Private ruling: Lump sum payment from a foreign super fund.
Published: May 2015
Ruling period: Year ending 30 June 2015
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 2014

Ruling: Q1: Is any part of a lump payment received from a foreign pension fund assessable as applicable fund earnings as worked out under section 305-75 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)? | A1: Yes

Relevant facts and circumstances: The Taxpayer migrated to Australia and became a permanent resident for tax purposes a number of years ago. The Taxpayer held an interest in an overseas pension scheme (the Overseas Fund). There have not been contributions to the Overseas Fund since the Taxpayer became a resident of Australia. The Taxpayer cannot access their benefits in the Overseas Fund other than at retirement. During the 2014-15 income year, the Taxpayer's benefits in the Overseas Fund were transferred to a complying superannuation fund in Australia (the Australian Fund). The Taxpayer no longer has any interest in the Overseas Fund.

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 Section 305-75 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 305-80(1) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 305-80(2) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Section 960-50 | 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 lump sum payment transferred from the Overseas Fund should be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in the Taxpayer's tax return for the 2014-15 income year. As the Taxpayer no longer has an interest in the Overseas Fund, they are eligible to make an election to have these 'applicable fund earnings' treated as assessable income of the Australian Fund. | Detailed Reasoning - Lump sum payments transferred 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, is assessable under section 305-70 of the 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 subsection 305-75(3) 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 - The meaning of '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 (the 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 - The meaning of 'provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund': The High Court examined both the terms superannuation fund and fund in Scott v . Federal Commissioner of Taxation (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. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (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 judgment 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 the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 (SISR)) 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. It is evident that the Overseas Fund was established outside of Australia and that the central management and control of the fund is ordinarily outside of Australia. Based on that fact and the fact that you advised that the Taxpayer could not access their benefits in the Overseas Fund other than on retirement, the Commissioner considers that the Overseas Fund is a foreign superannuation fund 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 some time ago when they migrated to Australia. The Taxpayer received the lump sum payment in respect of their entitlement in the Overseas Fund 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' in their assessable income. The 'applicable fund earnings' are worked out under subsection 305-75(3) of the ITAA 1997 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 income 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 the Taxpayer is assessed only on the income they earned on the benefits in the Overseas Fund less any contributions they made since they became a resident of Australia. Any earnings made 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 (A$). The Commissioner's view on the application of this subsection to section 305-75 is expressed in ATO ID 2015/7. It states that, for the purposes of section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997, the 'applicable fund earnings' amount should be calculated by deducting the Australian dollar equivalent of the amount vested in the Foreign Fund just before the day the Taxpayer first became an Australian resident, from the amount received from the Foreign Fund. The amount should be translated using the exchange rate applicable on the day of receipt of the relevant lump sum. | Detailed Reasoning - Amounts to be used in calculation: The Taxpayer's total vested amount in the Overseas Fund on the day before the Taxpayer became an Australian resident is converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on the date that the payment was received. From the facts provided no contributions or transfers were made to the Overseas Fund since the Taxpayer became a resident of Australia. The amount received in the 2014-15 income year is converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on the date the payment was 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 the Taxpayer became an Australian resident to the date the Taxpayer received the payment. The Taxpayer was a resident for the whole of that period. There are no previously exempt fund earnings in relation to the lump sum. | Detailed Reasoning - Calculation of the assessable amount of the payment from the Overseas 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) 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 result of the above calculation is a positive amount which represents the applicable fund earnings. Accordingly, that portion of the lump sum payment transferred from the Overseas Fund will be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in the Taxpayer's tax return for the 2014-15 income year. | Detailed Reasoning - Election: A taxpayer who is transferring their overseas superannuation 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 the assessable income of the Australian superannuation fund. As a result, the amount specified in the election notice will be included in the 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 tax 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 Overseas Fund, they are eligible to make the election.