Newsletter
December 2013 Newsletter
No GST following purchase of leased apartments
A taxpayer has been successful before the Full Federal Court in a matter concerning a GST assessment following the purchase of three residential apartments. The taxpayer (a company) had purchased the apartments in a hotel complex from the vendor on a GST-free basis as supply of a going concern. The apartments were subject to leases that the vendor had previously granted to a hotel management company, which was obliged to let the apartments as part of its serviced apartment business. The taxpayer had also elected to participate in a “management rights scheme”, which provided the taxpayer a right to income in exchange for allowing its apartments to be used in the serviced apartment business.
The Commissioner assessed the taxpayer as having a GST liability of $215,000 (ie an increasing adjustment), which represented 10% of the total purchase price paid by the taxpayer for the apartments. On appeal, the Full Court found that the primary judge had made an error in concluding that, following the sale of the reversion from the vendor to the taxpayer, there was a continuing supply, being the supply of residential premises by lease, by the vendor to the hotel management company. The Full Court said there was no continuing supply in relation to the lease; rather, the supply was the grant of the lease, which did not continue for the term of the lease. As a result, the taxpayer’s objection to the GST assessment was allowed.
TIP: At the time of writing it remained unclear whether the Commissioner would apply to the High Court for special leave to appeal against the decision. Assuming that the Full Court’s decision will not be appealed or overturned, purchasers who have previously acquired residential premises as a going concern and then included an increasing adjustment in a subsequent GST return may want to consider whether there is potential for a refund.
Note that there are time limits that can restrict entitlement to refunds. Purchasers who are contemplating acquiring residential premises as a going concern should exercise caution until it is clear whether the decision will be appealed, or whether the government may look into introducing amending legislation.