External
Policy
Loans

A loan is a financial asset, especially money, which is lent, on the condition that it be returned, usually with interest.    

Examples of loans affected by deeming

Loans for deeming include the following:

  • bonds,
  • bank bills, commercial bills and promissory notes,
  • loans to family members,
  • loans to trusts or companies, and
  • loans to any other individual, group or corporation.
Bank bills, commercial bills and promissory notes

Bank bills, commercial bills and promissory notes are generally short term 'discounted' securities. In other words, instead of earning interest, the bill or note is issued at a discount from the face value, and the holder receives the face value when it matures. The discount rate is generally expressed as a rate of interest. A pensioner, for example, may buy a $100.00 promissory note for $80.00 and redeem it for $100.00 on maturity, therefore receiving a $20.00 profit.    

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How to apply deeming to bank bills, commercial bills and promissory notes

9.5.4/Deemed Income from Savings Investments

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Debentures and unsecured notes

Debentures and unsecured notes are loan certificates issued by companies to investors from whom they are borrowing money. The investment provides a return in the form of interest. The following table provides some additional information about unsecured notes and debentures.    

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How deeming is applied to debentures and unsecured notes

9.5.4/Deemed Income from Savings Investments

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Investment

Description

Debentures

Debentures are secured by a lien over certain assets of the borrowing company. They usually have a fixed:

  • maturity date,
  • capital value, and
  • rate of interest, payable quarterly.

Deferred interest debentures

Interest on deferred interest debentures:

  • is deferred until maturity, and
  • may be calculated on a compounded basis, which means that it is calculated, not only on the original capital, but also on the interest previously earned.

Unsecured notes

These are unsecured because no assets are charged as security for the loan.

Bullion investments

The following table lists assets that are included as bullion and those that are not.    

If an asset is held for...

Then it is...

Investment purposes and is one of the following:

  • gold, silver and platinum bar, ingot and nugget holdings, or
  • coins, medals and decorations containing those metals

bullion

Non-investment purposes and is one of the following:

  • jewellery or contemporary Australian currency which contains gold, silver or platinum, or
  • coins, medals, decorations containing those metals

not bullion

Income Equalisation Deposits

Income Equalisation Deposits are a means by which those operating in the rural sector can smooth out their taxable income over a number of years. The Income Equalisation Deposit scheme allows a primary producer to make a deposit of surplus funds with the Department of Primary Industry and Energy. The primary producer's taxable income in the tax year when the deposit was made is reduced by the amount of the deposit. The deposits attract an annual interest payment, which is regarded as income for taxation purposes when withdrawn. Income Equalisation Deposits are regarded as financial investments.