Edited version of private advice

Authorisation Number: 1052088316376

Date of advice: 16 February 2023

Ruling

Subject: Superannuation death benefit - interdependency

Question

Was the beneficiary a death benefits dependant of the deceased person according to section 302-195 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)?

Answer

Yes

This ruling applies for the following period

Financial year ending 30 June 20XX

Relevant facts and circumstances:

The Beneficiary is the adult child of the deceased person.

The Deceased died on XX X 20XX.

The Beneficiary was born on XX X 19XX and was therefore older than 18 years when the Deceased died.

In 20XX, the Deceased was diagnosed with an illness and required essential personal care.

From X 20XX until the passing of the Deceased in X 20XX (the Carer Period), the Beneficiary was financially dependent on the Deceased as:

(a)  The Beneficiary did not receive sufficient income from employment - in part of the Carer Period (less than 6 months), the beneficiary received low employment income (around $XXX per week, in average) as 'temporary financial subsidy' for the 'dominantly unpaid' carer role.

(b)  In the Carer Period, the Deceased provided some financial payments to the Beneficiary as evidenced by the relevant bank statements; the Beneficiary did not receive other income outside the financial payments from the Deceased and the above-mentioned employment income.

The Deceased was not financially dependent on the Beneficiary.

In the Carer Period, the Beneficiary cared for the Deceased as a full-time carer, by providing:

(a)  domestic support, including attending to food preparation

(b)  personal care and assistance, including, medication management

(c)   managing their financial affairs

(d)  emotional support.

The Beneficiary lived with the Deceased throughout the Carer Period, in which the Deceased paid for the housing related expenses.

You provided reference letters from the Department of Social Services, which verified the 'full-time carer role'.

Relevant legislative provisions

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 302-60

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 302-145

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 302-195

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 302-200

Income Tax Assessment (1997 Act) Regulations 2021 Section 302-200.01

Income Tax Assessment (1997 Act) Regulations 2021 Section 302-200.02

Reasons for decision

Summary

An interdependency relationship as defined under section 302-200 of the ITAA 1997 existed between the Deceased and the Beneficiary, as all of the requirements set out in the legislation have been satisfied in this case.

Therefore, the Beneficiary is a death benefits dependant of the Deceased as defined in section 302-195 of the ITAA 1997.

Detailed reasoning

Meaning of death benefits dependant

Subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 states that the term 'death benefits dependant' has the meaning given by section 302-195 of the ITAA 1997. Subsection 302-195(1) of the ITAA 1997 defines a death benefits dependant as follows:

A death benefits dependant, of a person who has died, is:

(a)  the deceased person's spouse or former spouse; or

(b)  the deceased person's child, aged less than 18; or

(c)   any other person with whom the deceased person had an interdependency relationship under section 302-200 just before he or she died; or

(d)  any other person who was a dependant of the deceased person just before he or she died.

As the Beneficiary is the adult child of the Deceased, paragraphs 302-195(1)(a) and (b) of the ITAA 1997 are not applicable.

The definition of death benefits dependant does not stipulate the nature or degree of dependency required to be a dependant of the deceased person in paragraph 302-195(1)(d) of the ITAA 1997. However, it is generally accepted that this paragraph refers to financial dependence.

The Beneficiary was financially dependent on the Deceased person and therefore, paragraph 302-195(1)(d) of the ITAA 1997 may have been met.

If the paragraph 302-195(1)(d) of the ITAA 1997 was not met due to the temporary employment income that the Beneficiary earned and relied on (which may have decreased their degree of dependency on the Deceased), then the interdependency relationship under paragraph 302-195(1)(c) of the ITAA 1997 must be considered.

Interdependency relationship

Under subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997, an interdependency relationship is defined as:

Two persons (whether or not related by family) have an interdependency relationship under this section if:

(a)  they have a close personal relationship; and

(b)  they live together; and

(c)   one or each of them provides the other with financial support; and

(d)  one or each of them provides the other with domestic support and personal care.

Subsection 302-200(2) of the ITAA 1997 states:

In addition, 2 persons (whether or not related by family) also have an interdependency relationship under this section if:

(a)  they have a close personal relationship; and

(b)  they do not satisfy one or more of the requirements of an interdependency relationship mentioned in paragraphs (1)(b), (c) and (d); and

(c)   the reason they do not satisfy those requirements is that either or both of them suffer from a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability.

To assist in determining whether two people have an interdependency relationship, paragraph 302-200(3)(a) of the ITAA 1997 provides that the regulations may specify the matters that are or are not to be taken into account.

Subsection 302-200.01(2) of the Income Tax Assessment (1997 Act) Regulations 2021 (ITAR 2021) states the matters to be taken into account. These matters are all of the circumstances of the relationship between the persons, including (where relevant):

(a)  the duration of the relationship

(b)  the ownership, use and acquisition of property

(c)   the degree of mutual commitment to a shared life

(d)  the reputation and public aspects of the relationship

(e)  the degree of emotional support

(f)    the extent to which the relationship is one of mere convenience, and

(g)  any evidence that the parties intend the relationship to be permanent

Paragraph 302-200(3)(b) of the ITAA 1997 states that the regulations may specify the circumstances in which two people have, or do not have an interdependency relationship.

Section 302-200.02 of the ITAR 2021 sets out the circumstances in which two people have an interdependency relationship.

Subsection 302-200.02(2) of the ITAR 2021 provides that an interdependency relationship exists between two people where:

(a)  they satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 302-200(1)(a) to (c) of the ITAA 1997; and

(b)  one or both of them provides the other with support and care of a type and quality normally provided in a close personal relationship rather than by a mere friend or flatmate, for example one person provides significant care for the other person when they are unwell or suffering emotionally.

Subsections 302-200.02(3) and (4) of the ITAR 2021 provide that an interdependency relationship also exists between two people where:

(a)  they have a close personal relationship; and

(b)  they do not satisfy one or more of the other requirements set out in subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997 because:

                                                      i.        they are temporarily living apart, for example because one of them is temporarily working overseas or in gaol; or

                                                     ii.        one (or both) of them suffers from a disability.

Subsection 302-200.02(5) of the ITAR 2021 states that two persons do not have an interdependency relationship if one of them provides domestic support and personal care to the other:

(a)  under an employment contract or a contract for services; or

(b)  on behalf of another person or organisation such as a government agency, a body corporate or a benevolent or charitable organisation.

All of the conditions in subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997, or alternatively, subsection 302-200(2) of the ITAA 1997, or one of the tests in section 302-200.02 of the ITAR 2021 must be satisfied for a person to be in an interdependency relationship with another person. We deal with each condition in turn, to establish if an interdependency relationship existed.

Close personal relationship

The first requirement to be met is specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(a) of the ITAA 1997, which states that the two persons (whether or not related by family) must have a close personal relationship.

This requirement is common to all of the tests specified in section 302-200 of the ITAA 1997 and section 302-200.02 of the ITAR 2021.

A detailed explanation of subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997 is set out in the Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum (SEM) to the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Choice of Superannuation Funds) Act 2004, which states:

(a)  A close personal relationship will be one that involves a demonstrated and ongoing commitment to the emotional support and well-being of the two parties.

(b)  Indicators of a close personal relationship may include:

                                                  i.        the duration of the relationship;

                                                ii.        the degree of mutual commitment to a shared life;

                                               iii.        the reputation and public aspects of the relationship (such as whether the relationship is publicly acknowledged).

The above indicators are not an exclusive list and none of them are required for a close personal relationship to exist.

People who share accommodation for convenience (such as flatmates) or people who provide care as part of an employment relationship or on behalf of a charity are not intended to fall within the definition of a close personal relationship.

The Explanatory Statement to the Income Tax Amendment Regulations 2005 (No.7) stated that:

(a)  Generally speaking, it is not expected that children will be in an interdependency relationship with their parents.

While this statement does not preclude a child from being in an interdependency relationship with a parent, it suggests that interdependency only exists where the relationship goes beyond the usual relationship between an adult child and a parent.

A close personal relationship as specified in subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997 would not normally exist between a parent and an adult child because there would not be a mutual commitment to a shared life between the two. In addition, the relationship between parents and their adult children would be expected to change significantly over time. It would be expected that the adult child would eventually move out and secure independence from their parents.

However, where unusual and exceptional circumstances exist, a relationship between a parent and an adult child may be treated as an interdependency relationship for the purposes of subsection 302-200(1) of the ITAA 1997.

The relationship between the Beneficiary and the Deceased was over and above a normal family relationship between a parent and an adult child.

The matters that indicate the Beneficiary and the Deceased had a close personal relationship before the Deceased's death are:

Beneficiary provided significant care and support to the Deceased throughout their illness. The Beneficiary provided the Deceased with intensive and ongoing emotional and domestic support. This level of care exceeded the care and comfort that would usually be provided by an adult child to a parent. They had an exceptionally close relationship.

Therefore, a close personal relationship existed between the Beneficiary and the Deceased and the first requirement specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(a) of the ITAA 1997 has been satisfied in this case.

Living together

The second requirement to be met is specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(b) of the ITAA 1997 and states that two interdependent persons (whether or not related by family) live together.

The term 'live' is not defined in the ITAA 1997 or accompanying regulations. According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the term 'live' means to dwell or reside. The term 'reside' is defined as the action of dwelling in a particular place permanently or for a considerable time. In the context of paragraph 302-200(1)(b) of the ITAA 1997, the living arrangements must have some degree of permanency that is only disturbed by the death of one of the persons.

Throughout the Carer Period, the Beneficiary and the Deceased lived together.

Consequently, the requirement specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(b) of the ITAA 1997 has been satisfied in this case.

Financial support

The third requirement to be met is specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(c) of the ITAA 1997, which states that one or each of these two persons provides the other with financial support.

Financial support under paragraph 302-200(1)(c) of the ITAA 1997 is satisfied if some level of financial support (not necessarily substantial) is being provided by one person (or each of them) to the other.

From the facts presented, the Beneficiary did not have sufficient income from employment to support themselves financially and received financially payments from the Deceased and the Deceased provide them with accommodation.

Therefore, the Deceased provided the Beneficiary with financial support during the final years of the Deceased's life.

Consequently, paragraph 302-200(1)(c) of the ITAA 1997 has been satisfied.

Domestic support and personal care

The fourth requirement to be met is specified in paragraph 302-200(1)(d) of the ITAA 1997, which states that one or each of these two persons provides the other with domestic support and personal care. In discussing the meaning of domestic support and personal care, paragraph 2.16 of the SEM states:

Domestic support and personal care will commonly be of a frequent and ongoing nature. For example, domestic support services will consist of attending to the household shopping, cleaning, laundry, and like services. Personal care services may commonly consist of assistance with mobility, personal hygiene and generally ensuring the physical and emotional comfort of a person.

From the facts presented, the Beneficiary provided the Deceased with significant assistance with domestic support and personal care, including but not limited to food preparation and medication management.

In addition, the Beneficiary provided the Deceased with significant emotional support and comfort.

Therefore, the requirement in paragraph 302-200(1)(d) of the ITAA 1997 has been satisfied.

Conclusion

As all of the requirements in section 302-200 of the ITAA 1997 have been satisfied, the Deceased and Beneficiary were in an interdependency relationship in the period just before the Deceased's death.

As the Beneficiary was in an interdependency relationship with the Deceased, the Beneficiary is a death benefits dependant as defined under section 302-195 of the ITAA 1997.