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Exemption for a balanced investment portfolio in FIFs

Last updated 26 May 2005

Broadly, an exemption may be available if you invest in foreign companies or foreign trusts and all your non-exempt FIF interests are not more than 10% of the total value of your investment portfolio.

For more information, phone the Business Tax Reform Infoline on 13 28 66.

For the purposes of this exemption, your total investments do not include your interests which, at the end of a notional accounting period, are excluded from the FIF measures because of exemptions for:

  • the attributable taxpayer
  • interest in an employer-sponsored superannuation fund.

You value your FIF interests at the end of the income year at cost or market value, whichever is the greater. [section 525]

There are no restrictions on the types of FIFs that are eligible for this balanced portfolio exemption. The FIFs may include non-exempt activities such as financial services and they may or may not be listed on any stock exchange, approved or otherwise. They may also include trusts.

In the example below, Marika's interests in FIFs are excluded from the FIF measures because her interests in non-exempt FIFs - the foreign funds management company and the Swedish Foreign Trust - are not more than 5% of her total FIF interests.

The United Kingdom superannuation fund is not included when working out total FIF interests, as it is an employer-sponsored superannuation fund.

Start of example

Example: Investments in FIFs

Marika's FIF interest

Amount invested in FIFs

Exempt FIFs: percentage of total investments

Non-exempt FIFs: percentage of total investments

Company X - exempt shares listed on Athens stock exchange

$25,000

($25,000 ÷ $171,000) × (100 ÷ 1) = 14.6%

na

Foreign funds management company - non-exempt

$3,000 (subject to exemption)

na

($3,000 ÷ $171,000) × (100 ÷ 1) = 1.8%

Company Y - satisfies active business exemption

$75,000

($75,000 ÷ $171,000) × 100 ÷ 1 = 43.9%

na

United Kingdom employer superannuation fund

$150,000

This is a Division 11 amount and is not included in the total of FIF investments

na

Bank of United States - satisfies bank exemption

na

($63,000 ÷ $171,000) × (100 ÷ 1) = 36.8%

na

Swedish Foreign Trust - non-exempt

$5,000

na

($5,000 ÷ $171,000) × (100 ÷ 1) = 2.9%

Total

$171,000

95.3%

4.7%

 

End of example

QC17512