News : SMSF

Auditing, SMSF

Document long-standing audit relationships

SMSF auditors Independence Self-managed superannuation The Auditors Institute Steven Russo

Long-standing SMSF audit arrangements should be routinely examined to ensure they do not hamper a practitioner’s independence and documented to prove their suitability.

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Pensions, SMSF, Superannuation

Terminal illness withdrawal choice crucial

Terminal medical condition Pension Lump sum Heffron Sean Johnston

Choosing how to access superannuation entitlements is a crucial consideration for terminally ill SMSF trustees as it can greatly impact the tax they will have to pay.

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Investments, Property, SMSF

Key risk and return questions for private credit

Zagga Private credit Alan Greenstein Mortgage security

There are some critical elements relating to private credit investments that need to be known to ensure the expected return outcomes eventuate.

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ATO, SMSF, Tax

Deeming rate acceptable for Div 296

SMSF Association Division 296 Peter Burgess Earnings calculation Proxy Deeming rate 90 day bank bill rate

The use of a deeming rate as a proxy for actual taxable earnings when calculating the Division 296 tax is acceptable to the SMSF Association, which stated it was better than the proposed model.

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Estate Planning, SMSF

Capacity doubts now more common

Mental capacity SMSF Self-managed superannuation fund Cooper Grace Ward Scott-Hay Bartlem Estate planning

Practitioners have to address a client’s capacity in all SMSF estate planning actions as the issue is becoming more common in death benefit disputes.

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AAT, ATO, Regulation, SMSF

AAT rejects trustee disqualification appeal

Administrative Appeals Tribunal AAT ATO SMSF Self-managed superannuation fund Disqualification SIS Act Coronica and Commissioner of Taxation [2024] Superannuation Industry (Supervision) (SIS) Act

A banned SMSF trustee has failed to have his disqualification overturned, with the AAT stating the breaches he committed were too numerous and serious to disregard.

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ATO, Compliance, SMSF

Early access treatment key to ATO actions

ATO Illegal early access Peter Bobbin SMSF Association Technical Summit Loans SMSF Self-managed superannuation

The illegal early access of benefits can be treated in a different factual manner to produce a better compliance outcome for the trustees involved.

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Legislation, SMSF, SMSFA, Tax

Unchanged Div 296 bill not certain

SMSF SMSF Association Self-managed superannuation Division 296 tax LRBA Limited recourse borrowing arrangement Peter Burgess Unrealised capital gains SMSF Association Technical Summit

The SMSF Association has predicted there is an even chance the proposed Division 296 tax bill will be amended over concerns relating to its calculation method and unrealised gains.

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financial advice, SMSF

SMSF specialists increase profitability

Investment Trends SMSF specialists profitability Irene Guiamatsia

SMSF specialists have moved away from charging lower upfront fees to clients in favour of showing why their advice is valuable in an effort to increase profitability.

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Legislation, SMSF, Superannuation, Tax

Withdrawals can eliminate $3m cap liability

SMSF Self-managed superannuation SMSF Association Technical Summit Division 296 tax Liability Withdrawals Total superannuation balance

SMSF drawdowns can allow members to maintain a total super balance of $3 million or less and escape a Division 296 tax liability.

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