In this section:
- 57 Statements of distribution
- 58 Choice for resident trustee to be assessed to capital gains on behalf of beneficiaries
- 59 Beneficiary under legal disability who is presently entitled to income from another trust
- 60 Non-resident trust
57 Statements of distribution
The information disclosed in the statement of distribution will need to be provided to each beneficiary to whom that information relates to allow them to complete their own tax return.
Beneficiaries of closely held trusts need to quote their tax file number (TFN) to the trustee to avoid having amounts withheld from their payments or unpaid entitlements. If a beneficiary doesn't quote their TFN before a payment or entitlement occurs, the trustee must withhold from the payment or entitlement, pay the withheld amount to the ATO and lodge an annual report with details of all withheld amounts.
For more information see TFN withholding rules for closely held trusts.
If required, the Annual TFN withholding report is lodged separately by either PLS or paper.
Before completing the statement of distribution, see Appendix 11.
Failure to make a correct TB statement may result in liability for trustee beneficiary non-disclosure tax (TBNT), currently imposed at the rate of 47%.
In this section:
- Is a beneficiary presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate?
- Is there income of the trust estate to which no beneficiary is presently entitled?
- Requesting an exercise of the Commissioner's discretion
- Can trust capital gains be reduced by the CGT discount and/or the small business 50% reduction where there is income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled?
- Has the trust received an employment termination payment (ETP) or superannuation lump sum?
- Has the trust received a listed investment company (LIC) capital gain amount?
- Completing item 57
- Beneficiary details
Is a beneficiary presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate?
The way the net income of a trust is taxed will depend on whether there are beneficiaries presently entitled to a share of the income of a trust estate and whether the trust has derived capital gains or franked distributions which the trustee has 'streamed' to specific beneficiaries. In the absence of the trustee making certain beneficiaries specifically entitled to amounts of capital gains or franked distributions, a resident beneficiary who is presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate (for trust purposes) and is not under a legal disability is assessed on the same percentage share of the net income (for tax purposes) of the trust.
There are a number of steps in determining whether a beneficiary is presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust.
Step 1 – Calculate the income of the trust available for distribution
Determine the total income of the trust that was legally available for distribution to trust beneficiaries in the income year (the distributable income). This is the amount at A item 56.
Step 2 – Determine the beneficiary's entitlement to distributable income
Determine the amount of the trust's distributable income that the beneficiary was presently entitled at any time during the year, even if it has been paid or applied on their behalf. A beneficiary's entitlement to income may be prescribed by the deed, or it may depend on the exercise of a trustee's discretion.
A beneficiary will be deemed to be presently entitled to the income of a trust estate if they have an indefeasible vested interest in that income. An indefeasible interest is one that cannot be brought to an end or varied, for example, it is not able to be varied by the exercise of a power by the trustee or another person. A vested interest is one that presently exists. However, it can be either a present right or one that can be enjoyed in the future.
The principal beneficiary of a special disability trust is considered to be presently entitled to all of the net income of the trust. For more information, see Reporting the income of a special disability trust.
Step 3 – Calculate the beneficiary's percentage share of the distributable income
Convert each beneficiary’s entitlement to the distributable income to a percentage share of the total distributable income. This percentage share is relevant in working out the amount of the trust's net income (for tax purposes) that is assessed to a beneficiary (or to the trustee on the beneficiary's behalf where the beneficiary is under a legal disability or is a non-resident at the end of the income year). It is also relevant to the allocation of certain types of income, tax credits and other trust amounts to beneficiaries.
A beneficiary will also be taken to be presently entitled to any income they are paid or that is applied on their behalf, at the discretion of the trustee.
Step 4 – Apply relevant adjustments
If allowed by the trust deed, the trustee of a trust may stream a trust's capital gains and franked distributions to beneficiaries for tax purposes by making them specifically entitled to the amounts (see streaming trust capital gains and franked distributions). Broadly, beneficiaries who are made specifically entitled to the trust's capital gains will be taken to have made capital gains referable to so much of those gains as are included in the trust's net income (with appropriate adjustments for any CGT discounts or concessions). Beneficiaries who are made specifically entitled to the trust's franked distributions will be assessed on so much of those distributions as are included in the trust's net income, as well as on any corresponding franking credits.
In these circumstances, to work out how much of the balance of the trust's net income for tax purposes (that is, excluding capital gains and franked distributions that any entity is specifically entitled to) is assessed to relevant beneficiaries or the trustee, in a practical sense the trustee will generally need to use the beneficiaries (or trustee's) adjusted Division 6 percentage share instead of their percentage share of distributable income calculated at step 3. The adjusted Division 6 percentage is broadly the income of the trust estate to which a beneficiary is presently entitled, ignoring any franked distributions and capital gains to which they are specifically entitled, divided by the income of the trust calculated, on the assumption that it excludes any capital gains or franked distributions to which any entity is specifically entitled. For a trustee, if the sum of the adjusted Division 6 percentage of all beneficiaries is less than 100%, the difference is the trustee's adjusted Division 6 percentage.
The streaming provisions do not apply to managed investment trusts unless their trustees choose for them to apply (see Managed investment trusts: election into capital treatment).
Trustees of trusts that:
- did not stream capital gains and franked distributions to beneficiaries for tax purposes in 2020–21, or
- were not in receipt of franked distributions or capital gains in 2020–21
do not calculate an adjusted Division 6 percentage and, instead, just use each beneficiary's percentage share of distributable income calculated above.
Similarly, for trusts in receipt of capital gains or franked distributions, if no beneficiaries (or the trustee) are specifically entitled to such amounts, the two percentage shares will be the same.
These adjustments can only apply if total net income of the trust for tax purposes is greater than zero.
For more information, see Trust tax-time toolkit.
Is there income of the trust estate to which no beneficiary is presently entitled?
Include at the end of item 57 at Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled that part of the net (taxable) income of the trust at item 26 Total net income or loss that has not been assessed to either:
- a beneficiary
- the trustee on behalf of a beneficiary who is presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust but is either
- not a resident at the end of the income year
- under a legal disability.
The trustee also prints X in the Yes box at Is any tax payable by the trustee? on page 2 of the trust tax return.
Generally, to work out the amount to record at A, B, U, F, G and H at the end of item 57:
- convert the amount of the trust's distributable income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled as a percentage of the total distributable income, and
- multiply this result by the component of the trust's net income that relates to each entry.
If the trust has beneficiaries (or the trustee) that are specifically entitled to amounts of capital gains or franked distributions, the amount recorded at A, B, U, F, G and H at the end of item 57 will need to be calculated having regard to the adjusted Division 6 percentage share of the income of the trust.
For more information, see Trust tax-time toolkit.
The trustee is assessable under section 99A of the ITAA 1936 and is liable to pay tax at the highest marginal rate on that part of the net income of the trust that has not been assessed to a beneficiary or to the trustee on a beneficiary's behalf. The applicable tax rate is the highest marginal rate of tax for resident individuals.
However, section 99A of the ITAA 1936 will not apply if the Commissioner thinks it would be unreasonable for the special rate of tax to apply to the net income of a trust estate that:
- resulted from the will or intestacy of a deceased person
- consists of property either of a bankrupt vested in the official receiver in bankruptcy or that is being administered under Part XI of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (as amended)
- consists of property that was transferred to the trustee for the benefit of the beneficiary
- by way of, or in satisfaction of a claim for, damages for loss of parental support, personal injury, disease, or physical or mental impairment
- by way of workers or criminal injury compensation
- directly as a result of the death of a person and from the proceeds of a life assurance policy, a superannuation fund or an employer of the deceased person
- out of a public fund established and maintained exclusively for the relief of persons in necessitous circumstances
- as a result of a family breakdown (see section 102AGA of the ITAA 1936 for when the transfer of property is as a result of a family breakdown).
Where the Commissioner exercises his discretion that it would be inappropriate for section 99A to apply to the trust for an income year, the trustee will pay tax at concessional rates.
For deceased estates that are resident trust estates and in respect of which the Commissioner has exercised his discretion, the general individual rates apply for the year the deceased died and the following two years. The trustee also has the benefit of the full tax-free threshold of $18,200. For the fourth and subsequent years, different progressive rates apply, see Tax tables on deceased estates after three years.
For other resident trust estates in respect of which the Commissioner has exercised his discretion to not apply section 99A in assessing the trustee, the concessional rates shown in Tax tables on deceased estates after three years also apply.
Requesting an exercise of the Commissioner's discretion
If you would like the Commissioner’s discretion to be exercised, submit full details in support of the request. Also provide:
- details of the balance sheet capital accounts
- if shares are held in private companies and special rights attach directly or indirectly to those shares, a statement showing
- the name of the company
- the class and paid-up value of the shares
- details of the special rights
- whether those rights have been exercised during the year
- if a loan has been made to or by the trust, a statement showing the nature of the debt, the terms of the loan and the borrower’s or lender’s full name, address and family relationship, if any, to the beneficiaries
- full details for such loans if relatives of the beneficiaries or other persons not at arm’s length have made loans to a private company in which the trust holds shares, or to a partnership in which the trustee is a partner
- the names of any other trusts to which the person has contributed in the ways mentioned or in which the beneficiaries of the trust lodging this tax return are interested
- this information need not be furnished for public securities, debentures in public companies and loans made in normal commercial transactions where the parties are at arm’s length
- if a person, other than in a purely commercial transaction at arm’s length, has directly or indirectly transferred money or property to the trust, conferred benefits on the trust or conferred special privileges on the property of the trust, the full name and address of the person and the family relationship, if any, of that person to the beneficiaries
- names of any other trusts to which the person in 3 or 4 has contributed in the ways mentioned in those sub-paragraphs or in which the beneficiaries of the trust lodging this tax return are interested
- details of property which has been transferred to a trust by a relative of the beneficiaries, and income from that property which must or may be used to pay for that property.
If the Commissioner has exercised discretion in relation to an earlier income year of the trust, you are not required to request the Commissioner to reconsider this for each subsequent income year unless material changes have occurred. In this case, you must provide a statement on a separate sheet of paper advising what material changes have occurred.
Attach the statement to the tax return and print X in the Yes box at Have you attached any ‘other attachments’? at the top of page 1 of the tax return.
Can trust capital gains be reduced by the CGT discount and/or the small business 50% reduction where there is income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled?
If the trustee is assessable under section 99A of the ITAA 1936 on some or all of the net income of the trust, capital gains included in that part of the trust’s net income are not eligible for the CGT discount and the small business 50% reduction (see section 115-222 of the ITAA 1997).
If the trustee is assessable under section 99A of the ITAA 1936 on some or all of the net income of the trust and the amount on which the trustee is assessed includes a capital gain to which either the CGT discount or the small business 50% reduction has been applied (but not both), work out the amount assessable to the trustee under section 99A as if the part attributable to the capital gain was double the amount it actually is.
If the trustee is assessable under section 99A of the ITAA 1936 on some or all of the net income of the trust, and the amount on which the trustee is assessed includes a capital gain to which both the CGT discount and the small business 50% reduction have been applied, work out the amount assessable to the trustee under section 99A as if the part attributable to the capital gain was four times the amount it actually is.
Provide a statement on a separate sheet of paper showing details of the amount assessable under section 99A using the above method. Attach the statement to the tax return and print X in the Yes box at Have you attached any ‘other attachments’? at the top of page 1 of the tax return.
Has the trust received an employment termination payment (ETP) or superannuation lump sum?
Include death benefit ETPs and superannuation lump sums on the statement of distribution at B at the end of item 57 at Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled and in which no beneficiary has an indefeasible vested interest, and the trustee’s share of credit for tax deducted.
The trustee is liable to pay the tax, if any, on these amounts. The amount of tax payable by the trustee depends on the components of the ETP or superannuation lump sum and the extent that the dependants of the deceased have benefitted from the estate. For more information on ETPs and superannuation lump sums, see item 13 Superannuation lump sums and employment termination payments.
Has the trust received a listed investment company (LIC) capital gain amount?
If the following persons or entities are beneficiaries and the trustee claimed a deduction in respect of a LIC capital gain amount in calculating the trust's net income for tax purposes, the trustee must advise these beneficiaries of their share of the deduction:
- trustee of a trust
- trustee of a superannuation entity
- company (including a life insurance company)
- partnership.
Each beneficiary's share of the deduction is so much of that deduction as is reflected in their share of the net income of the trust.
Completing item 57
The total of the amounts at N, A, B, U, F, G and H on this statement equals the amount at item 26 Total net income or loss, except in the case:
- of certain ETPs, as covered in item 13 Superannuation lump sums and employment termination payments
- where a beneficiary’s or a trustee’s share of franking credits at N has been reduced because of an entitlement to a foreign income tax offset
- where part of the net income is not taxable either to the trustee or beneficiary.
If part of the net income is not taxable to either the trustee or a beneficiary, for example, where it is not attributable to sources in Australia and it relates to a share of income that a non-resident beneficiary, who is not the trustee of another trust, is entitled to:
- attach a statement highlighting this to the tax return
- print X in the Yes box at Have you attached any ‘other attachments’? at the top of page 1 of the tax return
- include the information outlined at Non-resident beneficiaries.
If part of a distribution is not taxable to either the trustee or a beneficiary, for example, the distribution to a non-resident beneficiary includes dividends, interest or royalties on which withholding tax has been withheld and remitted to us, franked dividends excluded from non-resident withholding tax, or a distribution to a foreign resident which requires an Australian managed investment trust to withhold an amount:
- attach a statement highlighting this to the tax return
- print X in the Yes box at Have you attached any ‘other attachments’? at the top of page 1 of the tax return
- include the information outlined at Non-resident beneficiaries.
Trust losses
A trust cannot distribute an overall trust loss. In these circumstances, there will be no income of the trust estate to which any beneficiary can be presently entitled, which will generally result in the trustee being assessed on any net income of the trust for tax purposes, if there is any. However:
- a beneficiary still may be able to be made specifically entitled to (and assessed in respect of) a capital gain if it forms part of the capital of the trust rather than being included in the calculation of trust income
- you may still need to record certain information on the statements of distribution for the purposes of certain primary production concessions, see Beneficiaries of primary production trusts that report a loss.
If the trust has overall income, but has a negative net income for tax purposes, it cannot distribute that tax loss to beneficiaries.
Beneficiary details
In this section:
- If the number of beneficiaries exceeds three
- Beneficiary 1, Beneficiary 2, Beneficiary 3
- Entity code
- Assessment calculation code V
- Share of income of the trust estate W
- Credit for tax withheld – foreign resident withholding L
- Credit for amounts of foreign resident capital gains withholding Z
- Australian franking credits from a New Zealand franking company N
- Share of income A and B
- Beneficiaries of primary production trusts that report a loss
- If you showed an amount at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI):
- Credit for tax withheld where ABN not quoted C
- Franked distributions U
- Franking credit D
- TFN amount withheld E
- Share of credit for TFN amounts withheld from payments from closely held trusts O
- Capital gains F
- If you showed a capital gains amount at item 32 – Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI)
- Share of credit for foreign resident capital gains withholding amounts Z
- Attributed foreign income G
- Other assessable foreign source income H
- Foreign income tax offset I
- Share of National Rental Affordability Scheme tax offset R
- Exploration credits distributed M
- Early stage venture capital limited partnership (ESVCLP) tax offset T
- Early stage venture capital limited partnership tax offset carried forward from previous year K
- Additional information for trustee's assessments
- Early stage investor tax offset J
- Early stage investor tax offset carried forward from previous year M
- Additional information for trustee's assessments
- Div 6AA Eligible income C1
- Share of net small business income Y
- Non-resident beneficiary additional information
- Subsection 98(3) assessable amount
- Non-resident company beneficiaries assessable amount J
- Non-resident individual beneficiaries assessable amount J
- Subsection 98(4) assessable amount
- Non-resident trustee beneficiaries assessable amount K
- Trustee beneficiary (TB) statement information
- Annual trustee payment report information
- Information that non-residents must provide on the TB statement
If the number of beneficiaries exceeds three
For paper tax returns, if there are more than three beneficiaries, photocopy extra pages and complete the statement of distribution for each additional beneficiary.
Attach the additional beneficiary details to the tax return and print X in the Yes box at Have you attached any ‘other attachments’? at the top of page 1 of the tax return.
Complete the statement of distribution even for those beneficiaries under a legal disability on whose behalf the trustee will be assessed.
Beneficiary 1, Beneficiary 2, Beneficiary 3
For each beneficiary presently entitled or having an indefeasible and vested interest in trust income, show:
- for individuals
- tax file number (TFN)
- full name, including title, surname or family name, and given names
- residential address (street address, not PO Box)
- date of birth
- entity type code
- for non-individuals
- TFN
- full name of entity, for example, ABC Trust
- business address (street address not PO Box)
- entity type code.
Entity code
Print the appropriate code for the beneficiary entity type at U (next to the TFN):
- C for company
- F for Fund
- I for Individual
- P for Partnership
- S for Self-managed super fund
- T for Trust.
Ensure you complete these details fully and in the correct area.
Example 11
If the beneficiary is a company, then complete the details as:
Tax file number: 123 456 789
Entity code: C
Non-individual name: John Smith Pty Ltd
Business address: 123 Brown Street
Suburb/town: Melbourne
State/territory: Vic
Postcode: 3000
End of exampleAssessment calculation code V
Insert an assessment calculation code from Appendix 12 for each beneficiary presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust (even those beneficiaries under a legal disability on whose behalf the trustee will be assessed), and also for income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled and in which no beneficiary has an indefeasible vested interest.
Bankrupt estates are lodged under assessment calculation code 37.
Share of income of the trust estate W
At W show each beneficiary’s share of the income of the trust estate recorded at A item 56 Income of the trust estate to which they are presently entitled.
A beneficiary's entitlement to income may be prescribed by the deed, or it may depend on the exercise of a trustee's discretion. A beneficiary will be taken to be presently entitled to any income they are paid or that is applied on their behalf, at the discretion of the trustee.
A beneficiary will be deemed to be presently entitled to the income of a trust estate if they have an indefeasible vested interest in that income. An indefeasible interest is one that cannot be brought to an end or varied, for example, it is not able to be varied by the exercise of a power by the trustee or another person. A vested interest is one that presently exists. However, it can be either a present right or one that can be enjoyed in the future.
The principal beneficiary of a special disability trust is considered to be presently entitled to all of the net income of the trust. For more information, see 56 Income of the trust estate.
Credit for tax withheld – foreign resident withholding L
Show each beneficiary’s share of credit for tax withheld where income of the trust is subject to foreign resident withholding.
Except for relevant trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show whole dollars only.
For trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the amount of tax withheld at L under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
If the trust has no net income, the beneficiaries are not entitled to a share of the credit for tax withheld. Instead, show the sum of the amounts withheld at L under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of the amounts at L must equal the total amount of credit shown on the tax return at U item 6 and U item 8.
Do not include any amounts of foreign resident capital gains withholding at L item 57. This amount should be included at Z item 57.
You only complete this entry if the trust is a non-resident trust and the amount was withheld in Australia and remitted to us.
Credit for amounts of foreign resident capital gains withholding Z
Show at Z item 57 each beneficiary's share of foreign resident capital gains withholding.
Except for relevant trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of the foreign resident capital gains withholding by multiplying the amount of foreign resident capital gains withholding by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show also the cents.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of the foreign resident capital gains withholding by multiplying the foreign resident capital gains withholding by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show also the cents.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the foreign resident capital gains withholding at Z under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
If the trust has no net income, the beneficiaries are not entitled to a share of the foreign resident capital gains withholding. Instead, show the sum of the amounts of foreign resident capital gains withholding at Z under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
Australian franking credits from a New Zealand franking company N
Include at N the beneficiary’s share of the Australian franking credit received from a New Zealand franking company, including any amounts received through another trust or a partnership. The beneficiary's share of this credit is broadly calculated as the sum of:
- the credit attaching to any part of the relevant distribution from the New Zealand franking company to which the beneficiary is specifically entitled,
plus
- the beneficiary's adjusted Division 6 percentage of the credit attaching to any part of the relevant distribution to which no beneficiary is specifically entitled.
The amount at N is not necessarily the amount that can be claimed by each beneficiary.
If the beneficiary is under a legal disability, the trustee will be assessed; see above. In these circumstances, include at N in the beneficiary's statement of distribution the amount of Australian franking credits attached to a New Zealand franking company dividend allowed to the trustee.
If there are relevant distributions to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, include the trustee's share of the Australian franking credits attached to a dividend paid by a New Zealand franking company at N under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57. The trustee's share is worked out in the same way as their share of the franking credit on a franked distribution by an Australian company; see below.
Under section 220-405 of the ITAA 1997, the Australian franking credits may be reduced by the relevant part of the supplementary dividend paid by the New Zealand franking company if:
- the supplementary dividend was paid in connection with the franked dividend
- the beneficiary under a legal disability or trustee is entitled to a foreign income tax offset because the franked dividend is included in their assessable income; for more information, see Appendix 1.
Amounts shown at N are not included at D Franking credits.
Share of income A and B
Show each beneficiary’s share of the trust's primary production income and non-primary production income included in the net income of the trust for tax purposes at A and B, except to the extent that these amounts are recorded at other labels, at item 57.
The trust's primary production income is generally indicated at items 5 Business income and expenses and 8 Partnerships and trusts, less any primary production deductions.
The trust's non-primary production income is the amount shown at item 26 Total net income or loss, less:
- primary production income as calculated above
- amounts attributable to capital gains (shown at item 21 Capital gains)
- foreign income included at items 22 Attributed foreign income and 23 Other assessable foreign source income.
All of these amounts are shown at separate labels on the distribution statement.
While the trust's non-primary production income includes franked distributions, for the purpose of recording beneficiaries' shares of franked distribution included in the net income of the trust on the distribution statement, these amounts should not be shown at B. Franked distributions (both fully and partially franked) should be shown at U on the distribution statement. Unfranked distributions should continue to be shown at B.
The amount shown at A is worked out by multiplying the primary production income by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust's income or adjusted Division 6 percentage share, in the case of relevant trusts with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part.
For trusts that did not receive franked distributions either directly or indirectly through a partnership or trust during the income year and did not have any capital gains that any beneficiary (or the trustee) was specifically entitled to, the amount shown at B is worked out by multiplying the non-primary production income by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust's income.
The non-primary production income amount shown at B will need to be worked out differently if the trust is a relevant trust with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part.
For relevant trusts with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part, the amount shown at B in respect of a beneficiary should include the beneficiary's adjusted Division 6 percentage of all other non-primary production income of the trust, excluding franked distributions.
Franked distributions are now shown at U, see Franked distributions U.
For more information, see Trust tax-time toolkit.
If the shares or interests are not held at risk as required under the holding period and related payments rules, or there is other manipulation of the imputation system, do not include the relevant franking credits here or at D on the statement of distribution at this item.
The amounts shown at A and B under any calculation method may be different from the primary production and non-primary production income actually distributed to the beneficiary, or which they were entitled to receive from the trust.
If the trust made a loss from its primary production or non-primary production activities, print L in the box after the amount. The total of the amounts shown at N, A, B, U, F, G and H should be a positive amount, because trusts cannot distribute losses.
Beneficiaries of primary production trusts that report a loss
Eligible primary producer beneficiaries can access income averaging and hold a farm management deposit in years even where a primary production trust reports a loss for trust purposes.
What you are required to show at A Primary production will depend on the type of trust that has made the loss for trust purposes.
Fixed trusts
If the trust is a fixed trust, all the eligible beneficiaries are able to access income averaging and hold farm management deposit.
Discretionary trusts
If the trust is a discretionary trust, the trustee will need to choose those beneficiaries who will still be eligible for the concessions.
Trustees may choose beneficiaries who will be eligible for income averaging or hold farm management deposits.
The trustee's choices must be:
- made in writing
- signed by both the trustee and the beneficiary
- made by the time that the trust return is lodged (unless the Commissioner allows a later time).
The trustee may choose the greater of:
- 12 beneficiaries, or
- the number of primary producer beneficiaries chosen in the previous income year.
How to complete A Primary production
Show '0' at A Primary production for each eligible beneficiary, that is:
- all fixed trust beneficiaries
- each chosen discretionary trust beneficiary eligible for income averaging.
If as a result of the trustee's choices, a primary producer is eligible to access farm management deposits but is not eligible for income averaging, do not show anything at A Primary production for that beneficiary.
For more information, see Tax averaging for primary producers and Farm management deposits scheme.
If you showed an amount at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI):
A1 PP – NCMI
Show at A1 the total share of primary production NCMI for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total distributed to all beneficiaries at A1 cannot be greater than the total of A, E and G at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
A2 PP – Excluded from NCMI
Show at A2 the total share of primary production income excluded from NCMI for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total distributed to all beneficiaries at A2 cannot be greater than the total of B, F and H at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
B1 Non-PP – NCMI
Show at B1 the total share of non-primary production NCMI for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total distributed to all beneficiaries at B1 cannot be greater than the total of C, I and K at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
B2 Non-PP – Excluded from NCMI
Show at B2 the total share of non-primary production income excluded from NCMI for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total amount distributed to all beneficiaries at B2 cannot be greater than the total of D, J and L at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
Credit for tax withheld where ABN not quoted C
Show each beneficiary’s share of credit for tax withheld where an ABN was not quoted.
Except for relevant trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show whole dollars only.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the amount of tax withheld at C under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
If the trust has no net income, the beneficiaries are not entitled to a share of the credit for tax withheld. Instead, show the sum of the amounts withheld at C under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of C amounts for each completed statement of distribution equals the sum of any credit claimed at:
- T Tax withheld where ABN not quoted item 6
- C Share of credit for tax withheld where ABN not quoted item 8.
Franked distributions U
Show each beneficiary's share of franked distributions, to the extent they formed part of the net income of the trust for tax purposes, at U. The amount shown at U also includes the beneficiary's share of attached franking credits (the franking credit 'gross-up').
Trusts which have not made beneficiaries (or the trustee) specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains generally work out a beneficiary's share of the franked distributions by multiplying the total amount of the trust's franked distributions (and any attached franking credits) to the extent to which those distributions formed part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purposes by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show whole dollars only.
For relevant trusts with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part, the amount shown at U in respect of a beneficiary should generally include:
- the amount of the net franked distributions that the beneficiary is specifically entitled (net franked distributions are determined by reducing the franked distributions by expenses that are directly relevant to them), to the extent that those distributions formed part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purposes, plus any attached franking credits
plus
- the beneficiary's adjusted Division 6 percentage share of any net franked distributions of the trust that no beneficiary is specifically entitled to the extent that those distributions formed part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purposes, plus that same share of any attached franking credits.
For more information, see Trust tax-time toolkit.
While dividends from a New Zealand franking company are taken into account when calculating a beneficiary's share of franked distributions, the New Zealand franking company dividend amount (and associated franking credits) should not be included at U. The New Zealand franking company dividend amount should be shown at H Other assessable foreign source income.
The total amount of franking credits (the franking credit 'gross-up') included at this label for a beneficiary would generally equal the total of the credits shown at D at this item.
For managed investment trusts that have not elected to apply the streaming provisions, the amount at U Franked distribution will also be required to be worked out differently if the MIT received any franked distributions (either directly or indirectly via a partnership or another trust), during the income year. For each beneficiary:
- multiply the non-primary production income by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust's income
- subtract the beneficiary's proportionate share of franking credits included in the trust's net income (calculated as an amount equal to the total franking credits included in the trust's net income (at D item 8, and at M item 12) multiplied by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income), and
- add the beneficiary's share of franking credits that reflect their trust entitlement to the franked distributions (the total of the credits shown at D on the statement of distribution).
If the shares or interests are not held at risk as required under the holding period and related payments rules, or there is other manipulation of the imputation system, do not include the relevant franking credits here or at D on the statement of distribution at this item.
Franking credit D
For trusts that did not make any beneficiary (or the trustee) specifically entitled to any franked distributions or capital gains, the amount shown at D is worked out by multiplying the total franking credits included in the trust's net income (at D item 8, M item 12) multiplied by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income.
The amount shown at D will need to be worked out differently if the trust is a relevant trust with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part.
For relevant trusts with capital gains or franked distributions that any beneficiary (or the trustee) is specifically entitled to in full or in part, the amount shown at D in respect of a beneficiary should include:
- any franking credits attaching to franked distributions to which the beneficiary is specifically entitled, to the extent to which those distributions formed part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purposes
plus
- the beneficiary's adjusted Division 6 percentage share of any franking credits attaching to any part of the franked distributions forming part of the net income of the trust estate, to which no beneficiary is specifically entitled.
If the trustee is assessable on a part of the net income under section 99 or 99A, the trustee may have a share of the franking credit on the dividend. To work out the trustee's entitlement, express that part of the dividend in respect of which no beneficiary has an entitlement as a percentage of the total dividend. Multiply the result by the amount of the franking credit on that dividend at D under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of D amounts for each completed statement of distribution must equal the sum of franking credits claimed at:
- D Share of franking credits from franked distributions item 8
- M Franking credit item 12.
Amounts shown at N are not included at D Franking credits.
For more information, see Appendix 1 and Trust tax-time toolkit.
TFN amount withheld E
Show each beneficiary’s share of credit for amounts withheld from payments of interest, dividends and unit trust distributions by investment bodies because the recipient did not quote a TFN.
Except for relevant trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show whole dollars only.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the credit for the TFN amounts withheld at E under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
Where the trustee claims the credit withheld on behalf of presently entitled beneficiaries under a legal disability, the beneficiary must not also claim this amount on their income tax return.
If the trust has no net income, the beneficiaries do not have a share of credit for the TFN amounts withheld. Instead, show the sum of the TFN amounts at E under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of E amounts for each completed statement of distribution must equal the sum of TFN amounts withheld on interest, dividends and unit trust distributions at:
- E Share of credit for TFN amounts withheld from interest, dividends and unit trust distributions item 8
- I TFN amounts withheld from gross interest item 11
- N TFN amounts withheld from dividends item 12.
Share of credit for TFN amounts withheld from payments from closely held trusts O
Show at O each beneficiary's share of credit for any amount withheld by the trustee of a closely held trust from a distribution made to you as a trustee beneficiary, because a TFN was not provided.
Except for relevant trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income. Show whole dollars only.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of the credit by multiplying the amount of tax withheld by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the credit for the TFN amounts withheld from payments from closely held trusts at O under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
If the trust has no net income, the beneficiaries are not entitled to a share of the credit for tax withheld. Instead, show the sum of the amounts withheld at O under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of O amounts for each completed statement of distribution must equal the sum of TFN amounts withheld on closely held trust distributions shown at O item 8 Partnerships and trusts on the trust return.
Do not show at O any amounts you have withheld, as the trustee of a closely held trust, from payments or distributions where the beneficiary has not provided their TFN to you. These should be reported at T Total TFN amounts withheld from payments.
For more information about the TFN withholding rules for closely held trusts, see TFN withholding for closely held trusts.
Capital gains F
Show at F each beneficiary’s share of the trust's capital gains. Show whole dollars only.
Except for relevant trusts which have made beneficiaries (or the trustee) specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you work out a beneficiary's share of capital gains by multiplying:
- the amount of the trust's capital gains, to the extent that it forms part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purposes, by
- the beneficiary's percentage share of the trust income.
For a relevant trust – which has made beneficiaries (or the trustee) specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains –, the amount shown at F is the sum of beneficiary's share of capital gains that the beneficiary is specifically entitled, to the extent that it forms part of the net income of the trust estate for tax purpose, plus the beneficiary's adjusted Division 6 percentage share of any capital gains that no beneficiary is specifically entitled, to the extent they form part of the net income of the trust.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the trust's capital gains at F under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The legislation that provides for the streaming of capital gains and franked distributions for tax purposes includes an option for eligible trustees to choose to be assessed on capital gains of the trust in certain circumstances, see 58 Choice of resident trustee to be assessed to capital gains on beneficiaries. If this option applies, show that share of the trust's capital gains at Y under Choice for resident trustee to be assessed to capital gains on behalf of beneficiaries at item 58. Capital gains under which this choice has been made should only be shown at item 58 and should not be shown at F item 57 for each relevant beneficiary.
Show at F each beneficiary’s share of the trust's capital gains in whole dollars only.
For more information, see Trust non-assessable payments (CGT event E4), Trust tax-time toolkit and Worksheet 5.
The total amounts at F from all completed statements of distribution, plus the amount at Y item 58, would generally equal the amount at A Net capital gain item 21 unless the trust has deductible expenses or revenue losses that have properly been applied against the net capital gain in working out the net income of the trust.
To complete their own tax returns and meet their capital gains tax obligations, beneficiaries will need the following information:
- a dissection of their share of the trust's net capital gain according to
- capital gains from collectables and all other capital gains
- whether capital losses have been applied against a capital gain
- whether any capital gains are discount capital gains
- whether any capital gains have been reduced by the small business 50% reduction and/or any of the other small business CGT concessions
- details of the amount and type of any capital gains that they are specifically entitled to
- details of any non-assessable payment made in the income year in respect of an interest in the trust (CGT event E4 section 104-70 of the ITAA 1997). The details should indicate the extent to which the payment is attributable to each of the following:
- tax-exempted amounts, subsection 104-71(1) of the ITAA 1997
- tax-free amounts, subsection 104-71(3) of the ITAA 1997
- CGT concession amounts, under item 7 of the table in subsection 104-71(4) of the ITAA 1997
- CGT concession amounts, under another item (other than item 7) of the table in subsection 104-71(4) of the ITAA 1997
- tax-deferred amounts, associated with the small business 50% active asset reduction, frozen indexation, building allowance and accounting difference in income
- details of any capital gains on which the trustee has chosen to be assessed on behalf of a beneficiary to ensure that the beneficiary is not assessed on this amount.
For more information, see Small business CGT concessions and Guide to capital gains tax 2021.
If you showed a capital gains amount at item 32 - Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI)
F1 NCMI Capital gains
Show at F1 the total NCMI capital gains amount for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total distributed to all beneficiaries at F1 cannot be greater than X at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
F2 Excluded from NCMI capital gains
Show at F2 the total capital gains amount excluded from NCMI for the relevant beneficiary of the trust.
The total distributed to all beneficiaries at F2 cannot be greater than Z at item 32 Non-concessional MIT income (NCMI).
Share of credit for foreign resident capital gains withholding amounts Z
Attributed foreign income G
Show each beneficiary’s share of attributed foreign income included in the net income of the trust in whole dollars only. Except for relevant trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to amounts of franked distributions or capital gains, this amount is generally worked out by multiplying a beneficiary's percentage share of trust income by the total attributed foreign income of the trust.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of attributed foreign income by multiplying the total attributed foreign income of the trust by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the trust's attributed foreign income at G under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total amounts at G from all completed statements of distribution must equal the sum of any attributed foreign income shown at item 22 Attributed foreign income on the trust tax return.
If the beneficiary was not a resident of Australia at any time during the income year, see Non-resident beneficiaries.
Other assessable foreign source income H
Show each beneficiary’s share of other assessable net foreign source income included in the net income of the trust for tax purposes. Except for relevant trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to amounts of franked distributions or capital gains, this amount is generally worked out by multiplying a beneficiary's percentage share of trust income by the total of the trust's other assessable net foreign source income.
For trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of assessable net foreign source income by multiplying the total of the trust's other assessable net foreign source income by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share. Show whole dollars only.
The total amounts at H from all completed statements of distribution must equal the amount of net foreign source income shown at V Net item 23 on the trust tax return.
If the beneficiary was not a resident of Australia at any time during the income year, see Non-resident beneficiaries.
Foreign income tax offset I
Show each beneficiary’s share of foreign income tax offsets at I.
Except for relevant trusts that have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to amounts of franked distributions or capital gains, this amount is worked out by multiplying a beneficiary's percentage share of trust income by the total of the trust's foreign income tax offsets.
For trusts which have made beneficiaries specifically entitled to franked distributions or capital gains, you generally work out a beneficiary's share of assessable net foreign source income by multiplying the total of the trust's other assessable net foreign source income by their adjusted Division 6 percentage share.
If there is trust income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled, show that share of the trust's foreign income tax offset at I under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total amounts at I from all completed statements of distribution must equal the amount of foreign income tax offsets shown at Z Foreign income tax offset item 23 on the trust tax return.
Share of National Rental Affordability Scheme tax offset R
Show each beneficiary’s share of the NRAS tax offset: include cents.
A beneficiary's share of the NRAS tax offset will depend on their entitlement to the NRAS rent derived by the trustee (or flowing to the trustee via a partnership or another trust) having regard to the trust deed and any relevant trustee resolution.
The beneficiary's entitlement to the NRAS rent is expressed as a percentage of the total NRAS rent derived from all rental dwellings covered by the certificate issued by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services. To work out the beneficiary's entitlement to the NRAS rent where it has come via one or more trusts or partnership, you will need to work out the entitlements to the NRAS rent of each interposed entity in the chain through which the amount flowed.
The beneficiary's percentage entitlement is then multiplied by the amount of the tax offset stated on the certificate relating to those dwellings (or in any amended certificate).
If only some of the beneficiaries to whom the income of the trust has been distributed are entitled to benefit from the NRAS rent, then only those beneficiaries will be entitled to the offset.
If the trustee is assessable on a part of the net income under section 99 or 99A, the trustee may be entitled to the NRAS offset. To work out the trustee's entitlement, express that part of the NRAS rent in respect of which no beneficiary has an entitlement as a percentage of the total NRAS rent derived from all rental dwellings covered by the certificate. Multiply the result by the amount of the tax offset stated on the certificate at R under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
A trustee may also be entitled to the NRAS offset if the trust does not have any net income for the year; see section 380-20 of the ITAA 1997. Record the trustee's entitlement at R under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled at the end of item 57.
The total of the amounts shown at R for each completed statement of distribution must equal the amount of NRAS tax offset entitlement shown at F item 52 on the trust tax return. Include cents.
Exploration credits distributed M
Show each beneficiary’s share of exploration credits at M item 57.
Where a trust receives exploration credits, the trustee may pass the exploration credits to beneficiaries. To be entitled to benefit from exploration credits, the beneficiary must be an Australian resident for the whole of the income year.
Special rules apply to a beneficiary who receives exploration credits from a trust. For more information, see What to do when you receive exploration credits.
The trustee is entitled to a relevant proportion of the exploration credit tax offset if the trustee is liable to pay tax because a beneficiary is under a legal disability or no beneficiary is presently entitled. The offset is only available if the trustee is taxed as if it were an Australian resident individual and the relevant beneficiary is also an Australian resident individual.
The trustee is not entitled to the exploration credit tax offset to the extent that a beneficiary has already been made entitled to a share of the exploration credit. Show the trustee's entitlement at X Share of other refundable tax offsets item 57.
Early stage venture capital limited partnership (ESVCLP) tax offset T
Show each beneficiary's allocation of the early stage venture capital limited partnership (ESVCLP) tax offset at T item 57 under Beneficiary, include cents.
The trustee determines the amount of the ESVCLP tax offset to allocate to any one or more beneficiaries. If a beneficiary is entitled to a fixed proportion of any capital gain from these investments that gave rise to the tax offset, the trustee must allocate that same fixed proportion of the tax offset to the beneficiary. Otherwise, there are no requirements as to how the trustee may decide to allocate the tax offset between the beneficiaries.
The trustee is entitled to the ESVCLP tax offset if the trustee is liable to pay tax on behalf of a beneficiary under section 98 (a beneficiary under a legal disability or a non-resident beneficiary) or under section 99 or 99A (no beneficiary is presently entitled). The amount of the trustee's tax offset entitlement in the current year is reduced by the amount of the tax offset allocated to any beneficiary in respect of that year.
Show the trustee's ESVCLP tax offset entitlement at T item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled.
The total of the amounts shown at T for each completed statement of distribution must equal the amount of the ESVCLP tax offset reported at H item 54 on the trust tax return. Include cents.
This tax offset is non-refundable. If the trustee is entitled to an amount of tax offset and is unable to utilise it in the current year, the trustee may be able to carry forward the tax offset.
The amount of unused ESVCLP tax offset from the current year will be shown on the trustee’s notice of assessment for 2020–21.
Early stage venture capital limited partnership tax offset carried forward from previous year K
The trustee’s notice of assessment from 2019–20 should show if the trustee has any unused ESVCLP tax offset that is carried forward to 2020–21.
Show the amount of unused ESVCLP tax offset carried forward by the trustee from 2019–20 at K item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled.
Additional information for trustee's assessments
Provide the following additional information only if there is more than one trustee assessment for the current year.
If there is an amount at T or K item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled and the trustee is liable to pay tax under section 98, 99 or 99A, you are to attach a statement providing the following:
- the identity of each beneficiary to which section 98 applies and the amount of ESVCLP tax offset to be applied in the trustee's assessment on behalf of that beneficiary, and
- the amount of ESVCLP tax offset to be applied to the trustee's assessment under section 99 or 99A of the ITAA 1936, if applicable.
The total amount of the ESVCLP tax offset applied in the trustee's assessments must not exceed the sum of the amounts at T and K.
If you do not provide this additional information, we may need to contact you before we can process the trust tax return.
For more information, see ESVCLP tax incentives and concessions.
Early stage investor tax offset J
Show each beneficiary's allocation of the early stage investor tax offset at J item 57 under Beneficiary. Include cents.
The trustee determines the amount of the early stage investor tax offset to allocate to the beneficiaries. If a beneficiary is entitled to a fixed proportion of any capital gain from these investments that gave rise to the tax offset, the trustee must allocate that same fixed proportion of the tax offset to the beneficiary. Otherwise, there are no requirements as to how the trustee may decide to allocate the tax offset between its beneficiaries.
The trustee is entitled to the early stage investor tax offset if the trustee is liable to pay tax on behalf of a beneficiary under section 98 (a beneficiary under a legal disability or a non-resident beneficiary) or under section 99 or 99A (no beneficiary is presently entitled). The amount of the trustee's tax offset entitlement in the current year is reduced by the amount of the tax offset allocated to any beneficiary in respect of that year.
Show the trustee's early stage tax offset entitlement at J item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled.
The total of the amounts shown at J for each completed statement of distribution must equal the amount of the early stage investor tax offset reported at I item 54 on the trust tax return. Include cents.
This tax offset is non-refundable. However the trustee can carry it forward if the tax offset has not been fully allocated to beneficiaries and/or utilised by the trustee in the current year.
The amount of unused early stage investor tax offset will be shown on the trustee’s notice of assessment for 2020–21.
Early stage investor tax offset carried forward from previous year M
The trustee’s notice of assessment from 2019–20 should show if the trustee has any unused early stage investor tax offset that is carried forward to 2020–21.
Show the amount of unused early stage investor tax offset carried forward by the trustee from 2019–20 at M item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled.
Additional information for trustee's assessments
Provide the following additional information only if there is more than one trustee assessment for the current year.
If there is an amount at J or M item 57 under Income to which no beneficiary is presently entitled and the trustee is liable to pay tax under section 98, 99 or 99A, you are to attach a statement providing the following:
- the identity of each beneficiary to which section 98 applies and the amount of early stage investor tax offset to be applied in the trustee's assessment on behalf of that beneficiary, and
- the amount of early stage investor tax offset to be applied to the trustee's assessment under section 99 or 99A of the ITAA 1936, if applicable.
The total amount of early stage investor tax offset applied in the trustee's assessments must not exceed the sum of the amounts at J and M.
If you do not provide this additional information, we may need to contact you before we can process the trust tax return.
For more information, see Tax incentives for early stage investors.
Div 6AA Eligible income C1
For beneficiaries who are under 18 years of age at the end of the income year, show the amount of the beneficiary’s share of net income that is eligible income at C1 item 57.
Share of net small business income Y
Show each beneficiary's share of the net small business income at Y item 57.
Work this out by multiplying the trust's net small business income by the beneficiary's proportional share of the trust income.
The total of all the amounts at Y for each statement of distribution must equal the amount of net small business income shown at V item 5 on the trust tax return.
You must advise any beneficiaries who are individuals of their share of net small business income from the trust to help them to work out their entitlement to the small business income tax offset.
Trustees and beneficiaries who are prescribed persons (under 18 years of age and not excepted persons) are not entitled to the offset.
Non-resident beneficiary additional information
Under Division 6 ITAA 1936, a trustee will be liable to pay tax in relation to:
- shares of net income of a trust where non-resident companies and individual beneficiaries not being trustees are presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust; both these amounts are shown at J Non-resident beneficiary additional information subsection 98(3) assessable amount item 57
- share of net income of a trust where a beneficiary who is presently entitled to the income of the trust is itself a trustee and is a non-resident at the end of the income year; these amounts are shown at K Non-resident beneficiary additional information subsection 98(4) assessable amount item 57.
Subsection 98(3) assessable amount
Non-resident company beneficiaries assessable amount J
If you have entered assessment calculation code 134 (non-resident company beneficiaries that are a base rate entity) or 139 (non-resident company beneficiaries that are not a base rate entity) at V, you must include an amount at J.
The amount you show at J is the amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on under section 98 of the ITAA 1936 on behalf of the corporate beneficiary who is a non-resident at the end of the income year: show whole dollars only. This amount may be zero if tax has been paid under subsection 98(3) by a previous trust and this trust is not assessable.
The amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on is calculated as:
- so much of the trust's net income that is attributable to a period (if any) that the corporate beneficiary was a resident multiplied by the beneficiary’s percentage share of the income of the trust, and
- so much of the trust's net income that is attributable to Australian sources for the period the corporate beneficiary was a non-resident multiplied by the beneficiary’s percentage share of the income of the trust.
Do not include income from which foreign resident withholding tax has been withheld (such as unfranked dividends, interest and royalties, fully franked dividends or amounts on which managed investment trust withholding tax is payable). Do not include the capital gains for which the trustee is not liable to pay tax under Subdivision 855-A of the ITAA 1997.
If the corporate beneficiary's share of net income of the trust includes an amount that is attributable to a discounted capital gain made by the trust, work out the amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on under subsection 98(3) as if the part attributable to the capital gain was double the amount it actually is: see section 115–220 of the ITAA 1997. This ensures that a trustee assessed on behalf of a non-resident company beneficiary does not get the benefit of the CGT discount that the corporate beneficiary would not be entitled to if it were assessed. Show the net capital gain amount at F and the discount capital gain amount at J.
To work out whether the corporate beneficiary's share of the net income includes an amount that is attributable to a discounted capital gain of the trust, multiply the beneficiary's percentage share of the income of the trust by so much of that discounted capital gain that is reflected in the trust’s net capital gain, that is, after the application of any capital losses and net capital losses to that gain.
If the beneficiary is a non-resident at the end of the year and has not been a non-resident for the entire year, show clearly in a separate schedule full details of its share of the net income. It is important to provide the information set out at Non-resident beneficiaries so that the appropriate tax rates can be applied.
Non-resident individual beneficiaries assessable amount J
If you have entered assessment calculation code 138 (non-resident individual beneficiaries) at V, you must include an amount at J.
The amount you show at J is the amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on under section 98 of the ITAA 1936 on behalf of an individual beneficiary who is a non-resident at the end of the income year: show whole dollars only. If a previous trustee has been assessed under subsection 98(3), then a non-resident beneficiary will not be assessed.
The amount assessed to the trustee is comprised of the beneficiary’s share of the net income from the trust that is attributable to a period (if any) that the beneficiary was a resident, as well as the beneficiary’s share of the trust's net income that is attributable to Australian sources for the period the beneficiary was a non-resident.
Do not include income subject to withholding tax (unfranked dividends, interest and royalties), fully franked dividends or amounts on which managed investment trust withholding tax is payable. Do not include any capital gains for which the trustee is not liable to pay tax under Subdivision 855-A of the ITAA 1997. All other Australian source income is included.
If the beneficiary is a non-resident at the end of the year, but has not been a non-resident for the entire year, ensure you have printed X in the Yes box at
A item 29. It is important to provide the information set out at Non-resident beneficiaries so that the appropriate tax rates can be applied.
Subsection 98(4) assessable amount
Non-resident trustee beneficiaries assessable amount K
If you have entered assessment calculation code 140 (non-resident trustee beneficiary) at V, you must include an amount at K. This amount may be zero if tax has been paid under subsection 98(4) by a previous trust and this trust is not assessable. Any amounts reported at K should not be included at P or Q (TB statement).
The amount to show at K is the amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on under section 98 of the ITAA 1936 because a trustee beneficiary, who is presently entitled to a share of the trust's distributable income, is a non-resident at the end of the income year; show whole dollars only. If a previous trustee has been assessed under subsection 98(4), then a non-resident trustee beneficiary will not be assessed.
The amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on is so much of the non-resident trustee beneficiary's share of the net income of the trust as is attributable to Australian sources. Do not include income subject to withholding tax (unfranked dividends, interest and royalties), fully franked dividends or amounts on which managed investment trust withholding tax is payable. Do not include any capital gains for which the trustee is not liable to pay tax under Subdivision 855-A of the ITAA 1997.
If the trustee beneficiary's share of net income of the trust includes an amount that is attributable to a discounted capital gain made by the trust, work out the amount the trustee is liable to pay tax on under subsection 98(4) as if the part attributable to the capital gain was double the amount it actually is; see section 115–220 of the ITAA 1997. This ensures that a trustee assessed on behalf of a non-resident trustee beneficiary does not get the benefit of the CGT discount that a corporate beneficiary would not be entitled to if it were assessed. Show the net capital gain amount at F and the discount capital gain amount at K.
To work out a non-resident trustee beneficiary's share of the net income that is attributable to a discounted capital gain of the trust multiply the beneficiary's percentage share of the income of the trust by so much of that discounted capital gain that is reflected in the trust’s net capital gain, that is, after the application of any capital losses and net capital losses to that gain.
If the beneficiary is a non-resident at the end of the year and has not been a non-resident for the entire year, show clearly in a separate schedule full details of its share of the net income. It is important to provide the information set out at Non-resident beneficiaries so that the appropriate tax rates can be applied.
Trustee beneficiary (TB) statement information
There are reporting obligations that apply to certain distributions to trustee beneficiaries of a closely held trust (that is not an excluded trust) within the meaning of section 102UC of the ITAA 1936 (the trustee beneficiary reporting rules).
Failure to meet these reporting obligations may result in a liability for trustee beneficiary non-disclosure tax, currently imposed at a rate of 47%.
This section is to be completed by all closely held trusts that have an obligation under the trustee beneficiary reporting rules. You do not need to complete this section if you are not the trustee of a closely held trust or if you are the trustee of an excluded trust for the purposes of the trustee beneficiary reporting rules. Appendix 11 contains information about what constitutes a closely held trust and an excluded trust for these purposes. If you are making a distribution to another trust, read Appendix 11 before completing this section.
If you are not making a TB statement for the trustee beneficiary, print X in the No box. A TB statement is not required where the trustee beneficiary was not presently entitled to tax-preferred amounts and its share of the trust's net income does not include an untaxed part.
If you are making a TB statement, print X in the Yes box for this trustee beneficiary, and then:
- for resident beneficiaries, ensure the name and TFN of the trustee beneficiary is recorded in the beneficiary details section
- for non-resident beneficiaries, ensure the name and address of the trustee beneficiary is recorded in the beneficiary details section
- at P show any tax-preferred amounts to which the trustee beneficiary is presently entitled; if there are no tax-preferred amounts, show a zero at P
- at Q show any untaxed part of a share of net income of the trustee beneficiary; if there is no untaxed part of a share of net income, show a zero at Q.
For more information about the definitions of tax-preferred amounts and untaxed part of a share of net income, see Appendix 11.
Annual trustee payment report information
This section is to be completed by all closely held trusts (including family trusts) which are subject to the TFN withholding rules for closely held trusts that have:
- made payments during the income year, or
- withheld amounts from payments made to beneficiaries.
The definition of an excluded trust for the purposes of the TFN withholding rules differs from the definition of an excluded trust for the purposes of the trustee beneficiary reporting rules. See Appendix 11 for more information.
Show an amount at S where you have made one or more distributions during the income year (not as a result of determining present entitlement at year end) that are wholly or partly from the ordinary or statutory income of the trust for that year and the total of those distributions exceeds the beneficiary's share of the net income of the trust shown at item 57. Only include at S the amount by which these distributions made during the income year exceed the beneficiary's share of the net income.
If the only distributions of ordinary or statutory income made by the trust are as result of determining present entitlement at year end, show nothing at S. In these cases, an amount will generally be shown at W item 57.
Show at T the amounts withheld from all payments or distributions to the beneficiary where the beneficiary's TFN was not provided to you. This includes amounts withheld from payments during the year or as a result of determining present entitlement at the end of the year. Do not show at T the beneficiary's share of amounts that were reported at O item 8, these are included at O item 57.
For more information about the TFN Withholding Rules for closely held trusts, see Appendix 11.
Information that non-residents must provide on the TB statement
A non-resident beneficiary who received income from Australian government allowances and payments or Australian government pensions and allowances (reported at item 14 Other income and distributed to the beneficiary at Share of income label B Non-primary production) must provide this information on the TB statement.
A non-resident beneficiary who received an Australian government pension or allowance will be taxed at resident tax rates. The non-resident beneficiary remains ineligible for resident tax offsets and benefits, and is exempt from the Medicare levy and the Medicare levy surcharge. On the TB statement, record:
- non-residency status
- the total amount received by the beneficiary of any Australian Government allowances and payments like Jobseeker payment, Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance and the Austudy payment; see Item 5 on the Tax return for individuals 2021
- the total amount received by the beneficiary of any Australian Government pensions and allowances; see Item 6 on the Tax return for individuals 2021.
58 Choice for resident trustee to be assessed to capital gains on behalf of beneficiaries
The trustee of a resident trust may choose (if permitted by the trust deed), to be assessed on a capital gain of the trust. This is allowed provided no beneficiary has received any amount referable to the gain during the income year or within two months of the end of the income year. The choice must be made in respect of the whole capital gain. For example, the trustee will be able to make the choice if under the terms of the trust the income beneficiary cannot benefit from the capital gains. It is only the trustee that can make this choice.
If the trustee makes a choice in respect of a capital gain, then:
- the trustee will be assessed on the capital gain under section 99 or 99A of the ITAA 1936, as appropriate
- the capital gain is not taken into account in working out any beneficiary's net capital gain for an income year.
You should include the amount of the capital gain for which the trustee is making this choice at Y. Where the trustee is making the choice in respect of more than one capital gain, you should show the total of all capital gains at Y.
Capital gains under which this choice has been made should only be shown at Y and should not be shown at F Capital gains in item 57 for the relevant beneficiary.
You will need to insert an assessment calculation code from Appendix 12 at X as appropriate for your trust. The relevant codes are:
- for inter-vivos trusts
- 36 where the trustee is assessed under section 99A ITAA 1936
- 37 where the trustee is assessed under section 99 ITAA 1936
- for deceased estates
- 15 where the trustee is assessed under section 99 ITAA 1936
- 16 where the trustee is assessed under section 99 ITAA 1936 without the tax-free threshold.
59 Beneficiary under legal disability who is presently entitled to income from another trust
Was any beneficiary in this trust, who was under a legal disability on 30 June 2021, also presently entitled to a share of the income of another trust? If yes, print X in the Yes box. If not, print X in the No box.
The trustee is liable to be assessed on the share of net income of the trust if a beneficiary is presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust but under a legal disability. Where the beneficiary is presently entitled to a share of the income from more than one trust, the beneficiary’s share of the net income from each of the trusts is taken into account in working out the tax rate to apply in the trustee’s assessment on behalf of the beneficiary. For more information on the tax rates and relieving provisions, see Appendix 10.
Where the beneficiary is presently entitled to income from one or more other trusts, give the following information for each of those trusts:
- name of the trust
- trust TFN
- income to which the beneficiary is presently entitled.
If a trustee is unable to provide any part of this information, they must provide all the available details together with the name and address of the parent or guardian of the beneficiary.
60 Non-resident trust
A trust is a non-resident of Australia if:
- no trustee of the trust was a resident of Australia, at any time during the income year, or
- the central management and control of the trust was not in Australia at any time during the income year.
If the trust is a non-resident trust, print X in the Yes box. If not, print X in the No box.
If the trust is a non-resident trust, show in the box marked $ at this item the amount of income derived outside Australia to which no beneficiary is presently entitled.
Print NIL in the last 3 boxes at this item if applicable.
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