Brian is employed part-time as a shop assistant by a retail chain and receives a salary of
Question:
Brian is employed part-time as a shop assistant by a retail chain and receives a salary of $30,000 per annum. He has no other income. On 1 July 2020, Brian purchased a farm for $190,000 and planted 750 Olive trees at a cost of $14,000. He expects the venture to be profitable when the trees mature in 5 years’ time. For the year ended 30 June 2021 no income was received and the venture reported an $11,000 loss for taxation purposes. Which of the following statements is most representative of the taxation treatment of Brian’s loss from the venture in respect of the 2021 year?
A. The loss can be offset against his salary income.
B. The loss cannot be offset against his salary income as the venture represents a hobby and not a business.
C. The loss cannot be offset against his salary income as it represents a “non-commercial loss” by virtue of Div. 35 of the Income Tax Assessment 1997.
D. The loss cannot be offset against his salary income as only losses from investments can be offset against salary income.
E. Brian must apply for the Federal Commissioner of Taxation’s discretion to allow the loss to be offset on the basis the venture will be profitable in a commercially viable period.
Intermediate Accounting
ISBN: 978-0078025839
9th edition
Authors: J. David Spiceland, James Sepe , Mark Nelson , Wayne Thomas