Post-Implementation Review of the Small
Business CGT Concessions
Survey for Taxpayers
Preamble
Webb Martin has been appointed by the Board of Taxation as a Consultant to the
Board’s ‘Post implementation review of the quality and effectiveness of the small
business capital gains tax concessions’.
The small business capital gains tax (CGT) concessions in Division 152 of the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 were introduced in September 1999 and
comprise:

the small business 15 year exemption;

the small business 50% active asset reduction;

the small business retirement exemption; and

the small business replacement asset roll-over.
The Treasurer’s Press Release announcing the concessions can be viewed at
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/pressreleases/1999/058.asp
Further information regarding the Board of Tax review can be found at
http://www.taxboard.gov.au/content/post_imp_small.asp
The survey forms the basis upon which Webb Martin will seek to gather
information regarding taxpayer experiences with the small business CGT
concessions.
All surveys are completed in confidence. Your individual response will not be
shared with Webb Martin or the Board of Taxation.
We request you complete your response by 11 March, 2005.
This survey has been approved by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and
is assigned code XXX
Demographic information:
Please indicate the location of your firm (PROGRAMMER: OPTIONS TO BE RADIO
BUTTONS)
State
NSW

Western Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

Queensland

South Australia

Northern Territory

ACT

Location of Taxpayer
CBD

Metropolitan

Regional

All of the questions below relate to the application of the small business CGT
concessions.
When completing this survey please do so in relation to your experiences as a
taxpayer regarding the application of the small business CGT concessions to your
circumstances.
Your response will be confidential. All responses will be aggregated at the end of
the survey and individual responses will not be revealed.
We appreciate your response to this survey.
S01) Are you familiar with the application and impact of the small business CGT
concessions in Division 152 of the ITAA 1997?
Yes
1
Go to S02
No
2
TERMINATE
Don’t know
3
TERMINATE
(for assistance refer to Treasurer’s Press
Release announcing the concessions
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/p
ressreleases/1999/058.asp)
QS02) How did you become aware of the application and impact of the small
business CGT concessions? (PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Tax adviser
ATO
Other
1
2
(PROGRAMMER: INSERT TEXT BOX)
Q1) Since 1999, have you sought to apply any of the small business CGT concessions?
(PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
No
1
2
CONTINUE
THANK AND TERMINATE
Q2) Which of the following small business CGT concessions did you seek to apply?
Please choose the options from those below. (PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO
BUTTONS)
15 year exemption
50% active asset reduction
Retirement exemption
Replacement asset roll-over
1
2
3
4
Q3a) Did you actually claim the small business CGT concessions? (PROGRAMMER:
LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
No
Eligibility still being
determined
Q3b)
1
2
3
GO TO Q4
CONTINUE
GO TO Q4
Why not? (PROGRAMMER: INSERT TEXT BOX)
Text Box
Q3c) Do you feel that you should have been entitled to claim the small business CGT
concessions? (PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
No
1
2
CONTINUE
GO TO Q4
Q3d) Why? (PROGRAMMER: INSERT TEXT BOX)
Q4a) Were any areas of your claim challenged by the ATO (for example an ATO
audit)? (PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
No
Q4b)
1
2
GO TO Q4b
GO TO Q5
Which areas were challenged and why? (INSERT TEXT BOX)
Q5a) Were the provisions of the small business CGT concessions easy for you to
understand? (PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
No
Don’t Know
Q5b)
1
2
3
GO TO Q6
CONTINUE
GO TO Q6
What did you find difficult? (PROGRAMMER: INSERT TEXT BOX)
Q6
To what extent do you think the small business CGT concessions meet the
following policy objectives? (for assistance refer to Treasurer’s Press Release
announcing the concessions
http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/pressreleases/1999/058.asp)
Policy Objective
Improving incentives to save and
invest
Increase the level of benefits
available to small business taxpayers
Provide greater flexibility in how small
business can access the various
benefits
Doesn’t
Meet
Completely
Meets
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Rationalise eligibility for small
business capital gains tax relief
Reduce compliance costs for small
business capital gains tax relief
Provide small business people with
access to funds for retirement or
expansion
Remove impediments to efficient
asset management
Allow small business taxpayers to
benefit successively from all of the
concessions for any one disposal
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Don’t
Know
Q6a) Overall (and regardless of whether you were eligible to claim the small business
CGT concessions) do you think the concessions are beneficial for small business?
(PROGRAMMER: LIST TO BE RADIO BUTTONS)
Yes
Yes, subject to changes
No
Q6b)
1
2
3
Why do you say so ? (PROGRAMMER: INSERT TEXT BOX)
Q7)
Do you have any additional comments that you would like to make about the
small business CGT concessions?
If yes, please add any additional comments
Insert text box
Thank respondent