The High Court decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Stone and its impact on sport in Australia

Abstract

During the latter part of the amateur period of the olympic movement, Australia began a series of grants to olympic athletes in order to allow athletes to compete at the olympic Games. With Australia's Olympic athletes now also able to accept prize money and attract sponsorship money, the question arose as to the tax status of this money. In Commisioner of Taxation vs Stone the High Court held that this money was part of an athlete's taxable income. This, it is suggested, brings Australian tax law in line with the International committee's treatment of athletes for the last two decades.