Managed Fund Distribution
Income distributed to unit holders of a managed investment fund, which may include dividends, interest, capital gains, and tax credits.
A managed fund distribution is the income allocated to unit holders (investors) of a managed investment fund. Managed funds pool money from multiple investors and invest in assets like shares, property, bonds, and cash. The income earned by the fund — including dividends, interest, rental income, and realised capital gains — is distributed to unit holders, typically quarterly or semi-annually.
Managed funds structured as Attribution Managed Investment Trusts (AMITs) provide an AMMA statement at year-end detailing the tax components of your distribution. These components may include: Australian franked dividends (with franking credits), Australian unfranked dividends, foreign income, interest, net capital gains (with the CGT discount applied at the fund level), tax-deferred amounts (return of capital), and tax-free amounts.
Each component is taxed differently in your hands. Franked dividends come with franking credits; capital gains may be eligible for the CGT discount; foreign income may include foreign income tax offsets; and tax-deferred amounts reduce the cost base of your units (increasing future capital gains when you sell). Understanding your AMMA statement is essential for accurate tax reporting. Many investors use tax software or a tax agent to process managed fund distributions correctly.
Related Terms
Trust Distribution
Income distributed from a trust to its beneficiaries, who include it in their own tax returns at their individual tax rates.
Franking Credits (Imputation Credits)
Tax credits attached to dividends representing company tax already paid on the profits, preventing double taxation.
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Tax on the profit made from selling or disposing of an asset, such as property, shares, or cryptocurrency.
ETF Distribution
Income distributed by an exchange-traded fund (ETF) to its unit holders, with tax components similar to managed fund distributions.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP)
A plan that automatically reinvests your dividends or distributions into additional shares or units instead of paying cash.