You are here

Assessing Overseas Annuities

Document
Assessment of overseas annuities

Overseas annuities do not satisfy the definition of an income stream as they do not meet the requirements for prudential regulation.  Overseas annuities are an assessable asset.   

More ?

Assessable value of an overseas annuity

The initial asset value of an overseas annuity is the purchase price.  The purchase price should be re-assessed on each anniversary of the initial payment. For DVA purposes the reduction in the annuity's value is made in arrears by the amount of the annual payments.

Annuity surrendered

Generally when a person disposes of an income producing asset without adequate consideration, the assets value is maintained and deemed. It would be 'double-dipping' to also assess the forgone income as income deprivation. Therefore assets deprivation provisions are only applied if a person:

  • surrenders their interest in a private annuity, or
  • otherwise disposes of their rights under the contract and does not receive adequate consideration.


According to subsection 5J(1) of the VEA, an income stream includes:

  • an income stream arising under arrangements that are regulated by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993; or
  • an income stream arising under a public sector scheme (within the meaning of that Act); or
  • an income stream arising under a retirement savings account; or
  • an income stream provided as life insurance business by a life company registered under section 21 of the Life Insurance Act 1995; or
  • an income stream provided by a friendly society (within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1996); or
  • an income stream designated in writing by the Commission for the purposes of this definition, having regard to the guidelines determined under subsection 5J(1F) of the VEA;

but does not include any of the following:

  • available money;
  • deposit money;
  • a managed investment;
    • an investment in a public unit trust;
    • an investment in an insurance bond;
    • an investment with a friendly society;
    • an investment in a superannuation fund;
    • an investment in an approved deposit fund;
    • an investment in an ATO small superannuation account;
  • a listed security;
  • a loan that has not been repaid in full;
  • an unlisted public security; 
  • gold, silver or platinum bullion; or
  • a payment of compensation in relation to a person's:
    • inability to earn, derive or receive income from remunerative work; or
    • total and permanent disability or incapacity.

 

 

For adequate financial consideration to be received when disposing of an asset, a person must receive value in the form of money or assets. Adequate financial consideration can be accepted when the amounts received reasonably equate to the market value of the asset. It may be necessary to obtain a valuation from a property valuation service provider.

When disposing of income, in order for adequate financial consideration to be received, the person must receive money, goods or services which approximate in value to the rate of disposed income. If a person disposes of an income producing asset and receives adequate financial consideration in money or money's worth for the asset, then it can be accepted that they have received adequate financial consideration for the disposal of both the income and the asset.