Unpaid present entitlements

Sladen Snippet - Bendel: special leave and updated DIS - ATO fires a warning shot

Sladen Snippet - Bendel: special leave and updated DIS - ATO fires a warning shot

On 19 February 2025, the Full Federal Court handed down its decision in FCT v Bendel [2025] FCAFC 15. On 18 March 2025, the ATO applied for special leave and, on 19 March 2025, the ATO updated its interim decision statement (DIS) on the case.

We review the updated DIS below.

#Division 7A, #UPE, #Unpaid present entitlements, #Tax, #Trusts, #TD2022/11, #Bendel, #109D #Special leave #Decision Impact Statement

Bendel – UPEs as loans – are the curtains closed?

Bendel – UPEs as loans – are the curtains closed?

On 19 February 2025, the Full Federal Court, in FCT v Bendel [2025] FCAFC 15 (Bendel), held that an unpaid present entitlement (UPE) with a corporate beneficiary is not a loan under subsection 109D(3) of Division 7A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936).

UPEs as loans - end of an era?

UPEs as loans - end of an era?

If 16 December 2009 was the beginning of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) treating an unpaid present entitlement (UPE) with a corporate beneficiary as a loan for purposes of Division 7A, could 28 September 2023 be the end of that era?

CGT issues when creating and dealing with UPEs

CGT issues when creating and dealing with UPEs

In December 2015, an article written by Sladen Legal's Sam Campbell was published in the Tax Institute’s Journal, Taxation in Australia.

The article discusses the tax issues raised when creating and dealing with unpaid present entitlements by trusts, including CGT issues, which should always be carefully considered before embarking on a proposed transaction.

The ATO's proposed treatment of unpaid present entitlements: part 2

The ATO's proposed treatment of unpaid present entitlements: part 2

In September 2015, Part 2 of a 2 part series written by Sladen Legal's Renuka Somers and Ashleigh Eynaud was published in the Tax Institute’s Journal, Taxation in Australia.

It discusses draft Taxation Ruling TR 2015/D2 and the Australian Taxation Office’s proposed treatment of trust unpaid present entitlements for the purposes of the maximum net asset value test applicable to the capital gains tax small business concessions.

The ATO’s proposed treatment of unpaid present entitlements: Part 1

The ATO’s proposed treatment of unpaid present entitlements: Part 1

In August 2015, Part 1 of a 2 part series written by Sladen Legal's Renuka Somers and Ashleigh Eynaud was published in the Tax Institute’s Journal, Taxation in Australia.

It discusses some of the unresolved issues and complexities associated with the taxation treatment of trust unpaid present entitlements for Division 7A purposes and bad debt write-offs, despite the Australian Taxation Office’s attempts to address these matters in draft Taxation Determinations TD 2015/D4 and TD 2015/D5.