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Type of trust

Last updated 11 February 2019

Print in the first box at this item the code from table 1 that best describes the type of trust for which the trust tax return is being lodged. Descriptions of the types of trust are at table 2.

Table 1: Trust codes

Code

Type

C

Special disability trust

D

Deceased estate

F

Fixed trust, other than a fixed unit trust or public unit trust described in U, P or Q

H

Hybrid trust

S

Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from service and/or management activities

T

Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from trading activities

I

Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from investment activities

M

Cash management unit trust

U

Fixed unit trust, other than a public unit trust described in P or Q

P

Public unit trust (listed) other than a cash management unit trust

Q

Public unit trust (unlisted) other than a cash management unit trust

Charitable trust

Print X in the second box at Type of trust if the trust is also a charity.

Description of trusts

Table 2: Description of trusts

Type of trust

Description

Deceased estate

See appendix 8

Discretionary trust

A trust that is not a fixed trust within the meaning of section 272-5 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936; see also section 102UC(4) of the ITAA 1936

Fixed trust

A trust in which persons have fixed entitlements (as defined in section 272-5 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936) to all income and capital of the trust at all times during the income year

Fixed unit trust

A fixed trust in which interest in the income and capital of the trust are represented by units

Hybrid trust

A trust that is not a fixed trust but in which persons have fixed entitlements (as defined in section 272-5 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936) to income or capital of the trust during the income year

Public unit trust

A fixed unit trust that is a widely held unit trust (as defined in section 272-105 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936) at all times during the income year

Public unit trust: listed

A public unit trust in which any of its units were listed for quotation on the official list of a stock exchange in Australia or elsewhere during the income year

Public unit trust: unlisted

A public unit trust in which none of its units was listed for quotation on the official list of a stock exchange in Australia or elsewhere during the income year

Special disability trust

A trust that has the meaning given by section 1209LExternal Link of the Social Security Act 1991

Managed investment trusts

If the trust is a managed investment trust, has the trustee made an election into capital account treatment?

With effect from the 2008 to 2009 income year, trustees of eligible Australian managed investment trusts (MIT) can make an irrevocable election to apply the CGT provisions for the taxation of gains and losses on disposal of eligible assets.

Meaning of eligible MIT

An eligible MIT is a managed fund that meets:

  • the definition of a managed investment trust in Subdivision 12-H in Schedule 1 to the TAA, or
  • one of the extended definitions that allow the trust to be treated in the same way as an MIT for the purposes of the capital treatment election.

Who is eligible to make an election?

The trustee of an eligible MIT may make an election. The election must be made in the approved form.

How to make an election

For MITs that came into existence during the income year, a valid election is made by answering ‘Yes’ to the question asked on page 2 of the trust tax return. The election must be made on or before the day the trust is required to lodged its tax return for income year, or if the Commissioner allows a later day, that later day.

If you are the trustee of an MIT that came into existence in an earlier income year, you must still answer the question asked on page 2 of the trust tax return, regardless of whether you have previously made an election for capital treatment.

When does the election take effect?

For trusts that became an MIT before the 2009 to 2010 income year, the election will have effect from the 2008 to 2009 and later income years.

For trusts that became an MIT in the 2009 to 2010 income year or a later year of income, the election will have effect for the income year in which the trust became an MIT and later income years.

See also:

QC44346