Private ruling: Foreign lump sum payment
Published: April 2015
Ruling period: Income year ending 30 June 2015
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2014

Ruling: Q1: Will any part of lump sum benefits received by the taxpayer from foreign pension funds be assessable as applicable fund earnings under section 305-70 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)? Is the taxpayer entitled to choose under section 305-80 of the ITAA 1997 to include all or part of the applicable fund earnings (if any) in the assessable income of the Australian superannuation fund? | A1: Yes Yes

Relevant facts and circumstances: The Taxpayer is a former foreign resident who became an Australian resident for tax purposes a number of years ago. The Taxpayer held benefits in the Foreign Funds. The trustees of one of the Foreign Funds were not able to provide the value of the Taxpayer's benefits in that fund on the day just before they became a resident of Australia. The Taxpayer cannot access their benefits in the Foreign Funds other than at retirement in the Foreign country. There have been no contributions to the Foreign Funds since the Taxpayer became an Australian resident for tax purposes. The Taxpayer no longer holds any interest in the Foreign Funds. The applicant agreed that an estimated amount would be used as the value of one of the Foreign Funds, on the day just before they became a resident of Australia. During the 2014-15 income year, the Taxpayer received the full amounts of their interests in the Foreign Funds.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 295-95(2) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 305-70 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-70(1) | 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 Subsection 305-75 (5) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-75 (6) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-80(1) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 305-80(2) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Subsection 306-70 | 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) | Income Tax Assessment Regulations 1997 Regulation 960-50.01 | 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: The 'applicable fund earnings' amounts in respect of the lump sum payments made from the Foreign Funds that should be included in the Taxpayer's assessable income in the 2014-15 income year. As the Taxpayer no longer has an interest in the Foreign Schemes, they are eligible to make an election to have all, or part, of these amounts treated as assessable income of the Australian Fund. | Detailed Reasoning - Lump sum payments transferred from foreign superannuation funds: The applicable fund earnings amount 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, is assessable under section 305-70 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). The applicable fund earnings amount 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 was not an Australian resident at all times during the period to which the lump sum relates. An amount is only assessable under section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997 if the entity making the payment is a foreign superannuation fund. | Detailed Reasoning - Meaning of ''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. Thus, a superannuation fund that is established outside of Australia and has its central management and control outside of Australia would qualify as a foreign superannuation fund. The fact that some of its members may be Australian residents would not necessarily alter this. | Detailed Reasoning - Meaning of 'superannuation fund': Subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 defines a superannuation fund as having the same meaning given by section 10 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA). In accordance with subsection 10(1) of the SISA, 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. The High Court examined both the terms ' superannuation fund ' and ' fund ' in Scott v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (No 2) (1966) 40 ALJR 265; (1966) 14 ATD 333; [1966] LB Co's Tax Serv 80; (1966) 10 AITR 290. 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. | Detailed Reasoning - Meaning of 'provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund': 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. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1967) 41 ALJR 232; (1967) 14 ATD 519. 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. 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 the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 ) as providing guidance as to what 'benefit' or 'specific future purpose' a superannuation fund should provide. It is clear that the Foreign Funds were established outside of Australia and their central management and control is outside of Australia. In addition, the Taxpayer's benefits in the Foreign Funds are only payable upon retirement. Therefore, on the basis of the information provided, the Commissioner considers that lump sums transferred from the Foreign Funds to the Australian Fund are payments from foreign superannuation funds as defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997. | Detailed Reasoning - Applicable fund earnings: The Taxpayer became a resident of Australia for tax purposes a number of years ago and their benefits in the Foreign Funds were received during the 2014-15 income year. As this was more than six months after the Taxpayer became an Australian resident for tax purposes, section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997 applies to include the 'applicable fund earnings' amount (if any) in their assessable income in the 2014-15 income year. The 'applicable fund earnings' amount is worked out under section 305-75 of the ITAA 1997. As mentioned earlier, subsection 305-75(3) of the ITAA 1997 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). This means that the Taxpayer is assessed only on the income they earned on the benefits in the Foreign Funds less any contributions the Taxpayer made since they became a resident of Australia. Any earnings made during periods of non-residency, and transfers into the Foreign 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 (A$). The applicable fund earnings is the result of a calculation from two other amounts and subsection 960-50(4) of the ITAA 1997 states that when applying section 960-50 of the ITAA 1997 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. The table in subsection 960-50(6) of the ITAA 1997 sets out the translation rules. Only the following items are relevant to determining the issue in this case: • item 11 which deals with a receipt or payment to which none of the other items apply, and • item 11A which applies to amounts that are neither receipts nor payments and to which none of the other items apply. Item 11 of the table in subsection 960-50(6) of the ITAA 1997 applies to a receipt or payment where none of the other items applies. The payments the Taxpayer received are not included in any of the other items in the table so they will fall within item 11. Under this item, the payment is translated into Australian dollars at the exchange rate applicable at the time of receipt. When the amount in the Foreign Fund that was vested in the Taxpayer just before they became a resident of Australia (subparagraph 305-75(3)(a)(i) of the ITAA 1997) is determined, there is no actual receipt or payment of an amount. All that occurs is a determination of the vested amount expressed in the foreign currency. Regulation 960-50.01 of the Income Tax Assessment Regulations 1997 modifies the table in subsection 960-50(6) of the ITAA 1997 to include item 11A that applies to amounts other than receipts and payments, and for which none of the other items apply. Consequently the vested amount is translated into Australian dollars at an exchange rate that is reasonable having regard to the circumstances. In ATO Interpretative Decision ATO ID 2015/7, the Commissioner considers that, in the circumstances of this case, the exchange rate at which it is reasonable to translate amounts used in the method statements set out in subsections 305-75(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997 into Australian currency is the exchange rate applicable at the time of receipt of the relevant superannuation lump sum. Therefore, for the purposes of section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997, the 'applicable fund earnings' should be calculated by deducting the Australian dollar equivalent of the amount vested in the fund just before the day the Taxpayer first became an Australian resident, from the amount received from the Foreign Fund. Both amounts should be translated using the exchange rate applicable on the day of receipt. | Detailed Reasoning - Amounts to be used in calculation: The Taxpayer's total vested amounts in the Foreign Funds on the day before they became an Australian resident are converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on the date the payments were received. From the facts provided no contributions have been made to the Foreign Funds since the Taxpayer migrated to Australia. The amounts received in the 2014-15 income year are converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on the dates the payments were received. '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 for tax purposes and ceases on the day the lump sum is paid. In the Taxpayer's case, that period would have been from the date they became an Australian resident to the date they received the payment, provided they were a resident for the whole of that period. There are no previously exempt fund earnings in relation to the lump sums. | Detailed Reasoning - Calculation of the assessable amount of the payment from the Foreign Fund: In accordance with subsection 305-75(3) of the ITAA 1997 the amounts determined at subparagraphs 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). This figure is multiplied by the proportion of the total days determined under paragraph 305-75(3)(c). To this figure we add the amounts determined under paragraph 305-75(3)(d). The same method is used to calculate each of the amounts involved in the Foreign Pensions the Taxpayer held. Consequently, the Taxpayer will include a portion of the lump sum payments transferred from the Foreign Schemes to the Australian superannuation fund as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in their return for the 2014-15 income year. | Detailed Reasoning - Election: A taxpayer who is transferring their overseas superannuation benefits directly to an Australian complying superannuation fund more than six months after becoming a resident, may be able to elect under subsection 305-80(2) of the ITAA 1997 to have all or part of the applicable fund earnings treated as assessable income of the Australian superannuation fund. As a result, the amount specified in the election notice will be included as assessable income of the superannuation fund and subject to tax at 15% rather than being included in the taxpayer's assessable income and subject to tax at the taxpayer's marginal rate. To qualify, the taxpayer must, immediately after the relevant payment is made, no longer have an interest in the paying fund (subsection 305-80(1) of the ITAA 1997). As the Taxpayer no longer has an interest in the Foreign Schemes, they are eligible to make an election to have all, or part, of these amounts treated as assessable income of the Australian Fund.