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Edited version of your written advice
Authorisation Number: 1051177768727
Date of advice: 4 January 2016
Ruling
Subject: Commissioner's discretion
Question
Will the Commissioner exercise his discretion under section 99A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA) to tax the trustee on income that no beneficiary is presently entitled to under section 99 of the ITAA?
Answer
Yes
This ruling applies for the following period
Year ending 30 June 201X
The scheme commences on
1 July 201X
Relevant facts and circumstances
The Estate was established in accordance with the testator's Will.
The residuary estate is yet to be distributed.
The executor had planned to finalise the administration of the Estate by 30 June 201X, however the finalisation has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances out of the executor's control. The executor now plans to finalise the administration of the Estate by 30 June 201X.
No property has been acquired by or lent to the Estate since it was established.
Relevant legislative provisions
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 99
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 99A
Reasons for decision
Sections 99 and 99A of the ITAA operate to tax trustees if there is part of the net income of a trust estate that is not taxed to a beneficiary under section 97 or the ITAA or to the trustee under section 98 of the ITAA.
Section 99A of the ITAA, which imposes a higher rate of tax, applies automatically unless the trust estate is of a type specified in section 99A(2) of the ITAA and the Commissioner considers that it would be unreasonable for section 99A of the ITAA to apply.
A trust estate that results from a Will or intestacy is a type of trust estate in respect of which the Commissioner may form an opinion it would be unreasonable for the section to apply.
Section 99A(3) of the ITAA sets out factors which the Commissioner can consider in deciding that it would be unreasonable for section 99A of the ITAA to apply.
In forming an opinion for the purposes of subsection (2):
(a) the Commissioner shall have regard to the circumstances in which and the conditions, if any, upon which, at any time, property (including money) was acquired by or lent to the trust estate, income was derived by the trust estate, benefits were conferred on the trust estate or special rights or privileges were conferred on or attached to property of the trust estate, whether or not the rights or privileges have been exercised;
(b) if a person who has, at any time, directly or indirectly:
(i) transferred or lent any property (including money) to, or conferred any benefits on, the trust estate; or
(ii) conferred or attached any special right or privilege, or done any act or thing, either alone or together with another person or persons, that has resulted in the conferring or attaching of any special right or privilege, on or to property of the trust estate whether or not the right or privilege has been exercised;
has not, at any time, directly or indirectly:
(iii) transferred or lent any property (including money) to, or conferred any benefits on, another trust estate; or
(iv) conferred or attached any special right or privilege, or done any act or thing, either alone or together with another person or persons, that has resulted in the conferring or attaching of any special right or privilege, on or to property of another trust estate, whether or not the right or privilege has been exercised;
the Commissioner shall have regard to that fact; and
(c) the Commissioner shall have regard to such other matters, if any, as he or she thinks fit.
After consideration of these factors, the Commissioner is of the opinion that it would be unreasonable that section 99A of the ITAA should apply in relation to the Estate in relation to the relevant year of income. Accordingly section 99 of the ITAA will apply.