HI6028 Taxation Theory, Practice & Law Individual Assignment

QUESTION 2 - (10 MARKS)

Emma has provided to you a listing of the transactions she has undertaken throughout the financial year to assist you in completing her 2015 income tax return.

Sale of a block of land for $1,000,000: Emma purchased the land as an investment in 1991. The purchase price was $250,000, plus $5,000 in stamp duty, $10,000 in legal fees. To fund the purchase, she took out a loan on which she paid interest totalling $32,000. During the period of ownership her council rates, water rates and insurance totalled $22,000. In January 2005 a dispute occurred with a neighbour over the use of the land and legal fees incurred amounted to $5,000 in resolving this dispute. Before putting the property on the market $27,500 was spent to remove a number of large dangerous pine trees that were on the land. Advertising, legal fees and agent’s fees on the sale of the land were $25,000.

Sale of Emma’s 1000 shares in Rio Tinto for $50.85 per share: Emma paid brokerage fee of 2% on the sale. Emma initially purchased the shares for $3.5 per share in 1982.

Sale of a stamp collection Emma had purchased, from a private collector, in January 2015 for $60,000: Emma sold the collection at auction for $50,000. Auction fees totalled $5,000 for the sale.

Sale of a grand piano for $30,000: It was initially bought for $80,000 in 2000.

Advise Emma of the capital gain tax (CGT) consequences of her transitions. Ignore indexation. Your answer must include references to relevant tax law and or cases.