Section 139NBankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth)

Income varied by income tax payments and refunds and child support payments

(1) The income that is likely to be derived, or was derived, by a bankrupt during a contribution assessment period:

(a) is taken to be reduced by:

(i) any amount that the bankrupt pays or is likely to be liable to pay, or paid or was liable to pay, as the case may be, during that period in respect of income tax (but not including any amount that is in respect of a provable debt); and

(iii) if the bankrupt pays or is likely to be liable to pay, or paid or was liable to pay, as the case may be, during that period an amount for the support of a child pursuant to a maintenance agreement entered into under the Family Law Act 1975 or under a maintenance order—so much of that amount as does not exceed the maximum amount that, but for that agreement or order, the bankrupt could be, or could have been, liable to pay during that period in respect of child support under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989; and

(b) is taken to be increased by any amount that the bankrupt receives or is likely to receive, or received or was entitled to receive, as the case may be, during that period as a refund of income tax.

(2) A refund is not taken into account under paragraph (1)(b) if it relates to a year of income that ended before the date of the bankruptcy.

(3) If a refund relates to a year of income that commenced before, but ended after, the date of the bankruptcy, then it is taken into account under paragraph (1)(b) only to the extent that the refund is attributable to the part of the year of income after the date of bankruptcy. For this purpose, the refund is apportioned on a time basis.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

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