Private Rulings:

Often, a taxpayer can apply to the Commissioner of Taxation for a Private Ruling that sets out the ATO’s opinion on how the taxation laws apply to you and your specific circumstances. If you apply to the ATO for a Private Ruling and are given a Private Ruling by the Commissioner of Taxation, the taxation laws must be applied to your situation in a way that is consistent with the Private Ruling that has been given by the Commissioner.

The Taxation Commissioner can generally decide on a Private Ruling where it is in response to an Application for a Private Ruling that is made by a particular person (or entity). The Australian Taxation Office considers an entity to be:

• An individual taxpayer;
• A partnership;
• A body corporate;
• A trust (where the trustee applies for the private ruling);
• A superannuation fund; and
• Any other unincorporated association.

Generally, you would apply for a Private Ruling where you wish to be certain about how the taxation laws apply to your specific circumstances. Private Rulings set out the Commissioner‘s opinion on how taxation laws will apply to your specific circumstances and may include the following tax areas:

• The Medicare levy;
• Income tax;
• Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT);
• Excise duty;
• Fuel tax credits;
• Goods and Services Tax (GST);
• Luxury Car Tax (LCT); and
• Wine Equalisation Tax (WET).

If you are unsure about how the tax laws apply to your circumstances, one of our Sydney tax lawyers can assist you. Where your taxation affairs are complex, or you have a specific question on how the tax laws will affect your specific circumstances, one of our taxation lawyers can consider the benefits and risks in assisting you to apply for a Private Ruling and if you decide to apply for a Private Ruling, can assist you in preparing, drafting and lodging an application for a Private Ruling.

Our experienced taxation lawyers can explain Private Ruling to you in a terminology that is easy for you to understand and can explain to you the effect of the Private Ruling to your particular circumstances.

At Navado, we have a dedicated team of tax lawyers who can offer you tax advice that is specific to your individual needs. If you would like to speak to one of our tax lawyers, you can contact our firm by telephone on (02) 9233 4048 or by email at info@navado.com.au to arrange an appointment. 

This webpage (and any material or wording appearing on this webpage) is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute any Legal Advice. It does not take into account your objectives, your instructions or all of the relevant facts and/or circumstances. Navado accepts no responsibility to any person who relies on the information provided on this website. We further refer you to our Disclaimer.