Taxation of trust income following Bamford

Published on 01 Aug 09 by "TAXATION IN AUSTRALIA" JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Full Federal Court recently handed down its judgment in Bamford v Commissioner of Taxation [2009] FCAFC 66, a case dealing with certain aspects of the taxation of trusts under s 97, Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA36). The Bamford case considered two important issues regarding trust taxation; namely, the method by which a beneficiary’s share of the trust’s taxable income is determined and whether a trust deed can modify the “income of the trust estate” to which a beneficiary is presently entitled for tax purposes. This article examines the reasoning in the Bamford case and its effect in clarifying these aspects of the taxation of trust income.

Author profile

Dr Philip Bender

Philip is a Barrister and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants practising in State and Federal taxation, superannuation and commercial law. He is also a sessional member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (although he still appears as a barrister in the tax list of that Tribunal). Philip advises and appears for taxpayers and revenue authorities in State and Federal courts and tribunals and has appeared on a number of occasions in the High Court. He has also been briefed by other government agencies including ASIC, the Official Trustee in Bankruptcy and the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office. - Current at 01 September 2011

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