a present value basis.
Conversely, gains on the sale of goodwill and trademarks (as opposed to copyrights, patents, designs and software) are generally taxed as capital gains, and so may be eligible for the 50% CGT discount and/or the small business CGT concessions. This may cause some potential tension between vendors and purchasers.
Patent box – tax concession for Australian medical and biotechnology innovations
Summary
Building on its 2020-21 Budget measures, the Government will introduce a ‘patent box’ regime which will tax corporate income derived from patents at a concessional effective corporate tax rate of 17%.
This measure will apply to income derived from Australian medical and biotechnology patents, and the Government will also consult on whether the measure should be extended to the clean energy sector.
While it has been announced that the concession will apply from income years starting on or after 1 July 2022, the Government will consult with industry before settling the detailed design of the measure.
Observation
From 1 July 2021, the corporate tax rate is 25% for base rate entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $50 million and 30% for all other corporate taxpayers.
It is expected that the reduction of the tax rate applicable to income derived from medical and biotechnology patents will attract investment, and encourage development within Australia.
Presumably, taxpayers will be required to carefully and separately record income derived from eligible patents. Additionally, it remains to be seen what notional deductions, if any, will need to be applied to income derived from eligible patents.
While the announcement is welcomed, it is clearly not structurally agnostic as it appears it will only apply to corporate taxpayers; and not trusts or partnerships, unless their patents are held in a separate corporate vehicle.
CCIV regime to be finalised
Summary
The Government has announced a revised commencement date of 1 July 2022 for the corporate collective investment vehicle (CCIV) regime, the introduction of which had been announced in the 2016-17 Budget.
Observation
The CCIV is a new type of collective investment vehicle; a company structure that has the flow-through benefits of a trust. As a vehicle recognisable to foreign investors, the CCIV was promoted as a way of increasing foreign investment into Australia.
Much work was undertaken by Treasury and the funds management industry during 2017 to develop the regime’s regulatory framework, including the release of an exposure draft outlining the proposed tax regime for CCIVs. Progress then stalled, with Government priorities shifting elsewhere.
The Government’s commitment to finalise the CCIV regime is welcomed. Local fund managers have been eagerly awaiting the implementation of this regime, which will allow them to promote and export their funds management expertise and services overseas.
Ultimately, the promotion of foreign investment into Australia by the regime’s introduction can only benefit the economy at a time when it is needed most.
Offshore Banking Unit concession to end
Summary
The Budget confirms the Treasurer’s announcement of 12 March 2021 that will see the removal of:
- the concessional 10% effective tax rate applying to income derived by Offshore Banking Units (OBUs); and
- from 1 January 2024 –the current exemption from withholding tax that applies to interest and gold fees paid by OBUs on certain offshore borrowings.
The OBU regime will be closed to new entrants effective from 26 October 2018, with existing OBUs accessing the concessional tax rate until the end of their 2023 income year.
Draft legislation with respect to these measures was introduced into Parliament on 17 March 2021.
Observation
The OBU regime was introduced in the late 1980s to attract banking and other financial sector activities to Australia from low-tax jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
However, in October 2018, the OECD raised concerns about Australia’s OBU regime, considering it a harmful preferential tax regime. The Government’s measures aim to address the OECD’s concerns.
The removal of concessions for OBUs is already well underway. However, there continues to be little by way of proposed measures to ensure the industry’s competitiveness is maintained.
Review of venture capital tax incentive programs
Summary
The Government is proposing to undertake a review in 2021 of the venture capital tax incentives.
The scope of the review is expected to include the existing programs in respect of a Venture Capital Limited Partnership, Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnership, Australian Venture Capital Fund of Funds and certain direct investments from foreign tax residents.
Observation
The review will provide a great opportunity through the public consultation process to express any issues with the existing programs with a view to recommending enhancements going forward. Further details are expected to be released later this year and consultation will be undertaken in 2021.
Insolvency and restructuring reform
Summary
The Government will continue to examine ways to improve Australia's insolvency laws, including consulting on options to:
- clarify the treatment of trusts with corporate trustees under Australia's insolvency law; and
- improve the process for creditor schemes of arrangement, such as introducing a moratorium on creditor enforcement while schemes are being negotiated.
The Government will also:
- increase the minimum threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company from $2,000 to $4,000; and
- commence an independent review of the insolvent trading safe harbour.
Observations
We support the Government proactively looking to improve and reform Australia’s insolvency and restructuring laws.
Increasing the threshold for creditor’s statutory demands from $2,000 to $4,000 is a sensible move. While there are differing views on the appropriate threshold, we think that $4,000 is about right in balancing the ability of creditors to pursue undisputed debts against not having companies put into liquidation over very small debts.
Introducing a moratorium while a creditor’s scheme of arrangement is being negotiated will be helpful. However, schemes will continue to be expensive and cumbersome, and we expect they will still be rarely used and only in very large and complex restructurings.