As set out in earlier posts, and with thanks to the Television Education Network, today’s post considers the above mentioned topic in a ‘vidcast’ at the following link - https://youtu.be/KyZWIQLE4dk
As usual, an edited transcript of the presentation for those that cannot (or choose not) to view it is below –
As set out in last week's post Trust distributions and the Domazet decision, this week's post considers some possible solutions to the issues that arose in the Domazet decision.
The first work around is probably the easiest and the best one in some respects. Simply, the No.2 trust could have included a clause that said, “Our trust automatically ends the day before the No.1 trust.” This one sentence would have arguably avoided the issue.
The second idea would have been to amend the trust deed for No.1 trust and remove the prohibition. In other words, amending the terms of the No. 1 trust instrument so that it required any other recipient trust end before the No.1 trust.
This idea, would have essentially relied on the wait and see rule which has been explored in previous posts.
The third idea is that the No.1 trust could have skipped distributing to No.2 and simply distributed directly to the relevant beneficiary. Many might however say, “Well Matthew, that sounds nice, but I suspect there would have been a lot of wider tax planning strategies that were being utilised by the No.2 trust.” Thus, there should be an asterisk next to this idea because in many instances this style of approach may not have actually worked.
The fourth idea is in fact what they actually did in the Domazet case, which is they applied to the court for rectification.
The rectification adopted the first approach outlined above (that is the variation to amend the vesting date of the No. 2 trust).
Thus, while the taxpayer 'won', they had all the issues that go with a rectification. They had pain, they had suffering, they had delays, they had vastly increased costs, and they had significantly more attention.
** For the trainspotters, see early punk outfit The Clash perform the Sonny Curtis (of 'The Crickets' fame) song 'I fought the law and the law won' – listen here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR3XY6wfSBw