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What is an interest in a FIF?

Last updated 31 March 2020

Foreign companies

An interest in a foreign company that is a FIF includes:

  • a share other than an eligible finance share in the company

    A share includes any interest in the capital of the company in the nature of a share or stock. Examples include ordinary, preference, bonus, and redeemable preference shares, as well as shares with deferred rights.
  • a legal document that confers an entitlement to acquire such a share including an entitlement arising from an option or convertible note. [subsection 483(1)]

Even if your name does not appear on a share certificate or share register of the foreign company as the legal owner of those shares, you are still held to have an interest in the FIF if you have a beneficial interest in that FIF (without the legal title to it). [section 488]

Foreign trusts

An interest in a FIF that is a foreign trust is:

  • an interest in the capital or income of the trust - including a unit in a unit trust, or
  • a legal document that confers an entitlement to acquire such an interest including an entitlement arising from an option or convertible note. [subsection 483(2)]

Eligible finance share

A share in a company is an eligible finance share if:

  • the shareholder is an Australian financial institution or subsidiary
  • the share was issued by the company in the ordinary course of business carried on by the shareholder
  • the shareholder is not an associate of the company, and
  • payments of dividends on the share may reasonably be regarded as equivalent to the payment of interest on a loan.

Section 327 of the ITAA 1936 has more detail.

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