Trust distribution only
Distribution statement only — no trading income or active operations during the year.
From
$495
Tax deductible
● Trust tax returns
Trust tax returns lodged for you
Discretionary, family and unit trusts — prepared and lodged by a registered tax agent. Fixed fees from $495, no hourly billing.
★ New client intro offer
$500–$1,500 cashback on your first trust or company tax return
New clients receive between $500 and $1,500 cashback on their first trust or company tax return, depending on your annual revenue. Guaranteed paid into your account after lodgement.
● Trust returns Australia-wide
Who needs to lodge a trust tax return?
Every active trust in Australia — discretionary (family), unit, fixed and hybrid — must lodge an annual trust tax return with the ATO, even where the trust simply passes income through to beneficiaries. We handle the return, the distribution statement and the trustee minutes in one fixed-fee engagement.
Whether you run a family trust holding investments, a trading trust operating a business, or a bucket company alongside your discretionary trust, we'll match you to the right tier and lodge directly with the ATO.
● Fixed-fee trust pricing
Pick the right tier for your trust
Bucket company
Used as a beneficiary of a discretionary trust to cap tax at 25–30%.
From
$699
Tax deductible
Trust under $500k
Trading trust with annual turnover less than $500,000.
From
$1,580
Tax deductible
All prices are GST-exclusive. Need a larger trust? See full company & trust pricing.
How trust distributions are taxed
Trusts themselves usually don't pay tax — instead, income is distributed to beneficiaries who pay tax at their individual marginal tax rate. That's the core advantage of a discretionary (family) trust: you can stream income to beneficiaries on lower rates.
Where trust income is not distributed (or distributed to a minor over the unearned-income threshold), the trustee is taxed at the top marginal rate of 47%. A bucket company is often used to cap this at 25–30% — we'll model both options as part of your return.
Trusts that fail to quote a beneficiary's TFN must withhold tax at 47% on those distributions and remit it to the ATO. We check all beneficiary details before lodging.
What we need from you
- 1Trust deed (and any amendments) and ABN/TFN details
- 2Bank statements or accounting file access (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks)
- 3Beneficiary list and prior-year distribution minutes
- 4Any property, share or distribution income received during the year
● BAS & IAS lodgements
Fixed-fee BAS & IAS lodgements
Quarterly or monthly activity statements prepared, reviewed and lodged with the ATO by a registered BAS agent.
| Service | What's included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| BAS lodgement | GST, PAYG withholding & PAYG instalments prepared, reviewed and lodged with the ATO. | $199+ GST |
| IAS lodgement | Instalment activity statement prepared and lodged for PAYG withholding or instalments. | $199+ GST |
Per lodgement. Lodged by a registered BAS agent. Tax deductible.
Trust tax return — FAQs
How much does a trust tax return cost?
A trust distribution-only return is $495. Trading trusts start at $1,580 (under $500k turnover) and scale by size. Bucket companies sitting alongside a trust are $699. All fees are fixed and quoted before work begins.
What is a trust distribution statement?
A trust distribution statement records how the trust's income for the year was distributed to beneficiaries. Each beneficiary then includes their share on their personal return. We prepare this plus the trust tax return and the minutes that authorise the distribution.
Do I need to lodge a trust return if there was no income?
In most cases yes — the ATO expects an annual return from active trusts even where income is nil. A non-trading trust can be lodged from $299. Talk to us if you're unsure whether your trust needs to lodge.
When is the trust tax return deadline?
Self-lodged trust returns are due 31 October. Clients of a registered tax agent like Priory Books and Tax typically receive an extended deadline up to 15 May the following year — no late penalties.
Need a company return? See company tax return pricing from $299.
● Contact
Get in touch
Drop your details and we'll call you back within one business day.
Book a discussion with us about your needs
Pick a time that suits you for a free 20-minute chat — we'll talk through your business and recommend the right mix of services.
Book on CalendlyOr email us anytime
stuart@thepriorybooks.com.au20+
Businesses across Australia
★
Send us a message
We'll reply to your email shortly.