Inheritance Tax in Australia

What You Need to Know About Inheritance Tax in Australia

When it comes to inheritance procedures in any country around the world, it is a very specialised field that can be quite complicated for individuals to understand. This is particularly true due to the implications of the loss of a beloved family member and adding the quite intricate inheritance laws to match. Australia is one of the jurisdictions where there is a great deal of confusion on whether they, in fact, have an inheritance tax and whether the inheritance can be avoided or diminished through proper estate planning. Additionally, due to the close ties between the United States and the United Kingdom, it can be quite challenging to verify how to handle the inheritance of property if the family member is a citizen of another country and must declare taxes in that country. Suppose you are attempting to understand the Australian regulations on inheritance taxation and how they correspond to the United States and the United Kingdom. In that case, it is highly beneficial to have a look at the discussion below in order to assess what actions need to be taken to handle any taxes you may be liable for effectively:

What Are the Inheritance Tax Regulations in Australia?

It is a common question about the inheritance tax regulations within Australia. In terms of Australia, there is no inheritance tax, gift tax, real estate transfer tax, endowment tax, transfer duty or net wealth tax. That said, there are some exceptions where taxation becomes necessary upon death. Where the Australian tax regulations get complicated is when a relative passes away, and the individual set to inherit is a foreign resident. Regardless of where the individual is a resident externally, there becomes a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability that passes to the individual to inherit, which occurs due to the vesting of the trust upon the death of a family member. These taxes can be as much as 16.5% if careful estate planning is not conducted both before the death of the deceased and immediately after when the Will is being read and implemented by the executor.

Within this exception of no inheritance tax, there is another area that is quite grey and requires an attorney’s analysis on a case-by-case basis. One of the most common Capital Gains Tax (CGT) that can occur is related when an individual inherits a house under a deceased’s Will. The way that the property is managed at the immediate stage after the deceased’s death will have a significant weight on whether the individual to inherit has taxation responsibility in terms of Capital Gains Tax (CGT). One possible avenue to pursue is to sell the property within two years of the deceased’s death, which will cause the individual to inherit do not legally have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Another possible exception to this is if the property remains the main residence of the spouse after the deceased dies and the surviving spouse retains a life estate in the property. This means that the individual may be set to inherit the home but will not have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) due to the surviving spouse residing there.

Even though Australia does not have an inheritance tax, there are particular situations when tax can be paid by an individual that should be accounted for at death presented in the table below:

Taxable Income (A$)	Tax Payable Thereon ($A)
A$0-A$18,200	None
A$18,201-A$45,000	19 cents for each $1 over $18,200
A$45,001-A$120,000	$5,092 plus 32.5 cents for each $1 over $45,000
A$120,001-A$180,000	$29,467 plus 37 cents for each $1 over $120,000
More than A$180,000	A$54,547 plus 45% in excess of A$180,000

What Is Important to Understand if You Reside in the US or UK?

1. United States: Between the United States and Australia, a United States – Australia Gift Tax Treaty was signed on May 14, 1953. The United States, to date, still honours the treaty concerning property that is inherited and located on Australian soil that has been gifted to United States citizens or residents. The treaty’s purpose regards avoiding double taxation between countries with a historically very friendly relationship. To delve into the specifics of this treaty, it will depend on the type of property inherited and the amount in question. Hiring legal counsel will help you ascertain how to use this treaty to your advantage.
2. United Kingdom: It is important that UK residents have to be quite careful in terms of trusts and taxation. Another factor to consider when dealing with Australian property and potential UK beneficiaries is to ascertain whether the deceased was ever deemed to be a UK resident when they drafted their estate planning and whether the property was located outside of the UK. If this individual were a UK citizen, for example, establishing a trust when they have not been deemed a resident of the UK would help the beneficiary avoid UK inheritance tax regulations. The UK has a rigorous test of determining whether the deceased, when they were living, was a resident of the UK in terms of having the appropriate domicile. Once the legal inquiry reaches this level of specification, it is essential to have lawyers in Australia and the UK assess the best options for the beneficiary to fall within the exception of taxation and pay the least amount legally possible.

Steps You Need to Take to Get Your Inheritance Tax with Ease

1. Plan Before Death: It is quite alarming how many individuals do not see the value of estate planning and its possible burdens on family members should they receive the property without proper planning. This is precisely why the deceased must carefully plan their will before they pass away. Part of this investment involves speaking with an attorney and assessing the realistic value of the individual’s assets. Once this occurs, options can be discussed for how to have the best possible taxation option available to that who is set to inherit. This is particularly true if the individual has family members who are foreign country citizens.
2. Understand the Value of the Trust vs. Just a Will: Planning before death goes beyond the standard discussion of what to put down on paper. At times, it is wise to establish a Testamentary Trust years before death to avoid taxation. Within this trust, gifts can be made over time to avoid taxation if appropriately planned. This trust will have an executor who is not a beneficiary responsible for carrying out the deceased’s interests and making proper taxation planning. Typically, it is best to have an estate planning review that includes the following three steps:
   1. Tax-effective transfer of the assets intended to be transferred to the proper beneficiaries.
   2. The incapacity of the deceased is assessed, and the proper responsibility is given to caring for their affairs if a spouse does not have provisions that make the tax protections void in the spouse’s own will.
   3. Asset protection implications should be studied carefully and considered to ensure they are the most efficient on a case-by-case basis.
3. Seek Legal Counsel to Interpret the Will or Trust: This step can happen once the individual learns that they are set to inherit or immediately after the deceased dies. In either case, receiving the advice of legal counsel will be vital to determine the opportune way to avoid high taxation rates on a case-by-case basis. It is vital to understand that while Australia does not have strict inheritance tax regulations like the United States, it still does have some grey areas that, if left not researched, could add up to substantial taxation fees, mainly when dealing with a large amount of capital involved in real estate inheritance.
4. Follow the Executor’s Instructions: Upon the death of a family member, it is important to assess who the executor is and how efficiently they are doing their job. At times, executors do not behave ethically. If this is the case, it is important to respond sooner rather than later. Remember that you have the right to ask to see the will or trust document to verify what you will receive. This way, you will be informed of what will transpire next and what obligations you should expect to be responsible for.
5. Verify Your Home Country’s Taxation Laws if a Foreign Resident: International taxation is a significant issue for all individuals relocating between different jurisdictions. If you are a resident of another jurisdiction and realise that you are about to inherit a piece of property in Australia, it is wise to seek legal counsel in both countries or hire a firm with offices in both countries. This will ensure that you have accurate information on both sides of the transaction. Taxation treaties differ depending on the jurisdiction, and you will serve yourself well by having both opinions before you write any checks for taxation.
6. File the Appropriate Tax Return: Typically, the executor is responsible for filing the tax return. This is the best scenario for a beneficiary that is set to inherit property. Upon filing of the tax return at the proper time of year, the taxes will be paid, and the transaction will be completed. These taxes will be dependent on the amount of property inherited and the proper estate planning that has transpired.

Assistance With Local Taxation

Fx companies, like the ones discussed in our banking guide, may be able to provide free guidance and connect you with the right resources. One example of such a company with local Australian offices is World First.

Concluding Remarks on the Subject

Inheritance taxes should be researched upon learning that you are set to inherit property in any country. In terms of inheriting property in Australia, it is important to be aware of your taxation treaty if you are a citizen or permanent resident of a foreign jurisdiction. There may be a treaty that will protect you from double taxation. That said, proper estate planning by the deceased will allow you to pay fewer taxes than had you not researched all the available legal options. The best course of action is to hire counsel to assist you with the fine print depending on the value of the property you will be inheriting. Once you make this investment, you will see that you will have a comprehensive understanding of what options are available to you. Bear in mind that if you are a citizen of the United States or the United Kingdom, there are absolute options available to protect you from burdensome taxation. Once you take the time to investigate your options, you can easily proceed with the process of inheriting property in Australia.