Private ruling: Investment bond and linked life assurance policy
Date of advice: 26 August 2016
Published: October 2019
Ruling period: Year ending 30 June 2020
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2019

Ruling: Q1: If you surrender the investment bond, will the proceeds be non-assessable income under section 26AH of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936) as the bond has been held for more than 10 years? | A1: Yes. The investment bond has a death benefit component and is therefore an eligible policy for the purposes of section 26AH of the ITAA 1936. As the surrender of the bond will occur after it has been held for over 10 years, no amount will be assessable under section 26AH of the ITAA 1936. | Q2: If you surrender the investment bond will, will any capital gain be disregarded under section > 118-300 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)? | A2: Yes The investment bond has a death benefit component and is therefore a policy of insurance on the life of an individual for the purposes of section 118-300 of the ITAA 1997. As you acquired your interest in the policy for no consideration, any capital gain you make on the surrender of the bond will be disregarded.

Relevant facts and circumstances: You are an Australian resident for tax purposes. A relative of yours, a foreign resident, purchased an investment bond (the bond) over 10 years ago. The bond is unit linked and has a death benefit component (the policy). The lives insured under the policy at the date of commencement were you and two other relatives. Your relative passed away and the bond passed to you and another relative for no consideration. The value of the bond has increased over time. You have made no withdrawals from the bond.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 26AH | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 118-300