This chapter applies only if you use the calculation method to decide the amount of FIF income to include in your assessable income.
Overview of the foreign tax credit system
Under the foreign tax credit system, foreign source income derived by Australian residents-apart from certain dividends and listed country branch profits, salary and wages-is generally subjected to Australian income tax. A credit for foreign tax paid, up to the amount of the Australian income tax applying to the foreign income, is allowed against the Australian tax payable. Credit is allowable for foreign taxes imposed by central, state and local governments, provided the taxes are equivalent in nature to Australia's income tax. [SECTION 160AF]
Resident taxpayers-whether corporate or non-corporate-who include in their assessable income the whole or part of a dividend from a non-resident company are entitled to a credit for the direct foreign tax paid on that dividend. For example, the foreign company may have paid a dividend withholding tax. The Australian resident is entitled to credit for the withholding tax.
Non-portfolio dividends paid to resident corporate taxpayers from the exempting receipts of a CFC do not attract foreign tax credits. [SECTION 23AJ and SUBSECTION 160AFC(5A)]
An Australian resident company that receives a dividend from a related foreign company is also allowed a credit for taxes paid by the foreign company on that portion of the profits from which the dividends are paid-that is, the underlying foreign tax. [SECTION 160AFC]
Related companies
A foreign company is related to an Australian company if the Australian company has a direct voting interest of at least 10% of the voting power of the foreign company. This relationship could extend through any number of tiers of foreign companies if each company in the chain has at least a 10% voting interest in the company in the tier below, and the Australian company has a direct or indirect voting interest of at least 5% in the foreign company. [SECTION 160AFB]