Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) Act 2018

No. 15, 2018

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date: 1 July 2021

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 72, 2021

Registered: 30 August 2021

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) Act 2018 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 July 2021 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self - repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Short title 1

2 Commencement 1

3 Schedules 2

Schedule 1—Junior minerals exploration incentive 3

Part 1—Main amendments 3

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 3

Part 2—Other amendments 23

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 23

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 23

Taxation Administration Act 1953 27

Part 4—Application, transitional and saving provisions 29

Division 1—Application and transitional provisions 29

Schedule 2—Amendment of the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Act 2015 31

Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Act 2015 31

Endnotes 32

Endnote 1—About the endnotes 32

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 34

Endnote 3—Legislation history 35

Endnote 4—Amendment history 36

An Act to amend the law relating to taxation, and for related purposes
1 Short title

This Act is the Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) Act 2018.
2 Commencement 1

Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information Commencement information Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. 29 March 2018
2. Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2 The first 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October to occur after the day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 1 April 2018
4. Schedule 1, Part 4, Division 1 At the same time as the provisions covered by table item 2. 1 April 2018
6. Schedule 2 The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent. 29 March 2018

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 2

Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedules

Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
Junior minerals exploration incentive

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

 1 Section 418-1

Repeal the section, substitute:

 418-1 What this Division is about

Generally, you are entitled to a tax offset for an income year for exploration credits issued to you for the income year.

A greenfields minerals explorer can create exploration credits for an income year. Before creating exploration credits, the explorer must obtain an allocation of exploration credits from the Commissioner for the year.

The exploration credits created for an income year cannot exceed an amount based on the explorer’s greenfields minerals expenditure or tax loss for the year. If the explorer’s exploration credits allocation for the year is smaller than that amount, the amount of exploration credits that the explorer can create will be reduced to sit within the allocation. However, any unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year would be carried over and so would increase the amount of exploration credits that the explorer can create.

An exploration credit created by a greenfields minerals explorer can be issued to you if you have invested in the explorer. While the tax offset you receive for the exploration credit issued to you for an income year will apply to that income year, the investment that gives rise to that offset may have been made in that or the preceding income year.

There are rules to ensure that exploration credits are not streamed to some investors rather than others. There are also rules to ensure that the total of the exploration credits you receive because of an investment (whether those credits are issued to you for the year in which you invest or the subsequent year) do not exceed the corporate tax that might be paid by the greenfields minerals explorer on that investment.

The explorer is liable to pay excess exploration credit tax if the explorer issues exploration credits in breach of these rules.

There is a cap on total allocations made by the Commissioner for each income year, but if part of the cap from the preceding year is unallocated it will be carried over. Allocations are made in the order in which applications for an allocation are made.

If an exploration credit is issued to a corporate tax entity, it will give rise to a franking credit (rather than a tax offset).

Note: Excess exploration credit tax is imposed by the Excess Exploration Credit Tax Act 2015, and the amount of the tax is set out in that Act.

 2 Subdivisions 418-D and 418-E

Repeal the Subdivisions, substitute:

Table of sections

418-70 Entities that may create exploration credits

418-75 Meaning of greenfields minerals explorer

418-80 Meaning of greenfields minerals expenditure

418-81 Meaning of exploration credits allocation for an income year

418-82 When does an entity have an unused allocation of exploration credits from an income year

418-85 Exploration credits must not exceed maximum exploration credit amount

418-95 Effect on tax losses of creating exploration credits

 418-70 Entities that may create exploration credits 1

(1) An entity may create exploration credits for an income year if:

 a

the entity was a *greenfields minerals explorer in the income year; and

 b

the entity has an *exploration credits allocation for the income year or an *unused allocation of exploration credits from the immediately preceding income year.

 2

The entity cannot create *exploration credits for an income year before income tax is assessed for the entity for the year.

 3

The entity cannot create *exploration credits for the 2021-22 income year or a later income year.

 4

A failure to comply with subsection (1) or (2) does not invalidate the creation of an *exploration credit.

 5

An *exploration credit is to be expressed as an amount.

 6

The entity cannot make more than one decision to create *exploration credits for an income year, and the decision is final and irrevocable.

 418-75 Meaning of greenfields minerals explorer 1

(1) An entity is a greenfields minerals explorer in an income year if:

 a

the entity has *greenfields minerals expenditure for the income year; and

 b

(b) during the income year, the entity is a disclosing entity (Corporations Act 2001); andwithin the meaning of section 111AC of the

c

during the income year, the entity is a *constitutional corporation; and

 d

during the income year, and during the immediately preceding income year, neither:

 i

the entity; nor

 ii

any other entity that is *connected with or is an *affiliate of the entity;

carried on any mining operations on a mining property for extracting *minerals (except *petroleum) from their natural site, for the *purpose of producing assessable income.

Note 1: Under subsection 418-80(5), the Commissioner may request a report on an area in relation to which an entity has greenfields minerals expenditure.

Note 2: Under the Commissioner may determine that an entity that is, or has been, liable to excess exploration credit tax is not to be treated as a greenfields minerals explorer.section 418-185,

2

(2) However, an entity is not a greenfields minerals explorer in an income year in which either or both of the following happens, or in any subsequent income year:

 a

the entity fails to comply with a request of the Commissioner under subsection 418-80(5);

 b

a determination under section 418-185 has effect.

 418-80 Meaning of greenfields minerals expenditure 1

(1) An entity’s greenfields minerals expenditure for an income year is the sum of:

 a

the amounts of any deductions to which the entity is entitled under section 40-25 for that income year in relation to declines in value that:

 i

are declines in value of *depreciating assets used for *exploration or prospecting for *minerals in an area to which subsection (3) of this section applies; and

 ii

are worked out under subsection 40-80(1); and

 b

the amounts of any deductions for that income year to which the entity is entitled in relation to expenditure:

 i

that is of a kind referred to in subsection 40-730(1); and

 ii

in relation to which the entity satisfies one or more of paragraphs 40-730(1)(a) to (c); and

 iii

that is expenditure on exploration or prospecting for minerals in an area to which subsection (3) of this section applies.

 2

For the purposes of subsection (1), disregard a deduction to the extent that it relates to:

 a

matters other than:

 i

declines in value of *depreciating assets used for; or

 ii

expenditure on;

*exploration or prospecting for *minerals in an area to which subsection (3) of this section applies; or

Note: This document is commonly referred to as the JORC Code (2012 Edition).

The request may specify the manner in which, and the form in which, the report is to be prepared.

 b

exploration or prospecting for *petroleum or oil shale; or

 c

activities (such as feasibility studies) undertaken to identify the viability of a mineral resource rather than its existence.

 3

This subsection applies to an area:

 a

that is in Australia; and

 b

in relation to which the entity *holds a *mining, quarrying or prospecting right at the time of incurring the expenditure, or is the transferee under a *farm-in farm-out arrangement; and

 c

that has not been identified as containing a mineral resource that is at least inferred in a report prepared in accordance with the requirements of:

 i

unless subparagraph (ii) applies—the document that is known as the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Minerals Resources and Ore Reserves and that took effect on 20 December 2012; or

 ii

such other document as the regulations prescribe; and

 d

that is not, and is not in, any of the following:

 i

(i) the coastal sea of Australia (Acts Interpretation Act 1901);within the meaning of subsection 15B(4) of the

ii

an area referred to in subsection 960-505(2).

 4

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(c), disregard any mineral resource, identified in a report of a kind referred to in that paragraph, that does not include *minerals the *exploration or prospecting for which involved:

 a

use of assets referred to in paragraph (1)(a); or

 b

expenditure referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

 5

The Commissioner may request an entity that is a *greenfields minerals explorer in an income year to prepare, within the period specified in the request, a report that:

 a

is of the kind referred to in paragraph (3)(c); and

 b

relates to an area in relation to which the entity has *greenfields minerals expenditure for the income year.

 418-81 Meaning of exploration credits allocation for an income year 1

(1) An entity has an exploration credits allocation for an income year if the Commissioner makes a determination under section 418-101 allocating the entity *exploration credits for the income year.

 2

(2) The amount of the entity’s exploration credits allocation for the income year is the amount of *exploration credits allocated to the entity under the determination.

 3

(3) If no determination is made allocating *exploration credits to the entity for the income year, the amount of the entity’s exploration credits allocation for the year is nil.

 418-82 When does an entity have an unused allocation of exploration credits from an income year 1

(1) An entity has an unused allocation of exploration credits from an income year if each of the following:

 a

the entity’s *exploration credits allocation for the income year;

 b

the total credits issue for investment in the entity for the income year;

exceeds the total amount of all *exploration credits created by the entity for the income year.

total credits issue for investment in the entity (the minerals explorer) for an income year means the total of all *exploration credits that may be issued by the minerals explorer to all other entities in relation to *exploration investment made by those other entities in the minerals explorer in the income year if section 418-120 is complied with.

 2

(2) The amount of the unused allocation of exploration credits from the income year is the lesser of:

 a

the amount by which the amount mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) exceeds the total amount of all *exploration credits created by the entity for the income year; and

 b

the amount by which the amount mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) exceeds the total amount of all *exploration credits created by the entity for the income year.

 3

(3) If neither the amount mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) nor (1)(b) exceeds the total amount of all *exploration credits created by the entity for the income year, there is no unused allocation of exploration credits from the income year, and the amount of any unused allocation of exploration credits from the income year is nil.

 4

In this section:

 418-85 Exploration credits must not exceed maximum exploration credit amount 1

An entity must not create *exploration credits for an income year of a total amount that exceeds the entity’s *maximum exploration credit amount for the income year.

 2

(2) An entity’s maximum exploration credit amount for an income year (the credit year) is the smallest of the following amounts:

 a

the entity’s *greenfields minerals expenditure for the credit year multiplied by the entity’s *corporate tax rate for the credit year;

 b

the entity’s *tax loss for the credit year multiplied by the entity’s corporate tax rate for the credit year;

 c

the sum of:

 i

the entity’s *exploration credits allocation for the credit year; and

 ii

the entity’s *unused allocation of exploration credits from the income year immediately preceding the credit year.

 3

In working out the entity’s *greenfields minerals expenditure for the credit year for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), reduce that greenfields minerals expenditure by the sum of:

 a

all *recoupments that the entity receives in relation to the entity’s greenfields minerals expenditure for the credit year; and

 b

if:

 i

an amount has been included in the entity’s assessable income because a *balancing adjustment event occurs for a *depreciating asset; and

 ii

all or part of the amount of the deduction to which the entity is entitled under section 40-25 for the credit year in relation to the decline in value of the asset is included in the entity’s greenfields minerals expenditure for that year;

so much of the amount of that deduction as was included in that greenfields minerals expenditure.

so much of the amount of that deduction as was included in that greenfields minerals expenditure.

 4

In working out the entity’s *tax loss for the credit year for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), reduce that tax loss by the sum of:

 a

all *recoupments that the entity receives in relation to the entity’s *greenfields minerals expenditure for the credit year; and

 b

any part of the entity’s tax loss for the credit year that would not be deductible in the income year immediately following the credit year; and

 c

if:

 i

an amount has been included in the entity’s assessable income because a *balancing adjustment event occurs for a *depreciating asset; and

 ii

all or part of the amount of the deduction to which the entity is entitled under section 40-25 for the credit year in relation to the decline in value of the asset is included in the entity’s greenfields minerals expenditure for that year;

 5

For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), assume that the entity’s assessable income for the income year immediately following the credit year is sufficient to allow the entity to utilise the whole of that *tax loss in relation to the credit year.

 6

A failure to comply with this section does not invalidate the creation of an *exploration credit.

 418-95 Effect on tax losses of creating exploration credits 1

If an entity creates any *exploration credits for a *loss year, the amount of the entity’s *tax loss for the loss year is reduced by the amount worked out as follows:

 2

However, if the amount worked out under subsection (1) equals or exceeds what would (apart from this section) be the entity’s *tax loss for the *loss year, that tax loss is taken to be nil.

Table of sections

418-100 Applying for an exploration credits allocation

418-101 Determination by the Commissioner

418-102 General allocation rules

418-103 Meaning of annual exploration cap

418-104 Failure to comply with this Subdivision does not affect allocation

 418-100 Applying for an exploration credits allocation 1

An entity may apply to the Commissioner for a determination under section 418-101 allocating *exploration credits to the entity for an income year.

 2

The application must be made within 1 month before the start of the *financial year corresponding to the income year for which the allocation is sought.

 3

The application must:

 a

be *lodged electronically; and

 b

be in the *approved form; and

 c

include an estimate of:

 i

the entity’s *greenfields minerals expenditure for the income year; and

 ii

the entity’s *tax loss for the income year; and

 iii

the entity’s *corporate tax rate for the income year.

 4

The Commissioner must give the entity:

 a

if the Commissioner makes a determination under section 418-101—a copy of the determination; or

 b

if the Commissioner decides to refuse the application—notice of that decision.

 418-101 Determination by the Commissioner

Determination allocating exploration credits

Circumstances in which the Commissioner must not make a determination

Amount of the exploration credits allocated

Determination not a legislative instrument

 1

The Commissioner may make a written determination allocating *exploration credits of an amount specified in the determination to an entity for an income year.

 2

The Commissioner must not make a determination allocating *exploration credits to an entity for an income year if the Commissioner is not satisfied that:

 a

there is a reasonable possibility that the entity will have:

 i

*greenfields minerals expenditure of the amount estimated by the entity in the application, or greater; and

 ii

a *tax loss of the amount estimated by the entity in the application, or greater; and

 iii

the *corporate tax rate estimated by the entity in the application; and

 b

the entity meets any other requirement prescribed under the regulations.

 3

The amount of the *exploration credits specified in the determination must be the smallest of the following amounts:

 a

the entity’s estimated *greenfields minerals expenditure for the income year multiplied by the entity’s estimated *corporate tax rate for the income year;

 b

the entity’s estimated *tax loss for the income year multiplied by the entity’s estimated corporate tax rate for the income year;

 c

either:

 i

5% of an amount equal to the *annual exploration cap for the income year; or

 ii

if another amount, or a method for working out another amount, is prescribed—the other amount.

 4

A determination made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

 418-102 General allocation rules 1

The total amount of *exploration credits allocated to entities for an income year by the Commissioner must not exceed the *annual exploration cap for the year.

 2

The Commissioner must consider applications for *exploration credits from entities for an income year in the order in which the Commissioner receives the applications.

 3

If the Commissioner receives more than one application at the same time, the Commissioner may decide the order in which the Commissioner considers the applications.

 4

If the Commissioner would contravene this section by allocating *exploration credits to an entity for an income year of an amount worked out under subsection 418-101(3) then, despite that subsection, the amount of exploration credits allocated to that entity for the income year is to be the difference between the *annual exploration cap for the year and the total amount of exploration credits already allocated to other entities for the year.

 418-103 Meaning of annual exploration cap 1

(1) The annual exploration cap for an income year is the following amount:

 a

for the 2017-18 income year—$15 million;

 b

for the 2018-19 income year—$25 million, plus the *exploration credits remainder for the immediately preceding income year;

 c

for the 2019-20 income year—$30 million, plus the exploration credits remainder for the immediately preceding income year and any other amount prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph;

 d

for the 2020-21 income year—$30 million, plus the exploration credits remainder for the immediately preceding income year and any other amount prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.

 2

(2) If the total amount of *exploration credits allocated by the Commissioner for an income year is less than the *annual exploration cap for the year, the difference is the exploration credits remainder for the income year.

 418-104 Failure to comply with this Subdivision does not affect allocation

A failure by the Commissioner to comply with this Subdivision does not invalidate a determination allocating *exploration credits to an entity for an income year.

Table of sections

418-110 Issuing exploration credits

418-111 Working out whether an exploration investment has been made in an income year

418-115 Who may receive an exploration credit and what is the pool from which the credit may be issued

418-116 Exploration credits issued must be in proportion to exploration investment

418-120 The total of all exploration credits issued in relation to exploration investment

418-125 Expiry of exploration credits

418-130 Notifying the Commissioner of issuing or expiry of exploration credits

 418-110 Issuing exploration credits 1

(1) An entity that has created *exploration credits for an income year (the minerals explorer) may issue an exploration credit for that income year to another entity (the investor).

 2

The *exploration credit issued to the investor for the income year may relate to:

 a

*exploration investment made by the investor in the minerals explorer in the income year; or

 b

exploration investment made by the investor in the minerals explorer in the immediately preceding income year.

However, this rule is subject to the limitations imposed under sections 418-115, 418-116 and 418-120.

 3

An *exploration credit is issued to an entity by giving the entity a statement in the *approved form.

 418-111 Working out whether an exploration investment has been made in an income year 1

(1) An entity (the investor) makes an exploration investment in another entity (the minerals explorer) in an income year if:

 a

*shares in the minerals explorer are issued to the investor by the minerals explorer:

 i

on or after the day on which the Commissioner makes a determination under section 418-101 allocating *exploration credits to the minerals explorer for the income year; and

 ii

before the end of the income year; and

 b

those shares are *equity interests.

 2

(2) The amount of the exploration investment made by the investor in the minerals explorer in the income year is equal to the total amount paid up by the investor on the shares during the period mentioned in paragraph (1)(a).

 418-115 Who may receive an exploration credit and what is the pool from which the credit may be issued 1

(1) If *exploration credits are to be issued by an entity (the minerals explorer) for an income year (the credit year), work out each of the following by identifying whether scenario 1, 2 or 3 applies, and applying the rules for that scenario:

 a

whether the minerals explorer can issue an exploration credit to another entity in relation to *exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year;

 b

(b) whether the minerals explorer can issue an exploration credit to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the income year immediately preceding the credit year (the preceding year);

 c

(c) the pool of exploration credits from which an exploration credit may be issued to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year (this is called the issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the credit year);

 d

(d) the pool of exploration credits from which an exploration credit may be issued to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the preceding year (this is called the issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the preceding year).

Scenario 1—no unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year

Scenario 2—exploration credits for the credit year exceed unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year

Scenario 3—exploration credits for the credit year are equal to or less than the unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year

 2

If there is no *unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year:

 a

*exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to *exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year; and

 b

no exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the preceding year.

 3

In this scenario:

 a

(a) the issue pool for *exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the credit year is equal to the total amount of *exploration credits created by the minerals explorer for the credit year; and

 b

(b) the issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the preceding year is nil.

 4

If the amount of the *exploration credits created by the minerals explorer for the credit year is more than the *unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year:

 a

exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to *exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year; and

 b

exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the preceding year.

 5

In this scenario:

 a

(a) the issue pool for *exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the credit year is equal to the difference between the *unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year and the total amount of *exploration credits created by the minerals explorer for the credit year; and

 b

(b) the issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the preceding year is equal to the unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year.

 6

However, no *exploration credit can be issued to another entity in relation to *exploration investment made by the entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year unless the *issue pool for exploration investment in the preceding year is exhausted.

 7

If the amount of the *exploration credits created by the minerals explorer for the credit year is equal to or less than the *unused allocation of exploration credits from the preceding year:

 a

no exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to *exploration investment made by the entity in the minerals explorer in the credit year; and

 b

exploration credits can be issued to another entity in relation to exploration investment made by the other entity in the minerals explorer in the preceding year.

 8

In this scenario:

 a

(a) the issue pool for *exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the credit year is nil; and

 b

(b) the issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the preceding year is equal to the total amount of *exploration credits created by the minerals explorer for the credit year.

 418-116 Exploration credits issued must be in proportion to exploration investment

If an *exploration credit is issued by an entity (the minerals explorer) for an income year to another entity (the investor) in relation to *exploration investment made by the investor in the minerals explorer in an income year (the investment year):

 a

the proportion of the *issue pool for exploration investment made in the minerals explorer in the investment year that is issued to the investor as an exploration credit must be the same as the proportion of the total exploration investment in the minerals explorer in the investment year that is represented by the investor’s exploration investment in the minerals explorer in the investment year; and

 b

the minerals explorer must issue an exploration credit to every entity who made an exploration investment in the minerals explorer in the investment year.

 418-120 The total of all exploration credits issued in relation to exploration investment

The total amount of all *exploration credits issued by an entity (the minerals explorer) to another entity (the investor) in relation to *exploration investment made by the investor in the minerals explorer in an income year (the investment year) must not exceed the amount worked out using the following formula:

 418-125 Expiry of exploration credits

An *exploration credit created by an entity for an income year (the credit year) expires if the entity does not issue the credit under this Subdivision on or before 30 June in the financial year that corresponds to the income year that immediately follows the credit year.

 418-130 Notifying the Commissioner of issuing or expiry of exploration credits 1

(1) An entity that has created *exploration credits for an income year (the credit year) must notify the Commissioner of the issuing or expiry of the credits.

 2

The notice must:

 a

be in the *approved form; and

 b

be given to the Commissioner on or before the due date:

 i

if the entity is an *investment body for *the Commissioner an *annual investment income report in respect of the *financial year corresponding to the year immediately following the credit year; orPart VA investments—for giving to

ii

otherwise—for the entity to lodge its *income tax return for the income year that immediately follows the credit year.

 3 Section 418-150

Omit “the entity’s *maximum exploration credit amount for the income year.”, substitute “the amount worked out under complying exploration credit amount).”.section 418-151 for the income year (the

4 After section 418-150

Insert:

 418-151 Complying exploration credit amount 1

The complying exploration credit amount (which may be nil) for an income year is worked out by:

 a

starting with the sum of the *exploration credits the entity issues for the income year; and

 b

subtracting from the result of paragraph (a) the sum of any of those exploration credits covered by subsection (2); and

 c

if the result of paragraph (b) exceeds the entity’s *maximum exploration credit amount for the income year—subtracting from that result the amount of the excess.

Note: The complying exploration credit amount is the sum of issued exploration credits that were issued (and created) in compliance with this Division. A liability arises under section 418-150 if the sum of all issued exploration credits exceeds this amount.

Note: Because the maximum exploration credit amount from section 418-85 is taken into account in paragraph (1)(c) of this section, it is disregarded here.

 2

This subsection covers an *exploration credit to the extent to which either or both of the following apply to the credit:

 a

the credit was issued in contravention of a requirement in this Division;

 b

the credit was created in contravention of a requirement in Subdivision 418-D (other than section 418-85).

 5 Section 418-160

Repeal the section, substitute:

 418-160 Returns

An entity that is liable to pay *excess exploration credit tax for an income year (the credit year) must give the Commissioner a return relating to excess exploration credit tax, in the *approved form, within 21 days after the end of the *financial year corresponding to the income year that immediately follows the credit year.

 6 Paragraph 418-185(2)(a)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 a

(a) if, at the time the notice is given, the entity has not issued any *exploration credits for the income year (the credit year) immediately preceding the income year in which the notice is given—the credit year; or

 6A At the end of Division 418

Add:

Table of sections

418-190 Annual impact assessments of this Division

 418-190 Annual impact assessments of this Division 1

As soon as practicable after the end of each income year referred to in subsection (2), the Minister must cause to be conducted an impact assessment of the operation of this Division during that income year. The objective of the impact assessment should be to measure the additional *exploration or prospecting attributable to the Division.

 2

The income years are as follows:

 a

the 2017-2018 income year;

 b

the 2018-2019 income year;

 c

the 2019-2020 income year;

 d

the 2020-2021 income year.

 3

Each impact assessment must make provision for public consultation, including consultation with the industry.

 4

(4) The Minister must cause to be prepared a report of each impact assessment. The report must include any information made publicly available by the Commissioner under Taxation Administration Act 1953 in relation to *exploration credits allocated for the income year.section 3F of the

5

The Minister must cause a copy of a report of an impact assessment to be published on the Australian Taxation Office website as soon as practicable after the completion of the preparation of the report.

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

 7 Subsection 6(1) (definition of exploration development incentive tax offset)

Repeal the definition.

 8 Subsection 6(1)

Insert:

junior minerals exploration incentive tax offset means a tax offset under Subdivision 418-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

 9 Subparagraph 177F(1)(e)(i)

Omit “an exploration development incentive”, substitute “a junior minerals exploration incentive”.

 10 Subparagraphs 177F(3)(e)(i) and (ii)

Omit “an exploration development incentive” (wherever occurring), substitute “a junior minerals exploration incentive”.

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

 11 Section 13-1 (table item headed “exploration for minerals”)

Omit “exploration development incentive”, substitute “junior minerals exploration incentive”.

 12 Section 67-23 (table item 27)

Omit “exploration development incentive”, substitute “junior minerals exploration incentive”.

 13 After section 112-77

Insert:

 112-78 Exploration investments 14 Section 130-1

Omit:

exchangeable interests.

substitute:

exchangeable interests; and

exploration investments.

 15 At the end of Division 130

Add:

 130-110 Reducing the reduced cost base before disposal 1

This section applies if:

 a

(a) an entity (the minerals explorer) issues a *share in the minerals explorer to another entity (the investor) during the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21 income year; and

 b

the Commissioner makes a determination under section 418-101 allocating exploration credits to the minerals explorer for the income year in which the share is issued; and

 c

the share is issued to the investor on or after the day on which the Commissioner’s determination is made; and

 d

the share is an *equity interest.

 2

The *reduced cost base of the *share is to be reduced immediately before the disposal of the share by the amount worked out as follows:

where:

investment period means the period, within the income year in which the *share is issued to the investor, that:

 a

begins on the day on which the Commissioner makes the determination mentioned in paragraph (1)(b); and

 b

ends at the end of the income year.

 16 Subdivision 418-B (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 17 Group heading before section 418-10

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Entitlement to junior minerals exploration incentive tax offset

 18 Group heading before section 418-25

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Amount of junior minerals exploration incentive tax offset

 19 Subdivision 418-C (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 20 Section 418-50 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 418-50 Junior minerals exploration incentive franking credit—ordinary case 21 Section 418-55 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

 418-55 Junior minerals exploration incentive franking credit—life insurance company 22 Subsection 995-1(1)

Insert:

annual exploration cap for an income year has the meaning given by subsection 418-103(1).

 23 Subsection 995-1(1) (definition of exploration credit)

After “created”, insert “, or to be created”.

 24 Subsection 995-1(1)

Insert:

exploration credits allocation for an entity for an income year has the meaning given by section 418-81.

exploration credits remainder for an income year has the meaning given by subsection 418-103(2).

exploration investment has the meaning given by section 418-111.

issue pool, for exploration investment made in an entity in an income year, has the meaning given by section 418-115.

 25 Subsection 995-1(1) (definition of maximum exploration credit amount)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

maximum exploration credit amount for an income year has the meaning given by subsection 418-85(2).

 26 Subsection 995-1(1)

Insert:

unused allocation of exploration credits from an income year has the meaning given by section 418-82.

Taxation Administration Act 1953

 26A At the end of Part IA

Add:

 3F Reporting of information about junior minerals exploration incentive offset 1

(1) This section applies if the Commissioner makes a determination under Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 allocating exploration credits to an entity for an income year.section 418-101 of the

2

The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after making the determination, make publicly available:

 a

the ABN and name of the entity; and

 b

the amount of the entity’s exploration credits allocation for the income year.

 3

(3) An expression used in this section that is also used in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 has the same meaning as in that Act.

 27 Section 45-340 in Schedule 1 (method statement, step 1, paragraph (h))

Omit “exploration development incentive”, substitute “junior minerals exploration incentive”.

 28 Section 45-375 in Schedule 1 (method statement, step 1, paragraph (g))

Omit “exploration development incentive”, substitute “junior minerals exploration incentive”.

 65 Application of amendments

The amendments made by Parts 1 and 2 of this Schedule apply in relation to:

 a

the creation and issuing of exploration credits by an entity in relation to exploration investment made in the entity in the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 income years; and

 b

the consequences of creating or issuing exploration credits for the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 income years.

 66 Transitional provisions relating to the 2017-18 income year 1

(1) Despite subsection 418-100(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, as inserted by item 2 of this Schedule, an application to the Commissioner for a determination allocating exploration credits to an entity for the 2017-18 income year must be made during the period of one month starting on the later of:

 a

the eleventh business day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent; and

 b

the day on which this item commences.

 2

(2) Nothing in subitem (1) affects the rules in subsection 418-102(2) or (3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, as inserted by item 2 of this Schedule.

 3

To avoid doubt:

 a

(a) there can be no allocation of exploration credits for the 2016-17 income year by the Commissioner under Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, as inserted by item 2 of this Schedule; andsection 418-101 of the

b

there can be no unused allocation of exploration credits from the 2016-17 income year for the purposes of that Act, as amended by this Schedule.

 67 Continued application of the old law in relation to entities that were greenfields minerals explorers in the 2016-17 income year

To avoid doubt, the taxation law continues to apply in relation to the 2017-18 income year as if the amendments in Parts 1 and 2 of this Schedule had not been made, to the extent that the law relates to:

 a

the creation and issuing of exploration credits on the basis that the entity that creates and issues the credits is a greenfields minerals explorer in the 2016-17 income year; and

 b

the consequences of creating or issuing exploration credits in those circumstances.

 Amendment of the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Act 2015

Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Act 2015

 1 Subsection 2(1) (table item 12)

Repeal the item, substitute:

 2 Subsection 2(1) (table item 14)

Repeal the item, substitute:

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history