Category: SMSF
An SMSF trustee duty not to be forgotten: The investment strategy
The majority of people who set up their own SMSF say that “control” is a big reason for doing it. There is flexibility and benefits in running your own superannuation fund, but it is also a big responsibility to make sure your fund grows and provides for your retirement. Preparing an “investment strategy” is one...
Super downsizer scheme common errors
The super downsizer scheme started on 1 July 2018 and has allowed older Australians to sell their homes and contribute up to $300,000 of the proceeds from the sale into super. Recent figures from the ATO show that more than 5,000 people Australia-wide have made this type of contribution, with 55% being made by females. You...
The SMSF sector is growing by $23,200 every minute
The latest statistical report from APRA has been released (here’s a link to download it — https://bit.ly/2kIH9Oz), which of course mainly focuses on the APRA-regulated superannuation funds in the retail and industry sectors. But the APRA statistics also make passing mention of ATO-regulated funds, the SMSF sector, which from June 2018 to June 2019 grew...
SMSF trustees: Operating expenses you can deduct
Operating expenses that are incurred by an SMSF are mostly deductible, however there can be exceptions to the extent that these relate to the gaining of non-assessable income (such as exempt current pension income) or are capital in nature. The following are examples of the types of operating expenses that are typically deductible for SMSFs...
Event-based reporting mistakes lead to more SMSF audits
In the year since event-based reporting (EBR) started for SMSFs (from 1 July 2018) the ATO says an unprecedented number of transfer balance cap reports have required re-reporting. The transfer balance account report (TBAR) is used to report certain events and is separate from the SMSF annual return. The TBAR enables the ATO to record...
Carrying forward concessional super contributions
The income year of 2019-20 has just ticked over, which is also the first year in which an individual is able to make additional catch-up contributions to super through the application of unused concessional (before tax) contributions. These are “unused” if the fund member made less than the legislated cap on such contributions, which was...
Super downsizer scheme essentials
Under the superannuation downsizer scheme, people aged 65 and older can make a non-concessional (post-tax) contribution of up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling what was once their family home. Downsizing enables more effective use of housing stock, and existing contribution caps and restrictions will not apply to the downsizer contribution. The scheme applies...
Bonus Article, To avoid disputes, with the birth of every SMSF it pays to think about death
When commencing any self managed superannuation fund (SMSF), there is one over-riding expectation that newby trustees should come back to again and again — that their fund must meet the sole-purpose test. This is not only to maintain access to the various tax concessions available, but to avoid possible civil or even criminal penalties. This...
Federal Budget 2019
read the PDF version Here: The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s first budget has lots of goodies with few “baddies”. This was to be expected with the next federal election only weeks away and the Coalition Government trying to make up ground in the polls. The Treasurer’s “wow” factor was a return to a budget surplus of $7.1...
Bonus Article, Could your SMSF survive losing refundable franking credits?
You may or may not subscribe to the belief that Australia faces a change of government in the near future. The arguments for and against and the volume of discussions held over the barbecue are likely to ramp-up in the time between now and the next federal election, which must be held before the end...