Edited version of your written advice

Authorisation Number: 1012819450856

Ruling

Subject: Residency of self-managed superannuation fund

Question.1

Is the Fund an Australian superannuation fund as defined in subsection 295-95(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 income years?

Answer

Yes.

Question.2

Is the Fund an Australian superannuation fund as defined in subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997 for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 income years?

Answer

Decline to rule.

This ruling applies for the following periods:

Year ending 30 June 2016

Year ending 30 June 2017

The scheme commences on:

1 July 2015

Relevant facts and circumstances

The Fund is a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF).

The Fund was established in Australia.

The two members of the Fund are Member 1 and their spouse, Member 2.

The trustee of the Fund is a corporate trustee.

The two directors of the corporate trustee are the Fund's members.

Member 1 has taken up an employment contract overseas.

Member 1's transfer is a temporary assignment, currently for X years, with a potential option to renew for a further two years.

Member 1 departed Australia in the relevant income year to take up their position.

Member 2 also departed Australia in the relevant income year to accompany Member 1.

Member 1 and Member 2 both have relevant visas for the foreign country which is valid for a period of five years.

In correspondence provided, Member 2 indicates that their intention was always to be overseas for up to three years, and to return permanently to Australia, on or about late 20XX.

Relevant documentary evidence provided also confirms that the intended length of stay for Member 1 and Member 2 in the foreign country is X years.

The Members have:

• Rented out their home in Australia whilst overseas, so they can return to it on completion of this assignment;

• Rented accommodation in the foreign country;

• Maintained their Australian bank accounts, health insurance, furniture and an investment property in Australia;

• Registered on the Electoral Role as overseas voters and continue to vote in Council, State and Federal elections;

The Members return to Australia each year to visit family.

The Members intend to next visit Australia in the current income year.

The Members do not intend to make any contributions to the Fund, (nor have any contributions been made on their behalf), for the period they will be overseas.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 295-95

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 295-95(2)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 295-95(3)

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 295-95(4)

Taxation Administration Act 1953 Section 357-110

Taxation Administration Act 1953 Subsection 359-35(3) of Schedule 1

Reasons for decision

Summary

The Fund satisfies all the tests set out in subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997 and is therefore an Australian superannuation fund for income tax purposes for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 income years.

The Commissioner of Taxation (the Commissioner) declines to rule in relation to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 income years as it would depend on an assumption about a future event. The Commissioner considers that it is not appropriate to make a private ruling on the basis of that assumption.

Question.1

Detailed reasoning

In accordance with subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997, a superannuation fund is an Australian superannuation fund at a time and for an income year in which that time occurs if:

(a) the fund was established in Australia, or any asset of the fund is situated in Australia at that time; and

(b) at that time, the central management and control of the fund is ordinarily in Australia; and

(c) at that time either the fund had no member covered by subsection (3) (an active member) or at least 50% of:

(i) the total market value of the fund's assets attributable to superannuation interests held by active members; or

(ii) the sum of the amounts that would be payable to or in respect of active members if they voluntarily ceased to be members;

is attributable to superannuation interests held by active members who are Australian residents.

Subject to the Fund meeting all of the above three tests during the relevant period, the Fund will be an Australian superannuation fund.

If a fund fails to satisfy any one of the tests at a particular time, it will not be an Australian superannuation fund at that time, even if it satisfies the other two conditions.

The Commissioner has issued Taxation Ruling TR 2008/9 entitled  Income tax: meaning of 'Australian superannuation fund' in subsection 295-95(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (TR 2008/9). The ruling represents the Commissioner's interpretation of the definition of 'Australian superannuation fund'. In particular, it provides guidance on the meaning of central management and control (CM&C) and active member.

Test One: The fund is established in Australia or any asset of the fund is situated in Australia

The first test that must be satisfied is that either the fund was established in Australia, or any asset of the fund is situated in Australia at the relevant time. This is a question of fact.

In this case, the Fund was established in Australia and therefore satisfies the requirement in paragraph 295-95(2)(a) of the ITAA 1997.

Test Two: The CM&C of the fund is 'ordinarily' in Australia

The second test, and one of the key requirements that a superannuation fund must satisfy to be an 'Australian superannuation fund' at a particular time, is that the CM&C of the fund is 'ordinarily' in Australia. Generally, the location of where important decisions are made is the location of the relevant management and control.

The concept of CM&C is not defined in the ITAA 1997 or in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936). In addition, the Explanatory Memorandum to the Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified Superannuation) Act 2007 (which inserted section 295-95 of the ITAA 1997) does not provide any guidance as to its meaning. Therefore, it must be given its ordinary or common law meaning. The policy intention of the amendment was to simplify the scope of the superannuation fund residency definition and give effect to a minor policy change in respect of the application of the CM&C test.

The concept of CM&C was developed by the courts as a common law rule for determining the residence of a company.

To determine the location of the CM&C of a fund at a point in time, it is necessary to consider what constitutes the CM&C of a fund and who it is that exercises the CM&C of a fund.

Paragraph 20 of TR 2008/9 states that the CM&C of a superannuation fund involves the focus on the who, when and where of the strategic and high level decision making processes and activities of the fund. In the context of the operations of a superannuation fund, the strategic and high level decision making processes includes the performance of the following duties and activities:

• formulating the investment strategy for the fund;

• reviewing and updating or varying the fund's investment strategy as well as monitoring and reviewing the performance of the fund's investments;

• if the fund has reserves - the formulation of a strategy for their prudential management; and

• determining how the assets of the fund are to be used to fund member benefits.

Establishing who is exercising the CM&C of the fund is a question of fact to be determined with reference to the circumstances of each case. While it is the trustee of the fund which has the legal responsibility, or duty to exercise the CM&C of a superannuation fund, the mere duty to exercise CM&C does not, of itself, constitute CM&C. If the trustee in fact performs the high level duties and activities of the fund, they will be exercising the CM&C of the fund in practice.

In discussing CM&C, TR 2008/9 states at paragraph 26:

The trustee of the fund may seek external advice relating to the performance of their high level duties and activities. Provided that the trustee makes the actual high level decisions for the fund, the circumstance that the trustee acts on such advice does not affect the fact that the trustee is exercising the CM&C of the fund.

However, there may be situations where a person other than the trustee is exercising the CM&C of the fund. If a person other than the trustee of the fund independently and without any influence from the trustee performs those duties and activities that constitute the CM&C of the fund, that person is exercising the CM&C of the fund.

As directors of the corporate trustee of the Fund, Member 1 and Member 2 perform the high level and strategic decisions in relation to the Fund and it is considered that they exercise the CM&C of the Fund.

Location of the CM&C

The location of the CM&C of the fund is determined by where the high level and strategic decisions of the fund are made and high level duties and activities are in fact performed (regardless of where the persons exercising the CM&C of the fund actually reside).

Whether the CM&C of a fund is ordinarily in Australia at a particular time, is to be determined by the relevant facts and circumstances of each case. It involves determining whether, in the ordinary course of events, the CM&C of the fund is regularly, usually or customarily exercised in Australia. There must be some element of continuity or permanence if the CM&C of the fund is to be regarded as being 'ordinarily' in Australia.

If the CM&C of the fund is being temporarily exercised outside Australia, this will not prevent the CM&C of the fund being 'ordinarily' in Australia at a particular time.

Paragraph 32 of TR 2008/9 states:

While the CM&C of a fund can be outside Australia for a period greater than 2 years, the period of absence of the CM&C must still be temporary. Furthermore, if the CM&C of the fund is not temporarily outside Australia, it will not be 'ordinarily' in Australia at a time even if the period of absence of the CM&C is 2 years or less.

Whether an absence is temporary must be determined objectively by reference to all the relevant facts and circumstances on a 'real time' basis. That is, it cannot be established in retrospect.

CM&C - temporary absences

To provide certainty to trustees of superannuation funds, especially trustees of an SMSF for whom the old 'two year temporary absence rule' was mainly directed, subsection 295-95(4) of the ITAA 1997 was inserted into the definition of 'Australian superannuation fund'. This subsection explains that the CM&C of a superannuation fund is ordinarily in Australia if it is temporarily exercised outside Australia for a period of not more than two years.

Where the trustees are temporarily absent from Australia for a period of up to two years, then subsection 295-95(4) of the ITAA 1997 makes it clear that the CM&C is ordinarily in Australia.

On the other hand, it is considered that where the trustees of the fund are absent from Australia for a period greater than two years, the fund will only satisfy the test in subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997 if the trustees can establish that their absence was of a temporary nature.

Paragraph 33 of TR 2008/9 states that:

The CM&C of a fund will be 'temporarily' outside of Australia if the person or persons who exercise the CM&C of the fund are outside Australia for a relatively short period of time. The duration of the absence must either be defined in advance or related (both in intention and fact) to the fulfilment of a specific, passing purpose. Whether a period of absence is considered to be relatively short involves considerations of questions of degree which must be decided by reference to the circumstances of each particular case.

In this case, Member 1 and Member 2 as directors of the corporate trustee perform the high level and strategic decisions relating to the Fund and have the legal responsibility for exercising the CM&C of the Fund. Further, as no other person has been appointed to independently exercise decisions for the Fund, it follows that the high level decisions relating to the Fund are required to be made jointly by the directors and that the CM&C is attached to the directors.

The Commissioner accepts that the directors' relocation to the foreign country is temporary and that therefore the CM&C of the Fund remains ordinarily in Australia during the known X year period of the directors' absence from Australia.

This conclusion is supported by the following facts as detailed in your private ruling application:

• that the X year period of the absence is defined in advance and is related to the fulfilment of a specific purpose, being Member 1's employment contract overseas;

• that the Members intend to return permanently to Australia at the end of Member 1's current assignment as per the date indicated;

• that the Members have not established a permanent home outside Australia; and

• that the Members continue to maintain their home and other assets in Australia during the period they will be overseas.

The requirement in paragraph 295-95(2)(b) of the ITAA 1997 has therefore been satisfied.

Test Three: The 'active member' test

The third test that must be satisfied for a fund to be an Australian superannuation fund at a particular time is the 'active member test'.

In accordance with paragraph 295-95(2)(c) of the ITAA 1997, the active member test is satisfied if, at the relevant time:

• the fund has no 'active' member; or

• at least 50% of the total market value of the fund's assets attributable to superannuation interests held by active members is attributable to superannuation interests held by active members who are Australian residents; or

• at least 50% of the sum of the amounts that would be payable to, or in respect of active members if they voluntarily ceased to be members, is attributable to superannuation interests held by active members who are Australian residents.

As defined in subsection 295-95(3) of the ITAA 1997, a member is an active member at a particular time if the member is:

(a) a contributor to the fund at that time; or

(b) an individual on whose behalf contributions have been made, other than an individual:

(i) who is a foreign resident; and

(ii) who is not a contributor at that time; and

(iii) for whom contributions made to the fund on the individual's behalf after the individual became a foreign resident are only payments in respect of a time when the individual was an Australian resident.

The term 'contributor' in the definition of active member is not defined. Therefore, it is to be given its ordinary meaning subject to the context in which it appears. The concept of a 'contributor' within the context of the active member test is directed at establishing the status of a member as a contributor at a particular point in time, not on the specific act of contributing.

In this case, the Fund has no 'active' members. There have been no contributions to the Fund in respect of either Member while they have been overseas. Further, the Members do not intend to make any contributions for the period they will be overseas.

As there are no 'active' members of the Fund for the purposes of paragraph 295-95(2)(c) of the ITAA 1997, the active member test will be satisfied.

Question.2

Detailed reasoning

The Commissioner may decline to make a private ruling where the Commissioner considers that the correctness of the private ruling would depend on which assumptions were made about a future event or other matter. [Refer: the note in subsection 359-35(3) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA)].

In this case, based on the information provided, Member 1's employer has not as yet indicated whether Member 1 will be offered the option to renew their employment contract for a further two years. Furthermore, if that option to renew their contract were made, whether the Members would extend their stay overseas for a further two years is inconclusive, as it will depend on several factors as you have indicated, that as yet cannot be answered at this point in time.

Based on the circumstances of this case, the Commissioner considers that the correctness of this private ruling in relation to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 income years would depend on an assumption about a future event and it is therefore, considered inappropriate to make a private ruling on the basis of that assumption (section 357-110 of the TAA). Accordingly, the Commissioner declines to make a private ruling in relation to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 income years.