Taxation Ruling TR 2003/14
Date of effect: 1 July 2000



Ruling: Calculation of fees and charges: 20. The mechanisms used in Division 320 to bring fees and charges into the taxable income of life insurance companies ensure equitable taxation treatment across different products and fee structures. 21. Fees and charges are included in taxable income and taxed at the company tax rate by: 22. The broad approach to determine the amount of fees and charges that are included in taxable income as a consequence of the deduction and transfer mechanisms is to: 23. The value placed on policyholder liabilities is a critical determinant of the amount of fees and charges included in taxable income in a period. The deduction allowed for life insurance premiums and the transfer mechanisms that include fees and charges in taxable income in a period depend on this value. To ensure consistency, the basis for determining the value placed on policyholder liabilities is prescribed in Division 320. 24. The method for determining fees and charges depends on whether the policy is: 25. The methodology used relies on established techniques for financial management of life insurance business - in particular actuarial standards. | Policies discharged from the virtual PST: 26. Life insurance companies can segregate assets to support virtual PST liabilities. Virtual PST liabilities are liabilities in respect of virtual PST life insurance policies that are to be discharged out of a life company's virtual PST assets. Virtual PST life insurance policies are, broadly: 27. Fees and charges on virtual PST life insurance policies can be either emerging or defined. Emerging fees must be transferred from the virtual PST within 30 days of the annual valuation (subsection 320-180(1) of the ITAA 1997 or transferred from the virtual PST following a valuation at another time (paragraph 320-195(3)(c)). Defined fees must be transferred from the virtual PST when they are imposed (paragraphs 320-195(3)(a) and (b)). That is, the defined fees must be transferred within a reasonable time having regard to normal business practice. 28. The value of virtual PST liabilities in respect of a particular policy depends on whether the policy is a non-participating policy or a participating policy (section 320-190). 29. If the policy is a non-participating policy, the value of virtual PST liabilities is the current termination value of the policy which is defined in subsection 995-1(1). 30. If the policy is a participating policy, the value of virtual PST liabilities is the value of supporting assets as defined in the Valuation Standard (subsection 995-1(1)) plus retained profits attributable to participating policyholders (paragraph 320-190(2)(a)). This results in all expenses that are attributed to that business being effectively incurred within the virtual PST. This outcome is consistent with common practice for managing and valuing the liabilities for participating business and the need to determine overall profit prior to sharing between policyholders and shareholders. 31. Life insurance companies include the full amount of any premiums received for virtual PST policies in assessable income (paragraph 320-15(a)). Assets (including cash) having a value equal to some or all of those premiums (including any death and disability components) can be transferred to the virtual PST (subsection 320-185(3)). The value of assets representing premiums transferred to the virtual PST is allocated to the virtual PST component of taxable income (paragraph 320-205(3)(b)). 32. A deduction is allowed for the value of assets (including cash), not exceeding the amount of premiums received, that are transferred to the virtual PST less the death and disability component of those premiums (section 320-55). The amount allowed as a deduction is reduced by the death and disability component because the superannuation fund can claim a deduction for this amount (section 279 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)). 33. The death and disability component of the premium is specified in subsection 320-55(3) of the ITAA 1997 to be: 34. The amount allowed as a deduction for life insurance premiums under section 320-55 also reduces the virtual PST component of the complying superannuation class of the life insurance companies taxable income (paragraph 320-205(4)(a)). 35. The transfer mechanisms (sections 320-180 and 320-195) ensure that fees and charges - including those that relate to risk - are taxed at the company tax rate. Any fees and charges transferred from the virtual PST reduce the virtual PST component of the complying superannuation class of taxable income and consequently increase the ordinary class of taxable income. | Policies discharged from the segregated exempt assets: 36. Life insurance companies can also segregate assets to support exempt life insurance policy liabilities (section 320-225). Exempt life insurance policy liabilities are liabilities in respect of exempt life insurance policies that are to be discharged out of segregated exempt assets. These policy liabilities are defined in section 320-245 to mean, broadly: 37. Similar to the virtual PST, fees and charges on exempt life insurance policies can be emerging or defined. Emerging fees must be transferred from the SEA within 30 days of the annual valuation (subsection 320-235(1) or transferred from the SEA following a valuation at another time (paragraph 320-250(2)(c)). Defined fees must be transferred from the SEA when they are imposed (paragraphs 320-250(2)(a) and (b)). That is, the defined fees must be transferred within a reasonable time having regard to normal business practice. Paragraph 5.156 of the Explanatory Memorandum supports this view. 38. The value of exempt life insurance policy liabilities in respect of a particular policy depends on the type of policy (section 320-245): 39. Any fees and charges that are transferred from the SEA under subsection 320-235(1) or subsection 320-250(2) are specifically included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(f) and are taxed at the company tax rate. 40. As the fees and charges relating to exempt life insurance policy liabilities are included in assessable income as a result of the transfer mechanisms and paragraph 320-15(f), a deduction is allowed for the whole amount of any premiums transferred to the SEA (section 320-60). | Death and disability policies (other than participating policies): 41. Premiums received in relation to life insurance policies (other than participating policies) that provide benefits solely on death or disability consist only of fees and risk charges. To ensure these fees are included in assessable income, the full amount of premiums received in relation to these policies is included in assessable income (paragraph 320-15(a)). 42. Consequently, a deduction is not allowed for any part of the premiums received in relation to these policies (section 320-70). | Participating policies (other than policies discharged from the virtual PST or segregated exempt assets): 43. The amount of fees and charges for participating business is only that portion of the profit which returns to the shareholder after policyholder entitlements and expenses have been met. To attribute all profit to the shareholder would not properly reflect the way in which this business is managed. 44. The Life Insurance Act has robust mechanisms to identify and track profits from participating business and allocate that profit between policyholders and shareholders. 45. Division 320 applies similar mechanisms for the purposes of determining the appropriate tax treatment. [F4] Consequently, the whole of the premium (net of reinsurance) is deductible (section 320-65) 46. Fees and charges arising from participating policies (other than policies discharged from the virtual PST or SEA) are not included in the assessable income of a life insurance company if they are sourced from investment income or premium income. | Other policies (section 320-75): 47. Section 320-75 relates to other life insurance policies - in practice non-participating ordinary investment policies. Section 320-75 only applies to determine premium based fees as the amount allowed as a deduction under section 320-75 is the sum of the net premiums less so much of the net premiums as an actuary determines to be attributable to fees and charges (subsection 320-75(3)). Risk charges, entry fees and exit fees are examples of premium based fees. 48. In determining the amount that is attributable to fees and charges for an income year, an actuary must have regard to the change over the income year in the sum of the net current termination values of the policies (as defined in subsection 995-1(1)) and the movements in those values during the year (subsection 320-75(4)). This principle is similar to the principle underlying the annual valuation process as it applies to non-participating unbundled virtual PST policies. | Fees and charges included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(k): 49. Fees and charges are only included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(k) if they are not already included in assessable income under another provision of the taxation law. Paragraph 320-15(k) is a residual provision, which will only apply if a fee or charge is not subject to tax under another provision of the taxation law. 50. On this basis, paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply to: | Timing of fees and charges: 51. Division 320 brings fees and charges relating to non-participating policies into taxable income at the time they are reflected in the current termination value of a policy. This timing may not always be the same as the timing of the recognition of receipt of these fees and charges for accounting or other purposes. For example, exit fees designed to recover acquisition costs will be recognised for tax purposes in the year the premium is received (and those fees are reflected in the current termination value of a policy) rather than when they are charged to the policyholder. 52. This difference in timing arises as a result of the prescribed actuarial method for deriving fees and charges - that is, based on the current termination value of policies. [F5] Division 320 provides a pragmatic solution to handling the complexities of fee structures for income tax purposes and provides a robust basis across different policy pricing structures.

Examples: Example 1: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, defined asset fees and no risk component 65. This example considers a non-participating unbundled policy discharged from the virtual PST with defined policy fees and defined asset fees and no risk component. 66. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 67. In this example there are no emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST equals the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. Total fees and charges 68. In this example, the total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 69. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 70. Therefore: 71. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $406.50 which is made up as follows: | Example 2: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, emerging asset fees and no risk component 72. This example is similar to Example 1 except that the asset fees are emerging fees rather than defined fees. 73. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 74. In this example the asset fees are emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST exceeds the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. 75. The amount of the emerging fees is determined at the time the company does a valuation of its assets and liabilities. If a valuation is done after the end of the income year, the value of virtual PST assets at the end of an income year can include an undetermined amount of emerging fees reduced by the provision for tax on those fees. Consequently, the excess assets calculated are net of tax. 76. Therefore, the emerging fee that must be transferred from the virtual PST is the amount of excess assets grossed up for tax - that is, by 15%. Total fees and charges 77. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 78. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 79. Therefore: 80. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $406.50 which is made up as follows: | Example 3: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, defined asset fees and risk fees 81. This example is similar to Example 1 except that: 82. In this example the risk charges are deducted from the policyholders account throughout the period and transferred from the virtual PST at the time they are imposed. 83. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: 84. The value of liabilities under net risk components is: 85. Consequently, the value of liabilities under net risk components increased in the current year by $15 (that is, $55 - $40). Calculation of emerging fees 86. In this example there are no emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST equals the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. Total fees and charges 87. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 88. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 89. Therefore: 90. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $394.50 which is made up as follows: Model B - Ordinary non-participating unbundled policies with risk component 91. Model B considers two examples of ordinary non-participating unbundled policies that have a risk component. 92. Relevant information relating to the life insurance company is as follows: 93. The life insurance company only has ordinary life insurance business. 94. The company has at the beginning of the period: 95. At the end of the period the company has: 96. The value of liabilities under net risk components is: 97. Consequently, the value of liabilities under net risk components increased in the current year by $15 (that is, $55 - $40). | Example 4: Ordinary non-participating unbundled policy with defined premium based policy fees and risk charges derived from premiums. 98. This example considers an ordinary non-participating unbundled policy that has defined premium based policy fees and risk charges derived from premiums. 99. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 100. In this example the following table demonstrates that there are no emerging fees. Total fees and charges 101. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 102. The total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary policyholders are calculated as follows: 103. Therefore: 104. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $274.50 (that is, $915 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary policyholders is $210 (that is, $700 × 30%). | Example 5: Ordinary non-participating unbundled policy with defined premium based policy fees, risk charges derived from premiums and emerging asset fees taken out of assessable investment income. 105. This example considers an ordinary non-participating unbundled policy that has both defined and emerging fees. This example is similar to Example 4 except that some of the fees consist of defined policy fees and emerging asset fees. 106. The emerging fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income. That is paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. 107. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 108. In this example the asset fees are emerging fees. These emerging fees can be determined by an actuary by comparing the change in the value of assets for ordinary policyholders over the income year with the change in current termination value for those policies over the income year. This principle is similar to that underlying the annual valuation process as it applies in Model A - Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policies. For ordinary non-participating investment policies, the value of assets at the start of an income year is the sum of: 109. The following table demonstrates how an actuary can determine the emerging fees: 110. The above table shows that in this example: Total fees and charges 111. The total fees and charges are as follows: 112. The defined policy fees and defined risk charges are subject to section 320-75 as they are premium based fees. The emerging asset fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income for example investment income. That is, paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. Calculation of taxable income 113. The total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary policyholders are calculated as follows: 114. Therefore: 115. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $205.50 (that is, $685 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary policyholders is $111.43 (that is, $371.43 × 30%). 116. The split between policyholders and shareholders for tax is for illustration purposes only. The split is not intended to have any implications for the basis of splitting franking credits between policyholders and shareholders. Model C - Participating policies 117. Participating policies can be either superannuation policies or ordinary policies. Model C considers three examples of participating policies. This section is broken into two parts: Part 1 - Participating policies that will be discharged from the virtual PST 118. The two examples of participating policies that will be discharged from the virtual PST are: 119. In both of these examples the relevant information during the year is as follows: 120. The life insurance company has at the beginning of the period: 121. At the end of the period the company's provision for tax on unrealised virtual PST participating gains is $30 (i.e. $300 × 15% × 2/3). 122. All transfers from the virtual PST are in cash. | Example 6: Participating unbundled policy held within the virtual PST 123. This example considers a participating investment account policy held in the virtual PST that is unbundled and has no risk component. 124. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 125. The emerging fees are determined as follows: 126. In this example, the value of the virtual PST assets at the end of the period ($10,991) need to be reduced so that they do not exceed the value of virtual PST liabilities ($10,876) plus the amount of deferred tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets ($30) at that time. The excess amount ($85) is grossed-up by 15% to reflect the tax treatment of the transfer. That grossed-up excess amount ($100) must be transferred from the virtual PST. Total fees and charges 127. The total net fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 128. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 129. Therefore: 130. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $405 which is made up as follows: | Example 7: Participating bundled policy held within the virtual PST 131. This example is similar to Example 6 except that the policy is a bundled endowment policy. 132. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 133. The emerging fees are determined as follows: Total fees and charges 134. The total net fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 135. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 136. Therefore: 137. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $375 which is made up as follows: Part 2 - Ordinary participating policies | Example 8: Participating bundled ordinary policy 138. This example considers an ordinary participating endowment policy. The relevant information during the year is as follows: 139. The life insurance company has at the beginning of the period: 140. At the end of the period the life insurance company has: Calculation of emerging fees 141. The emerging fees are determined as follows: Total fees and charges 142. The total net fees and charges are as follows: 143. The emerging fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income. That is paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. Calculation of taxable income 144. The following table shows how to calculate total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary participating policyholders. The table splits tax between shareholders and policyholders for illustration purposes only. The split is not intended to have any broader implications affecting the calculation of the total taxable income of the company nor is it intended to have any implications on the basis for splitting franking credits between shareholders and policyholders. 145. Therefore: 146. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $159 (that is, $530 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary participating policyholders is $103 (that is, $343 × 30%). 147. Below is a detailed contents list for this draft Ruling: Commissioner of Taxation 19 November 2003 Previously released in draft form as TR 2001/D14.

Appendix: Calculation of fees and charges: 20. The mechanisms used in Division 320 to bring fees and charges into the taxable income of life insurance companies ensure equitable taxation treatment across different products and fee structures. 21. Fees and charges are included in taxable income and taxed at the company tax rate by: 22. The broad approach to determine the amount of fees and charges that are included in taxable income as a consequence of the deduction and transfer mechanisms is to: 23. The value placed on policyholder liabilities is a critical determinant of the amount of fees and charges included in taxable income in a period. The deduction allowed for life insurance premiums and the transfer mechanisms that include fees and charges in taxable income in a period depend on this value. To ensure consistency, the basis for determining the value placed on policyholder liabilities is prescribed in Division 320. 24. The method for determining fees and charges depends on whether the policy is: 25. The methodology used relies on established techniques for financial management of life insurance business - in particular actuarial standards. | Policies discharged from the virtual PST: 26. Life insurance companies can segregate assets to support virtual PST liabilities. Virtual PST liabilities are liabilities in respect of virtual PST life insurance policies that are to be discharged out of a life company's virtual PST assets. Virtual PST life insurance policies are, broadly: 27. Fees and charges on virtual PST life insurance policies can be either emerging or defined. Emerging fees must be transferred from the virtual PST within 30 days of the annual valuation (subsection 320-180(1) of the ITAA 1997 or transferred from the virtual PST following a valuation at another time (paragraph 320-195(3)(c)). Defined fees must be transferred from the virtual PST when they are imposed (paragraphs 320-195(3)(a) and (b)). That is, the defined fees must be transferred within a reasonable time having regard to normal business practice. 28. The value of virtual PST liabilities in respect of a particular policy depends on whether the policy is a non-participating policy or a participating policy (section 320-190). 29. If the policy is a non-participating policy, the value of virtual PST liabilities is the current termination value of the policy which is defined in subsection 995-1(1). 30. If the policy is a participating policy, the value of virtual PST liabilities is the value of supporting assets as defined in the Valuation Standard (subsection 995-1(1)) plus retained profits attributable to participating policyholders (paragraph 320-190(2)(a)). This results in all expenses that are attributed to that business being effectively incurred within the virtual PST. This outcome is consistent with common practice for managing and valuing the liabilities for participating business and the need to determine overall profit prior to sharing between policyholders and shareholders. 31. Life insurance companies include the full amount of any premiums received for virtual PST policies in assessable income (paragraph 320-15(a)). Assets (including cash) having a value equal to some or all of those premiums (including any death and disability components) can be transferred to the virtual PST (subsection 320-185(3)). The value of assets representing premiums transferred to the virtual PST is allocated to the virtual PST component of taxable income (paragraph 320-205(3)(b)). 32. A deduction is allowed for the value of assets (including cash), not exceeding the amount of premiums received, that are transferred to the virtual PST less the death and disability component of those premiums (section 320-55). The amount allowed as a deduction is reduced by the death and disability component because the superannuation fund can claim a deduction for this amount (section 279 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)). 33. The death and disability component of the premium is specified in subsection 320-55(3) of the ITAA 1997 to be: 34. The amount allowed as a deduction for life insurance premiums under section 320-55 also reduces the virtual PST component of the complying superannuation class of the life insurance companies taxable income (paragraph 320-205(4)(a)). 35. The transfer mechanisms (sections 320-180 and 320-195) ensure that fees and charges - including those that relate to risk - are taxed at the company tax rate. Any fees and charges transferred from the virtual PST reduce the virtual PST component of the complying superannuation class of taxable income and consequently increase the ordinary class of taxable income. | Policies discharged from the segregated exempt assets: 36. Life insurance companies can also segregate assets to support exempt life insurance policy liabilities (section 320-225). Exempt life insurance policy liabilities are liabilities in respect of exempt life insurance policies that are to be discharged out of segregated exempt assets. These policy liabilities are defined in section 320-245 to mean, broadly: 37. Similar to the virtual PST, fees and charges on exempt life insurance policies can be emerging or defined. Emerging fees must be transferred from the SEA within 30 days of the annual valuation (subsection 320-235(1) or transferred from the SEA following a valuation at another time (paragraph 320-250(2)(c)). Defined fees must be transferred from the SEA when they are imposed (paragraphs 320-250(2)(a) and (b)). That is, the defined fees must be transferred within a reasonable time having regard to normal business practice. Paragraph 5.156 of the Explanatory Memorandum supports this view. 38. The value of exempt life insurance policy liabilities in respect of a particular policy depends on the type of policy (section 320-245): 39. Any fees and charges that are transferred from the SEA under subsection 320-235(1) or subsection 320-250(2) are specifically included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(f) and are taxed at the company tax rate. 40. As the fees and charges relating to exempt life insurance policy liabilities are included in assessable income as a result of the transfer mechanisms and paragraph 320-15(f), a deduction is allowed for the whole amount of any premiums transferred to the SEA (section 320-60). | Death and disability policies (other than participating policies): 41. Premiums received in relation to life insurance policies (other than participating policies) that provide benefits solely on death or disability consist only of fees and risk charges. To ensure these fees are included in assessable income, the full amount of premiums received in relation to these policies is included in assessable income (paragraph 320-15(a)). 42. Consequently, a deduction is not allowed for any part of the premiums received in relation to these policies (section 320-70). | Participating policies (other than policies discharged from the virtual PST or segregated exempt assets): 43. The amount of fees and charges for participating business is only that portion of the profit which returns to the shareholder after policyholder entitlements and expenses have been met. To attribute all profit to the shareholder would not properly reflect the way in which this business is managed. 44. The Life Insurance Act has robust mechanisms to identify and track profits from participating business and allocate that profit between policyholders and shareholders. 45. Division 320 applies similar mechanisms for the purposes of determining the appropriate tax treatment. [F4] Consequently, the whole of the premium (net of reinsurance) is deductible (section 320-65) 46. Fees and charges arising from participating policies (other than policies discharged from the virtual PST or SEA) are not included in the assessable income of a life insurance company if they are sourced from investment income or premium income. | Other policies (section 320-75): 47. Section 320-75 relates to other life insurance policies - in practice non-participating ordinary investment policies. Section 320-75 only applies to determine premium based fees as the amount allowed as a deduction under section 320-75 is the sum of the net premiums less so much of the net premiums as an actuary determines to be attributable to fees and charges (subsection 320-75(3)). Risk charges, entry fees and exit fees are examples of premium based fees. 48. In determining the amount that is attributable to fees and charges for an income year, an actuary must have regard to the change over the income year in the sum of the net current termination values of the policies (as defined in subsection 995-1(1)) and the movements in those values during the year (subsection 320-75(4)). This principle is similar to the principle underlying the annual valuation process as it applies to non-participating unbundled virtual PST policies. | Fees and charges included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(k): 49. Fees and charges are only included in assessable income under paragraph 320-15(k) if they are not already included in assessable income under another provision of the taxation law. Paragraph 320-15(k) is a residual provision, which will only apply if a fee or charge is not subject to tax under another provision of the taxation law. 50. On this basis, paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply to: | Timing of fees and charges: 51. Division 320 brings fees and charges relating to non-participating policies into taxable income at the time they are reflected in the current termination value of a policy. This timing may not always be the same as the timing of the recognition of receipt of these fees and charges for accounting or other purposes. For example, exit fees designed to recover acquisition costs will be recognised for tax purposes in the year the premium is received (and those fees are reflected in the current termination value of a policy) rather than when they are charged to the policyholder. 52. This difference in timing arises as a result of the prescribed actuarial method for deriving fees and charges - that is, based on the current termination value of policies. [F5] Division 320 provides a pragmatic solution to handling the complexities of fee structures for income tax purposes and provides a robust basis across different policy pricing structures. 53. The Explanatory Memorandum included some examples to illustrate the application of Division 320 to life insurance companies by setting out the cash flow transactions for some typical life insurance policies and the taxation treatment of those transactions. [F6] 54. This Ruling considers three different models [F7] to further illustrate how the mechanisms in Division 320 include fees and charges in assessable income and tax them at the company tax rate. The three models are: 55. A number of examples are used to demonstrate each model. For the purposes of these examples, policies that do not qualify as virtual PST life insurance policies or exempt life insurance policies are referred to as ordinary policies. Each example shows, for an income year: 56. Consistent with Division 320, the calculation of taxable income for the period divides the taxable income of the life insurance company into two classes: 57. The complying superannuation class of taxable income of a life insurance company includes the virtual PST component determined under section 320-205. The ordinary class of taxable income of a life insurance company is the total taxable income less the complying superannuation class of taxable income (section 320-140). 58. It is not intended that the examples cover all possible circumstances which may arise in practice. Rather they are intended to illustrate the application of Division 320 in relation to a range of typical life insurance company products. As the examples are based on a number of assumptions, not all life insurance companies will necessarily operate in the manner illustrated in the examples. 59. For the purposes of this Ruling, all examples are presented on a net of reinsurance basis. The detailed issues of reinsurance, and the operations of Division 320 for determining net and gross components, are beyond the scope of this Ruling. However, the principles outlined in this Ruling for the determination of fees and charges apply, from the perspective of the reinsurer, consistently to the reinsured portions of policies of the same type. 60. A specific example has not been included in respect of annuity/pension policies discharged from the SEA. In many respects, the mechanisms for determining fees and charges on exempt life insurance policies that are discharged from the SEA are consistent with those that apply for virtual PST policies. | Model A - Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policies: 61. Model A considers three examples of non-participating unbundled policies that are to be discharged from the virtual PST. 62. In each of the examples using Model A, the relevant information relating to the life insurance company is as follows: 63. The life insurance company has at the beginning of the period: 64. In addition, all transfers from the virtual PST are in cash. | Example 1: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, defined asset fees and no risk component: 65. This example considers a non-participating unbundled policy discharged from the virtual PST with defined policy fees and defined asset fees and no risk component. 66. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 67. In this example there are no emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST equals the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. Total fees and charges 68. In this example, the total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 69. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 70. Therefore: 71. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $406.50 which is made up as follows: | Example 2: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, emerging asset fees and no risk component: 72. This example is similar to Example 1 except that the asset fees are emerging fees rather than defined fees. 73. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: | Calculation of emerging fees: 74. In this example the asset fees are emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST exceeds the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. 75. The amount of the emerging fees is determined at the time the company does a valuation of its assets and liabilities. If a valuation is done after the end of the income year, the value of virtual PST assets at the end of an income year can include an undetermined amount of emerging fees reduced by the provision for tax on those fees. Consequently, the excess assets calculated are net of tax. 76. Therefore, the emerging fee that must be transferred from the virtual PST is the amount of excess assets grossed up for tax - that is, by 15%. Total fees and charges 77. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 78. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 79. Therefore: 80. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $406.50 which is made up as follows: | Example 3: Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policy with defined policy fees, defined asset fees and risk fees: 81. This example is similar to Example 1 except that: 82. In this example the risk charges are deducted from the policyholders account throughout the period and transferred from the virtual PST at the time they are imposed. 83. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: 84. The value of liabilities under net risk components is: 85. Consequently, the value of liabilities under net risk components increased in the current year by $15 (that is, $55 - $40). Calculation of emerging fees 86. In this example there are no emerging fees. Consequently, as demonstrated in the table below, at the end of the period the value of assets held in the virtual PST equals the value of virtual PST liabilities plus reasonable provisions for tax on unrealised virtual PST assets and unpaid PAYG instalments. Total fees and charges 87. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 88. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 89. Therefore: 90. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $394.50 which is made up as follows: | Model B - Ordinary non-participating unbundled policies with risk component: 91. Model B considers two examples of ordinary non-participating unbundled policies that have a risk component. 92. Relevant information relating to the life insurance company is as follows: 93. The life insurance company only has ordinary life insurance business. 94. The company has at the beginning of the period: 95. At the end of the period the company has: 96. The value of liabilities under net risk components is: 97. Consequently, the value of liabilities under net risk components increased in the current year by $15 (that is, $55 - $40). | Example 4: Ordinary non-participating unbundled policy with defined premium based policy fees and risk charges derived from premiums: 98. This example considers an ordinary non-participating unbundled policy that has defined premium based policy fees and risk charges derived from premiums. 99. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 100. In this example the following table demonstrates that there are no emerging fees. Total fees and charges 101. The total fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 102. The total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary policyholders are calculated as follows: 103. Therefore: 104. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $274.50 (that is, $915 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary policyholders is $210 (that is, $700 × 30%). | Example 5: Ordinary non-participating unbundled policy with defined premium based policy fees, risk charges derived from premiums and emerging asset fees taken out of assessable investment income: 105. This example considers an ordinary non-participating unbundled policy that has both defined and emerging fees. This example is similar to Example 4 except that some of the fees consist of defined policy fees and emerging asset fees. 106. The emerging fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income. That is paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. 107. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 108. In this example the asset fees are emerging fees. These emerging fees can be determined by an actuary by comparing the change in the value of assets for ordinary policyholders over the income year with the change in current termination value for those policies over the income year. This principle is similar to that underlying the annual valuation process as it applies in Model A - Non-participating unbundled virtual PST policies. For ordinary non-participating investment policies, the value of assets at the start of an income year is the sum of: 109. The following table demonstrates how an actuary can determine the emerging fees: 110. The above table shows that in this example: Total fees and charges 111. The total fees and charges are as follows: 112. The defined policy fees and defined risk charges are subject to section 320-75 as they are premium based fees. The emerging asset fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income for example investment income. That is, paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. Calculation of taxable income 113. The total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary policyholders are calculated as follows: 114. Therefore: 115. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $205.50 (that is, $685 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary policyholders is $111.43 (that is, $371.43 × 30%). 116. The split between policyholders and shareholders for tax is for illustration purposes only. The split is not intended to have any implications for the basis of splitting franking credits between policyholders and shareholders. | Model C - Participating policies: 117. Participating policies can be either superannuation policies or ordinary policies. Model C considers three examples of participating policies. This section is broken into two parts: | Part 1 - Participating policies that will be discharged from the virtual PST: 118. The two examples of participating policies that will be discharged from the virtual PST are: 119. In both of these examples the relevant information during the year is as follows: 120. The life insurance company has at the beginning of the period: 121. At the end of the period the company's provision for tax on unrealised virtual PST participating gains is $30 (i.e. $300 × 15% × 2/3). 122. All transfers from the virtual PST are in cash. | Example 6: Participating unbundled policy held within the virtual PST: 123. This example considers a participating investment account policy held in the virtual PST that is unbundled and has no risk component. 124. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 125. The emerging fees are determined as follows: 126. In this example, the value of the virtual PST assets at the end of the period ($10,991) need to be reduced so that they do not exceed the value of virtual PST liabilities ($10,876) plus the amount of deferred tax on unrealised gains on virtual PST assets ($30) at that time. The excess amount ($85) is grossed-up by 15% to reflect the tax treatment of the transfer. That grossed-up excess amount ($100) must be transferred from the virtual PST. Total fees and charges 127. The total net fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 128. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 129. Therefore: 130. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $405 which is made up as follows: | Example 7: Participating bundled policy held within the virtual PST: 131. This example is similar to Example 6 except that the policy is a bundled endowment policy. 132. Additional assumptions relevant to this example are: Calculation of emerging fees 133. The emerging fees are determined as follows: Total fees and charges 134. The total net fees and charges are as follows: Calculation of taxable income 135. The total taxable income and the virtual PST component of taxable income are calculated as follows: 136. Therefore: 137. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $375 which is made up as follows: | Example 8: Participating bundled ordinary policy: 138. This example considers an ordinary participating endowment policy. The relevant information during the year is as follows: 139. The life insurance company has at the beginning of the period: 140. At the end of the period the life insurance company has: Calculation of emerging fees 141. The emerging fees are determined as follows: Total fees and charges 142. The total net fees and charges are as follows: 143. The emerging fees are not included in assessable income because they are taken out of amounts already included in assessable income. That is paragraph 320-15(k) does not apply as the amounts are otherwise included in assessable income. Calculation of taxable income 144. The following table shows how to calculate total taxable income and the amount of taxable income that relates to ordinary participating policyholders. The table splits tax between shareholders and policyholders for illustration purposes only. The split is not intended to have any broader implications affecting the calculation of the total taxable income of the company nor is it intended to have any implications on the basis for splitting franking credits between shareholders and policyholders. 145. Therefore: 146. The total tax payable by the life insurance company is $159 (that is, $530 × 30%). The amount of that tax attributable to ordinary participating policyholders is $103 (that is, $343 × 30%).


What this Ruling is about | Preamble: The number, subject heading, What this Ruling is about, Date of effect, and Ruling and Explanation parts of this document are a 'public ruling' for the purposes of Part IVAAA of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and are legally binding on the Commissioner. The remainder of the document is administratively binding on the Commissioner of Taxation. Taxation Rulings TR 92/1 and TR 97/16 together explain when a Ruling is a 'public ruling' and how it is binding on the Commissioner. | What this Ruling is about: 1. This Ruling demonstrates how actuarial models are used to determine the amount of fees and charges that are included in the assessable income of a life insurance company [F1] under Division 320 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). | Background: 2. Division 320 was introduced with effect from 1 July 2000. The purpose of Division 320 is to 'ensure that life insurance companies are taxed on all their profits including: | Types of policies: 3. There are several different types of life insurance policies and, for each type, a range of different charging structures. | 4. The types of policies include: | 5. These policies can be bundled or unbundled, participating or non-participating (including discretionary) and may have riders attached to them. | 6. A bundled policy includes a traditional whole of life or endowment policy. The components of the policy in respect of investment, risk and administration are bundled (that is, not readily identified) in the way the terms of the policy are defined and the manner the business is managed. Segregation of the components of the policy is impractical and inconsistent with the nature and management of the business. | 7. An unbundled policy is a policy where the investment, risk and administration components of the policy are separated and the premium in respect of the different components can be clearly identified. The extent of unbundling can vary. Some unbundled policies may not have all their fees and charges clearly identified. | 8. Participating policies are policies that provide participating benefits within the meaning of section 15 of the Life Insurance Act 1995 (the Life Insurance Act) - see definition of 'participating benefit' in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997. Participating benefits are broadly, benefits that include a share in the profit derived from the business. That is, the policyholder is entitled to share in the experience of the participating business of a particular statutory fund, where experience is measured in aggregate across all components of the policy - investment experience, expense experience and underwriting experience. The shareholders' entitlement is limited to the residual profit. Profit for this purpose is that derived from all sources - it is not necessary to identify the components of that profit. | 9. Policies issued by friendly societies are not participating policies. In this regard Regulation 2.01A of the Life Insurance Regulations modifies the application of the Life Insurance Act to friendly societies. Item 1 of Schedule 5 of the Regulations omits section 15 of the Life Insurance Act for the purposes of applying that Act to friendly societies. Therefore, policies issued by friendly societies do not provide participating benefits as defined in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997. | 10. For tax purposes, the amount of fees and charges for participating business is only that portion of the profit which returns to the shareholder after policyholder entitlements and expenses have been met. To attribute all profit to the shareholder would not properly reflect the way in which such business is managed. | 11. Discretionary policies are essentially investment account policies that are regarded as non-participating [F3] for the purposes of the Life Insurance Act solely because of the operation of Prudential Rules No 22 of that Act (see definition of 'discretionary benefit' in subsection 995-1(1) of the ITAA 1997). These policies are credited with interest according to a prescribed formula but with an element of discretion or smoothing over time that generally requires the establishment and maintenance of a smoothing reserve or investment fluctuation reserve. In the years that the earnings rate of the life insurance company is low (or even negative), funds that have been set aside in the smoothing reserve or investment fluctuation reserve are released to allow the company to declare a higher rate of return than was earned by the pooled fund. | 12. The actuarial management of discretionary business is similar to that for participating business even though the strict entitlement to participate in profit sharing is generally not a part of the policy conditions. As Prudential Rules No 22 do not apply to friendly societies, policies issued by friendly societies do not provide discretionary benefits as defined in subsection 995-1(1). | 13. Risk, investment account, traditional endowment and whole of life policies can be participating or discretionary. Investment linked policies are by definition non-participating. | 14. Division 320 makes reference to discretionary policies in the same context as participating policies. Therefore, for simplicity, references in this Ruling to participating policies should be taken to include discretionary policies. | 15. Policies can also have a rider attached. The rider confers additional benefits usually in return for the payment of additional premiums. Where a risk rider attaches to an investment policy, and that policy is a participating policy, it is common practice for life insurance companies to also classify the risk rider as a participating policy to simplify administration processes. This same classification convention is used in Division 320. That is, for these policies the risk rider is considered as participating for the purposes of applying Division 320. | Types of fees and charges: 16. The fee structures of life insurance policies are both diverse and complex. Fees and charges can be in respect of investment, administration or risk and can be deducted from premiums, investment income or account balances. These fees and charges can be emerging or defined, and can be imposed at entry (at the time the policy commences), exit (at the time the policy is terminated) or on a regular basis: | 17. The distinction between emerging fees and defined fees is explained in more detail in the examples for Models A, B and C shown at paragraphs 53-146 of this Ruling. | 18. Depending on policy structure and company practice, fees and charges may be applied as: | Date of effect: 19. This Ruling applies from 1 July 2000. However, the Ruling does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the issue of the Ruling (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20). | Defined fees on virtual PST policies: | Section 275 of ITAA 1936 transfers | Current termination value of virtual PST policies at end of period | Provision for tax on unrealised virtual PST gains ($300 × 15% × 2/3) | Premiums transferred to VPST | Tax on VPST Taxable Income [F8] | Increase in value of assets | Plus Value of VPST assets at start | Value of VPST assets at end | CTV of VPST policies at end | Provision for tax on unrealised VPST gains | Emerging fees transferred from VPST | Transfers to VPST during period: | • VPST premiums transferred under subsection 320-185(3) | Transfers from VPST during period: | • Policy fees transferred under subsection 320-195(3) | • Asset fees transferred under subsection 320-195(3) | Deduction for VPST premiums | Tax on VPST Taxable Income before annual valuation [F9] | Plus Gross up for 15% tax [F10] | Emerging fees transferred from the virtual PST | Taxable Income before annual valuation | Less Emerging fees transferred from VPST because of annual valuation (subsection 320-180(1)) | Defined fees and charges on virtual PST policies: | Value at end of previous income year | Value at end of current income year | Tax on VPST Taxable Income [F11] | Excess assets (emerging fees) transferred from VPST | • Risk charges transferred under subsection 320-195(3) | Increase in value of liabilities under net risk components | Defined premium based fees and charges on ordinary policies: | Value of ordinary policyholder assets: | Premiums for ordinary policies | Policyholder investment income | Unrealised gains relating to ordinary policyholders | Tax attributable to ordinary policyholders [F12] | Increase in value of ordinary policyholder assets | Plus Value of ordinary policyholder assets at start | Value of ordinary policyholder assets at end | CTV of ordinary policies at end | Provision for tax on unrealised ordinary policyholder gains at end | Excess assets (emerging fees) | Deduction for ordinary life insurance premiums [F13] | Risk component of claims paid | Policyholder investment income before the reduction of emerging fees | Tax attributable to policyholder investment income before the reduction of emerging fees [F14] | Gross up for 30% tax [F15] | Deduction for ordinary life insurance premiums [F17] | Emerging fee included in assessable investment income [F18] | Participating virtual PST business | Deductible expenses relating to participating business | Total participating claims | Premiums on participating policies transferred to VPST | VPST participating investment income | Unrealised gains in VPST for participating business | Total claims on participating policies | Tax on VPST Taxable Income from participating business before annual valuation [F19] | Increase in value of participating assets | Plus Value of VPST participating assets at start | Value of VPST participating assets at end | Policy liability of VPST participating policies at end | Provision for tax on unrealised VPST participating gains | Gross up for 15% tax [F20] | Emerging fees for tax purposes transferred from VPST | Tax on VPST Taxable Income from participating business before annual valuation [F21] | Gross up for 15% tax [F22] | Emerging fees for tax purposes transferred from the virtual PST | Premiums on ordinary participating policies | Participating investment income | Unrealised gains for participating business | Tax attributable to income from participating business before determination of implicit fees for tax purposes [F23] | Increase in value of ordinary participating assets | Plus Value of ordinary participating policyholder assets at start | Value of ordinary participating assets at end | Policy liability of ordinary participating policies at end | Provision for tax on unrealised ordinary participating gains at end | Gross-up for 30% tax [F25] | Deduction for ordinary life insurance premiums | Taxable Income from participating business before determination of emerging fees | Types of fees and charges


Related rulings: TR 92/1 TR 92/20 TR 97/16
Legislative references: ITAA 1936 275 ITAA 1936 279 ITAA 1997 6-5 ITAA 1997 8-1 ITAA 1997 Div 320 ITAA 1997 320-15(i) ITAA 1997 320-15(a) ITAA 1997 320-15(f) ITAA 1997 320-15(k) ITAA 1997 320-55 ITAA 1997 320-55(3) ITAA 1997 320-60 ITAA 1997 320-65 ITAA 1997 320-70 ITAA 1997 320-75 ITAA 1997 320-75(3) ITAA 1997 320-75(4) ITAA 1997 320-80 ITAA 1997 320-85 ITAA 1997 320-140 ITAA 1997 320-180 ITAA 1997 320-180(1) ITAA 1997 320-185(3) ITAA 1997 320-190 ITAA 1997 320-190(2)(a) ITAA 1997 320-195 ITAA 1997 320-195(3) ITAA 1997 320-195(3)(a) ITAA 1997 320-195(3)(b) ITAA 1997 320-195(3)(c) ITAA 1997 320-205 ITAA 1997 320-205(3)(a) ITAA 1997 320-205(3)(b) ITAA 1997 320-205(3)(d) ITAA 1997 320-205(4)(a) ITAA 1997 320-205(4)(c) ITAA 1997 320-225 ITAA 1997 320-235(1) ITAA 1997 320-245 ITAA 1997 320-245(2)(b) ITAA 1997 320-245(2)(c) ITAA 1997 320-250(2) ITAA 1997 320-250(2)(a) ITAA 1997 320-250(2)(b) ITAA 1997 320-250(2)(c) ITAA 1997 995-1(1) TAA 1953 Part IVAAA Life Insurance Act 1995 Life Insurance Act 1995 15 Life Insurance Act 1995 252 Life Insurance Regulations 1995 2.01A Life Insurance Regulations 1995 Item 1 Sch 5 Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
Subject references: actuarial examples fees and charges friendly societies Life insurance companies
Other references: Revised Explanatory Memorandum to the New Business Tax System (Miscellaneous) Bill (No.2) 2000