Australia Post Annual Report 2008–09

5 Income tax (continued)
(e) Unrecognised temporary
differences
At 30 June 2009, there were no unrecognised
temporary differences (2008: $nil) associated
with the group’s investments in controlled
entities or jointly controlled entities, as the
group had no liability for additional taxation
should unremitted earnings be remitted.
(f) Tax consolidation
The Australian Postal Corporation and its
100% owned Australian resident subsidiaries
formed a tax consolidated group with effect
from 1 July 2004. The Australian Postal
Corporation is the head entity of the tax
consolidated group. Members of the group
have entered into a tax sharing arrangement
in order to allocate income tax expense to the
wholly owned subsidiaries on a pro-rata basis.
In addition, the agreement provides for the
allocation of income tax liabilities between
the entities should the head entity default
on its tax payment obligations.
No amounts have been recognised in
the financial statements in respect of this
agreement on the basis that the possibility
of default is remote.
Tax effect accounting by members
of the tax consolidated group
Members of the tax consolidated group
have entered into a tax funding agreement.
The tax funding agreement provides for the
allocation of current taxes to members of the
tax consolidated group in accordance with
their contribution to the actual tax payable by
the head entity for the period, while deferred
taxes are allocated to members of the tax
consolidated group in accordance with the
principles of AASB 112 Income Taxes and
UIG 1052 Tax Consolidation Accounting.
Allocations under the tax funding agreement
are made on an annual basis.
The allocation of taxes under the tax
funding agreement is recognised as an
increase/decrease in the subsidiaries’
intercompany accounts with the tax
consolidated group head company, the
Australian Postal Corporation. Because under
UIG 1052 Tax Consolidation Accounting the
allocation of current taxes to tax consolidated
group members on the basis of accounting
profits is not an acceptable method of
allocation given the group’s circumstances,
the difference between the current tax
amount that is allocated under the tax funding
agreement and the amount that is allocated
under an acceptable method is recognised
as a contribution/distribution of the
subsidiaries’ equity accounts. The group
has applied the group allocation approach
in determining the appropriate amount
of current taxes to allocate to members
of the tax consolidated group.
The amounts receivable or payable under
the tax funding agreement are due upon
receipt of the funding advice from the head
entity, which is issued as soon as practicable
after the end of each financial year. The head
entity may also require payment of interim
funding amounts to assist with its obligations
to pay tax instalments.
All tax-related contingencies are included
in the Schedule of contingencies.
Australia Post Annual Report 2008–09 | Financial and statutory reports 75