SMSF auditor numbers are declining and recent changes to independence and fees are likely to drive that trend further.

The proposal to introduce a hard limit on audit fees originating from one referral source has been opposed by the SMSF Association.

The ATO has advised SMSF accounting firms they should not complete audits for a fund where they also provided oversight and advice to the trustees of the fund.

A specialist professional body for auditors has argued against the introduction of a hard fee threshold in an effort to make the auditor independence standards more robust.