Taxation Determination

TD 2022/11

Income tax: Division 7A: when will an unpaid present entitlement or amount held on sub-trust become the provision of 'financial accommodation'?

• Please note that the PDF version is the authorised version of this ruling.
  There is a Compendium for this document: TD 2022/11EC .

What this Determination is about

1. Division 7A of Part III (Division 7A) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 operates to ensure that private companies are not able to make tax-free distributions of profits to shareholders or their associates in the form of payments, loans or forgiven debts.^[1]

2. All legislative references in this Determination are to Part III of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 or to other provisions of that Act, unless otherwise indicated.

3. A private company will be taken to pay an unfranked dividend in an income year if it makes a loan to a shareholder or their associate and the loan is not fully repaid before the private company's lodgment day^[2], and not excluded by Subdivision D.^[3] A 'loan' for the purposes of Division 7A includes 'a provision of credit or any other form of financial accommodation'.^[4]

4. Within private groups, it is common practice for trustees to appoint trust income to a related private company beneficiary. The appointed trust income is included in the profits of the corporate beneficiary. The company is assessed on its share of the trust's net income under the rules in Division 6.

5. This Determination describes when a private company provides financial accommodation where it is made presently entitled to income of a trust^[5] and either:

•

that entitlement remains unpaid (an unpaid present entitlement (UPE)), or

•

the trustee satisfies the present entitlement by setting aside an amount from the main trust fund (main trust) and holding it on a new separate trust (sub-trust)^[6] for the exclusive benefit of the private company beneficiary.

Ruling

6. The phrase 'financial accommodation' in paragraph 109D(3)(b) has a wide meaning. It extends to cases where an entity with a trust entitlement has knowledge of an amount that it can demand and does not call for payment.

Circumstance one - where there is an unpaid present entitlement

7. Where a private company beneficiary is made presently entitled to trust income and that entitlement is not satisfied, there is a UPE.

8. A private company beneficiary with a UPE, by arrangement, understanding or acquiescence, consents to the trustee retaining that amount to continue using it for trust purposes if the company:

•

has knowledge of an amount that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee, and

•

does not demand payment.

9. This constitutes the provision of financial accommodation to the trustee under paragraph 109D(3)(b). As a result, the private company beneficiary makes a loan to the trustee under the extended definition of a 'loan' in subsection 109D(3).

10. The private company beneficiary makes a loan when the financial accommodation is provided.^[7] This will occur at the point in time when the private company beneficiary has knowledge of an amount that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee and does not demand payment of the amount.

11. If the private company beneficiary and the trustee have the same directing mind and will, the private company beneficiary is taken to have knowledge of the amount that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee when the trustee does.

12. The time when the amount of a beneficiary's entitlement is known will typically arise after the end of the income year, that is, in the following income year, in which the entitlement arises. This will be the case whether the entitlement is expressed as:

•

a fixed amount from the trust income

•

a percentage of trust income, or some other part of trust income identified in a calculable manner, or

•

a combination of fixed and calculable amounts.

Circumstance two - where present entitlements are satisfied by sub-trust

13. Where a private company beneficiary is made presently entitled to trust income, the trustee may be authorised to set aside an amount from the main trust and hold it on sub-trust for the exclusive benefit of the private company beneficiary. In this case, the amount set aside by the trustee ceases to be an asset of the main trust and forms the corpus of the sub-trust (the sub-trust fund). Where the trustee's obligation to pay the entitlement to trust income is discharged by the setting aside of the amount on sub-trust for the beneficiary, the trustee's obligation in respect of the entitlement to distributed income comes to an end and a new obligation arises for the sub-trustee under a separate trust.

14. The private company beneficiary has a new right to call for payment of the sub-trust fund and can call the sub-trust to an end. A choice by the private company not to exercise that right does not constitute financial accommodation in favour of the trustee in its capacity as trustee of the sub-trust, because the sub-trust fund is held for private company beneficiary's sole benefit.

15. The situation is different if the private company beneficiary by arrangement, understanding or acquiescence, consents to the sub-trustee allowing those funds to be used by or for the benefit of the private company beneficiary's shareholder or their associate where:

•

all or part of the sub-trust fund is used by or for the benefit of that entity, and

•

the private company beneficiary has knowledge of this use.^[8]

16. This constitutes the provision by the private company beneficiary of financial accommodation to the entity using or benefiting from the use of the sub-trust fund under paragraph 109D(3)(b). This will be the case whether or not the use of the sub-trust fund is on commercial terms whereby a return is paid to the sub-trust fund. As a result, the private company beneficiary makes a loan to the entity using the sub-trust fund under the extended definition of a 'loan' in subsection 109D(3).

17. In these instances, the private company beneficiary does not financially accommodate the sub-trustee (in that capacity).

18. The private company beneficiary makes a loan when the financial accommodation is provided; that is, the point in time when the private company beneficiary has knowledge of the use of an amount of the sub-trust fund by or for the benefit of its shareholder or their associate and does not call for payment of that part of the sub-trust fund. The amount of the loan in those circumstances is the amount of the sub-trust fund that the private company knows (or is taken to know) is used by its shareholder or their associate.

19. If the private company beneficiary and the sub-trustee have the same directing mind and will, the private company beneficiary is taken to have knowledge of the use of the sub-trust fund (or part of the sub-trust fund) when the sub-trustee does.

Examples

20. The determination of when 'any other form of financial accommodation' is provided by a private company beneficiary depends on the circumstances of the particular case.

21. Assume the following fact pattern for Examples 1 to 4 of this Determination:

•

Ashley and Bo are spouses.

•

Ashley and Bo have organised their family business affairs via a discretionary trust, AB Family Trust. Ashley and Bo control Trustee Ltd, the trustee of their family trust.

•

Ashley and Bo, together with other family members and related entities, are objects of AB Family Trust.

•

X Co is one such related entity and is a private company controlled by Ashley and Bo.

•

The income of AB Family Trust for trust law purposes for the 2022-23 income year is equal to its net income as defined in subsection 95(1).

Diagram 1: Fact pattern for Examples 1 to 4 of this Determination

Example 1 - circumstance one: unpaid present entitlement

Additional facts

22. On 30 June 2023, Trustee Ltd resolves that 100% of AB Family Trust's income for the 2022-23 income year be distributed to X Co.

23. At 30 June 2023, X Co does not know the amount of trust income, if any, that it can demand immediate payment of from Trustee Ltd.

24. On 1 August 2023, Trustee Ltd determines the net income of AB Family Trust for the 2022-23 income year as $10,000. No cash payment is made to X Co. There is a UPE.

25. Trustee Ltd records the income entitlement of X Co in its accounts.

26. X Co has a right to demand immediate payment of $10,000 from Trustee Ltd.

Application of Division 7A

27. Both X Co and Trustee Ltd are controlled by Ashley and Bo. Therefore, on 1 August 2023, X Co is taken to have knowledge of the amount that it can demand immediate payment of from Trustee Ltd.

28. There is no evidence to suggest that X Co does anything other than acquiesce to Trustee Ltd retaining that amount to continue using it for the purposes of AB Family Trust.

29. Accordingly, X Co allows Trustee Ltd to retain (and is taken to agree to its retaining) the $10,000 and continue using it for the purposes of AB Family Trust.

30. X Co has provided a benefit to AB Family Trust. Trustee Ltd, in its capacity as trustee of AB Family Trust, is therefore in a better or more favourable position than it would have been had it been required to arrange funds for the payment of X Co's entitlement. This is the provision of financial accommodation to Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust.

31. X Co is taken to have made a loan to Trustee Ltd, in its capacity as trustee of AB Family Trust, on 1 August 2023. This is when X Co had knowledge of the amount that it could demand immediate payment of and did not do so.

Example 2 - circumstance two: sub-trust

Additional facts

32. In respect of amounts resolved to be distributed to a beneficiary, the trust deed of AB Family Trust gives Trustee Ltd the power to:

•

pay such amounts to the beneficiary, or

•

set aside and hold such amounts on sub-trust for the exclusive benefit of that beneficiary.

33. On 1 August 2023, after determining the net income of AB Family Trust, Trustee Ltd sets aside $10,000 on sub-trust by:

•

creating a sub-account in its bank account with a third-party deposit-taking institution

•

transferring the amount of $10,000 into the sub-account, and

•

holding the ownership of this sub-account on sub-trust for the absolute benefit of X Co.

34. That is, Trustee Ltd is the legal owner of the sub-account, but in its capacity as trustee for the sub-trust. The sub-account funds are neither intermingled with the funds of the AB Family Trust nor used to benefit the AB Family Trust (for example, the funds are not used as security for, nor to offset, loans of the AB Family Trust).

35. The $10,000 sub-account with the deposit-taking institution is corpus of the sub-trust and X Co, as the only beneficiary of this sub-trust, is entitled to all of the income derived in respect of that account. X Co has a new right to call for payment of the sub-trust and can call the sub-trust to an end.

36. When the sub-trust is settled, Trustee Ltd satisfies its obligation in respect of the distributed income and there is no outstanding UPE.

Application of Division 7A

37. Upon settlement of the sub-trust, X Co has a new right to call for payment of the sub-trust and can call the sub-trust to an end.

38. In this example, no part of X Co's entitlement is used by Trustee Ltd for the purposes of AB Family Trust, or by or for the benefit of any other shareholder or their associate. Therefore, X Co has not provided financial accommodation to a shareholder or their associate, or made a loan to Trustee Ltd, in its capacity as trustee for AB Family Trust or the sub-trust, under the extended definition of a 'loan' in subsection 109D(3).

Example 3 - circumstance two: use of sub-trust fund by the trustee of AB Family Trust - no commercial rate of return

Additional fact

39. Assume the same additional facts as in Example 2 of this Determination and that Trustee Ltd uses the $10,000 set aside on sub-trust fund for the purposes of AB Family Trust.

Application of Division 7A

40. As X Co and Trustee Ltd are controlled by Ashley and Bo, X Co is taken to have knowledge that the sub-trust fund is being used by Trustee Ltd for the purposes of AB Family Trust. Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust receives a benefit, being the use of the sub-trust funds. This is the provision of financial accommodation by X Co to Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust.

41. X Co can call for payment of its entitlement held on sub-trust if it does not agree to those funds being used for the purposes of AB Family Trust. On the facts, there is no evidence to suggest that X Co does anything other than acquiesce to Trustee Ltd using those funds for the purposes of AB Family Trust. Accordingly, X Co allows (and is taken to agree to) the use of funds to which it is entitled for the purposes of AB Family Trust.

42. In this example, X Co has provided financial accommodation to Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust. X Co is taken to have made a loan to Trustee Ltd under the extended definition of a 'loan' in subsection 109D(3) when the sub-trust fund was so used.

Example 4 - circumstance two: use of sub-trust fund by the trustee of AB Family Trust - commercial rate of return

Additional fact

43. Assume the same additional facts as in Example 3 of this Determination, but Trustee Ltd uses the sub-trust fund for the purposes of AB Family Trust on the condition that a commercial rate of interest is paid to the sub-trust fund.

Application of Division 7A

44. As described in paragraphs 40 to 42 of this Determination, Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust receives a benefit, being the use of the sub-trust fund. It is the use of the sub-trust fund that constitutes the provision of financial accommodation to Trustee Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust.

45. The commercial rate of interest paid does not alter this outcome.

Date of effect

46. This Determination applies to trust entitlements arising on or after 1 July 2022.

47. TR 2010/3 and Law Administration Practice Statement PS LA 2010/4 Division 7A: trust entitlements have been withdrawn with effect from 1 July 2022 for trust entitlements arising on or after that time. Taxpayers can continue to rely on both TR 2010/3 and PS LA 2010/4 in relation to trust entitlements that arose on or before 30 June 2022.

48. For the avoidance of doubt:

•

The Commissioner will take a compliance approach of not devoting compliance resources to sub-trust arrangements conducted in accordance with PS LA 2010/4 in respect of trust entitlements arising before 1 July 2022 (see paragraphs 97 and 98 of this Determination), even though those sub-trust arrangements may commence after 30 June 2022.

•

This Determination does not apply to unpaid present entitlements arising before 16 December 2009.

Commissioner of Taxation
13 July 2022

Appendix 1 - Explanation

49. Two circumstances of trust entitlements of private company beneficiaries are considered in this Determination.

Circumstance one - where there is an unpaid present entitlement

50. If a trustee resolves to make a private company beneficiary presently entitled to trust income and does not discharge its obligation to pay the private company beneficiary, there is a UPE. The trustee has an equitable obligation to account to the private company beneficiary for the UPE and the private company beneficiary has a right to demand immediate payment of its entitlement.

Circumstance two - where present entitlements are satisfied by sub-trust

51. Where a private company beneficiary is made presently entitled to trust income, the trustee may be authorised to set aside an amount from the main trust and hold it on sub-trust for the absolute benefit of the private company beneficiary.

52. A sub-trust can be created where the terms of a trust instrument provide a mechanism for the distribution of trust income, which includes the settlement or setting aside of an amount commensurate with a beneficiary's entitlement on a new separate trust. The amount set aside by the trustee ceases to be an asset of the main trust and forms the corpus of the sub-trust. The trustee would no longer have active duties under the terms of the main trust in respect of that entitlement.

53. Where the trustee's obligation to pay the entitlement to trust income is discharged by the setting aside of the amount on sub-trust for the beneficiary, the trustee's obligation in respect of the entitlement to distributed income comes to an end and a new obligation arises for the sub-trustee under a separate trust.

54. The sub-trustee would have a different equitable obligation by holding the sub-trust fund for the absolute benefit of the private company beneficiary and the private company beneficiary would have a new present right to direct the trustee to transfer the sub-trust property to it.

55. A private company's choice not to exercise its right to end the sub-trust does not constitute financial accommodation in favour of the trustee of the sub-trust (in that capacity), because the sub-trust fund is held for the private company beneficiary's sole benefit. However, if the funds are used by the trustee in its capacity as trustee of the main trust, used for the benefit of the main trust or otherwise used by or for the benefit of another shareholder or associate of a shareholder of the private company under a consensual agreement with the private company beneficiary, this may amount to the provision of financial accommodation by the private company beneficiary.

What is a Division 7A loan?

56. For the purposes of Division 7A, a 'loan' is defined in subsection 109D(3) as including:

(a) an advance of money; and

(b) a provision of credit or any other form of financial accommodation; and

(c) a payment of an amount for, on account of, on behalf of or at the request of, an entity, if there is an express or implied obligation to repay the amount; and

(d) a transaction (whatever its terms or form) which in substance effects a loan of money.

57. The scope of this Determination is concerned with the provision of 'credit or any other form of financial accommodation'.

Provision of 'credit'

58. The term 'credit' involves allowing time to pay a debt (including by granting a right to defer payment of a debt). A loan itself amounts to the provision of credit.^[9] The provision of credit extends to allowing time to pay any debt, not just that arising under a loan agreement.^[10] Whether the provision of credit extends to allowing time to pay an equitable obligation is not clear from case law.^[11]

Provision of 'any other form of financial accommodation'

59. Paragraph 109D(3)(b) also refers to 'any other form of financial accommodation'. The Commissioner considers that the word 'other' in the phrase 'any other form of financial accommodation' suggests that the provision of financial accommodation is not limited to situations where there is also the provision of credit. The provision of credit is a narrower subset of a broader concept of financial accommodation.

60. The phrase 'any other form of financial accommodation' is not defined for the purposes of Division 7A. It therefore has its ordinary and legal meaning in the statutory context in which it appears.

61. The purpose and policy of Division 7A, as described in paragraph 1 of this Determination, informs the consideration of what constitutes 'any other form of financial accommodation' under the extended definition of a loan in subsection 109D(3).

62. The following principles for interpreting this phrase can be drawn from relevant case law:

•

any other form of financial accommodation is to be construed broadly^[12]

•

there must be a consensual arrangement between the parties ^[13]

•

failure to call for payment of a UPE constitutes a benefit to the trustee.^[14]

Broad construction of 'any other form of financial accommodation'

63. The High Court, in International Litigation Partners Pte Ltd v Chameleon Mining NL (Receivers and Managers Appointed)^[15] (ILP), considered the term 'credit', which for the purposes of the relevant regulation was defined as including 'any form of financial accommodation'. The majority (comprising French CJ, Gummow, Crennan and Bell JJ) approached the issue by considering the widest definition of the term 'credit'^[16] and explained that the expression 'any form of financial accommodation' is of considerable width of denotation.^[17] The majority then went on to confirm that financial accommodation is not limited to circumstances where an obligation to pay money has been deferred.^[18]

64. The concurring judgment of Heydon J also noted the breadth of the language used in the relevant regulation and emphasised that the words 'any' and 'form' in the expression are to be construed amply.^[19]

65. The Commissioner accepts that the meaning given to the expression 'any form of financial accommodation' by the High Court in ILP is not determinative of the meaning of those same words in section 109D. However, similarly to ILP, the meaning of the phrase in paragraph 109D(3)(b) is informed by the statutory context and purpose of Division 7A. Viewed in this light, the phrase 'any other form of financial accommodation' in paragraph 109D(3)(b) has the same breadth of meaning as was found in ILP with the words 'any' and 'form' indicating that the phrase 'any other form of financial accommodation' is to be construed amply.

Consensual arrangement

66. The requirement for a consensual arrangement was considered by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in Montgomery Wools Pty Ltd as Trustee for Montgomery Wools Pty Ltd Super Fund and Commissioner of Taxation (Montgomery Wools)^[20] to determine if there was a 'loan' pursuant to section 10 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993. The AAT considered this requirement in the context of whether failure to demand payment of a UPE could amount to financial accommodation.

67. The relevant definition of a 'loan' in the provisions considered in Montgomery Wools included 'the provision of credit or any other form of financial accommodation'. The applicant argued that the word 'provision' before 'financial accommodation' requires positive action on behalf of the beneficiary such that failing to enforce a right cannot constitute a consensual arrangement. The AAT stated that a positive act will include acquiescence or '... the failure to enforce or demand a right, provided the party makes an active decision to acquiesce or refrain from enforcing a right or making a demand'.^[21]

68. It was determined in Montgomery Wools that there was a consensual arrangement between the parties because the distribution was approved by the same person who was the controlling mind of the 2 relevant entities.^[22]

Failure to demand payment of an unpaid present entitlement

69. The Full Federal Court, in Corporate Initiatives Pty Ltd v Commissioner Of Taxation^[23] (Corporate Initiatives), considered the application of the trust loss provisions in Schedule 2F to a group of unit trusts ultimately owned by a family group, with one person controlling all the relevant entities. A series of income entitlements were created in favour of the beneficiaries but were not paid. The relevant beneficiary in the proceedings did not call upon the trustee to pay its UPE. By not demanding payment of the UPE, the trustee continued to have use of all the trust funds for trust purposes.

70. At issue was the effect of the unpaid distributions of income and whether the relevant beneficiary 'provided a benefit' to the trustee within the meaning of subsection 270 10(1) of Schedule 2F by failing to call for payment of its UPE.

71. It was determined that, where a beneficiary has a UPE, the beneficiary does not have a proprietary right in any assets of the trust and the trustee would be free to deal with the trust assets for trust purposes.^[24]

72. The Full Federal Court also concluded that, by not calling for payment of funds distributed to it, the private company beneficiary with knowledge of the UPE provided a benefit to the trustee who could continue to use the trust funds for trust purposes, and stated that (emphasis added)^[25]:

We therefore think the Tribunal was correct in proceeding on the basis that, on demand being made by SBS as trustee for CUT, Eldersmede would have to do something to arrange funds for the payment, whether by selling, or borrowing against, available assets, which would then no longer be available for other trust purposes. Not having to do this was a benefit. Eldersmede was thus in a better or more favourable position than it would have been had it been required to fund the distributions.

73. After concluding that failing to call for payment of a UPE constitutes a benefit to the trustee, the Full Federal Court expressed difficulty in differentiating between the practical effect of a formally recorded loan and a beneficiary failing to call for payment of a UPE.

Commercial return

74. In commercial transactions, where an entity uses another entity's funds, it will often be required to pay some form of return for that use. The entity that uses the funds is always financially accommodated as it has the use of the money. The commercial return on the use of the funds is what is paid to enjoy the benefit of the financial accommodation received. That is, payment of a commercial return does not prevent there being the provision of financial accommodation.

Conclusion as to the Commissioner's view

75. The Commissioner takes the view in Circumstance one (see paragraphs 7 to 12 of this Determination) that a private company beneficiary that does not exercise its right to demand immediate payment of an amount of trust income provides financial accommodation to the trustee. If the private company beneficiary exercised its right, the trustee would be required to arrange funds for the payment of the UPE, whether by selling or borrowing against other assets which would then no longer be available.

76. In Circumstance two (see paragraphs 13 to 18 of this Determination), the Commissioner also takes the view that a private company beneficiary that does not exercise its right to call for payment of a sub-trust fund provides financial accommodation to its shareholder or their associate for using or benefitting from the use of the sub-trust fund (or part of the sub-trust fund). The amount of the loan is the amount of the sub-trust fund that the private company knows (or is taken to know) is used by or for the benefit of its shareholder or their associate. This will be the case whether or not the use of the sub-trust fund is on commercial terms whereby a return is paid to the sub-trust. If the private company beneficiary exercised its right, the sub-trust fund would no longer be available for use.

77. In Circumstance two, the private company beneficiary does not financially accommodate the sub-trustee (in that capacity) as because the use has been part of a consensual agreement with the private company, there is no actionable breach of the terms of the sub-trust. The sub-trustee has not received a benefit in that capacity. The sub-trustee is still obligated to hold the funds for the private company's sole benefit (including as the private company directs) and the obligation to pay the sum to the private company should they call for it remains unaffected. The private company has consented to the use of the funds by another entity.

When is the requirement of knowledge met?

78. For financial accommodation to be provided, there must be a consensual arrangement between the parties. A consensual arrangement can only arise where a private company beneficiary:

•

has a UPE and has knowledge of an amount of trust income that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee (see Circumstance one at paragraphs 7 to 12 of this Determination), or

•

has had its present entitlement satisfied by way of a sub-trust and has knowledge of the use of a sub-trust fund (see Circumstance two at paragraphs 13 to 18 of this Determination).

79. Corporate Initiatives illustrates that if both the trustee and the private company beneficiary are controlled by the same person, knowledge of an amount of trust income may be imputed by virtue of the relationship.

80. The doctrine of a corporation's 'directing mind and will' was explained by Millet J in El-Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings plc^[26] (referred to with approval on appeal)^[27] as follows:

Since a company is an artificial person, the knowledge of those who manage and control it must be treated as the knowledge of the company: J C Houghton & Co v Nothard, Lowe and Wills Ltd [1928] AC 1 ... Re Montagu's Settlement Trusts ... [1987] Ch 264 [at p. 283]. ... Those who 'constitute the directing mind and will of the company' are the company for this purpose: Tesco Supermarkets Ltd v Nattrass ... [1972] AC 153 [at p. 187]. Their minds are its mind; their intention its intention; their knowledge its knowledge.

81. In circumstances where a number of entities share a common controller, the controller's knowledge of one of the group's affairs can generally be attributed to another member of the same group. In Allan Paul Endresz v Patrick John Whitehouse^[28], Ormiston JA referred to 'the principle applicable to controlling directors'. He quoted from Ford's Principles of Corporations Law as follows^[29]:

'A distinction has to be drawn between the case where the director is a controller of two companies and where the director is only one of several directors of two companies. In the former case each company will know what the other knows because they each have the same directing mind and will: attribution of the director's knowledge to each company does not depend on the existence of a duty but on the director being identified with each company as its directing mind and will.'

82. The directing mind and will of a private company beneficiary need not be limited to its board or one or more directors.^[30] Case law establishes that different persons may for different purposes satisfy the requirements of being an entity's directing mind and will.^[31]

83. If the same person or persons are the directing mind and will of both the relevant private company beneficiary and the trustee in respect of affairs relevant to the private company beneficiary's UPE (such as the treatment of that UPE and/or dealings with that UPE), then subject to sufficient evidence to the contrary the Commissioner takes the view that both the private company beneficiary and the trustee know what the other knows because they have this same directing mind and will.

Knowledge of an amount that can be demanded

84. Where a UPE remains outstanding, and the private company beneficiary and the trustee have the same directing mind and will, the private company beneficiary will have knowledge of the amount of trust income that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee. By not exercising its right to demand payment of the UPE, the private company beneficiary consents or acquiesces to the provision of financial accommodation to the trustee.

Knowledge of the use of a sub-trust fund

85. Where there is a sub-trust and the sub-trust fund is used by or for the benefit of a shareholder or their associate, and the private company beneficiary and the trustee have the same directing mind and will, the private company beneficiary will have knowledge of the use of the sub-trust fund. By not exercising its right to call for payment of the sub-trust fund, the private company beneficiary consents or acquiesces to the provision of financial accommodation to the entity that is using or benefiting from the use of the sub-trust fund (or part of the sub-trust fund).

Timing

86. Subsection 109D(4) states that a loan is made to an entity at the time anything described in subsection 109D(3) is done in relation to the entity.

87. For the purposes of paragraph 109D(3)(b), a private company beneficiary makes a loan to the trustee of a trust, or another shareholder or their associate, when financial accommodation is provided.

88. Where there is a UPE, financial accommodation is provided at the point in time when the private company beneficiary has knowledge of an amount of trust income that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee and does not exercise its right.

89. The time when the amount of a beneficiary's entitlement is known will typically arise after the end of the income year, in the following income year. This will be the case whether the entitlement is expressed as:

•

a fixed amount from the trust income

•

a percentage of trust income, or some other part of trust income identified in a calculable manner, or

•

a combination of fixed and calculable amounts.

90. Generally, the distributable income of a trust estate for an income year is only capable of being determined with sufficient certainty to quantify the amount of the entitlement when accounts are finalised. This will usually be after the income year has ended.^[32]

91. In addition to having knowledge of an amount of trust income that it can demand immediate payment of, the provision of financial accommodation by the private company beneficiary also requires that there is a deliberate choice or acquiescence as to the exercise of that right. In order to make a decision not to call for satisfaction of a UPE, the private company needs a reasonable opportunity to do so. So, for example, where a private company's UPE is determined on the last day of the income year in which it is conferred, the earliest time at which it is reasonable for a private company to call for that UPE to be satisfied will be in the following income year.

92. There may be limited circumstances in which a private company's present entitlement is known before the end of the income year in which it arises and it could have demanded payment of that amount. This will depend on the terms of the trust deed, the entitlement conferred by the trust resolution and the nature of the income derived and expenses incurred by the trust. A situation where the amount to be demanded is known with sufficient certainty might arise if a trust ceases mid-year or otherwise ceases operations and distributes income in the course of doing so.

93. Where there is a sub-trust and the sub-trust fund (or part of the sub-trust fund) is used by or for the benefit of a shareholder or their associate, financial accommodation is provided at the point in time when the private company beneficiary has knowledge of the use of an amount of the sub-trust fund and does not exercise its right to call for payment of that part of the sub-trust fund.

Appendix 2 - Compliance approach

94. The application of the law (as described in this Determination) where a private company beneficiary is made presently entitled to income of a trust estate raises practical considerations for taxpayers and their advisers. These include how to meet the timing requirements to ensure that an entitlement does not cause a deemed dividend to arise.

Arrangements involving pre-1 July 2022 trust entitlements

95. TR 2010/3 expressed the Commissioner's opinion on the circumstances in which a private company with a present entitlement to an amount from an associated trust estate makes a loan to that trust within the meaning of subsection 109D(3) of Division 7A, in circumstances where funds representing that present entitlement remain intermingled with funds of the trust.

96. PS LA 2010/4 set out the view that a private company beneficiary does not provide 'credit or any other form of financial accommodation' to a trustee where the funds representing a UPE were held on sub-trust and re-invested in the head trust on particular terms.^[33]

97. TR 2010/3 and PS LA 2010/4 no longer represent the Commissioner's view and have been withdrawn. An entity may continue to rely on TR 2010/3 and PS LA 2010/4 in respect of trust entitlements conferred on or before 30 June 2022.

98. That is, the Commissioner will not devote compliance resources to arrangements conducted in accordance with TR 2010/3 and PS LA 2010/4 in respect of trust entitlements arising on or before 30 June 2022. For the avoidance of doubt, this would include a sub-trust arrangement commenced on or after 1 July 2022 in respect of a trust entitlement arising before that date.

99. Further, this Determination does not apply to UPEs arising before 16 December 2009.

Implementation of a complying loan agreement

100. In cases where financial accommodation is provided as described in this Determination, the trustee and the private company beneficiary can avoid a deemed dividend if, before the private company's lodgment day^[34] for the income year in which the financial accommodation arises:

•

the trustee pays the trust entitlement to the private company beneficiary, or

•

the private company beneficiary and the trustee enter into a complying loan agreement^[35] in respect of the financial accommodation.

101. This Appendix describes how a private company beneficiary and trustee in those circumstances can implement a complying loan agreement, in particular including the timing requirements, so that the financial accommodation does not give rise to a deemed dividend. This is illustrated by examples where:

•

a UPE is made subject to complying loan terms

•

a UPE is in fact satisfied and replaced with a new loan, and

•

a sub-trust is created and the use of the sub-trust funds by the main trust is made subject to complying loan terms (see Example 6 of this Determination).

Making the financial accommodation subject to complying loan terms

102. If a complying loan agreement is entered into in respect of the financial accommodation, the first minimum yearly repayment will be due by 30 June^[36] of the year following the income year in which the financial accommodation was provided.

103. The following timeline illustrates compliance with Division 7A for financial accommodation that is provided to the trustee of a trust in the 2023-24 income year.

104. Present entitlements to trust income frequently arise at year end, typically being 30 June (for example, because of the terms of the trust and associated resolutions appointing trust income). As this Determination applies to present entitlements arising on or after 1 July 2022, it is expected to apply in the main to present entitlements that arise on 30 June 2023 or later. In most instances, for private company beneficiary entitlements to trust income that arise at 30 June 2023, financial accommodation (if any) will not be provided by the private company until a time in the 2023-24 income year.

Diagram 2: Financial accommodation complying with Division 7A

Satisfying the UPE and replacing the financial accommodation with a new complying loan

105. Where a trust entitlement results in the provision of financial accommodation, the Commissioner will also accept that the conditions in subsection 109N(1) are satisfied in respect of the financial accommodation if, before the lodgment day for the income year it has arisen, the entitlement is satisfied and replaced with a new loan that meets the requirements of a complying loan agreement. To do this:

•

the trustee can pay the trust entitlement to the private company beneficiary and have that amount loaned back under a complying loan agreement, or

•

the private company beneficiary and the trustee can enter into a complying loan agreement and set off their respective obligations; that is, the trustee's obligation to pay the trust entitlement to the private company beneficiary and the private company beneficiary's obligation to fund the loan are set off against each other.

106. The Commissioner will accept, having regard to the context of Division 7A, that these steps will result in the formalisation of the original loan identified in respect of the financial accommodation, rather than a refinancing of that loan for which section 109R may apply so as to cause the loan to remain unpaid at the lodgment day. The first minimum yearly repayment will remain due by 30 June of the year following the year in which the financial accommodation was provided.

107. The following timeline illustrates compliance under this approach where financial accommodation is provided to the trustee of a trust in the 2023-24 income year.

Diagram 3: Financial accommodation replaced with a new loan

108. Where a UPE is satisfied by way of sub-trust, a private company beneficiary provides financial accommodation to their shareholder or an associate of their shareholder when it has knowledge that the sub-trust fund is being used by that shareholder or their associate. The timeline in Example 6 of this Determination illustrates compliance under this approach where financial accommodation is provided to the shareholder's associate in the 2023-24 income year.

Examples

109. In each of the following examples, assume the private company beneficiary's distributable surplus (as defined in section 109Y) is greater than its trust entitlement.

Example 5 - present entitlement where trust income is subsequently determined

110. Ashley and Bo are spouses and they have organised their family business affairs via a discretionary trust, AB Family Trust. Ashley and Bo control Trustee Pty Ltd, the trustee of their discretionary trust.

111. X Pty Ltd, a private company that is a beneficiary of AB Family Trust, is controlled by Ashley and Bo.

112. On 30 June 2023, Trustee Pty Ltd resolves that 100% of AB Family Trust's income for the 2022-23 income year be distributed to X Pty Ltd.

113. At 30 June 2023, X Pty Ltd does not know the amount of trust income, if any, that it can demand immediate payment of from Trustee Pty Ltd.

114. On 1 August 2023, Trustee Pty Ltd determines the net income of AB Family Trust as $50,000. X Pty Ltd has a right to demand immediate payment of $50,000 from Trustee Pty Ltd on 1 August 2023.

115. The distribution and UPE are recorded in the accounting ledger of AB Family Trust as being a distribution for the year ended 30 June 2023 and the entries are:

116. In the accounting ledger of X Pty Ltd, the transaction is recorded as:

Diagram 4: Fact pattern for Example 5 of this Determination

Tax consequences

117. X Pty Ltd is taken to have knowledge of the amount it can demand immediate payment of from Trustee Pty Ltd on 1 August 2023. If X Pty Ltd does not demand immediate payment of the $50,000, then it provides financial accommodation to Trustee Pty Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust in the 2023-24 income year.

118. X Pty Ltd's lodgment day for the 2023-24 income year is 15 May 2025.

119. To avoid a deemed dividend under Division 7A, X Pty Ltd and Trustee Pty Ltd as trustee for AB Family Trust agree to discharge the UPE. On 14 May 2025, they enter into a new loan that meets the requirements of a complying loan agreement and set-off their respective obligations. That is, Trustee Pty Ltd's obligation to pay the UPE to X Pty Ltd and X Pty Ltd's obligation to fund the complying loan are set off against each other.

120. The discharge of the UPE and the new complying loan agreement are recorded in the accounting ledger of AB Family Trust on 14 May 2025 as follows:

121. In the accounting ledger of X Pty Ltd, the transaction is recorded as follows:

122. The first minimum yearly repayment under the complying loan agreement will be due by 30 June 2025. That is, the transaction replacing the UPE with a formal loan is treated as a formalisation on section 109N complying terms of the deemed loan (financial accommodation) and not treated as a new loan made in the 2024-25 income year. To avoid Division 7A consequences, subsequent minimum yearly repayments are required to be made until the loan is fully repaid by the maximum term of 7 years.

123. The outcomes in this example are the same if X Pty Ltd was made presently entitled to a fixed share of income or was made presently entitled to trust income through a 'stepped resolution' (for example, the trust resolution stated that the first $2,000 of trust income was to be provided to Bo and X Pty Ltd was entitled to the balance). This is because the distributable income of the AB Family Trust was only capable of being determined with sufficient certainty when the accounts were finalised. This was after the income year had ended.

Diagram 5: Timeline - present entitlement where trust income is subsequently determined

Example 6 - present entitlement to a sum certain, sub-trust created and loan to a shareholder or their associate

124. Dave is an individual who has organised his family business affairs via a discretionary trust, Pets Plus Trust. Dave controls Corgi Pty Ltd, the trustee of Pets Plus Trust.

125. Dave, together with other family members and related entities, is a beneficiary of Pets Plus Trust. Cavalier Pty Ltd is a related private company beneficiary that is controlled by Dave.

126. In respect of amounts resolved to be distributed to a beneficiary, the trust deed of Pets Plus Trust gives Corgi Pty Ltd the power to:

•

pay such amounts to the beneficiary, or

•

set aside and hold such amounts on sub-trust for the absolute benefit of that beneficiary.

127. On 30 June 2023, Corgi Pty Ltd resolves that $50,000 of Pets Plus Trust's income for the 2022-23 income year be distributed to Cavalier Pty Ltd by setting aside that amount on sub-trust for the absolute benefit of Cavalier Pty Ltd.

128. The distribution is recorded in the accounting ledger of Pets Plus Trust as being a distribution on 30 June 2023 and the entries are:

129. The setting aside of $50,000 on sub-trust is recorded in the separately prepared sub-trust accounts on 30 June 2023 and the entries are:

130. In the accounting ledger of Cavalier Pty Ltd, the distribution is recorded as:

131. On 1 February 2024, Corgi Pty Ltd as trustee for Pets Plus Trust uses or benefits from the $50,000 corpus of the sub-trust.

132. The loan of the sub-trust corpus to Pets Plus Trust on 1 February 2024 is recorded in the accounting ledger of the sub-trust and the entries are:

Diagram 6: Fact pattern for Example 6 of this Determination

Tax consequences

133. From 1 February 2024, the Commissioner will infer, based on the relationships of the parties, that Cavalier Pty Ltd has knowledge of the use of or benefit from the sub-trust fund by Corgi Pty Ltd as trustee for Pets Plus Trust. As a result, Cavalier Pty Ltd provides financial accommodation to Corgi Pty Ltd as trustee for Pets Plus Trust in the 2023-24 income year.

134. The Commissioner considers that Cavalier Pty Ltd would provide financial accommodation to Pets Plus Trust in these circumstances, whether or not the use or benefit of sub-trust funds by Corgi Pty Ltd as trustee for Pets Plus Trust is specifically acknowledged as a loan and whether or not it is recorded in the trust accounts appropriately.

135. Cavalier Pty Ltd's lodgment day for the 2023-24 income year is 15 May 2025.

136. To avoid a deemed dividend under Division 7A, Cavalier Pty Ltd and Corgi Pty Ltd as trustee for Pets Plus Trust agree to enter into a new loan on 14 May 2025 that meets the requirements of a complying loan agreement by Cavalier Pty Ltd calling for payment of the $50,000 and, subsequently, setting off their obligations. That is, Corgi Pty Ltd's obligation to pay the $50,000 to Cavalier Pty Ltd and Cavalier Pty Ltd's obligation to fund the loan are set off against each other.

137. The first minimum yearly repayment under the complying loan agreement will be due by 30 June 2025. That is, the transaction replacing the financial accommodation with a formal loan is not treated as a new loan made in the 2024-25 income year. To avoid Division 7A consequences, subsequent minimum yearly repayments are required to be made until the loan is fully repaid within the 7-year maximum term.

Diagram 7: Timeline - use of a sub-trust fund

Appendix 3 - Alternative views

TR 2010/3 view

138. It has been raised with us that, contrary to the views in this Determination, certain aspects of the former advice and reasoning in TR 2010/3 remain correct. Paragraphs 113 and 114 of TR 2010/3 provided:

113. ... if there is a sub-trust but the funds representing the UPE remain intermingled in the main trust as a consequence of an investment back by the sub-trust, the private company does not provide any financial accommodation to the main trust if this investment by the sub-trust is on terms entitling the sub-trust to:

•

all the benefits from use of those funds; and

•

a repayment of the principal of the investment.

114. The private company provides no financial accommodation in these circumstances because the main trust receives no pecuniary aid or favour from the private company. These circumstances may be evidenced by the terms of the agreement between the sub-trust and the main trust.

139. We do not agree with that view and consider that in those circumstances, the private company beneficiary has provided financial accommodation to the trustee of the main trust.

140. As referred to at paragraphs 56 to 73 of this Determination, the weight of case law authority, including Court and Tribunal decisions following the publication of TR 2010/3, demonstrates that the statutory expression 'any other form of financial accommodation' is capable of having a wide meaning. In 2012, the majority of the High Court in ILP noted as examples of the wide meaning of 'any form of financial accommodation' an agreement by a bank to lend its name to a bill of exchange for the accommodation of its customer, the provision of the guarantee of the obligations to the creditor of the principal debtor and the extension by a bank to a customer of an overdraft facility.^[37] A vendor can provide financial accommodation to a purchaser where a title is transferred without waiting for actual receipt of the full purchase price.^[38] The case law examples do not support an argument that financial accommodation will not happen where the party who provides the accommodation obtains a commercial rate of return.

141. As referred to in paragraph 65 of this Determination, the Commissioner considers that there is no reason that the expression should be given a narrower meaning where it appears in the definition of loan in paragraph 109D(3)(b), having regard to the context and purpose of that definition.

142. The example at paragraphs 113 and 114 of TR 2010/3 involved the private company beneficiary acquiescing to the use of the funds by the trustee of the main trust. In our view, consistent with the examples drawn from the case law, in that example the private company beneficiary has provided financial accommodation to the trustee of the main trust.

Scope of Subdivision EA

143. Appendix 3 of TR 2010/3 set out the alternative view that the position in this Determination inappropriately limits the scope for Subdivision EA to operate. Specifically, it observes:

172. During consultation on this Ruling it has been said that the existence of Subdivision EA makes it clear that in situations involving trusts which have a private company beneficiary with a UPE to income from that trust, Division 7A is only intended to apply when the trust separately pays or lends amounts to, or forgives debts of, a shareholder or associate of the private company.

173. In support of this view its proponents cite extrinsic materials to the predecessor of Subdivision EA (the former section 109UB) including:

•

drafting instructions for section 109UB, which stated:

The definition of loan in subsection 109D(3) includes 'a transaction (whatever its terms or form) which in substance effects a loan of money'. There is some doubt whether this phrase covers the situation where income of a trust estate to which a private company beneficiary had become presently entitled is not actually paid over by the trustee but instead is lent by the trustee to a shareholder of the private company beneficiary. There is persuasive opinion that such an amount is held by the trustee under a separate trust for the benefit of the corporate beneficiary. Accordingly, it is arguable that Division 7A would not apply to the amount held in the subtrust [sic] if it is lent by the trustee to a shareholder of the corporate beneficiary. This is because the amount held in the subtrust [sic] has not actually been lent by the private company to the trust.

•

the Explanatory Memorandum to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1998 introducing section 109UB, which stated:

New section 109UB will apply if a private company, as a beneficiary of a trust estate, is or has been presently entitled to some or all of the net trust income which has not actually been paid. In such a situation the amount to which the company is presently entitled is held on a secondary trust for the benefit of the company. The provision applies to any subsequent loan by the trustee to a shareholder (or associate) of the company.

174. The Board of Taxation's November 2002 report on The Taxation of Discretionary Trusts is also cited. This report proceeded on the basis that Division 7A would practically only apply to trusts if the former section 109UB applied. The report acknowledged that trusts in the circumstances under consideration would be effectively accumulating income and made no mention of a sub-trust. It recommended improvements be made, either by enhancements to section 109UB (which were ultimately legislated as Subdivision EA) or by effectively deeming the amount of the UPE to have been accumulated in the trust (or subject to a top-up tax by the company) if it were not paid out within a reasonable time.

175. Support for the alternative view is also said to come from the fact that Division 7A contains no specific anti-overlap rule dealing with UPEs treated as loans under section 109D and the potential for Subdivision EA to apply to relevant dealings by the respective trustee.

144. Those observations indicate that when Division 7A was introduced, the prevailing view was that UPEs were held on a separate trust for the benefit of the private company beneficiary. The Commissioner's view before 16 December 2009 (that the retention of a UPE was not a loan for Division 7A purposes) was based on that understanding. That is, at the time Subdivision EA was introduced, private company UPEs were not generally considered to be within the scope of subsection 109D(3). The lack of a specific anti overlap rule to deal with private company UPEs being treated as loans by subsection 109D(3) is explicable by that context.

145. Taking that background into consideration, the Commissioner considers that the express terms of subsection 109D(3) are not required to be interpreted in a constrained way to accommodate a specific integrity rule within Division 7A (that is, Subdivision EA).

146. Consistent with the legislative context of Division 7A, an amount that has been treated as a loan and dealt with under section 109D (for example, a UPE that constitutes financial accommodation and is made subject to a complying loan agreement, as described in paragraphs 102 to 104 of this Determination) should be regarded as a loan for all purposes of Division 7A, including Subdivision EA. Accordingly, the Commissioner will not treat a UPE in those circumstances as a present entitlement that remains unpaid for Subdivision EA purposes. This is consistent with the position taken in TR 2010/3.

147. Subdivision EA has scope to operate in circumstances where the UPE of a private company does not result in financial accommodation dealt with under section 109D (for example, because the private company does not have knowledge of the amount that it can demand immediate payment of from the trustee at the relevant time).

148. As described in paragraph 13 of this Determination, where a private company beneficiary is made presently entitled to trust income and the trustee satisfies that UPE by setting aside an amount from the main trust and holding it on sub-trust for the exclusive benefit of the private company beneficiary, the present entitlement to income is paid and there is no UPE. In those circumstances, the conditions for Subdivision EA to operate are not satisfied.

© AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).

Previously released in draft form as TD 2022/D1

References

ATO references:
NO 1-E9TF0ST

Related Rulings/Determinations:

TR 2006/10
TR 2010/3

Business Line:  PW

Legislative References:
ITAA 1936 Div 6
ITAA 1936 Pt III Div 7A
ITAA 1936 Subdiv D
ITAA 1936 Subdiv EA
ITAA 1936 109D
ITAA 1936 109D(1)(b)
ITAA 1936 109D(1)(c)
ITAA 1936 109D(3)
ITAA 1936 109D(3)(b)
ITAA 1936 109D(4)
ITAA 1936 109R
ITAA 1936 former 109UB
ITAA 1936 Sch 2F
ITAA 1936 Sch 2F 270-10(1)
SISA 1993 10

Case Relied on:
Allan Paul Endresz v Patrick John Whitehouse
[1997] VSC 23
VICSC 23

Commissioner of Taxation v Radilo Enterprises Pty Ltd
[1997] FCA 22
72 FCR 300
97 ATC 4151
(1997) 34 ATR 635
Corporate Initiatives Pty Ltd v Commissioner Of Taxation
[2005] FCAFC 62
142 FCR 279
59 ATR 351
2005 ATC 4392
El-Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings plc
[1993] 3 All ER 717
[1993] BCLC 735
[1993] BCC 698
El-Ajou v Dollar Land Holdings plc
[1994] 2 All ER 685
[1994] BCLC 464
[1994] BCC 143
Herbert v R
[1941] HCA 12
64 CLR 461
[1941] ALR 100
International Litigation Partners Pty Ltd v Chameleon Mining NL (Receivers and Managers Appointed)
[2012] HCA 45
(2012) 246 CLR 455
Montgomery Wools Pty Ltd as Trustee for Montgomery Wools Pty Ltd Super Fund and Commissioner of Taxation
[2012] AATA 61
Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu & Anor
[2007] NSWCA 377
(2007) 71 NSWLR 471
(2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-928
Prime Wheat Association Ltd v Chief Commissioner of Stamp Duties
[1997] NSWSC 546
42 NSWLR 505
The Lady Gwendolen; Arthur Guinness Son and Co (Dublin) Ltd v Owners of Motor Vessel Freshfield and Others
[1965] 2 All ER 283
[1965] 3 WLR 91

Other References:
Explanatory Memorandum to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.3) 1998
PS LA 2010/4