Clause 17

Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5), for the purpose of ascertaining the income of a person from the carrying on of a trade or business during the basis period for the year of assessment 2022 or any subsequent year of assessment, there is to be allowed a deduction for any expenditure incurred by the person during that basis period for the purpose of obtaining a lease, or renewing or extending a lease, of an immovable property that is used by the person for the purpose of the person’s trade or business.(2) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), for the purpose of ascertaining the rental income derived by a person from an immovable property that is chargeable to tax under section 10(1)(f) during the basis period for the year of assessment 2022 or any subsequent year of assessment, there is to be allowed a deduction for any expenditure incurred by the person during that basis period for the purpose of granting the lease, or renewing or extending the lease, of the immovable property.(3) No deduction may be allowed under subsection (1) to a company or trustee of a property trust in the business of letting immovable properties in which the company or trustee has a proprietary interest (other than as a legal owner) and would receive consideration if the proprietary interest is disposed of or transferred, whether in whole or in part.(4) In subsections (1) and (2), expenditure incurred to obtain, grant, renew or extend a lease —

means any commission, legal fees, stamp duty, advertising expenses and such other expenditure as may be prescribed by rules made under section 7; but(b)excludes any outgoing or expense that is allowed as a deduction under section 14.(5) No deduction may be allowed under subsection (1) or (2) to a person in respect of —

any lease, or any renewal or extension of a lease, for a term that (excluding any option for the renewal or extension of the lease) exceeds 3 years;

any acquisition, grant, novation, transfer or assignment (however described) of a lease because of any acquisition, sale, transfer or restructuring of any business; or

a lease under an arrangement where the immovable property is sold by, and leased back to, the seller of the immovable property.Deduction for expenditure incurred on immovable property while vacant14ZH.—

This section applies where an immovable property used by a person to derive rental income chargeable to tax under section 10(1)(f), in the basis period for the year of assessment 2022 or a subsequent year of assessment, is vacant during any part of the basis period.(2) Subject to subsection (3), for the purpose of ascertaining the rental income derived during the basis period by the person from the immovable property that is chargeable to tax under section 10(1)(f), there is to be allowed a deduction for —

any expenditure incurred by the person for the repair, insurance, maintenance or upkeep of the immovable property while it is vacant during that basis period; and

any amount paid during that basis period in respect of property tax charged on that immovable property.(3) A deduction under subsection (2) is allowed to a person only if the Comptroller is satisfied that the person has made reasonable efforts in the circumstances to procure a lessee for the immovable property while it is vacant during the basis period.”.