FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Clark v Commissioner of Taxation (No. 2) [2009] FCA 1496
TAXATION – consideration of submissions in relation to the form of orders to be made arising out of the publication of reasons for judgment in Clark v Commissioner of Taxation [2009] FCA 1401 on 30 November 2009
Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth), s 14ZZP
DAVID CLARK v COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
QUD 500 of 2006
HELEN CLARK v COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
QUD 501 of 2006
GREENWOOD J
14 DECEMBER 2009
BRISBANE
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
QUD 500 of 2006
BETWEEN: DAVID CLARK
ApplicantAND: COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
Respondent
JUDGE:
GREENWOOD J
DATE OF ORDER:
14 DECEMBER 2009
WHERE MADE:
BRISBANE
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1.The appeal be allowed.
2.The objection decision of the respondent dated 27 October 2006 is varied by setting aside the disallowance of the applicant’s objection to the respondent’s Amended Assessment the subject of para 1 of the application filed on 15 December 2006 and substituting for that decision, a decision allowing the objection of the applicant.
3.The Commissioner of Taxation is directed to issue an Amended Assessment taking account of the reasons for judgment published on 30 November 2009.
4.The respondent pay the costs of the applicant of and incidental to the application.
Note:Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.
The text of entered orders can be located using Federal Court Search on the Court’s website.
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
QUD 501 of 2006
BETWEEN: HELEN CLARK
ApplicantAND: COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
Respondent
JUDGE:
GREENWOOD J
DATE OF ORDER:
14 DECEMBER 2009
WHERE MADE:
BRISBANE
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1.The appeal be allowed.
2.The objection decision of the respondent dated 27 October 2006 is varied by setting aside the disallowance of the applicant’s objection to the respondent’s Amended Assessment the subject of para 1 of the application filed on 15 December 2006 and substituting for that decision, a decision allowing the objection of the applicant.
3.The Commissioner of Taxation is directed to issue an Amended Assessment taking account of the reasons for judgment published on 30 November 2009.
4.The respondent pay the costs of the applicant of and incidental to the application.
Note:Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.
The text of entered orders can be located using Federal Court Search on the Court’s website.
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
QUD 500 of 2006
BETWEEN: DAVID CLARK
ApplicantAND: COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
Respondent
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
QUD 501 of 2006
BETWEEN: HELEN CLARK
ApplicantAND: COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION
Respondent
JUDGE:
GREENWOOD J
DATE:
14 DECEMBER 2009
PLACE:
BRISBANE
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
In these proceedings, reasons for judgment were published on 30 November 2009. Each application was adjourned to 14 December 2009 to enable the parties to make further submissions as to the form of orders to be made including orders as to costs, in light of the reasons for judgment. Short submissions were received as to those matters. Having regard to the reasons for judgment, the appeal of each taxpayer from the Commissioner’s appellable objection decision is to be allowed. Section 14ZZP of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth) provides that the Court may make such order in relation to the appellable objection decision as it thinks fit including an order varying the decision.
It seems to me that the appropriate orders are these:
1.The appeal be allowed.
2.The objection decision of the respondent dated 27 October 2006 is varied by setting aside the disallowance of the applicant’s objection to the respondent’s Amended Assessment the subject of para 1 of the application filed on 15 December 2006 and substituting for that decision, a decision allowing the objection of the applicant.
3.The Commissioner of Taxation is directed to issue an Amended Assessment taking account of the reasons for judgment published on 30 November 2009.
As to the question of costs, the applicants initially sought an order for indemnity costs although that matter has not been pressed. The appropriate order is an order that the respondent pay the costs of each applicant of and incidental to the application.
I certify that the preceding three (3) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Greenwood. Associate:
Dated: 14 December 2009
Counsel for the Applicants: Mr M Robertson Solicitor for the Applicants: Ernst & Young, Law Counsel for the Respondent: Mr S Couper SC with Ms M Brennan Solicitor for the Respondent: Australian Government Solicitor
Date of Hearing: 14 December 2009 Date of Judgment: 14 December 2009
- AGLC
- Clark v Commissioner of Taxation (No. 2) [2009] FCA 1496
- Case
- [2009] FCA 1496
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The Court had to determine whether the expenses incurred by Mr. Clark were indeed ordinary and necessary for the purpose of gaining or producing assessable income, thus qualifying for a deduction under section 8-1 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. This involved a careful examination of the nature and purpose of the expenses, the circumstances in which they were incurred, and whether they were directly related to the production of assessable income. The Court also had to consider the Commissioner’s disallowance of the deduction and whether this decision was legally sound and supported by the evidence.
In its judgment, the Court found that the expenses in question were ordinary and necessary for the purpose of gaining or producing assessable income. The Court held that the Commissioner’s disallowance of the deduction was not supported by the evidence and was therefore flawed. The Court allowed the appeal, set aside the disallowance of the deduction, and directed the Commissioner to issue an amended assessment that took into account the Court’s reasoning. Additionally, the Court ordered the Commissioner to pay the costs of the applicant associated with the application.
Orders
Orders of the court
1. The appeal be allowed.
2. The objection decision of the respondent dated 27 October 2006 is varied by setting aside the disallowance of the applicant’s objection to the respondent’s Amended Assessment the subject of para 1 of the application filed on 15 December 2006 and substituting for that decision, a decision allowing the objection of the applicant.
3. The Commissioner of Taxation is directed to issue an Amended Assessment taking account of the reasons for judgment published on 30 November 2009.
4. The respondent pay the costs of the applicant of and incidental to the application.
Note:
Background
Background to the litigation
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Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
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Decision
Reasons for decision
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Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
Established by: GREENWOOD J
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