Capstone Financial Planning has entered into a strategic partnership with the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) to provide licensing services for its members wanting to provide advice under the new regulatory framework that will take effect in just under 18 months’ time.

SMSF software specialist BGL Corporate Solutions has been registered to lodge the annual returns of funds electronically with the ATO via the government’s standard business reporting (SBR) facility for users of BGL’s Simple Fund 360.

Trustee association the SMSF Owners’ Alliance has hit out at proposals to ban the use of gearing within superannuation and abolish the dividend imputation system.

The implementation of real-time or continuous audits of SMSFs will not happen in the immediate future and will likely be offered as a service by the large administration platforms, according to a sector specialist.

Accounting firm Count Financial has begun preparing for potential capacity constraints that will be faced by the industry as the deadline for SMSF accountants to become licensed draws closer.