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Attribution method for managed investment trusts

Explains how the attribution method works and is applied when calculating AMIT income and cost-base adjustments.

Last updated 22 July 2025

The attribution method provides greater certainty for trustees and beneficiaries of managed investment trusts (MITs) by aligning the commercial and tax consequences of the activities of a MIT and providing flow-through of income and tax offset amounts with particular tax characteristics.

The attribution method will apply to those MITs that elect into the system and become an attribution MIT (AMIT).

Under the attribution method, the trustee must:

  • determine each amount having a particular income or tax offset character for the trust
  • attribute amounts with particular characters to members on a fair and reasonable basis in accordance with the constituent documents of the trust.

Unit holders of an AMIT (that is, the trust beneficiaries) are referred to as 'members'.

Outlines the 4 steps of the attribution method for AMITs.

Explains how the attribution method is used to address the principles of present entitlement.

Explains how the tax characteristics of income and offsets apply to AMIT members.

Explains how the trust components of particular income and offset characters are calculated for AMITs.

How the attribution method is used to ensure AMIT members are taxed appropriately.

The cost base of units in the AMIT that are CGT assets can be adjusted.

In selected circumstances, an AMIT member can choose a different determined member component of a particular character.

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