Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2005A00148 In force Act

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Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005

 

No. 148, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

An Act in respect of taxation measures relating to superannuation, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Superannuation contributions splitting

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

 

 

 

Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005

No. 148, 2005

 

 

 

An Act in respect of taxation measures relating to superannuation, and for related purposes

[Assented to 14 December 2005]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Superannuation contributions splitting

 

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

1  Subsection 27A(1)

Insert:

contributionssplitting ETP, in relation to a taxpayer, means an amount:

 (a) paid to a superannuation fund, approved deposit fund or life assurance company, or transferred within a superannuation fund, for the benefit of the taxpayer; and

 (b) designated as a spouse contributionssplitting amount in regulations made for the purposes of this definition.

2  Subsection 27A(1) (at the end of paragraphs (a) and (b) of the definition of eligible service period)

Add “or”.

3  Subsection 27A(1) (after paragraph (b) of the definition of eligible service period)

Insert:

 (ba) where the relevant eligible termination payment is an eligible termination payment by virtue of paragraph (bb) of the definition of eligible termination payment—a period of zero days; or

4  Subsection 27A(1) (at the end of paragraph (c) of the definition of eligible service period)

Add “or”.

5  Subsection 27A(1) (definition of eligible termination payment)

After “means”, insert “any of the following”.

6  Subsection 27A(1) (at the end of subparagraph (b)(i) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Add “or”.

7  Subsection 27A(1) (at the end of subparagraph (b)(iii) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Add “or”.

8  Subsection 27A(1) (after subparagraph (b)(iii) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Insert:

 (iv) that is a contributionssplitting ETP;

9  Subsection 27A(1) (after paragraph (ba) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Insert:

 (bb) an amount that is a contributionssplitting ETP;

10  Subsection 27A(1) (definition of eligible termination payment)

After “but does not include”, insert “any of the following”.

11  Subsection 27A(1) (paragraph (n) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Omit “exertion; or”, substitute “exertion;”.

12  Subsection 27A(1) (sub-subparagraph (p)(ii)(B) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Omit “or”.

13  Subsection 27A(1) (paragraphs (q) and (qa) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Omit “or”.

14  Subsection 27A(1) (subparagraph (r)(ii) of the definition of eligible termination payment)

Omit “or”.

15  Subsection 27A(12)

After “if” (first occurring), insert “it is a contributionssplitting ETP or if”.

16  Subsection 27AB(1) (table item 2, column headed “ETP type”)

After “(b)”, insert “or (bb)”.

17  At the end of section 27D

Add:

 (8) The regulations may:

 (a) provide that, in circumstances prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this paragraph, an election under subsection (1) is taken to have been made in relation to a qualifying eligible termination payment that is a contributionssplitting ETP; and

 (b) prescribe matters that are taken to be specified in such an election for the purposes of subsection (1); and

 (c) prescribe such other matters as are necessary or convenient for the purposes of applying this section to such an election.

18  After section 27H

Insert:

27HA  Information about contributions‑splitting ETPs

 (1) A person who pays a contributionssplitting ETP in a financial year must give the Commissioner a statement setting out the matters required by the regulations.

 (2) The statement must be given:

 (a) on or before 31 October in the next financial year; or

 (b) by such later date (if any) as the Commissioner allows.

19  Subsection 82AAS(1)

Insert:

contributionssplitting ETP has the meaning given by subsection 27A(1).

20  At the end of subsection 82AAT(1B)

Add:

 ; (d) if:

 (i) a person has made a contributionssplitting application in respect of contributions made to the fund during a year of income; and

 (ii) the trustee of the fund has not rejected the application;

  the person cannot give a notice in respect of those contributions.

Note: Paragraph (d) does not prevent a person from giving a notice under subsection (1A) before the person makes a contributionssplitting application in respect of the contributions.

21  After subsection 82AAT(1B)

Insert:

 (1BA) In subsection (1B):

contributionssplitting application means an application designated in the regulations as a contributionssplitting application.

22  At the end of subsection 82AAT(1CC)

Add:

 ; (d) if:

 (i) a person has made a contributionssplitting application in respect of contributions made to the RSA during a year of income; and

 (ii) the provider of the RSA has not rejected the application;

  the person cannot give a notice in respect of those contributions.

Note: Paragraph (d) does not prevent a person from giving a notice under subsection (1A) before the person makes a contributionssplitting application in respect of the contributions.

23  After subsection 82AAT(1CC)

Insert:

 (1CCA) In subsection (1CC):

contributionssplitting application has the same meaning as in subsection (1BA).

 

 

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 12 October 2005

Senate on 28 November 2005]

(164/05)

 

Overview

The Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to introduce measures that facilitate the splitting of superannuation contributions between spouses. This Act is intended to provide flexibility and benefits to couples, particularly those with lower-income earners, by allowing them to split superannuation contributions and potentially reduce their overall tax liability. The Act amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 to define and implement the concept of contributions-splitting eligible termination payments (ETPs), which are payments made to a superannuation fund for the benefit of a taxpayer and designated as spouse contributions-splitting amounts. This legislative change aims to enhance the superannuation system by providing more equitable tax treatment for couples, thereby addressing a gap in the existing superannuation laws. The policy objective of this Act is to improve the tax efficiency and fairness of the superannuation system by enabling spouses to share superannuation benefits more effectively. By allowing contributions to be split between spouses, the Act seeks to provide greater flexibility and potentially reduce the overall tax burden for couples, particularly those where one spouse has a significantly lower income. This initiative supports the broader goal of promoting retirement savings and financial security for Australians.

Scope and Application

The Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005 applies to superannuation contributions splitting, providing amendments to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. This Act is applicable to taxpayers who make contributions to superannuation funds, approved deposit funds, or life assurance companies, which are designated as spouse contributions splitting amounts under the regulations. The Act introduces the concept of contributions splitting, allowing eligible termination payments to be designated for the benefit of another individual, typically a spouse, thereby impacting the taxation treatment of these contributions. The Act’s jurisdiction is nationwide, as it is an Act of the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no specific exclusions mentioned within the Act itself, but the application of contributions splitting may be subject to conditions and regulations prescribed by subordinate instruments. These regulations will detail the circumstances under which contributions can be split and the specific processes for making such contributions.

Key Provisions

The Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005 (C2005A00148) amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, introducing provisions for superannuation contributions splitting. This Act allows eligible termination payments to be split between spouses, which can potentially lead to tax benefits. Section 1 of the Act specifies that it may be cited as the Tax Laws Amendment (Superannuation Contributions Splitting) Act 2005. It commenced on the day it received Royal Assent. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. For example, section 27HA requires a person who pays a contributions-splitting eligible termination payment (ETP) to provide the Commissioner with a statement detailing specific matters as prescribed by regulations. This statement must be submitted by 31 October in the next financial year or by a later date allowed by the Commissioner. Additionally, the Act mandates that certain contributions-splitting applications cannot be made if they are in relation to contributions for which a contributions-splitting application has already been made and not rejected by the trustee or RSA provider, as outlined in sections 82AAT(1B)(d) and 82AAT(1CC)(d). Failure to comply with the obligations and requirements set forth in the Act can result in penalties and other consequences. While the Act does not specify maximum penalties, non-compliance with tax regulations generally can lead to financial penalties and interest on the unpaid tax. Additionally, providing false or misleading information to the Commissioner can result in criminal charges and penalties under the general criminal law provisions. It is crucial for taxpayers and trustees to adhere to the regulations to avoid these potential consequences.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.