Issue
Is income distributed from a testamentary trust to the taxpayer, a beneficiary of the trust who is under 18 years of age, 'excepted trust income' under subsection 102AG(2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)?
Decision
Yes. The income distributed from a testamentary trust to the taxpayer, a beneficiary of the trust who is under 18 years of age, is 'excepted trust income' under subsection 102AG(2) of the ITAA 1936.
Facts
Under the terms of a will, a testamentary trust was created which would provide for the benefit of specified beneficiaries.
The taxpayer, one of the beneficiaries of the testamentary trust, is under 18 years of age at the end of the income year and receives a distribution.
The taxpayer is not an 'excepted person'.
Reasons for Decision
Division 6AA of Part III of the ITAA 1936 ensures that special rates of tax and a lower tax free threshold apply in working out the basic income tax liability on taxable income, other than excepted income, derived by a prescribed person.
A 'prescribed person' is defined in subsection 102AC(1) of the ITAA 1936 to mean any person, other than an 'excepted person' (as defined in subsection 102AC(2) of the ITAA 1936), under 18 years of age at the end of the income year.
The taxpayer is a 'prescribed person' for the purposes of Division 6AA of Part III of the ITAA 1936.
Division 6AA of Part III of the ITAA 1936 will apply, where the beneficiary of a trust is a 'prescribed person', to so much of the beneficiary's share of the net income of the trust that is not 'excepted trust income' (subsection 102AG(1) of the ITAA 1936).
Subsection 102AG(2) of the ITAA 1936 lists the various types of income of a trust estate which are 'excepted trust income' in relation to the beneficiary of the trust estate. Assessable income derived by a trust which resulted from a will (a testamentary trust), is listed as 'excepted trust income' (subparagraph 102AG(2)(a)(i) of the ITAA 1936).
Therefore, the income distributed from a testamentary trust to the taxpayer, a beneficiary of the trust who is a prescribed person, is 'excepted trust income' under subsection 102AG(2) of the ITAA 1936.