Question
of the week
Question of the week

Curious. Interesting. Informative.

22 February 2019

It’s about give and take

Wills, Powers, Estates & Family Provision Claims
Federal

Asked

Estates – Tax planning for gifts that generate income

When a beneficiary is entitled to rental property as a specific gift in a will, we know they are entitled to the net rental proceeds from the date of death up to the date of transfer of the property to them as a distribution of the estate.

However, is the beneficiary also liable to pay the portion of income tax that was payable in the estate tax return on the rental income profit?

Answered

Thank you for the question.

The estate is liable for income tax up to the date of death and the beneficiary thereafter.

Where a beneficiary is presently entitled to income from an asset of the deceased estate, that income is assessable income of the beneficiary in the tax year that the present entitlement arose.

Regards

Mentor