Goods and services tax: dealings in real property by bare trusts*

 

What this Ruling is about

1. This Ruling explains how the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) applies to supplies of real property¹ involving bare trusts and similar trusts where the trustee has limited active duties and acts solely at the direction of the beneficiary or beneficiaries.

2. In particular, the Ruling considers the circumstance where an entity, in the course of its enterprise, causes the trustee of real property (held on a bare trust for the entity) to transfer the property to a third party.

3. This Ruling also considers the GST issues that may arise in the formation and termination of the trust, and notes how the views expressed in relation to these matters interact with the tax invoice, margin scheme and going concern provisions.

4. With the exception of certain resulting trusts referred to in this paragraph, this Ruling applies only to bare trusts created intentionally by written instrument or created orally where the creation of the trust is recorded in writing. This includes bare trusts created by deed or declaration of trust or where the creation of the trust is recorded in minutes of a meeting of the trustee and settlor of the trust, a resolution of the trustee or a document executed by a third party.² The Ruling also applies to the form of bare trust (known as a resulting trust) that is created, without a declaration of trust or other instrument, where an intending purchaser places funds in the hands of a nominee to purchase real property for the intending purchaser and the legal title to the real property is transferred to the nominee and not the intending purchaser.

5. This Ruling does not deal with transactions in relation to trust property where the activities of the trust amount to the trust carrying on an enterprise involving the trust property.

6. This Ruling does not deal with managed investment schemes.

7. This Ruling sets out the Commissioner's views in the context of the GST Act. Nothing in this Ruling should be taken as applying to bare trusts in other contexts, such as income tax or fringe benefits tax.

8. All legislative references in this Ruling are to the GST Act, unless indicated otherwise.

Date of effect

9. This Ruling explains the Commissioner's view of the law as it applies both before and after its date of issue. You can rely upon this Ruling on and from its date of issue for the purposes of section 105-60 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 . Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 1999/1 explains the GST rulings system and the Commissioner's view of when you can rely on this interpretation of the law in GST public and private rulings.

10. If this Ruling conflicts with a previous private ruling that you have obtained or a previous public ruling, this public ruling prevails. However, if you have relied on a previous ruling, you are protected in respect of what you have done up to the date of issue of this public ruling or, if there is a change to the legislation, you are protected in respect of what you have done up to the date the legislative change takes effect. This means that if you have relied on the earlier ruling and have underpaid an amount of GST, you are not liable for the shortfall prior to either the issue date of this Ruling or the date the legislative change takes effect, as appropriate. Similarly, if you have relied on the earlier ruling you are not liable to repay an amount overpaid by the Commissioner as a refund.

Background

11. An entity (B) that carries on an enterprise may, for reasons of convenience or anonymity, arrange for real property which is to be used in its enterprise to be acquired by another entity (T) to hold on a bare trust for B - that is, subject to an obligation to transfer legal title to the asset to B, or to a third party if B so directs, and with no other active duties to perform.³

12. Alternatively, the trust may not strictly be a bare trust, because the trustee has minor active duties to perform, but nevertheless the trustee is required to act at the direction of the beneficiary in dealing with title to the trust property. Where this Ruling refers to 'bare trusts' it should also be taken to refer to trusts of this kind which may not strictly fall within accepted definitions of bare trusts but share similar features. The key point is that the trustee only acts at the direction of the beneficiary in respect of the relevant dealings⁴ in the trust property and has no independent role in respect of the trust property.

13. An example of an arrangement where a bare trust may be created is where a general law partnership⁵ (B) decides to acquire and develop real property for sale. The partners may not wish to disclose their names to the vendor of the property and so arrange for a company (T) that they control to acquire title to the property. If there are a large number of partners, it may also be more convenient for the partnership to have a single company that can execute legal documents associated with the acquisition, development and disposal of the property. T acquires and holds the legal title to the property on trust for B. T has no discretion regarding the use and disposal of the trust property and deals with it solely at the direction of B.

Legislative context

14. In applying the GST Act, it is relevant to identify the supplier, the recipient, and whether the supply is made in the course of carrying on an enterprise.

15. The GST Act treats a trust as an entity.⁶ It does not distinguish between bare trusts and other types of trusts and there are no special rules for bare trusts.

16. The definitions of supply⁷ and of acquisition⁸ are very wide.

17. Central to the operation of the GST Act is the concept of carrying on an enterprise.⁹ It is one of the elements required to be satisfied for the making of a taxable supply under section 9-5 which relevantly states:

You make a taxable supply if:

(a)

  you make the supply for *consideration; and

(b)

  the supply is made in the course or furtherance of an *enterprise that you *carry on; ...

 

18. 'Carrying on an enterprise' is also a necessary requirement for the making of a creditable acquisition under section 11-5 which relevantly states:

You make a creditable acquisition if:

(a)

  you acquire anything solely or partly for a *creditable purpose; and

 ...

 

19. In turn, subsection 11-15(1) provides:

You acquire a thing for a creditable purpose to the extent that you acquire it in *carrying on your *enterprise.

 

20. In order for an input tax credit to which you are entitled for a creditable acquisition to be attributed to a tax period, you generally must hold a tax invoice¹⁰ that complies with the GST Act and its regulations.

21. The requirements for a document to be a tax invoice are contained in section 29-70 and its corresponding regulations.

22. Division 75 sets out special rules for supplies of real property under the margin scheme. For the margin scheme to apply, the supplier and the recipient must agree in writing that the margin scheme is to apply.¹¹

23. Subdivision 38-J sets out special rules for the GST-free supply of a going concern. For this exemption to apply, the supplier and recipient must agree in writing that the supply is a supply of a going concern.

Ruling with explanation

24. This Ruling deals with transactions involving bare trusts mainly in a way that does not rely on a finding of agency. However, it is recognised that some transactions may involve an entity dealing with property in an agency capacity even though the entity holds the legal title to the property on trust. The general principles of agency are dealt with here only briefly so far as necessary to distinguish transactions that, although involving an entity that holds property under a bare trust, are able to be analysed by reference to agency principles.

General principles - agency

25. Agency is a relationship under which an intermediary is authorised by another party to do something on behalf of that other party. The intermediary is called an agent and the party who authorises the agent to act on their behalf is called the principal.¹²

26. In some circumstances, having regard to the terms of the documents governing the creation of the trust, the trustee's obligations, the terms of any agreement between the parties and all other relevant circumstances, it may be established that in a particular transaction an entity deals with the trust property in the capacity of agent for B. This may be so even though the trustee holds the legal title to the trust property on trust for B. For instance, the documents may expressly provide that the trustee is to deal with the property as agent for B. In those circumstances, if the actions of the parties are consistent with the express terms, the trustee may acquire or supply the property as agent for B.¹³

27. This is unlikely to occur in the case of a strict bare trust, where the only obligation¹⁴ of the trustee is to transfer title to the trust property to B or to a third party at B's direction. In those circumstances, any transfer of title to the property is likely to be pursuant to the trustee's trust obligation rather than as agent for B. However, it may occur in circumstances where B has expressly empowered the entity that holds or is to hold the legal title to property on trust to act as B's agent in relation to the acquisition or disposal of the property.

28. Where property is acquired or supplied as agent for another, normal agency principles apply. This means that the acquisition or supply is made by the principal, not the agent, and subject to special rules (Subdivision 153-B) it is the principal that has the relevant obligations and entitlements under the GST Act in relation to the supply or acquisition. This is so even though the legal title to the property is held by the trustee on trust for B.

General principles - bare trusts

29. A bare trust arrangement does not in itself create the relationship of agency between the trustee and beneficiary. An entity does not, merely by acting in its capacity as bare trustee, contract as agent for the beneficiary of the trust but as principal.¹⁵ Accordingly, transactions involving a bare trust, without more, need to be analysed in a way that does not rely on a finding of agency.

30. In applying the GST law to a dealing in real property held on a bare trust, the question arises as to which entity makes the relevant taxable supply or creditable acquisition as the case may be - the trustee or the beneficiary.

31. In resolving that question, it is necessary to have regard to the scheme of the GST Act.

32. For a supply to be a taxable supply under section 9-5, the entity making the supply must do so in the course or furtherance of an enterprise it carries on. Similarly, an entity makes an acquisition for a creditable purpose under section 11-15 to the extent that the entity makes the acquisition in carrying on its enterprise.

33. It follows from these provisions that the GST Act concerns itself with supplies and acquisitions by entities in the course or furtherance of, or in carrying on, their enterprises.

34. The term 'enterprise' is relevantly¹⁶ defined in subsection 9-20(1) as follows:

An enterprise is an activity, or series of activities, done:

(a)

  in the form of a *business; or

(b)

  in the form of an adventure or concern in the nature of trade; or

(c)

  on a regular or continuous basis, in the form of a lease, licence or other grant of an interest in property; or ...¹⁷

 

35. Subsection 184-1(1) treats a trust as an entity. Subsection 184-1(2) goes on to note that the trustee of a trust is taken to be an entity consisting of the person who is the trustee at any given time. Subsection 184-1(3) confirms that a legal person can have a number of different capacities in which the person does things and in each of those capacities the person is taken to be a different entity.

36. These provisions do not create two separate entities for GST purposes - the trust and the trustee - but rather the relevant entity is the trust, with the trustee standing as that entity when a legal person is required.¹⁸ However, it is necessary to distinguish between the entity that is the trustee acting in that capacity and that entity acting in its own right which are treated as separate entities for GST purposes.

37. The activities of a bare trustee are essentially passive in nature. A trustee of the type of trust considered in this Ruling has either no active duties to perform or only minor active duties. A bare trust as that term is used in this Ruling does not carry on an enterprise for GST purposes by virtue of its dealings in the trust property.¹⁹

38. On the other hand, a beneficiary of a bare trust may carry on an enterprise involving an asset held on trust for the beneficiary by the bare trustee. For instance, in the example at paragraph 11 of this Ruling, despite legal title to the property being held by T, the property is used by B in carrying on its enterprise.

39. If the asset is sold, the transaction will involve a transfer of the legal title to the property to a third party by the trustee at the direction of the beneficiary.

40. The definition of 'taxable supply' concerns itself with supplies made in the course of an enterprise. It is the entity which conducts that enterprise that makes the relevant supply. In other words, if T transfers legal title to the property to a third party at the direction of B, it is B that causes the supply to be made in the course of its enterprise and is liable for GST, if the other requirements for a taxable supply in section 9-5 are met.²⁰

41. This is consistent with the scheme of the GST Act. There is nothing in the GST Act requiring legal title to the assets of an enterprise to be held or dealt with by the entity carrying on the enterprise, in order for taxable supplies or creditable acquisitions of the assets to be made.

42. These conclusions are consistent with our understanding of the usual commercial practice in accounting for GST. They also accord with the approach to interpreting the GST Act adopted in Sterling Guardian Pty Ltd v. FC of T (Sterling Guardian )²¹ where Stone J said:

The clear thrust of the GST Act, both in its wording and as explained in the EM, is that of a practical business tax imposed with respect to elements of commerce. As Senior Counsel for the respondent pointed out, although in economic terms the burden of the GST is borne by the ultimate consumer, in terms of 'imposition, collection and administration' it is a tax on business. It is for the taxpayer to prepare business activity statements and pay the appropriate GST and in this context abstract propositions about interests in land and the acquisition of a brand new set of rights arising from registration of a strata plan are irrelevant.²²

 

43. Her Honour's approach was upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court.²³

44. The practical business approach to GST as described by Stone J was confirmed by the Full Federal Court in Saga Holidays .²⁴ Stone J, with whom the other members of the Full Court agreed, saw this as part of the context for the interpretation of the GST legislation. Her Honour also approved the approach of Lord Hoffman in Beynon and Partners v. Customs and Excise Commissioners (Beynon )²⁵ in focussing on the 'social and economic reality' of a transaction.²⁶

Summarising the outcomes

45. The outcomes applying in the circumstances described in this Ruling may be summarised as follows:

A cycle of transactions

46. That the conclusions outlined in this Ruling give practical effect to the GST Act may be evidenced by examining a cycle of transactions in the context of a bare trust arrangement.

Example

47. We illustrate this with the following example:

Creation of the trust

48. In this example, the trust is created by T acquiring the legal title to the land after first executing the declaration of trust. T holds the legal title to the land subject to a bare trust in favour of B from the moment it acquires title to the land. There are no GST implications in respect of the creation of the trust. As the land is subject to the trust from the outset, there is no supply of an interest in the land by T to B. In any case, T does not carry on any enterprise in respect of the land.

49. A less common alternative is that B may first acquire the land and then transfer title to the land to T to hold on a bare trust for B. In those circumstances, there is no taxable supply by B to T. This is because no consideration is provided by T to B in respect of the transfer of the legal title.²⁸

50. We consider that Division 72 (associates) does not apply in these circumstances. That is because, even if the provisions of Division 72 are otherwise satisfied, the market value of the supply is, having regard to the circumstances of the transfer of the legal title, nil. In substance, only the legal title is transferred. The land remains an asset to be used in B's enterprise. As the legal title of itself is of no economic value, the market value is nil.

51. We consider that the analysis to be applied in a GST context is different from that which may apply in other contexts.²⁹ While the subject matter of the conveyance or other legal instrument may be relevant for income tax purposes (such as capital gains tax) or for stamp duty purposes, for GST purposes a more practical approach is required, focussing upon what is in fact supplied. What is in fact supplied by B in these circumstances is the mere legal title to the property to be held at all times by T on the terms of a bare trust for B.

Acquisition of the land

52. Returning to the example at paragraph 47 of this Ruling, B acquires the land in the course of its enterprise by causing T to obtain legal title to the land from S, with the purchase monies provided by B. Title at all times is to be held upon a bare trust for B. B would be entitled to an input tax credit in respect of the acquisition of the land if the requirements for a creditable acquisition were satisfied.

53. However, in the circumstances of this example, B is not entitled to an input tax credit on the acquisition of the land because the supply by S was either not subject to GST or GST was calculated by S under the margin scheme.

54. T would not be entitled to an input tax credit in respect of the acquisition of the land, even if the supply by S were a taxable supply on which GST was not calculated under the margin scheme. This is because T does not acquire the title to the land in the course of an enterprise that it carries on.

Other acquisitions

55. Acquisitions relating to the development and sale of the units, such as construction and real estate agency services, are made by B. Since B acquires those services in the course of its enterprise it is entitled to input tax credits on the acquisitions, subject to the usual rules for input tax credit entitlements. This is so where, although B provides the monies for the acquisitions, legal documents such as contracts or local authority forms, may be executed by T at B's direction.

56. T is not entitled to input tax credits for such acquisitions as it does not make the acquisitions in the course of an enterprise that it carries on in respect of the land.

Leasing of units to third parties

57. The supplies made by leasing the residential units to third parties pending sale are input taxed supplies. Although T executes the lease agreements as the legal owner of the units, it does so at the direction of B. It is in the course of B's enterprise that the leases are entered into. B may have an increasing adjustment under Division 129, in respect of acquisitions relating to the construction of the units, as a consequence of applying the acquisitions in making input taxed supplies by way of lease.

58. T does not have any Division 129 adjustments as it did not acquire the land or other things in the course of any enterprise it carried on.

Sales to third parties

59. B makes taxable supplies of the units to third parties. It is in the course of B's enterprise that the sales of the units to third parties are made.

60. Although it is T that executes the transfer documents that transfer title to the units to third party buyers, T is not liable for GST on the sales as it does not execute the transfers in the course of an enterprise that it carries on in respect of the land.

61. Where B previously has had increasing adjustments under Division 129 in respect of acquisitions relating to the construction of the units, then as a consequence of some of the units being leased pending sale, B may have decreasing adjustments after the sales take place. T does not have any decreasing adjustments in respect of these things as it did not acquire the land or other things in the course of any enterprise it carried on.

62. Subject to the usual requirements for the margin scheme, B may apply the margin scheme in working out the GST on the sales on the basis of the difference between the selling price of the units and the relevant proportion of the purchase price for the land.

63. Alternatively, if the acquisition of the land occurred before 1 July 2000, B may wish to calculate the margin on the sales as the difference between the selling price of the units and the relevant proportion of the value of the land at 1 July 2000 calculated in accordance with the applicable margin scheme valuation determination.

Transfer of trust property to beneficiary and subsequent sale by beneficiary

64. T does not make a taxable supply by transferring legal title to the remaining trust property (that is, the unit to be retained by B) to B. This is because the transfer is not made in the course of an enterprise carried on by T in relation to the trust property.

65. If B subsequently sells the unit to a third party, this would represent the first sale of the unit as new residential premises.³⁰ The earlier transfer of the legal title to the unit from T to B is not a sale as there is no consideration for the transfer.

66. If calculating GST on the sale to the third party under the margin scheme, B would calculate the margin for the taxable supply on the basis described in paragraphs 62 and 63 of this Ruling.

Other issues

67. Having illustrated the GST bare trust principles in operation in the cycle of transactions example above, the following paragraphs consider other issues that may arise in relation to bare trusts.

Change of trustee

68. Where an asset held on a bare trust is an asset to be used in an enterprise of the beneficiary and this arrangement is to continue with a new trustee, there are no GST implications in respect of the change of legal title to the trust property.

69. If legal title to the trust property is transferred from the outgoing trustee to the new trustee, the transfer is not a taxable supply as it is not made in the course of an enterprise carried on by the outgoing trustee in respect of the trust property. Similarly, the acquisition of the legal title by the new trustee is not a creditable acquisition as it is not made in the course of an enterprise carried on by the new trustee in respect of the trust property.

70. As the asset remains an asset used in the beneficiary's enterprise, the principles set out in this Ruling in respect of adjustments the beneficiary may have and the application of the margin scheme continue to apply despite the change in the trustee of the trust.

Change of beneficiary

71. A trustee that has acted as bare trustee of an asset for one beneficiary carrying on an enterprise in relation to the asset may agree to act as bare trustee of the asset for a new beneficiary.

72. If the beneficiary of a bare trust disposes of its beneficial interest in the trust property in favour of an entity whose interest will be held on a bare trust by the same trustee, the disposal by the outgoing beneficiary is a taxable supply if the requirements of section 9-5 are satisfied. Similarly, the acquisition by the incoming beneficiary is a creditable acquisition if the requirements of section 11-5 are satisfied.

73. For example, if B assigns its interest in the land to a new beneficiary, the assignment is a taxable supply by B if the assignment is made for consideration and the other requirements of section 9-5 are satisfied.

74. Similarly, the new beneficiary makes a creditable acquisition if the interest is acquired in the course or furtherance of its enterprise and the other requirements of section 11-5 are satisfied.

Tax invoices

75. This section considers whether tax invoice³¹ requirements may be satisfied by the trustee of a bare trust issuing or receiving a tax invoice where the tax invoice relates to a supply or acquisition in the course of an enterprise carried on by the beneficiary in the circumstances described in this Ruling.

76. Broadly, the tax invoice requirements are that:

·

 tax invoices for a taxable supply must be issued by the supplier: paragraph 29-70(1)(a);

·

 the supplier of a taxable supply must, within 28 days after the recipient of the supply requests it, give to the recipient a tax invoice for the supply: subsection 29-70(2);

·

 input tax credits may not be attributed to a tax period unless the recipient of the supply holds a tax invoice: section 29-10;

·

 other than for certain low value supplies, the tax invoice must generally contain:

-

 the name of the supplier and the recipient of the supply: sub-regulation 29-70.01(2) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax Regulations 1999 (GST Regulations);

-

 the ABN of the entity that issues the tax invoice: paragraph 29-70(1)(b) of the GST Act; and

-

 the address or ABN of the recipient: sub-regulation 29-70.01(2) of the GST Regulations.

77. However, section 29-70 gives the Commissioner discretion to treat as a tax invoice a particular document which is not a tax invoice.

78. In accordance with the principles discussed in this Ruling, a supply or acquisition may be made in the course of an enterprise carried on by the beneficiary, such that the beneficiary is liable for GST or entitled to an input tax credit, notwithstanding that title to the relevant property is conveyed by or to a bare trustee for the beneficiary. As it is the beneficiary that makes the taxable supply or creditable acquisition, if the trustee issues or holds the tax invoice it does so on behalf of the beneficiary.

79. The requirement for the supplier to issue or the beneficiary to hold a tax invoice is satisfied in those circumstances, as the trustee issues or holds the tax invoice on behalf of the beneficiary. For the same reasons, the requirement for the supplier to issue a tax invoice within 28 days after the recipient's request is satisfied by the trustee issuing the tax invoice. In the circumstances, the Commissioner exercises his discretion under section 29-70 to treat a document as a tax invoice in respect of the class of documents which would otherwise satisfy the requirements for a valid tax invoice except that the trust or trustee's details appear as the supplier or recipient instead of the beneficiary's.

Agreement to apply the margin scheme

80. For a supplier to be able to apply the margin scheme to work out the GST on a taxable supply of real property, the supplier and the recipient must agree in writing that this is to occur.³²

81. In accordance with the principles discussed in this Ruling, a supply or acquisition may be made in the course of an enterprise carried on by the beneficiary, notwithstanding that title to the relevant property is conveyed by or to a bare trustee for the beneficiary. In those circumstances, if the trustee agrees in writing that the margin scheme is to be applied, it does so, on behalf of the beneficiary.³³ The requirement for the supplier and the recipient to agree in writing to the margin scheme being applied is satisfied in those circumstances.

Agreement that a supply is a supply of a going concern

82. For a supply to be GST-free as a supply of a going concern, the supplier and the recipient must agree that the supply is a supply of a going concern.

83. In accordance with the principles discussed in this Ruling, a supply or acquisition may be made in the course of an enterprise carried on by the beneficiary, such that the beneficiary is liable for any GST or entitled to any input tax credit, notwithstanding that title to the relevant property is conveyed by or to a bare trustee for the beneficiary. In those circumstances, if the trustee agrees in writing that the supply is a supply of a going concern, it does so on behalf of the beneficiary.³⁴ The requirement for the supplier or recipient, as the case may be, to agree to the supply being a supply of a going concern is satisfied in those circumstances.

Multiple beneficiaries/trusts

84. The example at paragraph 13 of this Ruling refers to a general law partnership. For GST purposes, a general law partnership is treated as a single entity.³⁵ The principles in this Ruling apply regardless of whether there is a single beneficiary or multiple beneficiaries of the bare trust.³⁶

* Extract only. You can find the full ruling, including footnotes, from the ATO website.