Tax changes more succession friendly

Amendments to the proposed 'Herd Scheme' changes have been released providing exemptions for farm succession that free up new generation farmers from restrictive tax barriers.

"The exemption for farm succession has come a long way from the original proposal,"' says BDO tax specialist and farm accountant Charles Rau.

"We commend Government for listening but succession advisers will need to be careful how they structure their arrangements."

The original changes, released in April this year, would have forced new generation farmers into adopting their parent's herd scheme selection by way of the 'associated persons' rule.

"We also surveyed the BDO national network of farm accountants and found that the original Government proposals did not cover the most common forms of farm succession and made submissions to Government for change."

Rau says the amendments now cover the common 50/50 sharemilking arrangement where the child purchases the herd outright and the parents own the land. It also covers common dry stock succession arrangements such as the child purchasing the livestock and leasing the land.

"However, there are a number of restrictions, including the child not previously having an income interest in the livestock and the parents not continuing to have an interest in livestock.

"Consequently, farmers and their farm succession adviser will need to be careful to ensure that their succession plans fit within the exemption provided for farm succession."

Farmers are advised to contact their accountant or tax specialist to determine whether their succession arrangements qualify for the exemption from compulsory participation in the herd scheme.