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

Ruling: Q1: Will any part of the benefit to be transferred from an overseas pension fund to a complying Australian superannuation fund be assessable as applicable fund earnings under section 305-70 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997)? | A1: Yes. | Q2: Is your client able 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? | A2: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: Prior to the 2014-15 income year your client became a permanent resident of Australia. Your client holds an interest in an overseas pension scheme (the Pension Scheme) which is a pension scheme established and controlled in an overseas country. You have agreed to the value of the Pension Scheme as at the day before your client became a permanent resident of Australia. Your client cannot access the benefits in the Pension Scheme other than at retirement in the overseas country. There have been no contributions to the Pension Scheme since your client migrated to Australia. You have provided a value of your client's benefits on a particular date during the 2013-14 income year. Your client is intending to transfer their entire benefit in the Pension Scheme to a complying Australian Superannuation 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 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 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 lump sum payment to be transferred from the Pension Scheme will be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in your client's tax return for the income year in which the transfer is made. As your client will no longer have an interest in the fund after the transfer, they will be eligible to make an election to have the applicable fund earnings treated as assessable income of the Australian superannuation 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, 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 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 - 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. In this case, the lump sum benefit will be transferred from a Pension Scheme established in an overseas country and is not an Australian superannuation fund as defined in subsection 295-95(2) of the ITAA 1997. Based on the information provided, the Commissioner considers that the Pension Scheme satisfies the definition of a foreign superannuation fund under subsection 995-1(1). | Detailed Reasoning - 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 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 Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act), 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 SIS Act applies only to 'regulated superannuation funds' (as defined in section 19 of the SIS Act), and foreign superannuation funds do not qualify as regulated superannuation funds as they are established and operate outside Australia, the Commissioner views the SIS Act (and the SIS 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 SIS Act. Therefore, in order for the lump sum payment from the overseas 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. The documentation provided indicates your client's benefits in the Pension Scheme are only payable upon retirement and the fund would meet the definition of a superannuation fund. In addition, it is clear that the Pension Scheme which will make the lump sum payment to your client was established outside of Australia with its central management and control outside of Australia. Therefore, on the basis of the information provided, the Commissioner considers the lump sum payment received was from a foreign superannuation fund as defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997. | Detailed Reasoning - Applicable fund earnings: Your client became a resident of Australia for tax purposes prior to the commencement of the 2014-15 income year and is intending to transfer their remaining interest in the Pension Scheme. As this will be more than six months after they became an Australian resident, section 305-70 of the ITAA 1997 applies to include the 'applicable fund earnings' in his assessable income. The 'applicable fund earnings' are worked out under section 305-75 of the ITAA 1997. In your client's case, subsection 305-75(3) applies as they became 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 your client is assessed only on the income they earned on their benefits in the Pension Scheme 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. For the purposes of section 305-70, the 'applicable fund earnings' should be calculated by: • translating the lump sum payment received from the overseas superannuation fund at the exchange rate applicable on the day of receipt to Australian dollars (item 11 of the table to subsection 960-50(6) of the ITAA 1997); and • deducting from this amount the Australian dollar equivalent of the payment vested in the overseas superannuation fund at the exchange rate applicable on the day immediately before the residency date (item 11A of the table to subsection 960-50(6)). | Detailed Reasoning - Amounts to be used in calculation: Your client is yet to transfer their benefits from the Pension Scheme. Until that transfer takes place, we are unable to advise you of the actual figure to be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in your client's tax return for the income year in which the transfer is made. However, we will show you how the applicable fund earnings are calculated by using as an example the transfer value of your client's benefits as at a date you provided. Please note that should the relevant amounts change then the applicable fund earnings will need to be recalculated. The value of your client's benefits in the Pension Scheme on the day before your client became a resident for tax purposes is converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on that day. From the facts provided no contributions have been made to the Pension Scheme since your client migrated to Australia. Your client's benefits on the example transfer date which you provided in the Pension Scheme is the amount vested in your client if a transfer was made to a complying Australian superannuation fund on that date. This amount is converted into Australian dollars at the exchange rate that applied on that day. '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. Your client was a resident for the whole of this period. Therefore, the Australian resident days and the total days are the same, and so the proportion to be used in the calculation is 1. There are no previously exempt fund earnings in relation to the lump sum. Accordingly, subsection 305-75(3) of the ITAA 1997 is applied to your circumstances in calculating the applicable fund earnings. | Detailed Reasoning - Calculation of the assessable amount of the payment from the Pension Scheme: In accordance with subsection 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). 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). As the result of this calculation is positive, a portion of the lump sum payment transferred from the Pension Scheme to your client's Australian superannuation fund would be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in your client's tax return for the 2013-14 income year if the transfer had taken place. | Detailed Reasoning - Election: A taxpayer who transfers their overseas superannuation lump sum 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 part of the payment 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 under subsection 305-80(1) of the ITAA 1997. As your client will no longer have an interest in Pension Scheme after the transfer is made, and the other conditions are satisfied, your client will be eligible to make the election. | Detailed Reasoning - Conclusion: A portion of the lump sum payment your client intends to transfer from the Pension Scheme to a complying Australian superannuation fund will be included as assessable 'applicable fund earnings' in your client's tax return for the 2014-15 income year, if the transfer is made during that financial year. The exact amount will be dependent upon the value of the lump sum payment received and the date that it is made. As your client will no longer have an interest in the Pension Scheme after the transfer is made, and the other conditions are satisfied, they are eligible to make an election to have the applicable fund earnings treated as assessable income of his Australian superannuation fund.