8 Partnerships and trusts

The partnership's income from another partnership includes income or a loss which the partnership received, was entitled to receive, or was entitled to deduct in respect of that other partnership.

The partnership's income from a trust includes the partnership's share of the net income (for tax purposes) of the trust which generally corresponds to the percentage share of the trust's distributable income which the partnership received or was entitled to receive as a beneficiary under a will, settlement, and deed of gift or other instrument of trust.

Distributions from another partnership or a share of the net income of a trust includes the share of any:

• TFN amounts withheld from interest, dividends and unit trust distributions
• franking credits attached to franked dividends received indirectly from an Australian franking company
• amounts withheld where an ABN was not quoted
• TFN amounts withheld from payments by the trustee of a closely held trust because a TFN was not provided.

Copy the details from any statements of distribution or advice received from the other partnerships and trusts to worksheet 2. This is the partnership's record if the ATO needs more details later.

If the partnership or trust statement of distribution or advice includes an amount described as dividends or franking credits from a New Zealand franking company, do not include these at item 8 - show these amounts at item 23 'Other assessable foreign source income'.

Do not include any payments and loans received from trustees or amounts that are debts forgiven by trustees that are treated as dividends under Division 7A of Part III of the ITAA 1936 - show these amounts at K item 12 if they are unfranked.

However, Division 7A of Part III was amended to enable certain amounts treated as dividends to be franked. If the amounts are franked, show them at L item 12 - see unfranked amount and franked amount below.

If a partnership or trust statement of distribution or advice includes amounts described as foreign income or capital gains, Do not include these at item 8 - show foreign income at:

• Item 22 'Attributed foreign income', and
• Item 23 'Other assessable foreign source income'.

A partnership does not own assets for CGT purposes. A partnership asset is owned by the partners in the proportion to which they have agreed. If a CGT event happens for a partnership during the year or to one of its CGT assets, or the partnership receives a share of a capital gain from a trust, any capital gain or capital loss is made by the partners individually. Each partner must calculate their capital gain or capital loss by reference to the partnership agreement, or to partnership law if there is no agreement, and include it on their own tax return. For more information on how a partner returns their share of a capital gain or capital loss, see the Guide to capital gains tax 2011-12.

To the extent that family trust distribution tax (FTDT) has been paid on an amount that would otherwise be assessable to the partnership, that amount is excluded from the assessable income of the partnership under section 271-105 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936.

To the extent that FTDT has been paid on income or capital of a trust to which the partnership is presently entitled or which has been distributed to the partnership, that income or capital is excluded from the assessable income of the partnership under section 271-105 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936.

For more information about the circumstances in which FTDT is payable, see Family trust distribution tax.

If trustee beneficiary non-disclosure tax (TBNT) has been paid in respect of an amount that would otherwise be assessable to the partnership, that amount is excluded from the assessable income of the partnership.

Any losses or outgoings incurred in deriving an amount that is excluded from assessable income because FTDT or TBNT has been paid are not deductible. The partnership cannot claim a tax offset for any franking credits attributable to the whole or a part of a dividend that is excluded from assessable income.

Primary production

Distribution from partnerships

Show at A the amount of primary production income or loss distribution from other partnerships.

If this amount is a loss, print L in the box at the right of the amount.

Distribution from trusts

Show at Z the partnership's share of primary production income which has been included in the net income (for tax purposes) of the trust. The statement of distribution or advice from the trust should separately show this amount. This amount should include the partnership's share of primary production income which has been included in the net income of the trust where the partnership became presently entitled to primary production income of the trust in the income year, but has not yet received it.

If the partnership's share of primary production income included in the net income of the trust is zero because the trust has made a loss from its primary production activities, print L in the box at the right of the amount. Show a loss at Z only if it is a component of an overall distribution of net income from the same trust.

If this amount is not a loss, in the box at the right of Z print the code from Table 4 that best describes the type of trust from which the distribution is made. If this amount is from more than one type of trust, print the code that represents the trust with the greatest amount of distribution.

Table 4: Trust codes
Code	Type
D	Deceased estate
F	Fixed trust, other than a fixed unit trust or public unit trust described in U, P or Q
H	Hybrid trust
S	Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from service and management activities
T	Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from trading activities
I	Discretionary trust, where the main source of income of the trust is from investment activities
M	Cash management unit trust
U	Fixed unit trust, other than a public unit trust described in P or Q
P	Public unit trust (listed), other than a cash management unit trust
Q	Public unit trust (unlisted), other than a cash management unit trust

Deductions relating to distribution in A and Z

Show at S the partnership's deductions for its own expenses relating to primary production distributions from other partnerships or trusts. Also show at S the partnership's deductions for its own expenses in deriving its share of primary production income which has been included in the net income (for tax purposes) of a trust. Note that expenses incurred on behalf of the trust are not able to be deducted by the partnership.

If you have prepaid any expenses, the amount that you can claim at S may be affected by the prepayment provisions - for more information, see Deductions for prepaid expenses 2011-12 (NAT 4170).

Expenses listed here that are costs associated with borrowing and servicing debt may not be allowable deductions under the thin capitalisation rules - for more information, see appendix 3. The disallowed amount reduces the amount that would otherwise be included at S.

Net primary production distributions

Show at this entry the net result of adding partnership distributions of primary production income and the partnership's share of primary production income that has been included in the net income (for tax purposes) of a trust minus allowable deductions related to that income.

Write the total amount in the box at 'Net primary production distribution.' If this amount is a loss, print L in the box at the right of the amount.

Non-primary production

Distribution from partnerships, less foreign income

Show at B the amount of non-primary production income or loss distributions from other partnerships - include any share of credit for tax withheld in Australia due to foreign resident withholding that is attached to the distribution. (You also include the share of credit at U item 8).

If the amount at B is a loss, print L in the box at the right of the amount.

If the distribution includes franked dividends from a franking entity, check the statement of distribution or advice detailing the distribution to ensure that the amounts to be included at this entry represent both the partnership's share of the franked dividend and its share of the franking credit attached to the franked dividend. The franking credit is included at D item 8.

Do not show any dividends or franking credits indirectly received attributable to distributions from a New Zealand franking company at this entry. If the partnership received dividends or franking credits indirectly from a New Zealand franking company, see item 23 Other assessable foreign source income.

If the partnership receives a distribution from another partnership and that other partnership claimed a deduction for a listed investment company (LIC) capital gain amount, then the partnership must add back as income its share of the deduction claimed by the other partnership and show the amount at item 14 'Other Australian Income'.

Distribution from trusts, less net capital gain and foreign income

Show at R the partnership's share of the non-primary production income which was included in the net income (for tax purposes) of trusts. The statement of distribution or advice from the trusts should separately show this amount. Include any share of credit for tax withheld in Australia due to foreign resident withholding that is attached to the distribution. (Also include the share of credit for tax withheld from foreign resident withholding at U item 8.)

The partnership's share of franked distributions from trusts and its share of the franking credits referable to those franked distributions (the franking credit 'gross-up') are no longer included at the amount shown at R. These amounts are now included at F. The franking credit is also included at D item 8 - see Franked distributions from trusts, for further instructions on this amount. However, these amounts are still relevant to working out whether the overall share of net income (for tax purposes) from non-primary production activities is a positive amount.

Do not show the partnership's share of any non-primary production income included in the net income of a trust that includes any dividends or franking credits indirectly received which were attributable to distributions from a New Zealand franking company at this entry - instead, see item 23 Other assessable foreign source income.

In working out the partnership's share of non-primary production income that was included in the net income (for tax purposes) of a trust, amounts to which the partnership became presently entitled in the income year but has not yet received should also be taken into account.

Although for tax purposes a trust cannot distribute a loss, in certain circumstances a trust may have made a loss in relation to its non-primary production activities and yet still have a positive amount of net income because its share of primary production income included in the net income for tax purposes is positive. In these circumstances, for the purposes of certain provisions relating to primary producers, it may be necessary to identify where the partnership's share of net income from a trust related to non-primary production activities is a loss and record this at R.

If the partnership's share of non-primary production income which was included in the net income (for tax purposes) of a trust is a loss, print L in the box at the right of the amount. Show a loss at R only if the amount is a component of an overall distribution of net income from the same trust. The loss at R should be adjusted for any amounts shown at F and G relating to franked distributions from trusts.

If this amount is not a loss, in the box at the right of R print the code from Table 4 that best describes the type of trust from which the distribution is made. If this amount is from more than one type of trust, print the code that represents the trust with the greatest amount of distribution.

If the partnership receives or was entitled to receive income from a trust, and that trust claimed a deduction for a listed investment company (LIC) capital gain amount, then the partnership must include an amount equal to its share of the deduction allowed to the trust at item 14 'Other Australian income'.

Deductions relating to distribution in B and R

Show at T the partnership's deductions for its own expenses relating to non-primary production distributions from other partnerships or trusts, except those deductions which are directly related to the earning of franked distributions from trusts which are shown at G. Also show at T the partnership's own expenses incurred in deriving its share of non-primary production income which has been included in the net income (for tax purposes) of a trust. Note that expenses incurred on behalf of a trust are not able to be deducted by the trust.

If any expenses have been prepaid, the amount that you can claim at T may be affected by the prepayment provisions - for more information, see Deductions for prepaid expenses 2011-12.

Expenses listed here (and where relevant at G relating to franked distributions from trusts) that are costs associated with borrowing and servicing debt may not be allowable deductions under the thin capitalisation rules - for more information, see appendix 3. The disallowed amount reduces the amount that would otherwise go at T.

If FTDT has been paid on the income or capital of another partnership or trust that the partnership is entitled to or which has been distributed to the partnership, an amount is excluded from the partnership's assessable income under section 271-105 of Schedule 2F of the ITAA 1936. Do not show this at A, Z, B or R or F. You cannot claim a deduction for any losses or outgoings incurred in deriving an amount which is excluded from assessable income at S, T or G - for more information about the circumstances in which FTDT is payable, see Family trust distribution tax.

If trustee beneficiary non-disclosure tax (TBNT) has been paid in respect of an amount that would otherwise be assessable to the partnership, that amount is excluded from the assessable income of the partnership. Do not show that income at A, Z, B, R or F. You cannot claim a deduction for any losses or outgoings incurred in deriving an amount which is excluded from assessable income at S, T or G.

Franked distributions from trusts

If the partnership's share of the non-primary production income included in the net income of a trust includes an amount described as franked dividends, franked distributions or attributable franked distributions, check the statement of distribution or advice detailing the distribution to ensure that the amounts to be included at this entry represent both the partnership's share of the franked distribution and its share of the franking credit attached to the franked distribution (the franking credit 'gross-up').

Show at F the partnership's share of the franked distribution (described as franked dividends, franked distributions or attributable franked distributions) plus its share of the franking credit attached to the franked distribution. The franking credit is also included at D item 8.

Do not show any share of a trust's non-primary production income included in the net income of that trust that includes any dividends or franking credits indirectly received which were attributable to distributions from a New Zealand franking company at this entry - instead, see item 23 Other assessable foreign source income.

Deductions relating to franked distributions from trusts in Label F

Show at G the partnership's deductions for its own expenses incurred in deriving its share of the franked distributions from trusts at label F.

Net non-primary production distribution

Show at this entry the net result of adding the partnership distributions of non-primary production income and the partnership's share of non-primary production income included in the trust's net income (for tax purposes), minus deductions related to that income, plus the net amount of the franked distributions from trusts, minus the deductions relating to the franked distributions from trusts.

Write the total amount in the box at 'Net non-primary production distribution'. If this amount is a loss, print L in the box at the right of the amount.

Share of credits from income

Share of credit for tax withheld where ABN not quoted

If the income shown at A, Z, B, R or F includes any share of amounts which have had tax withheld where an ABN was not quoted, show any share of credit for the tax withheld at C. The trust or partnership statement or distribution or advice should separately disclose this amount.

Share of franking credit from franked dividends

Show at D the partnership's share of any franking credits from a franking entity received through another partnership or trust.

Show franking credits received directly from a paying franking entity at M item 12.

Do not show franking credits relating to a dividend received through another partnership or trust if any of the following apply:

• They were attributable to a distribution from a New Zealand franking company. If the partnership received franking credits indirectly from a New Zealand franking company, see item 23 Other assessable foreign source income.
• The holding period rule and related payments rule were not satisfied for the dividend - for more information, see appendix 1.
• FTDT has been paid on the dividend paid or credited by a company which has made an interposed entity election. The dividend is excluded from assessable income under section 271-105 of Schedule 2F to the ITAA 1936. A franking credit or tax offset cannot be claimed for any franking credit attached to that dividend - for more information about when FTDT is payable, see Family trust distribution tax.
• Trustee beneficiary non-disclosure tax has been paid in respect of the dividend. A franking credit or tax offset cannot be claimed for any franking credit attached to that dividend.

Share of credit for TFN amounts withheld from interest, dividends and unit trust distributions

Unless an entity claimed an exemption or quoted a TFN, an investment body may withhold amounts from interest, dividends or income of a unit trust to which a beneficiary is presently entitled - these are called 'TFN amounts withheld'. The current rate is 46.5% of the payment made.

Show at E the partnership's share of any credit for TFN amounts withheld from amounts of interest, dividends and income of unit trusts to which a beneficiary is presently entitled, that are received from other partnerships or trusts. Credits for TFN amounts withheld are allowed in the assessments of the partners.

Share of credit for TFN amounts withheld from payments from closely held trusts

Where a beneficiary of a closely held trust does not provide their TFN to the trustee, the trustee may be required to withhold from payments or distributions.

Show at O the amounts withheld from payments where a TFN has not been provided to the trustee of a closely held trust.

If amounts have been withheld from distributions to the partnership under these rules, the partnership is required to receive an annual payment summary in the approved form from the trustee.

Share of credit for tax withheld from foreign resident withholding

Amounts may be withheld in Australia from some payments made to certain partnerships or trusts due to the operation of the foreign resident withholding measure. These payments relate to entertainment or sports activities, construction and related activities, and casino gaming junket activities.

Show at U the partnership's share of any foreign resident withholding credits received from other partnerships and trusts. Ensure this amount is included in the gross distribution amount shown at B 'Distribution from partnerships, less foreign income' or R 'Distribution from trusts, less net capital gain and foreign income'.

Taxation of financial arrangements (TOFA)

Even if the TOFA rules apply to the partnership, show at item 8 'Partnerships and trusts' all primary production and non-primary production distributions from partnerships and trusts, or deductions relating to such distributions. This includes amounts from financial arrangements subject to the TOFA rules.

If what you show at item 8 'Partnerships and trusts' includes an amount which is brought to account under the TOFA rules, also complete item 31 'Taxation of financial arrangements (TOFA)'.