GST Output Tax: Property transactions by non-legal entities

Key requirements

Partnerships other than LLPs, charities, societies and other unincorporated bodies may register for GST despite lacking capacity to hold property themselves. A bare trustee may hold movable, immovable or intellectual property solely on their behalf and instructions. The registered non-legal entity can claim qualifying acquisition input tax using an invoice addressed to the trustee together with a trust deed or records proving the purchase was on its behalf. It must likewise account for property supplies made by that trustee for it. The obligation includes deemed supplies from free gifts, private or non-business use and assets retained at deregistration. Keep the legal-holding documents connected to the business accounts and prevent trustee and entity duplicate claims; normal input-tax conditions still apply.