Private ruling: Lump sum payment from a foreign fund
Published: February 2013
Ruling period: For the year ended 30 June 2013
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2012

Ruling: Q1: Is any part of the lump sum payment made to you from an overseas retirement annuity fund (the Fund) included as assessable income under subsection 305-70(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)? | A1: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: During the 1980s you became a member of a retirement annuity policy in an overseas country (the Fund). A decade later you arrived in Australia and became a permanent residency for tax purposes. You have provided documentation from your insurance broker which shows the total value of your benefits in the Fund as at a specified date. As a result of legislative changes made in the overseas country several years ago, the rules of the Fund were amended such that if a person has formally emigrated from the overseas country the full value of the policy less tax, could be remitted overseas. As required by the exchange control authorities in the overseas country, these payments would be paid directly into a bank account in the overseas country after tax had been deducted. Under the rules of the Fund it provides benefits to be made to a member: · after attaining age 55; · on attaining their normal retirement date at age 60; · as a result of the member's total and permanent disablement; or · upon death. You declared formal emigration from the overseas country for tax purposes and this enabled you to make an exit from the Fund. This would not have been available otherwise until you had reached retirement age. A submission of an Income Tax Return for the overseas country's 2013 income year to the overseas country's taxation authority was required with the assessment issuing to you. You have provided a copy of a document entitled Employees Income Tax Certificate for the overseas country for the overseas country's 2013 income year which shows a retirement lump sum withdrawal benefit with an amount of tax withheld. During the 2012-13 income year you received a letter advising you the payment of the termination value in respect of the Fund which included interest less tax withheld. Several weeks later a lump sum payment was made to you from the Fund with an amount of tax withheld in the overseas country. You have reached age 60. Assumptions You could not provide the value of your total benefits in the Fund as at the day before you became an Australian resident. However, you have provided a transfer value of your total benefits as at a specified date. Therefore, in order to determine the lump sum amount as at the day before you became an Australian resident, you have been advised and agree with the following assumptions being made in issuing the Notice of Private Ruling: · by using the total transfer value as at the specified date; and · the total lump sum payment as at a specified date in the 2012-13 income year; · the estimated annual compound rate of growth of transfer value has been calculated to be a particular percentage. By using this rate, your transfer value as at the day before you became a resident is calculated to be a specified amount.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 295-95(2). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subdivision 305-B. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 305-70. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 305-75. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-75(2). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-75(3). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Division 770. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 770-5(1). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 770-10(1). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 960-50. | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 960-50(1). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 960-50(4). | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 995-1(1). | Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 Section 10. | Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 Section 19. | Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 Section 62.

Reasons for decision: Summary: A portion of the benefits you received from the Fund is assessable as 'applicable fund earnings'. The amount calculated as the applicable fund earnings is to be included in your assessable income for the 2012-13 income year. You may be entitled to a foreign income tax offset in respect of part or all of the applicable fund earnings amount that is included in your assessable income for the 2012-13 income year. | Detailed Reasoning - Lump sum payments from foreign superannuation funds: The applicable fund earnings in relation to a lump sum payment from a foreign superannuation fund that is received more than six months after a person has become an Australian resident will be assessable under section 305-70 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). The applicable fund earnings is subject to tax at the person's marginal rate. The remainder of the lump sum payment is not assessable income and is not exempt income. The applicable fund earnings is the amount worked out under either subsection 305-75(2) or (3) of the ITAA 1997. Subsection 305-75(2) applies where the person was an Australian resident at all times during the period to which the lump sum relates. Subsection 305-75(3) applies where the person becomes an Australian resident after the start of the period to which the lump sum relates. Before determining whether an amount is assessable under section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997, it is necessary to ascertain whether the payment is being made from a foreign superannuation fund. If the entity making the payment is not a foreign superannuation fund then section 305-70 will not have any application. | Detailed Reasoning - Foreign superannuation fund: A foreign superannuation fund is defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 as follows: (a) a superannuation fund is a foreign superannuation fund at a time if the fund is not an Australian superannuation fund at that time; and (b) a superannuation fund is a foreign superannuation fund for an income year if the fund is not an Australian superannuation fund for the income year. Subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997 defines Australian superannuation fund as follows: A superannuation fund is an Australian superannuation fund at a time, and for the income year in which that time occurs, if: (a) the fund was established in Australia, or any asset of the fund is situated in Australia at that time; and (b) at that time, the central management and control of the fund is ordinarily in Australia; and (c) at that time either the fund had no member covered by subsection (3) (an active member ) or at least 50% of: (i) the total market value of the fund's assets attributable to superannuation interests held by active members; or (ii) the sum of the amounts that would be payable to or in respect of active members if they voluntarily ceased to be members; is attributable to superannuation interests held by active members who are Australian residents. Accordingly, the definitions of a 'foreign superannuation fund' and 'Australian superannuation fund' both incorporate the requirement of being a 'superannuation fund'. The effect of these definitions is that if the Fund is not a 'superannuation fund', it will not be an Australian superannuation fund or a foreign superannuation fund. Nor can the amount paid to you be a 'superannuation lump sum' and subdivision 305-B of the ITAA 1997 will not apply. Therefore, we are first required to determine if the Fund is a superannuation fund under the ITAA 1997. | Detailed Reasoning - Superannuation fund: 'Superannuation fund' is defined in subsection 995-1 (1) of the ITAA 1997 as having the meaning given by section 10 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA). Subsection 10(1) of the SISA provides that: superannuation fund means: (a) a fund that: (i) is an indefinitely continuing fund; and (ii) is a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund; or (b) a public sector superannuation scheme. | Detailed Reasoning - Provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund: The High Court examined both the terms superannuation fund and fund in Scott v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth (No. 2) (1966) 10 AITR 290; (1966) 40 ALJR 265; (1966) 14 ATD 333 (Scott). In that case, Justice Windeyer stated: …I have come to the conclusion that there is no essential single attribute of a superannuation fund established for the benefit of employees except that it must be a fund bona fide devoted as its sole purpose to providing for employees who are participants money benefits (or benefits having a monetary value) upon their reaching a prescribed age. In this connexion "fund", I take it, ordinarily means money (or investments) set aside and invested, the surplus income therefrom being capitalised. I do not put this forward as a definition, but rather as a general description. The issue of what constitutes a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund was discussed by the Full Bench of the High Court in Mahony v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1967) 41 ALJR 232; (1967) 14 ATD 519 ( Mahony ). In that case, Justice Kitto held that a fund had to exclusively be a 'provident, benefit or superannuation fund' and that 'connoted a purpose narrower than the purpose of conferring benefits in a completely general sense…". This narrower purpose meant that the benefits had to be 'characterised by some specific future purpose' such as the example given by Justice Kitto of a funeral benefit. Furthermore, Justice Kitto's judgement indicated that a fund does not satisfy any of the three provisions, that is, 'provident, benefit or superannuation fund', if there exist provisions for the payment of benefits 'for any other reason whatsoever'. In other words, though a fund may contain provisions for retirement purposes, it could not be accepted as a superannuation fund if it contained provisions that benefits could be paid in circumstances other than those relating to retirement. In section 62 of the SISA, a regulated superannuation fund must be 'maintained solely' for the 'core purposes' of providing benefits to a member when the events occur: · on or after retirement from gainful employment; or · attaining a prescribed age; and · on the member's death. (this may require the benefits being passed on to a member's dependants or legal representative). Notwithstanding the SISA applies only to 'regulated superannuation funds' (as defined in section 19 of the SISA), and foreign superannuation funds do not qualify as regulated superannuation funds as they are established and operate outside Australia, the Commissioner views the SISA (and its attendant regulations) as providing guidance as to what 'benefit' or 'specific future purpose' a superannuation fund should provide. In view of the legislation and the decisions made in Scott and Mahony , the Commissioner's view is that for a fund to be classified as a superannuation fund, it must exclusively provide a narrow range of benefits that are characterised by some specific future purpose. That is, the payment of superannuation benefits upon retirement, invalidity or death of the individual or as specified under the SISA. Therefore, in order for the lump sum payment from the Fund to be considered a payment from a foreign superannuation fund as defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997, it must also satisfy the requirements set out in subsection 295-95(2). This means that it should not be an Australian superannuation fund as defined in that subsection but must be a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund as discussed above. | Detailed Reasoning - The purpose of the Fund: It is evident that the payer of the lump sum payment in respect of the Fund is established outside of Australia. Similarly, the central management and control is outside of Australia. Therefore the Fund established in the overseas country is not an Australian superannuation fund as defined in subsection 295-95 (2) of the ITAA 1997. The terms and conditions of the Fund states that 'retirement' takes place on the selected retirement date or any date from which the member elects to start receiving benefits subject to the provision that payment of benefits cannot commence before attainment of age 55. Furthermore, as a result of legislative changes made in the overseas country several years ago, the rules of the Fund were amended such that if a person has formally emigrated from the overseas country the full value of the policy less tax, could be remitted overseas. Therefore, on the basis of the information provided, the Commissioner considers the lump sum payment you received from the Fund is from a foreign superannuation fund as defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997. | Detailed Reasoning - Applicable fund earnings: You became a resident of Australia for tax purposes a number of years ago and received, that is, became entitled to, the lump sum payment in respect of the Fund in the 2012-13 income year. As this was more than six months after you became an Australian resident, section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997 applies to include the 'applicable fund earnings' in your assessable income. The 'applicable fund earnings' are worked out under section 305-75 of the ITAA 1997. As mentioned earlier, subsection 305-75 (3) applies where the person becomes an Australian resident after the start of the period to which the lump sum relates. Subsection 305-75 (3) of the ITAA 1997 states: If you become an Australian resident after the start of the period to which the lump sum relates, the amount of your applicable fund earnings is the amount (not less than zero) worked out as follows: (a) work out the total of the following amounts: (i) The amount in the fund that was vested in you just before the day (the start day ) you first became an Australian resident during the period; (ii) the part of the payment that is attributable to contributions to the fund made by or in respect of you during the remainder of the period; (iii) the part of the payment (if any) that is attributable to amounts transferred into the fund from any other foreign superannuation fund during the period; (b) subtract that total amount from the amount in the fund that was vested in you when the lump sum was paid (before any deduction for foreign tax); (c) multiply the resulting amount by the proportion of the total days during the period when you were an Australian resident; (d) add the total of all previously exempt fund earnings (if any) covered by subsections (5) and (6). In short, you are assessed only on the income earned (the accretion) in respect of the Fund less any contributions made since you became a resident of Australia. Further, any amounts representative of earnings during periods of non-residency, and transfers into the paying fund do not form part of the taxable amount when the overseas benefit is paid. | Detailed Reasoning - Foreign currency conversion: Subsection 960-50 (1) of the ITAA 1997 states that an amount in a foreign currency is to be translated into Australian dollars. The applicable fund earnings is the result of a calculation from two other amounts and subsection 960-50(4) states when applying section 960-50 to amounts that are elements in the calculation of another amount you need to: (a) first, translate any amounts that are elements in the calculation of other amounts (except special accrual amounts); and (b) then, calculate the other amounts. | Detailed Reasoning - Amounts to be used in calculation: You could not provide the value of your total benefits in the Fund as at the day before you became a resident of Australian. In order to determine the vested amount as at the day before you became an Australian resident, it is proposed to use information shown in the documentation you have provided as follows: · the total transfer value as at a specified date, and · the total lump sum payment as at a specified date during the 2012-13 income year. Based on the above information we have estimated the annual compound rate of growth of transfer value to be a specified percentage. By using this rate, your total vested amount in the Fund as at the day before you became an Australian resident has been calculated. You have agreed to the estimated value calculated as the amount of your benefits on the day before you became a resident of Australia and is converted into Australian dollars (AUD). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website provides a historical list of daily, average monthly and average yearly exchange rates in respect of various foreign currencies, at www.ato.gov.au . Alternatively, they may be obtained by calling our information helpline on 13 10 20. However, the daily and monthly exchange rates are listed for the 2003-04 income year onwards. There is no daily or monthly exchange rates listed between the overseas currency and AUD for the day before you became an Australian resident. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) also publishes historical data in respect of both daily and monthly exchange rates. However, the historical data for daily rates only go back to December 1983 and, although the monthly exchange rates go back to July 1969, the overseas currency is not one of the currencies included in these historical daily or monthly rates. An exhaustive search of the internet did provide one site where it was possible to get an exchange rate for the overseas currency in AUD. Using that website, the exchange rate given for the overseas currency to AUD on the day before your residency date was obtained. In light of the lack of evidence of any other credible exchange rate for that date, the ATO is prepared to accept this exchange rate and for consistency, use the exchange rate given on that website for the overseas currency to AUD on the date of the payment. Using that daily exchange rate on the day before your residency date the estimated value on that date has been converted to Australian dollars. No amounts were transferred into the foreign fund from other foreign superannuation funds after you became a resident of Australia. The amount you received in the 2012-13 income year is converted into AUD at the exchange rate that applied on that day. The Commissioner's view is that 'the period' for the purposes of paragraph 305-75(3)(c) of the ITAA 1997 commences on the day on which the person first became an Australian resident and ceases on the day the lump sum is paid. In your case, you were a resident for the whole of that period. Therefore, the Australian resident days and the total days are the same. There are no previously exempt fund earnings in relation to the lump sum. Calculation of the assessable amount of the payment from the foreign superannuation fund In accordance with 305-75 (3) of the ITAA 1997 the amounts determined at sub-paragraphs 305-75(3)(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) are added. This total is then subtracted from the amount determined under paragraph 305-75(3)(b) of the ITAA 1997. This figure is multiplied by the proportion of the total days determined under paragraph 305-75(3)(c) of the ITAA 1997. To this figure we add the amounts determined under paragraph 305-75(3)(d) of the ITAA 1997. The above calculation, in accordance with subsection 305-75(3) of the ITAA 1997, is the assessable applicable fund earnings relating to your benefits in the overseas fund. This amount is to be included in your assessable income for the 2012-13 income year. | Detailed Reasoning - Foreign income tax offset: Subsection 770-10(1) of the ITAA 1997 provides the basic entitlement rule for a foreign income tax offset (FITO) and states: You are entitled to a tax offset for an income year for foreign income tax. An amount of foreign income tax counts towards the tax offset for the year if you paid it in respect of an amount that is all or part of an amount included in your assessable income for the year. Subsection 770-10(1) of the ITAA 1997 uses the phrase 'in respect of' to link the foreign income tax with an amount included in the taxpayer's assessable income. The phrase 'in respect of' was considered in the case Workers' Compensation Board of Queensland v. Technical Products Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 642; (1988) 81 ALR 260; [1988] HCA 49. In a joint judgement Justices Deane, Dawson and Toohey said the following about this phrase: The phrase gathers meaning from the context in which it appears and it is that context which will determine the matters to which it extends. Subsection 770-5(1) of the ITAA 1997 provides relevant context by explaining the object of Division 770 as follows: The object of this Division is to relieve double taxation where: (a) you have paid foreign tax on amounts included in your assessable income; and (b) you would, apart from this Division, pay Australian tax on the same amounts. The references in the objects provision to relieving 'double taxation' and 'amounts included in your assessable income' demonstrate that, where a taxpayer pays foreign tax on the whole of a lump sum but only a portion of that lump sum is assessable in Australia, the purpose of Division 770 is to only provide a FITO for the portion of the gain that is included in assessable income and thus subject to taxation in both Australia and the foreign country (that is, double taxation). This can be described as an 'apportionment approach' to the allowance of a FITO. Such an approach is also consistent with the approach explained in Note 2 to subsection 770-10(1) of the ITAA 1997 which states: If the foreign income tax has been paid on an amount that is part non-assessable non-exempt income and part assessable income for you for the income year, only a proportionate share of the foreign income tax (the share that corresponds to the part that is assessable income) will count towards the tax offset (excluding the operation of subsection (2)). While Note 2 is non-operative material, it is relevant context as it is provided to help understand provisions (see sections 2-35 and 2-45 of the ITAA 1997). Accordingly, Note 2 is further contextual support for the view that the words used in subsection 770-10(1) were intended to require apportionment of the foreign income tax paid when only part of an amount that is subject to foreign income tax is included in Australian assessable income. The FITO provisions in the ITAA 1997 were introduced by the Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007. Paragraph 1.18 of the Explanatory Memorandum (EM) accompanying the Bill summarises the new law, in part, as follows: Taxpayers will be entitled to a non-refundable tax offset for foreign income tax paid on an amount included in assessable income (a 'double-taxed amount'). This offset effectively reduces the potential Australian tax that would be payable on double-taxed amounts. This statement also confirms that a foreign income tax offset will only be allowed on an amount that is included in assessable income in Australia and subject to double taxation. The EM also makes many other references to a foreign income tax offset being limited to amounts included in assessable income and subject to double taxation. The portion of foreign tax available for credit for each policy will be calculated as follows: Foreign tax paid X amount of lump sum in Australian assessable income Amount of lump sum