Our Insolvency Update of 3 March 2014 refers to the Federal Court’s decision in Australian Building Systems Pty Ltd (in liq) v Commissioner of Taxation . The court held that liquidators and receivers and managers cannot be held personally liable for any CGT liability subsequently assessed as due (where funds are remitted in the ordinary course and to secured creditors before the Commissioner of Taxation issues the assessment).
In the decision of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association v Fletcher; Grant Samuel Corporate Finance Pty Limited v Fletcher [2014] NSWCA 31, the Court of Appeal of New South Wales confirmed that liquidators may apply under rule 36.16(2)(b) of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) (UCPR) to further extend the time within which they may bring voidable transactions proceedings. We considered the first instance judgment in a
In the decision of In the matter of AWA Limited (Administrators Appointed) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) ACN 111 674 661 [2014] NSWSC 249, the New South Wales Supreme Court considered the scope of s 477D of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and whether it was appropriate to make a direction regarding the administrators’ entry into a loan agreement to pay out a secured creditor.
Background
In the recent matter of JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association v Fletcher; Grant Samuel Corporate Finance Pty Ltd v Fletcher [2014] NSWCA 31, the NSW Court of Appeal handed down a decision with important consequences for liquidators and the time they have to commence proceedings for voidable transactions. The decision also illustrates the frequently inconsistent operation of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and Court procedure rules. Senior Associate, Elisabeth Pickthall and Associate, Stefano Calabretta discuss the decision.
A recent decision in the High Court of Australia gave liquidators of landlords extra powers to disclaim leases that are registered on title. For example, if a landlord leases a site to a tenant, and the landlord subsequently goes into liquidation, the liquidator does not have to abide by the terms of the lease, and may refuse to recognise the lease and ask the tenant to vacate the site.
Facts
Section 254 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 sets out the circumstances when a 'trustee' (which is defined to include a liquidator and a receiver) must account to the Commissioner, out of the proceeds of sale, for any capital gains tax (CGT) liability that would result as a consequence of the sale. Justice Logan of the Federal Court of Australia1 last Friday found that a liquidator does not have any obligation to pay under section 254 unless and until an assessment has been issued. A similar analysis would also apply to a receiver.
Introduction
Does the ATO have priority over secured creditors in a liquidation? Is a receiver required to account to the ATO for any tax payable out of funds received on the sale of an asset before accounting to the secured creditor? Are receivers and liquidators personally liable for the tax payable from funds received by them? Can receivers and liquidators avoid such personal liability by distributing funds received to creditors before a tax assessment arises? These issues were at the centre of a Federal Court judgment handed down on 21 February 2014.
First Equilibrium Pty Limited v Bluestone Property Services Pty Limited (in liq) [2013] FC AFC 108
An appeal from the decision of Bluestone Property Services Pty Ltd (in liq) v First Equilibrium Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 876.
On 21 February 2014 the Federal Court handed down its decision in Australian Building Systems Pty Ltd (in liq) v Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCA 116 with the result that liquidators and receivers and managers cannot be held personally liable for any CGT liability subsequently assessed as due (where funds are remitted in the ordinary course and to secured creditors before the Commissioner of Taxation issues the assessment).