Income of the trust estate
Print at label A Income of the trust estate the income of the trust estate for trust law purposes. This is the income of the trust estate as that expression is found in Division 6 of the ITAA 1936 and related provisions. This is the total distributable income of the trust that the trustee determine is legally available for distribution to trust beneficiaries in the income year.
This calculation may depend on the terms of the trust and general trust law principles: you may need to carefully consider the trust deed, the trust accounts and relevant resolutions to determine what the trust's distributable income is. Because this amount is determined in accordance with trust law principles and where applicable, the terms of the particular trust, it may be different to the accounting income of the trust or the net (taxable) income of the trust for tax purposes.
If the income of the trust estate is a loss amount, then print 0 (zero) at label A.
Subject to the application of Division 6E of the ITAA 1936 and the provisions relating to the streaming of capital gains and franked distributions, Division 6 of the ITAA 1936 broadly operates to assess beneficiaries who are presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate and not under a legal disability on the same share of the net (taxable) income of the trust. This is commonly referred to as the proportionate approach to trust taxation. Division 6 broadly operates in a similar manner to assess a trustee in respect of certain presently entitled beneficiaries who are under a legal disability or who were non-resident at year end. The balance of net (taxable) income not assessed to any beneficiary is generally assessed to the trustee.
For more information on present entitlement, the application of Division 6E and the provisions relating to streaming of franked distributions, see Is a beneficiary presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate?
A beneficiary who is presently entitled to a share of the income of the trust estate shown here at label A will have an amount recorded at item 58 Statement of distribution – label W Share of income of trust estate.
What is the meaning of ‘income of the trust estate’ and the ‘proportionate approach’ to trust taxation
For information to help you complete item 57, see:
Bamford decision impact statement
The 2010 High Court of Australia case of Commissioner of Taxation v. Bamford clarified the meaning of income of the trust estate and share of income. In response to the judgment we released a decision impact statement (DIS). The DIS includes the following key propositions:
- The income of a trust estate for trust law purposes and its income for tax purposes are 2 different subject matters which don't necessarily correspond.
- In subsection 97(1) of the ITAA 1936 income of the trust estate takes its meaning from the general law of trusts and not from taxation law.
- Under the general law of trusts the concept of income is governed by a set of rules designed to ensure that trustees fairly apportion the receipts and outgoings of a period between those entitled to income and those with an interest in capital.
- The rules of apportionment adopted by the general law of trusts take the form of presumptions about whether particular receipts or outgoings constitute income or capital. The trust law presumptions can be displaced by express provision in the trust deed.
- The apportionment of receipts and outgoings forms part of the processes in trust administration, whereby the surplus or distributable income to which income beneficiaries may become presently entitled in respect of distinct year(s) of income is ascertained (the distributable income).
Taxation Ruling TR 2012/D1
Draft Taxation Ruling TR 2012/D1 Income tax: meaning of 'income of the trust estate' in Division 6 of Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and related provisions was released on 28 March 2012. The draft ruling explains that the income of the trust estate is a reference to the income for trust purposes that a beneficiary could be made presently entitled to or a trustee could accumulate. This ruling may assist you in completing label A and item 58 Statement of distribution – label W.
The ruling is in draft form and while it sets out the Commissioner’s preferred view, it also contains alternative views which could, in appropriate circumstances, support a reasonably arguable position in the context of penalties. Under self-assessment, you can follow the meaning as set out in the ruling or, if you disagree with aspects of that ruling, you can apply what you understand the term to mean for the purpose of present entitlement and completing the items. What you show at label A and item 58 Statement of distribution – label W should be your honest determination of what the trust’s distributable income is, and each relevant beneficiary’s entitlement to that income by year end.
If you choose to calculate the trust’s distributable income based on one of the alternative views in TR 2012/D1, for example, according to a so-called ‘income equalisation clause’, this income is the amount you include at item 57 Income of the trust estate – label A. Even if the Commissioner later takes the view that the trust’s distributable income is a different amount, you will not have made an error here.
Taxation Determination TD 2012/22
There is more explanation of the proportionate approach to trust taxation in Division 6 of the ITAA 1936 in Taxation Determination TD 2012/22 Income tax: for the purposes of paragraph 97(1)(a) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) is a beneficiary's share of the net income of a trust estate worked out by reference to the proportion of the income of the trust estate to which the beneficiary is presently entitled?
The TD contains practical examples which explain the relevance of the trust deed and the wording of the trustee resolution to the outcome which will arise under the proportionate approach.
Continue to: Statement of distribution – item 58
Return to: Instructions to complete the Trust tax return 2024