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25 Tax losses deducted

Last updated 11 February 2019

Show at C tax losses from earlier income years, which are deductible in the 2014–15 income year under section 36-15 of the ITAA 1997.

Exclude the film component of any tax loss (film loss). A film loss is shown, to the extent permissible, at item 18 Other deductions.

Do not show current year foreign losses here. They are included at item 23 Other assessable foreign source income.

Complete a losses schedule if the trust:

  • is a listed widely held trust (as defined in Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936), and
  • is required to pass the same business test in order to claim a deduction for losses in the 2014–15 income year, or will be required to pass that test in respect of losses being carried forward to later income years.

See also:

The following information will help you to complete C:

  • The total of any tax losses shown at C cannot exceed the amount of net income shown at item 24 Total of items 20 to 23.
  • Complete item 27 Losses information if the income injection test under the trust loss provisions prevents the trust, including a family trust, from fully claiming a deduction for tax losses of an earlier income year in the 2014–15 income year: see Division 270 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936.

Beneficiaries with no interest in trust capital

A life tenant is a beneficiary with an interest in the income of the trust estate for the duration of their life, but with no interest in the capital of the trust.

If the trust includes a beneficiary who is a life tenant or a beneficiary with no interest in the capital of the trust, you cannot claim a deduction for tax losses of earlier income years in calculating the share of those particular beneficiaries in the net income of the trust if the tax losses of previous years are required to be met out of corpus.

Start of example

Example 10

The XYZ trust has tax losses of earlier income years of $2,000. Its net income is $20,000, excluding losses of earlier income years. There are two presently entitled beneficiaries of the trust, each with a 50% interest in the income of the trust. The trust deed requires tax losses to be met out of corpus.

One beneficiary is a life tenant. The other has an interest in the income and the capital of the trust.

In calculating the net income of the trust for the life tenant’s share, no account is taken of earlier year losses. The life tenant’s share of the net income of the trust for tax purposes is 50% of $20,000, which is $10,000.

Conversely, in calculating the other beneficiary’s share of the net income of the trust, earlier year losses are taken into account. That beneficiary’s share of the net income of the trust for tax purposes is 50% of ($20,000 – $2,000), which is $9,000.

End of example

QC44346