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Tip Trust Losses
Tip Trust Losses
TRUST LOSSES
JANUARY 2012
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Practising Tax Pty Ltd 17 January 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1!
OVERVIEW OF TYPES OF TRUSTS AND THE TESTS THAT APPLY................................. 2!
50% STAKE TEST................................................................................................................... 5!
ALTERNATIVE 50% STAKE TEST ................................................................................................... 6!
APPLICATION TO NON-FIXED TRUSTS ............................................................................................ 7!
PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTIONS TEST ................................................................................... 8!
DOES THE PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTIONS TEST APPLY TO THE LOSS TRUST? ...................................... 8!
IS THE PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTIONS TEST PASSED BY THE LOSS TRUST?.......................................... 8!
PRIOR YEAR PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTION TEST ............................................................................... 9!
CONTROL TEST ................................................................................................................... 10!
INCOME INJECTION TEST................................................................................................... 11!
TRUST LOSS TESTS - ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................ 14!
ILLUSTRATION - 50% STAKE TEST .............................................................................................. 14!
ILLUSTRATION - ALTERNATIVE 50% STAKE TEST ......................................................................... 16!
ILLUSTRATION - PATTERN OF DISTRIBUTIONS TEST ...................................................................... 18!
ILLUSTRATION - INCOME INJECTION TEST .................................................................................... 20!
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INTRODUCTION
The trust loss provisions were introduced in April 1998, generally with effect from
9 May 1995. The trust loss provisions are contained in Schedule 2F of the ITAA 1936.
The trust loss provisions are an integrity measure designed to restrict the tax benefit
of a loss to those who beneficially incurred the loss. That is, the rules ensure that the
tax benefit of a current or carry forward loss deduction cannot be transferred to a
person who did not bear the economic effect of the loss when it was incurred. The
rules are similar in objective to the company loss rules, but with essential differences
to reflect the different characteristics fundamental to trusts1.
The trust loss provisions essentially operate by examining whether there has been a
change in underlying ownership or control of a trust or whether certain schemes have
been entered into in order to take advantage of a trust's losses or other deductions.
1
Second reading speech Taxation Laws Amendment (Trust Loss and Other Deductions) Bill 1998
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The trust loss provisions apply differently depending on what type of trust has
incurred the loss.
Note: The trust loss provisions are comprehensive and apply to all types of
trust, from widely held trusts that are listed on the Australian stock
exchange, to small family trusts. This case study, however, will focus
on only those trusts that are more relevant to a typical public practice
client.
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Fixed trust A trust where persons have fixed entitlements to all the income and capital
of the trust (s 272-65).
To have a fixed entitlement to income and capital of the trust, the
beneficiary must have a vested and indefeasible interest in a share of
income or capital of the trust (s 272-5). To this end, the trustee!s ability to
issue or redeem units at full value will not automatically result in a unit
holder!s interest being defeasible.
Note: A unit trust is not necessarily a fixed trust. That is because a clause
in a unit trust deed which allows the trustee to issue units at a discount or
redeem them at greater than full value will result in beneficiaries not having
vested and indefeasible interests in all the income and capital of the trust.
For the purposes of the trust loss rules, fixed trusts may take on a number
of forms:
Family trust A trust that has made the election to be a family trust for the purposes of
the trust loss measures (s 272-75).
a family trust;
deceased estates, up until end of the income year in which the fifth
anniversary of the death occurs; and
a unit trust where tax exempt bodies have fixed entitlements, directly
or indirectly, to all the income and capital of the trust.
(Section 272-100)
There are a number of tests that may be applicable depending on the type of trust.
These are outlined in the table below.
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Prior and current year losses and debt deductions - tests that apply to each type of
trust for it to be able to deduct a loss or debt
Fixed trust ! !
Non-fixed trust ! ! ! !
Family trust !
Excepted trust
(other than a
family trust)
Notes:
1. Where the !standard" 50% stake test is not passed, the trust may be able to pass
an alternative 50% stake test (outlined below).
2. A listed widely held trust which fails the 50% stake test, may be able to pass the
same business test.
Important: A trust must satisfy all of the applicable tests to be able to deduct the
relevant loss.
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the same individuals must have more than a 50 percent stake in the income of a
trust; and
the same individuals (who may be different from those above) must have more
than a 50 percent stake in the capital of the trust;
at all times from the beginning of the loss year to the end of the income year.
(Section 269-55)
Individuals will have a more than 50 percent stake in the income or capital of the trust
where, between them, they hold directly or indirectly, and for their own benefit, fixed
entitlements to a greater than 50 percent share of the income or capital of a trust.
the trust must trace through to individuals that hold the fixed
entitlements;
The following rules exist to allow fixed entitlements to be traced through interposed
entities to those individuals who ultimately hold the fixed entitlements (s 272-20).
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Tracing Rules
Total distribution
Fixed trust A beneficiary that has a vested and indefeasible interest in a 272-5
share of income or capital of the trust holds a fixed entitlement.
Complying Where the fund has more than 50 members, the fixed 272-25
superannuation entitlements are deemed to be held by an individual.
fund
Where the superannuation fund has 50 or fewer members,
each member is treated as having a fixed entitlement in an
equal proportion.
The alternative 50 percent stake test is an alternative test that can be satisfied where
the normal 50 percent stake test is failed (s 266-45).
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To pass the alternative 50 percent stake test all of the following conditions must be
satisfied:
1. at all times during the test period non-fixed trusts (other than family trusts) must
hold fixed entitlements to 50 percent or more of the income or capital of the trust,
or an interposed fixed trust or company must hold all the fixed entitlements of the
trust and a non-fixed trust (other than a family trust) must hold fixed entitlements
to 50 percent or more of the income or capital of the interposed trust or company;
2. the trust holding the fixed entitlements in the loss trust or the interposed entity, as
the case may be, must have held those entitlements at all times during the test
period;
3. at the beginning of the test period individuals must not have had a greater than
50 percent stake in the income or capital of the trust; and
assuming that the non-fixed trust had incurred the loss instead of the fixed trust.
The 50 percent stake test applies to a non-fixed trust only if individuals have more
than a 50 percent stake in the income or capital of the trust (s 267-40). That is,
individuals must hold directly or indirectly, and for their own benefit, fixed entitlements
to a greater than 50 percent share of the income or capital of a trust. If this is not the
case, then the 50 percent stake test does not apply.
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When considering the pattern of distributions test, two questions may need to be
answered:
The pattern of distributions test applies only where a non-fixed trust distributed
income and/or capital:
in the income year (or within two months after its end); and
(Section 267-30)
Where the above conditions are not satisfied the pattern of distributions test is not
one of the tests that must be satisfied by the loss trust.
Note: The pattern of distributions test is relevant only to carry forward tax
losses and debt deductions. It has no application for current year losses
or debt deductions.
To pass the pattern of distributions test a trust must, before two months after the end
of the income year, distribute:
directly or indirectly to the same individuals, for their own benefit, a greater than
50 percent share of all test year distributions of income; and
directly or indirectly to the same individuals (who may be different from those
above), for their own benefit, a greater than 50 percent share of all test year
distributions of capital.
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A test year distribution of income or capital is the total of all distributions of income or capital (as
the case may be) made by the trust in periods set out below, provided the period does not start
more than six years before the start of the income year.
The test years are:
1. the period from the start of the income year until two months after its end;
and:
2. if the trust distributed income before the loss year - the income year, before the loss
year, that is closest to the loss year; or
3. if item 2 above does not apply and the trust distributed income in the loss year - the loss
year; or
4. if neither item 2 or 3 above applies - the income year, closest to the loss year, in which
the trust distributed income;
and:
5. each intervening income year between the one in item 1 and the one in item 2, 3 or 4.
(Section 269-65)
Note: Where a trust does not distribute the same percentage of income or
capital for every test year distribution, the trust is taken to have
distributed to the individual the smallest percentage that it distributed for
any of the test year distributions (s 269-70).
Section 267-35 provides that a trust that was prevented from deducting a tax loss in
an earlier income year because it failed the pattern of distribution test cannot deduct
that loss in a later year.
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CONTROL TEST
The control test provides that a group must not, during the test period, begin to
control the trust directly or indirectly (s 267-45).
A group is:
a person;
(Section 269-95(5))
Note: Special rules exist for determining whether control has changed in the
case of death or marriage breakdown.
The test period is the same as above for the 50 percent stake test, namely the period
from the beginning of the loss year to the end of the income year.
2
Associate is defined in s 318 and is extremely broad
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The income injection test is designed to prevent a trust from utilising deductions,
where a scheme or arrangement exists to take advantage of the deductions.
A deduction (of any kind) is available to the trust for the year;
wholly or partly, but not merely incidentally, because the deduction would
be allowable.
(Section 270-10(1))
Note: Rules also exist to prevent persons that were outsiders of the trust
entering into arrangements to enable them to take advantage of a
deduction by ceasing to be an outsider (s 270-10(2)).
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Key definitions
Services
The extinguishment, forgiveness, release or waiver of a debt or other liability
A person with a fixed entitlement to a share of the income or capital of the trust
A trust with the same individual specified in its family trust election
Note: The broader definition of outsider for a family trust ensures that income
can be injected into a family trust from within the family group without
fear of the income injection test being failed.
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The Explanatory Memorandum to Taxation Laws Amendment (Trust Loss and Other
Deductions) Bill 1998 provides the following flowchart as an overview of the income
injection test3:
3
Taken from Chapter 10
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The Outback Unit Trust is a fixed trust that has three unit holders, namely Colin, Fleur
and Cruiser Pty Ltd. Cruiser Pty Ltd is owned equally by Colin and Fleur.
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In 2007, when their eldest son Jeremy turns 21 years of age, Cruiser Pty Ltd issues
Jeremy with an equal shareholding in the company for market value. The resulting
ownership structure is as follows:
During the 2006 and 2007 income year the Outback Unit Trust incurred revenue
losses as a result of rising costs. In 2008 however, a lucrative contract has resulted in
a substantial profit.
Does the Outback Unit Trust pass the 50% stake test?
The first step it to determine the test period to which the 50 percent stake test applies.
The test period will be as follows:
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The relevant tracing rules then need to be applied to determine whether the same
individuals have more than a 50 percent stake in the income and capital of the trust
throughout the test period.
Colin via Cruiser Pty Ltd 25% (50% x 50%) 16.65% (50% x 33.3%)
Fleur via Cruiser Pty Ltd 25% (50% x 50%) 16.65% (50% x 33.3%)
Note that Jeremys interest is not taken into account as he did not hold any fixed
entitlements at the beginning of the test period.
As more than 50 percent of the fixed entitlements are held directly and indirectly by
Colin and Fleur throughout the test period (i.e. both before and after the only change
in ownership) the 50 percent stake test has been satisfied.
The Alpha Unit Trust has carry forward revenue losses from a previous year, which it is
looking to recoup in the current year. Charlie and the Bravo Discretionary Trust have
always been the only unit holders of the Alpha Unit Trust. The Bravo Discretionary
Trust is a non-fixed trust that has not made a family trust election. In addition the
Bravo Discretionary Trust would pass all the relevant trust loss tests if it needed to.
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Assuming that the Alpha Unit Trust is a fixed trust it needs to satisfy the 50 percent
stake test. However the 50 percent stake test cannot be passed as individuals hold
only a bare 50 percent of the fixed entitlements of the Alpha Unit Trust. It is not
possible to trace through the Bravo Discretionary Trust. As such it is necessary to
apply the alternative 50 percent stake test.
Condition Satisfied?
1. At all times during the test period non-fixed trusts (other than family trusts) Yes
must hold fixed entitlements to 50 percent or more of the income or capital
of the trust, or an interposed fixed trust or company must hold all the fixed
entitlements of the trust and a non-fixed trust (other than a family trust)
must hold fixed entitlements to 50 percent or more of the income or capital
of the interposed trust or company.
2. The trust holding the fixed entitlements in the loss trust or the interposed Yes
entity, as the case may be, must have held those entitlements at all times
during the test period.
3. At the beginning of the test period individuals must not have had a greater Yes
than 50 percent stake in the income or capital of the trust.
4. Each non-fixed trust (other than an excepted trust) must satisfy: Yes
the pattern of distributions test;
a prior year pattern of distributions test;
the 50 percent stake test; and
the control test,
assuming that the non-fixed trust had incurred the loss instead of the fixed
trust.
Accordingly the alternative 50 percent stake test is passed by the Alpha Unit Trust.
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The Tango Discretionary Trust operates a dance studio. In the 2007 income year it
incurred a revenue loss, however in all other years since it began trading in 2005 it has
made a profit, and has distributed its profit to its three primary beneficiaries as follows:
The Tango Discretionary Trust is looking to claim its 2007 loss as a deduction in the
2008 income year.
Does the pattern of distributions test apply to the Tango Discretionary Trust?
Yes, the pattern of distributions test applies as there has been a distribution in the
current year and in at least one of the previous six years.
The test year distributions of income or capital for the Tango discretionary Trust are as
follows:
as the Tango Discretionary Trust distributed income before the loss year,
distributions made in the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 (being the
income year, before the loss year, that is closest to the loss year); and
distributions made in the period from 1 July 2006 to 1 July 2007 (being the
intervening income year between the ones identified above).
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2006 2008
Priscilla 0% 50% 0%
Total 50%
As individuals need a greater than 50 percent share of all test year distributions of
income or capital to pass the pattern of distributions test, the test is not satisfied and
the loss cannot be deducted.
Tip: Ensure that pattern of distributions test is considered before making any
distributions after a loss year.
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Mum and Dad are the beneficiaries of both the Profit and the Loss Trust. The Profit
Trust carries on business activities and is mostly in a profit position. Its distributions
vary from year to year depending on the tax position, cash flow and other
requirements of Mum and Dad. The class of beneficiaries is quite wide and includes a
corporate beneficiary and the Loss Trust.
The Loss Trust conducts investment activities. It holds a negatively geared rental
property. Due to the negatively geared rental property, the Loss Trust is mainly in a
loss position.
In the 2008 income year the Profit Trust made a distribution to the Loss Trust. After
deducting its tax loss from that amount of assessable income the Loss Trust made a
tax free distribution to Mum and Dad.
Both trusts are non-fixed and non-family trusts, and each trust has a separate
corporate trustee.
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Will the income injection test apply to deny the carry forward loss deduction?
1. Under a scheme:
Did the trust derive an amount of Yes. A trust distribution is assessable income.
assessable income?
Did an outsider to the trust directly An outsider of a non-fixed non-family trust is anyone
or indirectly provide a benefit to other than the trustee. As the trustee of Profit Trust
the trustee, a beneficiary of the is not the trustee of the Loss Trust, it is an outsider.
trust or to an associate of either
(Note to not be an outsider to the trust, the trustee
the trustee or the beneficiary?
must be acting in their capacity as trustee, hence
even if both the Profit and the Loss Trust had the
same trustee, the distribution from the Profit Trust
would still be from an outsider as the trustee would
be acting in its capacity as trustee of the Profit
Trust.)
Did the trustee, beneficiary or By receiving the distribution, the Loss Trust was able
associate directly or indirectly to make a distribution to Mum and Dad. Mum and
provide a benefit to the outsider to Dad are associates of the Profit Trust, the outsider,
the trust or to an associate of the as they are beneficiaries of the Profit Trust.
outsider?
It is therefore concluded that the income injection test is failed, such that the Loss
Trust is unable to take advantage of its tax loss to reduce its tax payable. The loss,
however, may be available to be utilised by the Loss Trust in future years.
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