Private ruling: International issues - foreign entities - foreign superannuation funds
Date of advice: 31 May 2019
Published: August 2019
Ruling period: Year ended 30 June 20XX
Date scheme commenced: 1 July 20XX

Ruling: Q1: Is the entity excluded from liability to withholding tax on interest, dividend and non-share dividend income under paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)? | A1: Yes. | Q2: Is interest, dividend and non-share dividend income derived by the entity not assessable and not exempt income of the entity under section 128D of the ITAA 1936? | A2: Yes.

Relevant facts and circumstances: This ruling is based on the facts stated in the description of the scheme that is set out below. If your circumstances are materially different from these facts, this ruling has no effect and you cannot rely on it. The fact sheet has more information about relying on your private ruling. 1. The entity is established by national level regulations ('the regulations') in an overseas jurisdiction ('the foreign country'). 2. The entity provides for the payment of benefits to employees and former employees of local level agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions. 3. The entity provides retirement benefits, ill-health retirement benefits and death grants to eligible members. 4. The circumstances of when a member can access benefits are outlines in the regulations. 5. The entity is established, and maintained, only to provide benefits to non-residents. 6. The entity has its registered office in the foreign country and is not a resident of Australia for tax purposes. 7. The entity's central management and control is carried on outside Australia by entities none of whom are an Australian resident. 8. The entity will receive interest, dividend and non-share dividend income from companies who are residents of Australia for tax purposes. 9. An amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity has not been and cannot be deducted under the ITAA 1997. 10. A tax offset has not been allowed nor would be allowable for any amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity.

Relevant legislative provisions: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 subsection 6(1) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 paragraph 128A(3) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 paragraph 128B(3)(jb) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 section 128D | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 118-520 | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 295-95(2) | Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 subsection 995-1(1) Question 1 | Is the entity excluded from liability to withholding tax on interest, dividend and non-share dividend income under paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936? | Summary | As the entity is a 'provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund' and has been established and maintained only to provide benefits for individuals, the entity is a 'superannuation fund for foreign residents.' It follows that the entity is entitled to an exclusion from liability to withholding tax on its interest and/or dividend income derived from Australia under paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of ITAA 1936. | Detailed reasoning | Section 128B of the ITAA 1936 imposes liability to withholding tax on income derived by a non-resident that consists of dividend income (subsection 128B(1) of the ITAA 1936), interest income (subsection 128B(2) of the ITAA 1936) as well as other income prescribed in that section. | Subsection 128B(3) of the ITAA 1936 notes that section 128B of the ITAA 1936 will not apply to prescribed categories of income. Relevantly, paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936 provides: | (jb) income that: | (i) is derived by a non-resident that is a superannuation fund for foreign residents; and | (ii) consists of interest, or consists of dividends or non-share dividends paid by a company that is a resident; and | (iii) is exempt from income tax in the country in which the non-resident resides; | The requirements for the exclusion from withholding tax under paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936 are considered below. | The entity is a non-resident | The entity is a resident of the foreign country. The entity is not a resident of Australia for tax purposes. Therefore, the entity will satisfy this requirement. | The entity is a superannuation fund for foreign residents | Superannuation fund for foreign residents is a defined term in the ITAA 1936. Section 6 of the ITAA 1936 states: | superannuation fund for foreign residents has the meaning given by subsection 995-1(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 . Subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997 sets out the following: | superannuation fund for foreign residents has the meaning given by section 118-520. | Section 118-520 of the ITAA 1997 states the following: | (1) A fund is a superannuation fund for foreign residents at a time if: | (b) at that time, it is: | (i) an indefinitely continuing fund; and | (ii) a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund; and | (c) it was established in a foreign country; and | (d) it was established, and is maintained at that time, only to provide benefits for individuals who are not Australian residents; and | (e) at that time, its central management and control is carried on outside Australia by entities none of whom is an Australian resident. | (2) However, a fund is not a superannuation fund for foreign residents if: | (a) an amount paid to the fund or set aside for the fund has been or can be deducted under this Act; (b) a tax offset has been allowed or is allowable for such an amount. | Consequently, for the entity to be considered a superannuation fund for foreign residents for the purposes of paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936, it must be established that: | · the entity is an indefinitely continuing fund | · the entity is a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund | · the entity was established in a foreign country | · the entity was established and maintained only to provide benefits for individuals who are not Australian residents | · The central management and control of the entity is carried on outside of Australia by entities none of whom are Australian residents | · No amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity has been or can be deducted under the ITAA 1997, and | · No tax offsets have been allowed or would be allowable for an amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity. | The entity is an indefinitely continuing fund | The legislation provides no guidance on the meaning of 'indefinitely continuing'. It is not a technical legal expression, and the ordinary meanings of indefinitely and continuing involve little ambiguity or controversy. | The Macquarie Dictionary , [Online], viewed 17 April 2019, www.macquariedictionary.com.au defines 'indefinitely' and 'continuing' as follows: | Indefinite: | 1. not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited: an indefinite number. | 2. not clearly defined or determined; not precise. | · indefinitely, adverb | Continue: (verb (Continued, continuing)) | 1. to go forwards or onwards in any course or action; keep on. | 2. to go on after suspension or interruption. | 3. to last or endure. | 4. to remain in a place; abide; stay. | 5. to remain in a particular state or capacity | The regulations state that the entity must maintain a pension fund. | Therefore, the entity is and will continue to be an indefinitely continuing fund. | The entity is a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund | In Scott v. FCT (No. 2) (1966) 40 ALJR 265; 14 ATD 333, Windeyer J stated (40 ALJR 265 at 278; 14 ATD 333 at 351): | There is no definition in the Act of a superannuation fund. The meaning of the term must therefore depend upon ordinary usage, the attributes of a thing thus denominated being those which things ordinarily so described have...the connotation of the phrase in the Act must be determined by one's general knowledge of the extent of the denotation of the phrase in common parlance...I have come to the conclusion that there is no 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 Mahony v Commissioner of Taxation (1967) 41 ALJR 232; (1967) 14 ATD 519, Kitto J stated: | There was no definition in the Act of 'a provident, benefit or superannuation fund', and the meaning of the several expressions must therefore be arrived at in light of ordinary usage and with only one piece of assistance to be gathered from the immediate context. Since a fund, if its income was to be exempt under the provision, was separately required to be one established for the benefit of employees, each of the three descriptive words 'provident', 'benefit' and 'superannuation' must be taken to have connoted a purpose narrower than the purpose of conferring benefits, in a completely general sense, upon employees. Precise definition may be difficult, and in any case is unnecessary for present purposes. All that need be recognized is that just as 'provident' and 'superannuation' both referred to the provision of a particular kind of 'benefit' - in the one case a provision against contemplated contingencies, and in the other case a provision, to arise on an employee's retirement or death or other cessation of employment, of a subvention for him or his estate or persons towards whom he may have stood in some kind of relation commonly giving rise to a legal or moral responsibility - so 'benefit' must have meant a benefit, not in a general sense, but characterized by some specific future purpose. A funeral benefit is a familiar example. In Cameron Brae Pty Limited v FCT (2007) 161 FCR 468; [2007] FCAFC 135; 2007 ATC 4936, the Full Federal Court held that the relevant fund was a superannuation fund for the purposes of former section 82AAE of the ITAA 1936. Jessup J at [106] stated: | In answering the question whether the fund was a "superannuation fund" as the term is ordinarily understood, it is, in my view, critical that payments could not have been made out of the fund (other than by way of administration expenses, taxation, etc) save to members of the relevant discretionary class, and save in circumstances which fell within the ordinary understanding of superannuation. A proper characterisation of the fund should, in my view, depend upon the purposes for which the assets and moneys of the fund might have been used rather than upon the quality of the rights of individual members of the fund. If the fund could have been used only to achieve what might be described as a superannuation purpose, I would describe the fund as a "superannuation fund". That a particular member of a discretionary class might not, ultimately, have received any payment, was not, in my view, disqualifying. | ATO Interpretative Decision ATO ID 2009/67 Income Tax: Superannuation fund for foreign residents (ATO ID 2009/67) refers to these authorities to provide guidance on the meaning of the phrase "provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund": | None of the four descriptors 'provident', 'benefit', 'superannuation' or 'retirement fund' in subparagraph (a)(ii) of the definition of 'superannuation fund for foreign residents' in section 118-520 of the ITAA 1997 are defined. The terms have, however, been the subject of judicial consideration. | The courts have held that for a fund to be a 'provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund', the fund's sole purpose must be to provide superannuation benefits, that is, benefits to a member upon the member reaching a prescribed age or upon their retirement, death or other cessation of employment ( Scott v. FC of T (No 2) (1966) 14 ATD 333; (1966) 10 AITR 290, per Windeyer J; Mahony v. FC of T (1967) 14 ATD 519, per Kitto J; Walstern Pty Ltd v. Commissioner of Taxation (2003) 138 FCR 1; 2003 ATC 5076; (2003) 54 ATR 423, per Hill J and Cameron Brae Pty Ltd v. Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2007) 161 FCR 468; 2007 ATC 4936; (2007) 67 ATR 178, per Stone and Allsop JJ). | Having regard to the terms of the deed of the Plan, it is considered that the Plan is a 'provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund' as that phrase has been interpreted by the relevant authorities. The sole purpose of the Plan is the provision of benefits to, or in respect of, participating employees who: | · cease their employment upon or after reaching retirement age (age 60) | · cease their employment after the satisfaction of certain service requirements | · cease their employment because of death or total and permanent disability, or | · reach age 70, whether or not they have ceased employment. | Therefore, the Plan satisfies subparagraph (a)(ii) of the definition of 'superannuation fund for foreign residents' in section 118-520 of the ITAA 1997. | The above establish that for a fund to qualify as a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund, it must have the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits or benefits in other allowable contemplated contingencies (such as death, disability or serious illness). If a fund provides benefits in other circumstances, it will not satisfy the requirement to be a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund. | The purpose of the entity is to provide retirement, death, disability and related benefits for members of the entity. The circumstances in which a member of the entity can receive benefits are provided for in the regulations. | Benefits may become available to members of the entity in circumstances of voluntary retirement, early/partial retirement, ill-health retirement and death. | The payment of the above benefits is allowed upon members reaching the specified retirement age, service requirements and other requirements. | The Commissioner accepts that the alternate circumstances of access in this case align to the contemplated contingencies of a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund. | Accordingly, the entity is considered a provident, benefit, superannuation or retirement fund. | The entity was established and maintained only to provide benefits for individuals who are not Australian residents | The entity was established to provide benefits to people listed in the regulations. The listed persons are highly unlikely to be Australian residents. | It is considered that the possibility of a very small number of members being returned residents or becoming Australian residents after ceasing eligible employment is incidental and should not be taken to conclude that the entity, in this case, has not been established and is not maintained only to provide benefits for non-residents, based on the rules and operation of the entity. | Therefore, the entity will satisfy this requirement. | The entity's central management and control is carried on outside Australia by entities none of whom is an Australian resident | Paragraphs 20 and 21 of Taxation Ruling TR 2008/9 Income tax: meaning of 'Australian superannuation fund' in subsection 295-95(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (TR 2008/9) states in respect of the central management and control (CM&C) of a superannuation fund: 20. The CM&C of a superannuation fund involves a focus on the who, when and where of the strategic and high level decision making processes and activities of the fund. In the context of the operations of a superannuation fund, the strategic and high level decision making processes includes: | · formulating the investment strategy for the fund; | · reviewing and updating or varying the fund's investment strategy as well as monitoring and reviewing the performance of the fund's investments; | · if the fund has reserves - the formulation of a strategy for their prudential management; and | · determining how the assets of the fund are to be used to fund member benefits. | 21. The other principal areas of operation of a superannuation fund that form part of the day-to-day or operational side of the fund's activities will not constitute CM&C. These activities do not form part of the CM&C of the fund because they are not of a strategic or high level nature. Rather, these activities are of a more formalistic or administrative nature. Examples of such activities include the acceptance of contributions that are made on a regular basis, the actual investment of the fund's assets, the fulfilment of administrative duties and the preservation, payment and portability of benefits. | Furthermore, paragraphs 10 and 11 of Taxation Ruling TR 2018/5 Income tax: Central Management and Control test of residency (TR 2018/5) state: | 10. Central management and control refers to the control and direction of a company's operations. It does not refer to a physical location in which the control and direction of a company is located, and may ultimately be exercised in more than one location. | 11. The key element in the control and direction of a company's operations is the making of high-level decisions that set the company's general policies, and determine the direction of its operations and the type of transactions it will enter. | The entity has its registered office in the foreign country and the day-to-day administration, decision making and management of the entity is undertaken by a body in the foreign country. | Based on the above, it is reasonable to conclude that the central management and control of the entity occurs outside Australia by entities that are not Australian residents. | Therefore, the entity will satisfy this requirement. | No amount paid to the fund or set aside for the fund has been or can be deducted under the ITAA 1997 and no tax offset has been allowed or is allowable for such an amount | An amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity has not been and cannot be deducted under the ITAA 1997. A tax offset has not been allowed nor would be allowable for any amount paid to the entity or set aside for the entity. | Therefore, the entity will satisfy this requirement. | Consists of interest and/or dividends and/or non-share dividends paid by a company that is a resident | Paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936 will only apply to interest, or to dividends and non-share dividends paid by Australian resident companies. | Subsection 128A(3) of the ITAA 1936 is also relevant. It states: | For the purposes of this Division, a beneficiary who is presently entitled to a dividend, to interest or to a royalty included in the income of a trust estate shall be deemed to have derived income consisting of that dividend, interest or royalty at the time when he or she became so entitled. | The operation of subsection 128A(3) of the ITAA 1936 will enable interest, dividend and non-share dividend income paid by an Australian resident company and derived by a trust estate to retain its character in the hands of a beneficiary of that trust estate. Further, the beneficiary will be deemed to have derived the relevant income for the purposes of paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936 at the point in time that the beneficiary becomes presently entitled to that income. | The entity will receive interest income, along with dividend and non-share dividend income from companies who are residents of Australia for tax purposes. | Therefore, the entity will satisfy this requirement. | Is exempt from income tax in the country in which the non-resident resides | The entity is exempt from income tax in the foreign country. Therefore, this requirement is satisfied. | Conclusion | As all the requirements of paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936 are satisfied, the entity will be excluded from liability to withholding tax on interest, dividend and non-share dividend income. | Question 2 | Is interest, dividend and non-share dividend income derived by the entity not assessable and not exempt income of the entity under section 128D of the ITAA 1936? | Summary | As the entity is entitled to the exclusion from liability to withholding tax under paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of ITAA 1936, section 128D applies to make the interest or dividend not assessable and not exempt income of the entity. | Detailed reasoning | Section 128D of the ITAA 1936 provides: | Income other than income to which section 128B applies by virtue of subsection (2A), (2C) or (9C) of that section upon which withholding tax is payable, or upon which withholding tax would, but for paragraph 128B(3)(ga), (jb) or (m), section 128F, section 128FA or section 128GB, be payable, is not assessable income and is not exempt income of a person. | Section 128D of the ITAA 1936 provides that, inter alia , where withholding tax would be payable but for the operation of paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936, the income is not assessable income and is not exempt income. | The interest, dividend and non-share dividend income derived by the entity from its Australian investments will not be assessable income or exempt income under section 128D of the ITAA 1936 because the aforementioned income: | · would have been subject to withholding tax, and | · is not exempt from withholding tax under any provision other than paragraph 128B(3)(jb) of the ITAA 1936. | Conclusion | The interest, dividend and non-share dividend income derived in Australia by the entity is not assessable and not exempt income of the entity under section 128D of the ITAA1936.