SMSF trustees have been reminded by the ATO it is their responsibility to ensure their fund has not fallen foul of tax agents misusing SMSF auditor numbers.

The proposal to require SMSFs to prepare their financial statements 45 days before the fund’s annual return is due to be lodged took the sector by complete surprise, an industry service provider has said.

The new auditor independence standards will result in an improved perception of the SMSF auditor’s role by trustees, an SMSF specialist says.

SMSF auditors will have no excuse for not having complied with new independence standards by mid-2021 despite the volume of work that will be required, an SMSF lawyer has claimed.

The restructured APES 110 Code of Ethics will help reinforce the important role auditors play in protecting trustees’ retirement savings, a major accounting body says.