The latest industry survey has found a reverse trend occurring in the first quarter of the year, with a spike in the allocation of lump sum payments versus pension payments as a result of the new super changes.

The Productivity Commission’s draft recommendation for a “best-in-show” shortlist of super funds has been commended as a measure that should help improve the efficiency and performance of the superannuation system.

Few SMSF trustees are taking advantage of the ability to make personal deductible contributions to their super fund because they remain unaware of the change in legislation allowing them to do so.

The SMSF Association has said the Productivity Commission’s draft report into superannuation is a timely reminder to SMSF trustees to pay close attention to the fees and costs their funds incur to ensure retirement savings are being optimised.

The federal government has today released two draft proposals for public consultation around allowing victims of crime to access a perpetrator’s superannuation in certain circumstances.

SMSF advisers may have overlooked superannuation proceeds trusts previously, but they now need to be mindful of the structure due to the super reforms that came into effect from 1 July 2017, according to an industry lawyer.

The federal opposition’s proposed policy of allowing imputation credit refunds to be paid only to those SMSFs with a member receiving an age pension payment has drawn more criticism, this time from the partner of an accounting firm.

The ATO has revealed that 11,000 SMSFs have lodged a transfer balance account report (TBAR), despite event-based reporting for SMSFs officially due to start on 1 July.