Choosing a calculation method for your foreign investment fund (FIF) income
Disclosure requirements
If you own attributing interests in a FIF, new disclosure rules apply from 1 April 2007.
Disclosure of the following is not required:
- income interests in FIFs which are not an attributing interest, or
- attributing interests where there is no FIF income or loss. However, if a loss is reduced to zero under a calculation method, then this FIF interest may still need to be disclosed.
The disclosure requirements are unchanged from prior years if you use the deemed rate of return, accounting profits or branch equivalent methods to calculate your FIF income.
Calculation methods
There are six calculation methods you may use to calculate your FIF income.
| Method | Description of calculation |
|---|---|
|
Fair dividend rate (FDR) |
0.05 multiplied by opening market value plus quick sale adjustment Find out moreFair dividend rate (FDR) |
|
Comparative value (CV) |
(Closing value plus gains) minus (opening value plus costs) Gains are amounts derived from holding (includes dividends), or disposing of the attributing interest and foreign withholding tax or other credits. |
|
Cost method (CM) |
0.05 multiplied by opening value plus quick sales There are four different methods that could be used to arrive at the opening value. |
|
Branch equivalent (BE) |
Branch equivalent income/loss multiplied by income interest Total branch equivalent income or loss is the total branch equivalent income or loss from the FIF for the accounting period. |
|
Accounting profits (AP) |
(Accounting profits/losses minus foreign tax) multiplied by income interest |
|
Deemed rate of return (DRR) |
Opening book value multiplied by the deemed rate |
Which calculation method should you use if you have FIF income?
Individuals and family trusts that hold shares which can use the FDR method may choose to use either the FDR or CV method. For other methods see the table below.
| If ... | then you ... | Note |
|---|---|---|
|
there is a choice |
should consult your agent or financial advisor. |
If you can choose a particular calculation method and fail to do so, then generally the FDR method applies. |
|
your shareholding is less than 10% in an offshore company and you don't have its market value |
may use the cost method (CM) to calculate your FIF income if you are unable to use any of the other methods. |
This covers situations like a family business or one that does not have an independent market value. |
|
your shareholding in an offshore company is 10% or greater and you come within the CFC rules |
may continue to use last year's calculation method. |
The new FIF rules will not apply. |
Date published: 25 Aug 2008
Back to top
