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NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN TRUSTS
7-7-2014
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NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN TRUSTS
Article by Michael Robinson
 The New Zealand Foreign Trust (“NZ Foreign Trust”) is an entity which provides non-resident persons an opportunity to utilise the economic and political stability and trusted reputation of New Zealand as a base to manage their assets, without the imposition of New Zealand tax on non-New Zealand sourced income.
In order to utilise the NZ Foreign Trust regime, no person who makes a settlement on the Trust (a “settlor”) may be a New Zealand tax resident. Under New Zealand tax law, a settlor includes any person who transfers value to the trust and also includes someone who provides financial assistance to the trust or for the benefit of the trust with an obligation to pay on demand, and the right to demand is not exercised or is deferred.
Provided that the above settlor test is met, an NZ Foreign Trust may be established using a New Zealand resident trustee. Often that trustee will be a New Zealand limited liability company, with the offshore client and his or her New Zealand advisor as directors.
Foreign (non-New Zealand) sourced income will be exempt income for the New Zealand based trustee. Distributions of income from the Foreign Trust will generally be taxable if received by New Zealand resident beneficiaries, except to the extent that they represent trust corpus or capital gains derived from transactions with third parties. Distributions to non-residents will only be taxable to the extent they comprise New Zealand sourced income. New Zealand sourced income will need to be carefully managed to ensure that there is no double tax imposed, once when the income is derived and later when that income is distributed.
The NZ Foreign Trust is usually established as a fully discretionary trust, allowing distributions of income and/or capital of the trust fund to any of the specified discretionary beneficiaries, which can include the settlor, allowing a level of continued control and access to the trust fund during the settlor’s lifetime. Powers of appointment and removal of trustees can be retained by the settlor.
Minimal record-keeping and reporting requirements apply to NZ Foreign Trusts. The New Zealand resident settlor is obliged to inform the Inland Revenue of the name of the trust, details for the trustee and whether there is an Australian resident settlor, but no details about the settlor or the beneficiaries need to be disclosed. The Trustees are required to keep in New Zealand sufficient records in the English language to enable the ascertainment of the financial position of the Foreign Trust. Failure to meet tax obligations can result in the worldwide income of the trust becoming subject to taxation in New Zealand. A safe harbour provision against this risk applies if a New Zealand qualified professional trustee is appointed as trustee or director of a corporate trustee.
In summary, the key advantages are as follows:
The NZ Foreign Trust can be a useful estate planning tool, allowing for continuity of ownership following the death of the settlor. The combined asset protection benefits of trust ownership and the flexibility to distribute income and capital to those beneficiaries who require the funds, including the settlor, together with the tax exemption on foreign sourced income and limited disclosure obligations, make the NZ Foreign Trust an attractive holding structure for many global clients.
Further information concerning New Zealand offshore trusts can be obtained from IPG member firm Turner Hopkins Solicitors in New Zealand – email mrobinson@turnerhopkins.co.nz
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