{"id":6064,"date":"2016-01-29T19:43:54","date_gmt":"2016-01-29T08:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dbalawyers.com.au\/?p=6064"},"modified":"2023-04-05T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T05:38:21","slug":"reconsidering-incorporated-contractors-in-an-sg-context","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dbalawyers.com.au\/ato\/reconsidering-incorporated-contractors-in-an-sg-context\/","title":{"rendered":"Reconsidering Incorporated Contractors In An SG Context"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Reconsidering<\/div>\n

Determining whether payments to a contractor are covered by the superannuation guarantee (\u2018SG\u2019) regime can be a vexed and difficult exercise. Of particular interest is whether an incorporated contractor is automatically outside the scope of the SG regime, such that SG contributions are not required to be made on their behalf to avoid a shortfall under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992<\/em> (Cth) (\u2018SGAA\u2019).<\/p>\n

This article will consider the legislative provisions and key Federal Court decisions, as well as providing practical guidance on the application of the SG regime to incorporated contractors.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h3>\n

Definition of an employee<\/em><\/p>\n

For the purposes of the SGAA, an employee is defined in s 12 as a common law employee and a worker that falls within the expanded definition of an employee, which includes a person that works under a contract that is wholly or principally for their labour (s 12(3) of the SGAA).<\/p>\n

What is a contract for labour?<\/em><\/p>\n

In determining whether a contractor works under a contract that is wholly or principally for their labour, it is important to first consider what constitutes a contract for labour.<\/p>\n

The Commissioner of Taxation (\u2018Commissioner\u2019) has outlined his view on when a contract for labour will be held to exist in Superannuation Guarantee Ruling SGR 2005\/1 \u2013 Superannuation guarantee: who is an employee?<\/em> (\u2018SGR 2005\/1\u2019).<\/p>\n

The Commissioner will look at three key factors as follows:<\/p>\n