Aggregation to Become Law…
The Bill has undergone significant amendments since its introduction into SA Parliament. The SA Government has made some major concessions on rates and thresholds including:
an immediate reduction from 1 July 2020 in the top marginal rate of land tax from 3.7% to 2.4%;
for non-trust taxpayers, the introduction of a new tax bracket at 2.0% between approximately $1.1m and $1.35m and an increase in the highest threshold from approximately $1.1m to $1.35m (increasing to $2m from 1 July 2022); and
a reduction in the rate of land tax on land valued between approximately $755,000 and $1.1m.
The above amendments, amongst others, are intended to curb the adverse impact of the aggregation measures. It will now be imperative that property owners and their advisers are fully prepared so that they are well equipped to navigate the new regime.
Framework
Commencing 30 June 2020, the new land tax measures will dramatically change the landscape for the assessment of land tax in South Australia.
For land held by more than one owner, the owners will initially be assessed as if they are one taxpayer. Each owner is then also assessed on their fractional interest in the co-owned land, which interest is then aggregated with any interest in other land held by that owner (and assessed to land tax as such). The owner will receive a credit for the initial tax already assessed. This applies regardless of whether the owners are natural persons or entities.
For land owned by companies, the measures will seek to group “related corporations”. Whether companies are related will broadly turn on whether the same person or group of persons has a controlling interest in terms of:
holding more than 50% of the issued share capital of each company;
being able to cast or control the casting of more than 50% of the votes at a general meeting of each company; or
being able to control the composition of the board of each company.
For land owned in unit trusts:
Trustees are subject to surcharge rates of land tax unless the Commissioner is notified of the unitholders, in which case the trustee will be assessed at general rates on the whole of the taxable land subject to the trust.
Where the Commissioner has been notified of the unitholders, each unitholder will be assessed (in addition to the trustee) on their proportionate interest in the land held by the unit trust. This interest is then aggregated with all interests of the unitholder in other taxable land.
In this latter case, the unitholder will be subject to a reduction in its land tax liability on account of the land tax paid by the trustee (so as to avoid double taxation). If this deduction would result in a negative amount payable, the unitholder does not receive any credit for that amount.
While discretionary trusts will not be subject to aggregation, land held by the trustees of discretionary trusts will be taxed at surcharge rates. This is subject to the ability of a trustee of a discretionary trust to nominate a natural person beneficiary as the “owner” of existing land held in the trust for land tax purposes (which must be accompanied by a statutory declaration by the nominee).
Significantly, the nomination must be made by no later than 30 June 2021 (this has been extended from the initially proposed 30 June 2020 deadline). The nomination can only be made in respect of “pre-existing trust land”, being land already held by the trust on the day the draft legislation was introduced to the House of Assembly, namely, 16 October 2019. Where such a nomination is made, surcharge rates will not apply to the land owned by the trust and the land will be deemed for land tax purposes to be owned by the nominated beneficiary. All subsequent land acquired in discretionary trusts will be subject to the surcharge rates.
A number of specific types of trusts, including complying superannuation funds and deceased estates, are excluded from the new measures (i.e. from both the surcharge rates and from aggregation with land held by other taxpayers).
New Concessions
A number of new concessions have also been introduced in an effort to further ease any adverse impacts of aggregation. These measures include:
A $25m transition fund over three years for eligible individual taxpayers and company groups with possible relief of up to $50,000 in 2020‑21, $30,000 in 2021‑22 and $15,000 in 2022‑23 from any increased land tax payable due to the new aggregation changes. This may allow taxpayers an opportunity to restructure their affairs to the extent possible before bearing the full increase in tax due to aggregation.
A land tax concession for eligible developers of “affordable housing”, which broadly involves land used for affordable housing not being aggregated with other land holdings subject to certain criteria.
An independent review to be conducted on the impact of the Government’s land tax reform package, to be completed by the end of 2023.
Specific relief for residential property developers from aggregation where the land being held is solely for the purpose of being developed (see immediately below).
Residential Developers’ Concession
On application, land owned by related companies may not be aggregated where the Commissioner is satisfied that the land held by those companies is being held solely for the purpose of being developed as a residential development of more than 10 allotments or lots.
The exemption may be granted for an initial term specified by the Commissioner in writing based on the expected development period but which cannot exceed five years. The initial term can, however, be extended upon application.
Broadly, the exemption will cease if the Commissioner determines that:
the development has been substantially completed; or
the development has not been substantially commenced within the period of two years after the grant of the application.
It will therefore be critical for residential property developers to carefully consider their eligibility for this concession.
Property Group Planning Issues
Given the above changes, there are significant planning issues that should be considered by taxpayers. For example:
For trustees of existing land owning discretionary trusts, thought should be given to whether a nomination is made and, if so, who is nominated. Regard must be had to any interests in other land owned by the nominated beneficiary as well as the existing “disregarded minor interest” provisions.
For trustees of unit trusts, the trustee will need to consult with the unitholders to come to a satisfactory position on whether all of the unitholders’ interests are to be notified to the Commissioner, or whether the trustee will instead be subject to the surcharge rates.
For corporate groups, there will be a need to carefully consider the director and shareholding structure of the various companies in the group. The controlling interest provisions will be important here, and in particular, determining whether a controlling interest might arise other than by way of the shareholding of the company (for example, by an ability to indirectly influence voting power).
All groups will need to consider any available restructuring opportunities as some structures are bound to have less palatable taxation outcomes than others. Of course, potential exposure to the State general anti-avoidance measures should not be overlooked in any restructuring exercise.
Each group’s eligibility for the various new concessions should also be considered.
The Devil is in the Detail
There are a number of issues that will need to be carefully reviewed. These include, for example, the following matters:
It will be imperative to form a view on whether a trust is in fact a discretionary trust, a unit trust or a fixed trust. Such action will be crucial for the purposes of determining whether a nomination in respect of pre-existing trust land can be made and, further, how the trust will be subject to land tax on an ongoing basis. This will require careful consideration of the trust deed in each case. Significantly, the legislative definition of a “discretionary trust” appears to turn only on the interests of beneficiaries as to trust capital (and not income).
Issues arise as to how companies might be grouped in circumstances where they are owned by discretionary trusts with different trustees, but which are controlled within a family group. Often these involve overlapping (but not necessarily the same) interests. A careful assessment of how the new controlling interest provisions will apply to each group therefore becomes imperative.
The new measures impose significant notification requirements on taxpayers, which include notifying the Commissioner whenever a trustee acquires or disposes of land in South Australia or where there is a change in the unitholdings of a unit trust that has made a notification. Notification requirements extend to existing land owning trustees who are required to notify the Commissioner of their South Australian landholdings within one month after the commencement of the new measures. The precise details required to be disclosed to the Commissioner are not clear on the face of the legislation. These additional disclosure requirements are likely to significantly change the face of land tax compliance and assessment going forward.
Where the trustee of a fixed trust or a unit trust notifies the Commissioner of the beneficial land owners, but subsequently withdraws that notification, the legislation precludes that trustee from subsequently lodging another notice with the Commissioner in respect of that trust. It is therefore critical that decisions to make and/or withdraw notifications are not made lightly, but are instead the product of careful consideration of the likely outcomes.
Looking Ahead…
With the implementation date just around the corner at 30 June 2020, it will be imperative for all groups subject to the measures to seek appropriate specialist advice.
Cowell Clarke has dedicated significant resources to this area and is well placed to assist in advising on the impact of the measures as they may relate to your circumstances - Contact Us
This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only and does not constitute professional legal advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional legal advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication and to the extent permitted by law, Cowell Clarke does not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting or refraining to act in relation on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.