It is well understood by savvy property investors that holding investment properties in a trust can offer the benefits of asset protection, estate planning and tax efficiency. The next question is whether these benefits extend to the family home. In other words, is it worth holding your family home in a trust?
Put simply, once an individual has aggregate land holdings of $2.5 million, they will benefit from using discretionary trusts in their structuring strategy.
The specific terms of your trust deed can mean you will either save or lose money in income taxes. It is important your deed is up to date and gives the trustee all the powers it needs to optimise the trust’s tax position.
The main thing to remember is that trusts can only ever distribute trust law income, as it is defined in the trust deed.
We have a lot of dentist clients who have downed tools during the Level 3 restrictions. One thing they have in common is that they’re making lemonade out of lemons and getting their practices ‘shipshape’ for when the restrictions are downgraded back to Level 1 or 2. If this sounds like you, read on!