Trust renunciations and disclaimers – the changed (tax) position** for the beneficiary

Previous posts have looked at some of the key issues to be aware of in relation to renunciations and disclaimers by beneficiaries of a trust. 

The stamp duty aspects of any such renunciation or disclaimer must be considered carefully on a state-by-state basis. As with many aspects of stamp duty law, frustratingly, there is little consistency across the various jurisdictions.

Fortunately, in relation to the capital gains tax consequences, the position is somewhat clearer.

In particular, the Tax Office has set out their view is in Tax Determinations 2001/26 (in relation to renunciations) and TR 2006/14 (in relation to disclaimers).

Broadly, the Tax Office confirms its view that from a tax perspective outcome of disclaimers (which operate retrospectively from the commencement of the trust) and renunciations (that operate from the date the renunciation is made – ie prospectively) in relation to discretionary entitlements are the same.

The Tax Office has confirmed that a renunciation or disclaimer of a trust interest will not normally have any capital gains tax (CGT) consequences for the trustee of the trust.

In particular the Tax Office confirms that:

1. an interest in a trust is a CGT asset; and
2. a renunciation by a beneficiary of an interest in a trust will give rise to CGT event C2 (the abandonment, surrender or forfeiture of an interest).

However, whether the CGT event has any practical consequence depends on whether:

1. the CGT asset has any value at the time of the CGT event; and
2. if there is any exemption that may be available.

The Tax Office considers that if a beneficiary who renounces their interest is a purely discretionary beneficiary of the trust (that is, the beneficiary has no interest in either the assets or income of the trust before the exercise of any trustee discretion as to the allocation of such income or assets), then there is likely to be no CGT (as the market value of the beneficiary’s interest will be nil).

If however the beneficiary who renounces their interest is a default beneficiary (that is, the beneficiary will receive a distribution of either income or capital in default of the exercise of a discretion by the trustee), then this kind of trust interest may in fact have some value. This means that CGT is more likely to be triggered by that beneficiary as a result of their renunciation.

Similarly, where a beneficiary disclaims (as opposed to renounces) their trust interest, the disclaimer is effective retrospectively and has the effect that the beneficiary is deemed to have never held the interest or entitlement which has been disclaimed. Consequently, there is no asset to which a CGT event could apply.

Whether CGT is payable will be determined on a case by case basis, depending on issues such as:

1) the terms of the particular trust deed and its purpose; and

2) the past history of distributions made by the trustee in favour of the default beneficiary; and

3) all other circumstances of the particular case.

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** for the trainspotters, the title today is riffed from one of the coolest song titles ever, namely the Kaiser Chief’s song ‘Na na na na naa’. View hear (sic):