The SMSF Association is looking forward to continuing its successful strategic partnership with the ATO following the announcement Kasey Macfarlane is moving on from her role as the tax office’s SMSF segment assistant commissioner.
KPMG Australia superannuation and funds partner Dana Fleming will succeed Macfarlane in the role as ATO SMSFs assistant commissioner from 16 April.
Fleming has more than 20 years’ experience specialising in super tax and managed investments.
Macfarlane has been the assistant commissioner in the SMSF space since April 2015.
She will continue in the capacity of assistant commissioner and focus on strategy within the tax office’s private groups and high wealth individuals client sector.
The SMSF Association has welcomed Fleming’s appointment and believes it sends the right signal to the sector.
“Her knowledge and experience position her well to assume this key role and we look forward to continuing the successful strategic partnership we have with the ATO with Dana heading its SMSF work,” association chief executive John Maroney said today.
Commenting on Macfarlane’s significant contribution to the SMSF sector in her time in the role, Maroney noted: “[Kasey] has been crucial to the implementation of the new superannuation legislation, forging the SMSF Association-ATO strategic partnership, and for nurturing the ongoing positive relationship between the SMSF sector and the tax office.”
Macfarlane said she appreciated the opportunity to make strong connections in the SMSF industry.
“I am sure the great working relationship between the ATO and SMSF stakeholders will continue with Dana in the role,” she said.
Early last year, she told selfmanagedsuper she wanted to communicate the ATO’s wider role to the SMSF community, including providing an understanding of current information, support and assistance the ATO has available for the sector, its tolerance on key issues and areas of safety where SMSFs can traverse in terms of regulation and tax compliance risks.
“I hope that audiences realise the ATO as the regulator and administrator of SMSFs is not all about wielding a big stick in terms of penalties and sanctions,” she said at the time.
Current KPMG financial services, asset and wealth management tax partner Damian Ryan will take over from Fleming as asset and wealth management tax national lead from 1 July.
