2-minute quiz: Business deductions

QUESTION 1

A company’s financial accounts show the following information in relation to its bad debts and doubtful debts for the year:

• Closing balance for doubtful debts from the previous year - $172,000;
• Doubtful debts provided for (but not written off) during the year - $89,000;
• Bad debts formally are written off during the year - $94,000;
• Closing balance for doubtful debts at year-end - $167,000.

What is the deductible amount for the year?

1. $172,000;
2. $89,000;
3. $94,000;
4. $167,000

QUESTION 2

A business incurs these legal expenses:

1. Legal fees relating to the acquisition of a subsidiary company;
2. Legal fees relating to settling a customer dispute over an allegedly faulty product;
3. Legal fees relating to hiring five new staff members;
4. Legal fees relating to establishing a business loan. The fee was $300.

Which of the expenses are fully deductible in the year the expenditure was incurred?

1. B and C;
2. B, C, and D;
3. C only;
4. A, B and C;
5. A, B, C and D

ANSWER 1

The correct answer is 3.

As a general rule, bad debts may be deductible under the general deduction provisions, or alternatively are deductible under a specific section of the tax law.

Broadly, if the company were to claim a bad debt deduction under the specific section, the debt must have been brought to account as assessable income of the taxpayer for the current year or an earlier year. Alternatively, a deduction could be claimed if it is in respect of money lent in the ordinary course of a money lending business – that is, there is no requirement for the debt to have been included in the business’s assessable income.

In order to be deductible, a debt must be actually bad and written off. It is not sufficient that a debt is merely provided for as being doubtful or expected to turn bad in a future income year.

In its relevant guidance, the ATO states:

A debt may be considered to have become worse in any of the following circumstances:

(a) the debtor has died to leave no, or insufficient, assets out of which the debt may be satisfied;

(b) the debtor cannot be traced and the creditor has been unable to ascertain the existence of, or whereabouts of, any assets against which action could be taken;

(c) where the debt has become statute barred and the debtor is relying on this defense (or it is reasonable to assume that the debtor will do so) for non-payment;

(d) if the debtor is a company, it is in liquidation or receivership and there are insufficient funds to pay the whole debt, or the part claimed as a bad debt;

1. e) where, on an objective view of all the facts or on the probabilities existing at the time the debt, or a part of the debt, is alleged to have become bad, there is little or no likelihood of the debt, or the part of the debt, being recovered.

In another section of the same guidance, the ATO states:

While individual cases may vary, as a practical guide a debt will be accepted as bad under the category (e) above where, depending on the particular facts of the case, a taxpayer has taken the appropriate steps in an attempt to recover the debt and not simply written it off as bad. Generally speaking, such steps would include some or all of the following, although the steps undertaken will vary depending upon the size of the debt and the resources available to the creditor to pursue the debt:

(i) reminder notices issued and telephone/mail contact is attempted;

(ii) a reasonable period of time has elapsed since the original due date for payment of the debt. This will of necessity vary depending upon the amount of the debt outstanding and the taxpayers’ credit arrangements (eg 90, 120 or 150 days overdue);

(iii) formal demand notice is served;

(iv) an issue of, and service of, a summons;

(v) judgment entered against the delinquent debtor;

(vi) execution proceedings to enforce the judgment;

(vii) the calculation and charging of interest is ceased and the account is closed, (a tracing file may be kept open; also, in the case of a partial debt write-off, the account may remain open);

(viii) valuation of any security held against the debt;

(ix) sale of any seized or repossessed assets.

ANSWER 2

The correct answer is 1.

The reasoning for each expense incurred is as follows:

1. Legal fees relating to the acquisition of a subsidiary company would generally not be deductible in the income year incurred as the expenditure is of a capital nature, not a direct business expense. It is unclear as to what aspect of the acquisition the legal costs relate to. Depending on their nature, they may form part of the cost base of the shares of the acquired company or, as a last resort, the costs may be deductible over five years as “blackhole expenditure”.
2. Legal fees incurred in the ordinary course of business which relates to settling a dispute with a customer over an allegedly faulty product would generally be fully deductible in the income year incurred as it is necessarily incurred in carrying on a business.
3. Legal fees relating to hiring new staff members would also generally be deductible in the year incurred as it is necessarily incurred in carrying on a business.
4. Legal fees relating to establishing a business loan would generally not be fully deductible in the income year incurred as the expenditure is of a capital nature. Legal fees that are in the nature of borrowing costs may be deductible however over the lesser of the loan term or five years (although an immediate deduction would be available where the amount is $100 or less).

How testamentary trusts work

A testamentary trust works in tandem with a will, and is similar to a discretionary trust, with the major difference being it only takes effect upon the death of the person who made the will. The trust can be funded by some or by all of your assets, and by payments derived as a consequence of death, such as life insurance payouts and superannuation death benefits.

Testamentary trusts are formed under the auspices of a valid will or testament rather than other trusts which are ordinarily created during life (inter vivos) under the terms of a trust deed. It is a trust structure that is often used to protect family assets by having greater control over management and distributions of the deceased estate to beneficiaries.

It is crucial that the planning and appointing process of the trustee is well governed. The decision as to who the trustee of the trust is of necessity an important one so as to ensure that the appointee is one that is trustworthy, competent and will serve to protect the beneficiaries’ entitlements.

Multiple testamentary trusts can be created specifically in wills or by giving the executor of the will the discretion to set up a separate testamentary trust under certain specified parameters. A well-governed trust will ensure desired asset protection is achieved and family and legal disputes minimised or hopefully prevented.

A testamentary trust can exist for up to 80 years, but can also vest (be wound-up) earlier if the trustee so decides. Under a testamentary trust, the ultimate control and legal ownership of the estate are clearly with the trustee. The beneficiaries do not legally own the assets of the trust but have a right to be considered in the distribution of the income and capital of the trust.

The long-term success of a testamentary trust is dependent on planning and a high level of co-operation between family members.

Key parties in a testamentary trust

1. Settlor – is the person who creates the trust (as part of their will).
2. Trustee – responsible for carrying out the terms of the will.
3. Beneficiary– person/s entitled to receive benefits of the trust.
4. Court– the probate court oversees the handling of the trust by the trustee, ensuring the trust is properly followed.

Case study 1

Note both cases do not consider Medicare levy.

John and Jane Johnstone have two children, Jeff aged 6 and Jenny aged 9. Jane died suddenly leaving assets of $500,000 (excluding the family home). Jane’s will included a testamentary discretionary trust under which John along with Jeff and Jenny are potential beneficiaries.

The annual income of the trust is $30,000 and John as trustee resolves to distribute the income equally between Jeff and Jenny. As the children have no other income, the distributions are tax-free as they are under the threshold of $18,200.

If Jane’s will had not included a testamentary trust, the income of $30,000 would have been added to John’s taxable income to bring the total amount to $120,000 ($90,000 salary + $30,000). He would have paid tax of approximately $32,000 as opposed to the tax of approximately $20,900 (on his salary). Thus, in one year alone the testamentary discretionary trust has saved the family approximately $11,100 in income tax ($32,000 – $20,900).

Case study 2

Adam, age 44, and Agnes, age 46, are married and have three children aged 8, 5 and 3. They own a house together which is valued at $900,000. They have also taken out a $550,000 mortgage over the house. Adam’s annual salary is $120,000 (net $87,963) while Agnes has an annual salary of $50,000 (net $42,453). Both have wills and life insurance to the value of $1.5 million and $1 million respectively.

Using a simple will: Agnes dies and in her will leaves everything to her husband Adam without the use of a testamentary trust. If Adam uses half of Agnes’s estate to pay off the outstanding mortgage on the house this will leave Adam with $450,000. To ensure a maximum future return on the remaining funds, Adam decides to invest the funds at a rate of 4% a year generating an annual income of $18,000.

Where there is no testamentary trust in place, the $18,000 will be taxed in Adam’s hands at his full tax rate. That would mean that he would have a net income of $99,308, a total increase of $11,340 annually.

Using a testamentary trust: Let’s assume that Agnes in her will leaves her estate to Adam via a testamentary trust. The trust establishes Adam as the trustee and primary beneficiary with Adam and Agnes’s children also beneficiaries.

Adam generates an additional annual income of $18,000 from investing the trust funds at a rate of 4%. By splitting the income, benefits can be distributed between the children and Adam so that there would be no tax payable on the $18,000. This would be done by ensuring that no distribution to anyone beneficiary was greater than the minimum tax-free threshold of $18,200, which they are entitled to even though they are minors because the trust is a testamentary trust, rather than a standard discretionary trust.

By structuring their estates in this way, the family would be $6,660 better off per year until the children begin earning their own income. This extra money can be taken into consideration when calculating insurance needs.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A TESTAMENTARY TRUST

Advantages

• Asset protection – protects from unwanted claims by creditors, spouses or partners of the testator’s children
• Tax benefits – income generated by the trust can be allocated between beneficiaries in a tax effective manner. Beneficiaries under the age of 18 years will be taxed at normal tax (adult) rates, not at penalty rates normally applicable for prescribed minors
• Protection from bankruptcy – a well-structured trust will protect a beneficiary’s inheritance in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy.

Disadvantages

• Complexity – a testator, trustee, and beneficiaries should be able to clearly understand and approve the scope, structure, and operation of the trust
• Lack of flexibility – there need to be provision made for dispute resolution and asset devolution strategies in the event of the death of one or more primary beneficiaries
• Cost – there will be ongoing administrative costs involved in maintaining the trust, such as accountancy and tax compliance costs.