Benefit fund portfolio investment entity
A benefit fund portfolio investment entity (PIE) is a defined benefit fund or scheme, such as a superannuation or retirement savings scheme that meets the requirements of section 169 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, that chooses to become a PIE and does not attribute income to its investors. These schemes offer a defined return on maturity rather than an accumulation of annual income over the term of the policy.
Benefit fund PIEs are registered superannuation schemes under the Superannuation Scheme Act 1989 and compliant with section 15(1)(a) of the Act.
Paying tax
Benefit fund PIEs are taxed at the basic income tax rate that currently applies to the fund.
Benefit fund PIEs do not attribute income to investors. They cannot calculate tax liability using rates provided by investors (prescribed investor rates).
Benefit fund PIEs must file income tax returns annually.
Responsibilities of benefit fund PIEs
Benefit funds may also be contribution funds. These are known as hybrid funds.
Hybrid funds need to separate their benefit fund and contribution fund to create 2 investor classes.
The benefit fund side of the hybrid treats its income as kept by the PIE and is taxed at 28%.
The contribution side can be treated as a multi-rate PIE.
Super fund portfolio investment entity
Superannuation and retirement savings scheme portfolio investment entities (PIEs) provide independent investment vehicles to help people save for their retirement.
Retirement savings schemes have a rule that prevents an investor from having ready access to their investment funds until they reach a specified retirement age such as KiwiSaver schemes. These are also known as locked-in PIEs.
Paying tax
Super fund PIEs can be multi rate PIEs (MRPs) using the provisional tax method and must file income tax returns annually.
If a super fund PIE becomes one of the other MRPs, it will follow MRP tax responsibilities.